Annie Fitzsimmons sits down with Jack Ezon to unpack his Embark Beyond's Q1 and Q2 trends report, combined for the first time thanks to a whiplash-inducing year of headlines.
Before getting into the data, Jack and Annie trade notes from travel and events–a private dinner for Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp inside the Delvaux flagship on New Bond Street in London; an Embark top producer trip to the Ranch at Rock Creek with founder Jim Manley; why the Schiaparelli exhibition in London is so good it deserves at least two visits; a St.Tropez weekend with Bo House villas, and a stay at Borgo Egnazia in Puglia.
Then they dig into the report–Jack makes the case that the so-called experience economy is over and that connection is the real engine behind travel decisions. He and Annie walk through his four Ps–peptides, paddle, passions and predictions–and they talk through why loneliness has become one of the biggest forces shaping how brands and hotels need to show up for their guests.
Along the way, they cover how Ferrari was one of the first brands to bring owners together (and thoughts on the latest design), the complicated crowding in St. Bart's and Capri that makes enjoyment hard, and why the general manager who actually shows up on the floor matter much more than another beautiful lobby. And how the next big influencers are the administrators of the right WhatsApp groups.
Join them for this lively, fast-moving conversation about luxury travel and beyond.
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