Robb Report Hong’s first-ever Leaders of Luxury Summit was an exceptional affair that gathered a global audience to pave the way to the future of the luxury industry.
Robb Report has transported its global community of readers, industry leaders, and private-club members to the most extraordinary destinations and exclusive events for decades, influencing work and leisure in equal measure. On 27 November 2024, Robb Report Hong Kong gathered more than 50 important delegates from their respective luxury and lifestyle industries to congregate at Regent Hong Kong for the inaugural edition of the Leaders of Luxury Summit, a platform for discussion, engagement, and thought leadership aided by the Hong Kong Tourism Board as the major supporting organisation.
And come they did from far and wide as many took to the stage to speak on behalf of—and occasionally in defence of—their industry, making it a historic event in the global social calendar as over 550 by-invitation-only registered guests heard heads of industry speak on a range of topics during an eventful, chock-a-block day filled with 12 spotlights and panels. Our audience was filled with delegates from over 16 countries and territories, including Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Maldives, Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Myanmar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Elevating the proceedings, Dr Yiu-kai Pang, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, was the first speaker to take the stage, along with CEO and publisher of Robb Report Hong Kong, Tak Man. “Hong Kong’s importance to luxury brands stems from a unique combination of factors: its unique location, business-friendly environment, and high concentration of trend-setting affluent local consumers and visitors. Together, these create ideal conditions for luxury brands to flourish," said Dr Pang during his opening remarks. “Hong Kong’s unique combination of advantages makes it one of the most important hubs of the global luxury ecosystem, and will continue to serve as a critical showcase and platform for luxury brands."
“Hong Kong has long been recognised as a global hub for luxury, and the Leaders of Luxury Summit marks a significant chapter in the city’s illustrious history," said Tak Man during his welcome remarks as he addressed the international guests who were taking note of the proceedings. “When we chose the theme—Redefining Luxury Through a Global Lens—we wanted to project forward how Hong Kong will be influenced by industry leaders gathered here today and how the industry will be influenced by those in Hong Kong."
Dialling in from Mumbai, a live telecast and keynote talk led by Darshan Mehta, CEO and president of Reliance Brands Limited, kicked off the event and illuminated the audience on India’s luxury market as it rides the crescent of a massive transformation and its affluent class drives rapid growth and demand, reshaping the landscape for luxury brands. Mehta emphasised the importance of access and transport (and the opening of nearly 30 other international airports in the coming years) as Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in India open the floodgates of travel in and out of an ever-growing nation of a billion-plus people.
From India, all were transported back to the new horizons of health, AI, and longevity among the elite as Gurjeet Chima, vice president, international markets of Penske Media Corporation (PMC) moderated a panel of top executives from the health, wellness, and health-tech industries. Danny Xiang, chairman of Saint Bella; Ye Chen, CEO and founder of Tigerobo; and Don So, CEO of Humansa discussed powerful ideas of buying controlled longevity and hyper-personalisation in luxury maternity care alongside advancements in biotechnology and medicine. While films and novels trade in fear of AI, how AI is really set to unlock new frontiers as it continues to evolve was the more realistic, fact-not-fiction chat on the panel.
What was reimagined in the subsequent panel was grounded on property, where hotels and lifestyle meet. Jen Paolini, Robb Report Hong Kong’s head of content, led the panel with the ever-loquacious Deepak Ohri, CEO and founder Luxury Atelier Maison Happiness; Enver Arslan, area general manager of Joali; and Dr Naim Maadad, CEO and founder of Gates Hospitality. As luxury brands look to the next step of their evolution, pushing beyond the boundaries of their respective segments, a strategy that draws great appeal is lateral expansion. The speakers explored the motivation behind this growth of brand expressions, the significance of having strong brand values, and adding purpose to travel, but as the conversation continued, everyone agreed that the importance of emotional intelligence is the most crucial currency at the head of what makes a hotel experience exceptional.
To discuss the watch and jewellery industry that has seen seismic shifts over the past few years, three young industry veterans (an otherwise contradiction of terms) seized the stage and opportunity to speak with informed eloquence: Austen Chu, CEO and founder of Wristcheck; Mark Cho, famed watch collector, connoisseur, co-founder of The Armoury; and Ronny Hsu, head of sales, jewellery for Christie’s Asia-Pacific, who appeared on stage fresh off record-breaking, billion-dollar sales. How the young and digitally savvy are levelling the playing field and how legacy brands will need to address these new kids on the block as they hold the future of curated digital sales was brought up across the board. The appeal of Gen Z consumers in being an informed audience and customer was brought up by Chu, while Cho spoke about the significance of important details like history, provenance, rarity, and narrative as key factors in lending a luxury watch its credence.
Tak Man took to the stage once again to invite Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, CEO and chairman of Bentley Motors, to a discussion of luxury through sustainability and personalisation as the legendary motor company navigates paths deriving from heritage and heading towards innovation. How the famed marque embodies a commitment to craftsmanship while embracing the future of luxury automotive design to ensure that Bentley remains at the forefront of the luxury market was addressed and applauded by obvious fans and collectors.
A quick networking lunch followed, and then it was time for a trio of ladies to lead the panel on “Charting the Evolution of Brand Collaborations." Moderator Johannes Neubacher, co-founder, VP, and chief content officer of WWD China, invited Hong Kong Olympian Camille Cheng; Becky Yeung, regional head of brand partnerships and sync for Asia for Warner Music Group; and Amy Yang, vice president marketing, APAC & IMEA of VistaJet, to discuss the perils and plusses of collaborating with global companies. In the quest for exclusivity, personalisation, and meaningful crossovers, new realms of brand collaborations form a significant part of ongoing brand strategies, but all the women confirmed that unless it is an authentic exercise, the news-making partnerships would not work. “Collaborations only work if brands correctly project what they stand for and who they want to align with," said Cheng, who has had an enduring partnership with athleisure company Lululemon.
Then, it was time for the veterans to take centre stage as our very own Authority of Luxury, Mary Gostelow, president of the Gostelow Report, invited Chanin Donavanik, vice chairman and executive committee chairman of Dusit International, to the stage. Redefining luxury through legacy, the Dusit story exemplifies this ethos, where the foundation laid by the matriarch has been a guiding force in crafting an exquisite luxury brand. Legendary hotelier Donavanik explained how as the company evolves, it has had to navigate the delicate balance between tradition and modernity, facing bouquets and naysayers and riding out the waves. The legendary hotelier was not shy about confronting the criticism he got while expanding and how he met his detractors head on, leading to the tremendous success he enjoys today.
What could have been a dry talk about the future of luxury brands and family offices turned out to be a lively and riveting discussion between moderator Chi-man Kwan, director of the Family Office Association Hong Kong and the wildly knowledgeable panellists Angel Chia, executive director of the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy, and James Root, senior partner of Bain & Company and chairman of Bain Futures. As family offices become one of the fastest generators of wealth in the world, the opportunities for family offices to leverage their investments was addressed in the discussion, leading to a rather original take as tables were turned artfully: ask not what luxury brands can do for family offices, but what family offices can do for luxury brands! Root suggested that family offices should present themselves as value-add investors to luxury brands, a novel take that was brought up on stage. Meanwhile, luxury brands should appeal to the next generation in family offices.
By far the most amusing and laughter-perforated chat came from an unexpected corner, by the charming Alberto Galassi, CEO of Ferretti Group, who brought the house down with anecdotal tales and case-study observations as he discussed the yacht industry’s ebbs and flows with Robb Report Hong Kong publisher Tak Man. In the rarefied world of luxury leisure vessels, few names shine as brightly as Ferretti Group, a world leader in the design, construction, and sale of yachts and vessels, with a unique portfolio of prestigious and exclusive brands. Galassi spoke about the significance of leisure vessels in the current luxury market as the industry, particularly in Italy, continues to grow to greater heights and UHNWIs show interest in yacht investment like never before. How Ferretti is driving change and transformation as a pioneering innovator while also affirming its long-term financial strength—as the record revenues this past decade clearly indicate—was brought up, including how a collab with D&G helped certain projects.
After the spotlight, a trifecta of speakers took to the stage, led by Francis Belin, president of Christie’s Asia-Pacific; Sara Klomps, director at Zaha Hadid Architects; and Christina Gaw, managing principal, global head of capital markets, and co-chair of alternative investments at Gaw Capital Partners. Moderated by Claire Breen Melwani, noted luxury strategist and consultant, how real-estate developers and auction houses are appealing to UHNWIs was showcased on stage. What top-draw clients want from their luxury spaces was up for discussion as companies and brands challenge the status quo, blending rich history with cutting-edge technology to reshape and create unique, memorable interactions that resonate deeply with their A-list clientele. Designer, client, investor—we had rarely seen such harmony on stage as the meeting of minds encouraged excellent talks.
Sebastian Paredes, head of North Asia at DBS Bank and CEO of DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, sat for an exclusive chat with Tak Man as he cut deep on the chatter about the Greater Bay Area, a region that’s shaking the global economy in unprecedented ways. Paredes addressed the growth of affluent populations in the Greater Bay Area, their investment preferences, the stimulus measures introduced to stabilise economic growth, important market develops, what makes Hong Kong a preferred financial centre for UHNWIs, and how all of this befits the GBA’s reputation as China’s Silicon Valley.
For the last word of the Leaders of Luxury Summit, the platform was handed over to two enterprising women: Victoria Tang-Owen, creative director of Thirty30 Creative and her eponymous studio, who led a talk about exploring the future of luxury with Nadine Ghosn, CEO and founder of Nadine Ghosn Fine Jewellery. In the realm of contemporary luxury, Ghosn has emerged as a visionary, redefining jewellery with her playful yet sophisticated creations. Her unique designs challenge conventional norms and celebrate individuality, but the road to success hasn’t always been paved with diamonds. How the young entrepreneur has had to compete for attention, eyeballs, and sales with brands that have been around for centuries was spoken about, as well as how she would like to collaborate with some of these same icons. As Ghosn continues to innovate, she embodies the future of luxury, where creativity meets authenticity, and each piece tells a story that sparks dialogue, connection, and fun: “I don’t see jewellery merely as adornment, but a sense of empowerment."
And with that defining statement, the Leaders of Luxury Summit drew to a close, and segued into a night of celebration and revelry. Champagnes were popped, live music thrived, and the guests were dressed to the nines, with ladies in glamorous gowns and a parade of tuxedoes escorted to the glittering ballroom of Regent Hong Kong—the Leaders of Luxury Summit 2024 was capped off with a gala night to remember. Cocktails began outside the ballroom, above the famed marble staircase of the hotel where various beverage stations quenched every thirst as the free-flow bubbly hour saw many friends, old and new, mix and mingle. A red carpet was laid out in front of Robb Report Hong Kong’s signature wall where every VIP in attendance was captured by the photography team (some snapshots in the gallery here).
Dinner began sharply as the hotel team shepherded the guests into the gorgeously decorated and iconic Hong Kong ballroom. The Best of the Best black-tie gala dinner kicked off with the host himself; Tak Man, CEO and publisher of Robb Report Hong Kong, welcomed one and all, thanking and congratulating the speakers and panellists who spoke so eloquently throughout the busy day during the inaugural Leaders of Luxury Summit 2024 earlier that morning and afternoon. Dane Cheng, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, hit the stage to welcome the local and international guests in attendance, including delegates who flew to Hong Kong specifically for the occasion.
The evening, however, wasn’t one for long speeches or presentation, but one of celebration and festivity as guests let their hair down to enjoy the multiple-course dinner that came from the Michelin-starred kitchens of Regent Hong Kong. Over courses of gravlax Scottish salmon, artisanal cavatelli, miso-glazed black cod, and roasted French yellow chicken breast, guests rarely sat still as it was an evening of reunions and long-overdue meetings. Many attendees caught up with friends, business partners, future collaborators (connecting top-tier ranks is what we do at Robb Report Hong Kong), and celebrity guests.
In the audience on the central table, we had the who’s-who of industry surrounding Tak Man, which included Dane Cheng of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Alberto Galassi of Ferretti Group, Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser of Bentley Motors, Danny Xiang of Saint Bella, Sebastian Paredes of DBS, Debashish Ghosh of PMC, Sara Klomps of Zaha Hadid Architects, Don So of Humansa, Deepak Ohri of Luxury Atelier Maison Happiness, Darren Burden of Kai Tak Sports Park, and Neil Hyman of Song Capital, among several others.
As promised, there was indeed an element of surprise for the guests as four special awards were handed out to deserving candidates, starting with the Super Luxury All-Terrain SUV award, which was given to the team of Rolls-Royce for the incredible Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II. On stage to receive the award was Janice Lam from Rolls Royce Hong Kong. For the second year in a row, VistaJet picked up the Best Private Aviation Company award, which was collected by Amy Yang. The Best Legacy of Innovation award was given to the Ferretti Group and on stage to receive the award were CEO Alberto Galassi himself and Andrew Pitchford from Ferretti’s Asia headquarters. And finally, Humansa was awarded the Best Health and Longevity Centre award and CEO Don So did the honours.
By the time the famed panna cotta from Regent Hong Kong arrived as a final course, people were ready to hit the dance floor. Ushering them in was the young Hong Kong talent Jasmine Yen, whose powerful rendition of classic and original songs brought the house down. The young vocalist, singer, and songwriter, signed to Sony Music Entertainment’s RCA Records Greater China, drew awe and applause in equal measure. The DJ spun till the wee hours of morning and many left with their dancing shoes on, fuelled by Perrier-Jouët bubbles.
The Leaders of Luxury Summit was not merely an event; it was a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and the enduring spirit of luxury, firmly establishing its place in the global social calendar. Clear your schedule, as the next one is already in the works for 2025.
