A luxury resort, sometimes referred to as an exclusive resort, is a very expensive vacation
facility which is fully staffed and has been rated with five stars.[by whom?] Luxury resorts
often boast many visitor activities and attractions such as golf, watersports, spa and beauty
facilities, skiing, natural ecology and tranquility. Because of the extent of amenities
offered, a luxury resort is also considered a destination resort.
A luxury resort is an elite luxury property which exhibits an exceptionally high degree of
customer service and hospitality. A flawless execution of guest services will be the resort
staff's and management's main concern. A luxury resort will commonly also feature a superb
architectural interior and exterior design as well as an interesting physical location. These
resorts are exclusive in terms of price and can cost as much as 46,000 USD per night.
The interior design will normally be elegant with stylish bedroom decor, exceptional dining
facilities, and manicured landscaping and meticulous grounds. Luxury resorts will often also
be in based in exceptionally desirable and strategic worldwide locations, from beautiful
tropical islands, to snow caked mountains, to scenic lakes and rivers, to exhilarating
cities. The locations will often be famous for featured activities from skiing to golf, water
spots, diving, fishing, sailing and nature walks to glamorous shopping and nightlife
entertainment.
A luxury resort may vary greatly in character, style and theme from resort to resort. A
luxury resort will, however, normally be characterized by a high level of luxury,
sophistication and, of course, price. Accommodations are first class, whether they follow a
classic and traditional nature or a more minimalist and modern styling. An unmatched level of
comfort will be available at a luxury resort, as well as many personalized services and
amenities.
Luxury vehicle is a marketing term for a vehicle that provides luxury — that which is beyond
strict necessity — in exchange for increased cost to the buyer.
The term suggests a vehicle with greater equipment, performance, construction precision,
comfort, design ingenuity, technological innovation, or features that convey brand image,
cachet, status, or prestige — or any other discretionary feature or combination of features.
The term may be applied to any vehicle type — from minivan to convertible, crossover or sport
utility vehicle and to any size vehicle, from small to large — in any price range.[1]
Though widely used, the term is broad, highly variable, ambiguous and abstruse — and lacks
both measurability or verifiability. In other words, there is no test, defined threshold, or
industry standard, that determines at what point an automobile becomes a "luxury vehicle."
"What is a luxury car to some... may be ‘ordinary’ to others."
Golf resorts are resorts that cater specifically to the sport of golf, and include access to
one or more golf course and or clubhouse. Golf resorts typically provide golf packages that
provide visitors with all greens and cart fees, range balls, luxury accommodations and meals.
Accommodation in the resorts may take the form of hotel-like rooms or private spacious
villas. Golf resorts are typically located in areas with great natural scenery and they may
also offer other nature-based activities such as backpacking, fishing as well as health spas
and beauty clinics etc.
It is possible for golfers to purchase vacation packages for some of the finest golf resorts
and golf courses all over the world. Destinations include golf resorts in states like
Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, and California, cities like Las Vegas, Pinehurst, and Myrtle Beach,
and renowned international golf travel destinations like Ireland and Scotland, where the game
was born. Most countries in the world now host golf resorts of one type or another.
The characteristics that define Luxury real estate differ among countries. However, location
largely defines the property's value, especially with respect to whether it offers views
(particularly, waterfront ones) or amenities such as proximity to golf courses, school
districts, and the downtown district. Thus, a 750-square-foot (70 m2) waterfront home with
less than one acre of property might be worth more than a 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) mansion
with ten acres of property.
In the previous example, the former would be called a "luxury property", whereas the latter
would be called a "luxury home". Both properties, however, owing to their high value, would
be classified as "luxury real estate".
Luxury real estate in any particular region is generally defined as property worth more than
a certain lower limit; for instance, homes worth more than $1 million in the United States
are generally classified as Luxury real estate. The classification also takes into account
the presence of surrounding homes, amenities, views, waterfronts, absence of crime-rate,
industrialization or unwanted commercialization, customizations of the home, and historical
or architectural significance.
[edit] Differences from ordinary real estate
Luxury real estate entails greater responsibility for agents who handle transactions than
ordinary real estate. They must advertise to a national audience to attract non-local buyers,
whereas ordinary real estate only generally requires exposure in local media. There are also
greater legal responsibilities for the luxury estate agent, which often involve attornies,
trusts, and anonymity issues. Buyers often require more inspections than with ordinary real
estate (which are generally bought after a single inspection).
[edit] Luxury real estate magazines
Companies operating in the luxury real estate market often publish their own magazines online
and in print, meant to publicize their brands. Examples include Panache Magazine, published
in New York by luxury real estate broker Panache Privée, and Previews magazine, published by
Coldwell Banker.
A destination spa is a short term residential/lodging facility with the primary purpose of guiding individual spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically over a seven-day stay,such facilities typically provide a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthy cuisine and special interest programming.
Some destination spas offer an all-inclusive program that includes facilitated fitness classes, healthy cuisine, educational classes and seminars as well as similar services to a beauty salon or a day spa. Guests reside and participate in the program at a destination spa instead of just visiting for a treatment or pure vacation. Some destination spas are in exotic locations or in spa towns.
Resort spas are generally located in resorts and offer similar services via rooms with services, meals, body treatments and fitness a la carte.
[edit] Types of services
Main article: Body treatment
Typical services include:
* nutrition counseling
* weight loss
* medical treatment
* fitness consultation
* cooking lessons
* massage
* facials — facial cleansing with a variety of products
* nail care
* waxing — the removal of body hair with hot wax
* body treatments such as body wraps, aromatherapy
* balneotherapy
* skin exfoliation — including chemical peels and microdermabrasion
