Louvre Hotels on an expansion shortcut in fast-growing China

Starwood Capital’s Louvre Hotels to speed up its expansion in fast-growing China Louvre Hotels, the world’s eighth-largest hotelier owned by U.S. investment group Starwood Capital, partnershiped with number one Chinese tour operator for expansion. Louvre Hotels, which so far has three hotels in China, plans to open 25 midscale or luxury hotels in the Shanghai … Read more

China Connect 2012: E and M-commerce in the age of brand consciousness

The Chinese luxury buyer is the youngest in the world. Enough to dwell upon the latest insights on this key target, driver of China growth. From 22 and 23 March 2012 Paris will be the host of the China Connect 2012, a conference focused around the opportunities presented by the Chinese E- and M-commerce market. … Read more

Hermes defeated in China trademark dispute

France’s Hermes loses China trademark fight Foreign companies are having trouble in China over trademarks and unauthorised use of their names. The examples include Apple, basketball legend  Michael Jordan and, more recently, French luxury group Hermes International. French luxury producer Hermes, which is known as “Ai Ma Shi” in China, has lost a lawsuit against … Read more

Net-A-Porter – first major foray into the China luxury e-commerce market

Chinese e-commerce platform Shouke Limited is set to be acquired by the London-based luxury online retailer Net-A-Porter.com, marking that company’s first major foray into the China market. The members-only Shouke shopping website was only one of many well-capitalized luxury e-commerce platforms to spring up in China in the last couple of years, and the country’s … Read more

Artprice’s Annual Art Market Report: Art sold better than at any other time in history

This year, Artprice’s annual art market report – based on 6.3 million auction results from 4,500 auction houses around the world focused particularly on China’s successful conquest of the global art market. In spite of the sword of Damocles hanging over the West, art in fact sold better in 2011 than at any other time … Read more

Hong Kong’s free-port status – a draw for business jet owners

Importing aircraft into China is a cumbersome process, and buyers must pay a 5 percent customs tax in addition to a 17 percent value-added tax. But There Hong Kong has no tax on imports of private jets. “Owning an aircraft in Hong Kong is a lot simpler than in China,” Chris Buchholz, Hongkong Jet Chief … Read more