Millionaire Dating Site Review. - Date a millionaire online!

Online dating has revolutionized the traditional meet & greet of relationship set-ups, blind dates and barhopping and is becoming convenient, empowering, fun and interesting. In today's environment, busy professionals do not have enough hours in the day to complete normal everyday task let alone try to find that special someone or casual acquaintance. Dating alone can be a difficult mission and finding that right individual who fits your unique needs is even more challenging. Millionaire Cupid is on the rise and single professionals are seeking dating resources in order to meet that successful man or woman of their dreams. Here are three of the hottest online dating services that cater to professional individuals with busy lifestyles.

MillionaireCupid.com is a premier service that provides successful professionals with a place to meet quality individuals. MillioniareCupid.com prides itself on upscale clients such as CEO's, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, celebrities and professional athletes and has just implemented a certification service of millionaire members. The initial membership is free to sign up however there is a gold membership for selected clients that requires a fee. The free membership includes a profile post, email and conducting profile searches. MillionaireMatch.com members can enjoy online chats and can create their own blog for extra exposure.

MillionaireCupid.com is an online dating service for men and women looking to step up their dating experience. Even though, a majority of men on this dating website are not certified millionaires yet, however they have the potential to become millionaires very quickly, or they are not willing to show others their real income. I have to say that the caliber of these men are pretty impressive and would be worth a browse. For a limited time only, membership is free which includes a profile post, profile searches and email.

The Millionaire Cupid Verification System verifies and approves income, so that there will not be any surprises after the love connection.

The key thing about WealhyMen.com is that they have a premium verification system. The Wealthy Men Verification System verifies and approves income, profession and photographs, so that there will not be any surprises after the love connection.

A New Fractional: Owning a Piece of a Yacht

An eighth of a yacht is better than none. Or so reasons Han Verstraete, chief executive of YachtPlus.

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Courtesy of YachtPlus
The luxurious interior of YachtPlus's new fleet.
A London-based operation that is building a fleet of 10 yachts, YachtPlus is the latest company to jump into fractionals, a shared-ownership structure that allows people to buy only part of a costly item. “Wealthy people today do not invest in only assets but in experiences,” Mr. Verstraete said. “My typical customer will have three real estate assets and perhaps also do some sharing of jets. The yacht experience is the experience these people are seeking next.”

James Lawson, senior research director at Ledbury Research, a consulting firm in London, agreed with this assessment. “Many wealthy people are looking for driving lessons organized by Ferrari, cooking lessons by celebrity chefs, and exclusive travel and holiday experiences,” he said. “Experience is becoming more important than ownership.”

Fractional ownership is cousin to the timeshare, a sales arrangement born in the 1960s that usually involves the right to stay in an accommodation for a specific period of time but, because of abuses by some developers, can sometimes conjure up images of high-pressure salesmen who gloss over the fine print.

Today there are many ways to have a fractional lifestyle. One such service, bagborroworsteal.com, sells the use of a revolving array of designer handbags and jewelry that can cost thousands to own but $20 to $175 a month to use. Buyavineyard.co.uk sells partial titles to some French vineyards; and several luxury hotel companies, including Ritz-Carlton and the Four Seasons, offer fractional ownership of some properties they own or manage around the world.

As for Mr. Verstraete, he hopes YachtPlus, at yachtplus.co.uk, will do for boats what NetJets did for private jets. Founded in 1986, NetJets is the world leader in fractional jet ownership, with a fleet of more than 650 jets worldwide and thousands of shareholders.

Mr. Verstraete said eight shares would be sold for $2 million each in each of the company’s 40-meter, or 132 foot, yachts, covering five weeks of use per year. Charters to others will be offered during any unused weeks, with the owners receiving the revenue.

So far, YachtPlus has sold the 32 fractions for the first four boats, he said. Mr. Verstraete said that, generally, the buyers were what he calls the “emancipated wealthy” — hedge fund managers and private equity fund managers who can take more time away from the office. He said most were Europeans, with a sprinkling of Americans.

Two of the boats, which are being built in the Cantieri Navali Rodriquez shipyard in La Spezia, Italy, are expected to be ready next summer, with another one finished every four months after that.

Mr. Verstraete said the fleet of 10 yachts would be parked in the Caribbean in the winter and the Mediterranean in the summer. All crew members will be YachtPlus employees, which means, Mr. Verstraete said, that owners and their guests will be ensured excellent service.

“My vision is to make this the contemporary yachting brand,” he said. “The similarity is with a fashion label that everyone wants.” The boats are being designed by Norman Foster, the renowned architect whose firm, Foster + Partners of London, is responsible for such projects as the new Beijing airport and 30 Saint Mary Axe, the iconic London building commonly called the Gherkin.

With the capacity to sleep 18, the yachts will have floor-to-ceiling windows on the main and upper decks, as well as in the owner’s suite, and a glass spiral staircase linking all four decks. “The philosophy is that this won’t be just another white boat,” Mr. Verstraete said.

The founders and initial shareholders in YachtPlus, which was organized in 2005, include Ruggero Magnoni, vice chairman of the American investment bank Lehman Brothers, and Fabio Cane, head of the private equity operations of ?? Banca Intesa in Italy. Mr. Verstraete himself was previously associated with Marquis Jet, a NetJet competitor.

Another company, Yacht Share, operates out of Miami with an arrangement that is more like a traditional timeshare. As explained on theyachtshare.com, a $40,000 membership fee, in addition to monthly payments, provides 28 days a year on a captained luxury yacht that sleeps six — but does not provide an equity stake in the boat, as the fractional ownership does. Participants do, however, receive privileges at the Sunset Harbour Yacht Club in the South Beach area of Miami as well as at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Fla.

“Typically a yacht is used only three to four weeks of the year by its owner,” said Robert Kyle, chief executive of Yacht Share. “It sits the rest of the time in a marina, becoming part of the local skyline.”

While fractional ownership can be a rewarding experience, experts warn that consumers must first do their homework.

“Are there deep pockets behind it? Do they have experience?” said Milton Pedraza, chief executive of the Luxury Institute, a research firm in New York. “You need to make sure there are operators who really understand the economics of what they are doing and who really know how to deliver on the services they promise.”

Mr. Pedraza said he expected fractional ownership to spread. “We’re seeing it in recreational vehicles,” he said. “Soon you’ll also see it in helicopters. Just about every luxury asset you can think of can and will be fractionalized.”

Roads not taken can lead to luxury

Forget the South Florida condo, the cottage in the Hamptons and the chalet in Aspen. They're far too cliche, not to mention ridiculously overpriced. Savvy weekenders, vacationers and retirees are surfing the Web for up-and-coming residential developments in areas that will never become the next Hilton Head.


Even though most of these places lack the cachet of many traditional second-home communities and are much harder to get to than the Jersey Shore, they are scenic, not yet overrun and, in some cases, quite affordable.

White Point Estates, Queens County, Nova Scotia

Once a retreat for well-heeled outdoorsmen, this quaint seaside development consists of wooded, waterview and oceanfront home sites in a luxury resort on the Atlantic Ocean. Lots range from three-quarters of an acre to 2 acres on which buyers can build homes. The enclave, like Nova Scotia itself, attracts American, European and Canadian second-home hunters seeking New England charm at a fraction of the cost. Residents will enjoy a Canadian PGA-rated golf course, a wide range of outdoor recreational pursuits and a laid-back lifestyle. Prices start at $45,000. 800-613-2171 or whitepointestates.com.

Four Seasons Residence Club, Vail, Colo.

Each week The Record features an interesting North Jersey Home in the Dwellings column. This week's home is a transformed ranch in Hackensack.

In recently renovated Vail Village (one of the world's top ski resorts and year-round outdoor destinations) at the new Four Seasons Resort, this club consists of 19 cabins, each divided into 12 shares. Amenities include a ski valet, a 25,000-square-foot spa, and heated outdoor pool. From $390,000. 800-343-0799 or fourseasons.com/ownvai.

The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, S.C.

Situated on the banks of Lake Keowee -- one of the Southeast's most pristine freshwater lakes -- this 394-acre development boasts panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This community consists of lakefront, lake view and lake access home sites, and a collection of cottages overlooking the 18th hole of a brand new Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Home lots start at $200,000 and the homes start at $750,000. 866-435-5123 or cliffscommunities.com.

Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, Maui, Hawaii

On picturesque Kapalua Bay with views of Lanai's and Molokai's volcanoes, the Ritz is offering 84 full-ownership and 62 two-, three-, and four-bedroom fractionally owned condos (each divided into 12 shares) at its oceanfront resort, plus 107 full-owned condo suites at the nearby hotel. In addition to a 30,000-square-foot spa and a 6,100-square-foot beach club, there is a lagoon-style pool, as well as tennis courts and a stretch of some of the world's finest white sand. Priced from $300,000 for the club resort; from $895,000 for condo hotel suites. 800-278-0121 or ritzcarltonrealestate.com.

Trump at Cap Cana, Dominican Republic

Donald Trump is developing a 30,000-acre luxury resort, above, that will include private bungalows, villas and estate lots with ocean views. Located on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, Cap Cana will feature 5,000 residential units (with private infinity pools, stone patios, and outdoor hot tubs), 500 hotel rooms, three Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and a 1,000-slip marina. Amenities will include luxury shopping, fine dining, world-class spas, water sports, polo, and horseback riding facilities, to name a few. From $465,000. 800-785-2198 or capcana.com.

Bay Club at Falcon Point Ranch, Seadrift, Texas

Just 2½ hours from Houston, surrounded by a 6,000-acre ranch and wildlife preserve, this intimate gated coastal community consists of 108 waterfront and water view home sites on San Antonio Bay. Residents will enjoy easy living close to a luxury lodge with 24-hour concierge service, a swimming pool, community piers and a trail system for hiking and biking. $250,000 and up. 877-375-4868 or falconpointranch.com.

The Palmyra Resort & Spa, Montego Bay, Jamaica

This luxurious 16-acre Caribbean resort has 656 full-ownership units, running the gamut from one-bedroom condo units to three-bedroom oceanfront villas. Residents have access to the world-class Espa, a five-star, 23,000-square-foot spa, and receive three golf course memberships. From $450,000. 866-725-3969 or thepalmyra.com.

Lincoln Harbor, Lake Logan Martin, Ala.

About 90 minutes west of Atlanta, Lincoln Harbor is courting second-home buyers with 952 lakeside condos, town houses and estates, which will be built over the course of seven years. Known for its world-class bass fishing, Lake Logan Martin is nestled in the southernmost foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Amenities will include fitness facilities, opportunities for water sports, nature trails, concierge and housekeeping services, and a lakefront restaurant. From $369,000. 877-525-3378 or lincolnharbor.net.

R&R Holding Developments, Hamilton County, Fla.

Located in northern Florida just across the Georgia border, Pine Shadow Ranch, Deer Park Ranch and other communities under development will consist of custom-built log homes on 5-, 10- or 20-acre rural lots in gated communities near Suwannee River State Park. In addition, there are plans for a 50-acre camping area, swimming facilities, a restaurant and convenience store. All price ranges. 407-448-0567 or sales@fssii.net.

The Phillips Club at Lincoln Center, New York City

For those who crave big-city stimulation, this private residence club in Manhattan near Central Park West was created as an alternative to more expensive apartments and less spacious luxury hotel rooms. The club offers fractional ownerships for one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences. Perks include access to the members' lobby and lounge, privileges at Reebok Sports Club/NY, concierge services, pre-arrival grocery shopping and long-term clothing storage. From $315,000 (the new The Phillips Club II has prices starting at $155,000). 877-644-8900 or phillipsclub.com.

Top 10 Safety Features for the Future

In your next car accident, a circuit may be just as crucial to your survival as a safety belt. The seat belt, made mandatory by Congress in the 1960s, set off a revolutionary leap in automobile safety and dramatically reduced lives lost in crashes. Now, a second safety revolution is in the offing. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has implemented a standard making electronic stability control (ESC) equipment mandatory in all vehicles, estimating that the universal adoption of this technology by 2011 will save 10,000 lives a year.

ESC, already standard on many luxury vehicles and optional on a growing number of mainstream models, is only one among a slew of new auto-safety advancements designed to prevent accidents rather than just protect occupants from them. Most of these newfangled features are microchip based and build on the increasing electronic sophistication of vehicles. Not all have reached the state engineers call “technological maturity,” meaning they work dependably and affordably but are still being perfected.

Last fall, Nicole R. Nason, the administrator of the NHTSA, told a Congressional committee that electronic technologies were poised for the first time to make as important a contribution to safety as physical measures such as seat belts and bumpers. “I believe the most promising gains in highway safety are going to come from the deployment of crash-avoidance technologies,” she said. “Today the technology exists not only to ameliorate the severity of a crash, but to help prevent it outright.” Among these technologies, Nason listed forward-collision warning systems, lane-departure warning and blind-spot warning devices. “But the crash-avoidance technology that holds the greatest promise is electronic stability control,” she said.

For all such new ideas, there has been a typical route: invention, adoption and legislation. Increasingly, new auto-safety features will not be thought of as individual options and gadgets but as part of a common set of ears and eyes linked by a brain — or at least the automotive equivalent of the office’s local area network.


The features are already being sold this way. Instead of picking individual gadgets, buyers will generally find it easier to choose full safety options packages. Lexus, for instance, is emphasizing the way its safety features work as part of a common system by marketing its smart cruise control, lane-departure warning and ESC technologies into a single package called Lexus Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management.

The integration of such systems and the ceding of brake, throttle and — eventually — steering control all raise major questions for drivers and car companies: How much help do drivers want or need at the wheel? Who is in charge?

Ford refers to its high-tech safety systems as “co-drivers”; other companies call them “assistants.” Mercedes-Benz says that in its vehicles, technology will never take control out of the hands of the human driver. The company adheres to a systematic design, always offering sight and sound warnings in sequence before computerized controls take emergency action.

As people spend more time in the car with mobile phones and cups of coffee in one hand, we run the risk of undoing the highest technology improvements with the lowest of human failings — simple distraction.

Here’s a guide to the basics of some of the latest developments, beginning with ESC. The first six are preventative measures; the latter four are designed to reduce/mitigate injuries resulting from accidents.

More choices coming for the rich and green

Hang in there, well-heeled but green-minded luxury-brand shoppers. If you can’t quite picture yourself, your family and all your stuff crammed into the small, quirky-looking and (shudder) increasingly common Toyota Prius, more choices are coming.

Lots of green but respectably prestigious choices were rolled out at the 2007 New York Auto Show in early April.

The trend toward “green” cars includes a significant subset of people who are more interested in what could be called being “painlessly green.” That is, they want to save the environment and save money, but they are less interested in sacrificing comfort, performance, functionality and, let’s face it, prestige.

In Pictures: 10 Best Luxury Eco-Resorts

This Dominican resort, found midway down the chain of Caribbean islands near Guadeloupe and Martinique, includes 35 cottages elevated on wooden posts and perched like bird's nests under a jungle canopy. The visitor center sits on a seaside cliff. A yoga center, a volcanic stone swimming pool, live entertainment and dancing are popular diversions.
A veritable picture of a well-oiled eco-machine, CESiaK is one of hundreds of similar small resorts around the planet with a mission based on sustainability. Since the late 1970’s, when the term “ecotourism” first entered the travel industry’s taxonomy, resorts with environmental and educational intents have become increasingly popular.

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“People became disenchanted with traditional tourism,” said Martha Honey, executive director of The International Ecotourism Society in Washington D.C. Interest in ecotourism dovetailed with the environmental movement and society’s increasing interest in sustainability. By the early 1990’s, Honey said, ecotourism was the fastest growing sector of the travel industry.

Specifically, The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as: “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people.” At no point in history has a traveler had so many eco-options. From British Colombia to Bali, resort owners are embracing its tenets, which revolve around environmental conservation, education and community involvement.

But as a buzzword, the term “ecotourism” can spurn marketing hype. “Because of its open-ended definition, ‘ecotourism’ is interpreted differently by everyone,” said Cameron Boyd, owner and founder of CESiaK, which stands for Centro Ecológico Sian Ka’an. “You have to watch out for places that promote ecotourism on no real basis.”


© Jungle Bay Resort & Spa
This Dominican resort, found midway down the chain of Caribbean islands near Guadeloupe and Martinique, includes 35 cottages elevated on wooden posts and perched like bird's nests under a jungle canopy. The visitor center sits on a seaside cliff. A yoga center, a volcanic stone swimming pool, live entertainment and dancing are popular diversions.
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As examples, Boyd offers up beach resorts that perpetually run diesel generators for air-conditioning. Martha Honey said non-resident employees are shipped in to work at some resorts, displacing locals who could do the job. In fact, some resorts and tour operators use “eco-” terms and prefixes simply because they market well.

Honey calls this hype “greenwashing,” and she says small resorts as well as big hotel chains have been culprit as of late. Part of the problem is that there’s no universally accepted international certification for ecotourism. “It still might take some investigation on the traveler’s behalf to make sure the resort is the real deal,” she said.

But things are changing. The International Ecotourism Society, in collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance, has plans to introduce a global accreditation system — the Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council — to certify individual programs within the next two years.

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Despite some subversiveness (or confused semantics in some cases), Honey said the overall future for ecotourism is bright. “There is a broad desire of the general public to travel in a social and environmentally responsible manner,” she said. Resort companies large and small are taking notice.

The endgame of the ecotourism movement, said Honey, will be the total reform of the worldwide travel industry as we know it. Here are 11 resorts doing “eco” the right way.

10 best luxury eco-resorts

Geodesic domes reminiscent of the local Kawesqar people's huts were constructed for guests visiting EcoCamp Patagonia, which is in Torres del Paine National Park. Trekking into the Patagonian wonderland of mountains, fjords, volcanoes, pampas and ice fields is a top activity.

Updated: 1:59 p.m. ET April 11, 2007
Put your ethos aside for a moment. Forget about saving the earth. Now imagine laying on white sand with waves splashing nearby. Think of turquoise waters, a warm and kissing breeze, green palms on the beach.

You’re at CESiaK, a beach resort and retreat south of Tulum, Mexico, on the Yucatan Peninsula’s Caribbean coast. The wilds of Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a 1.3-million-acre park, is to the west, complete with climbing monkeys, mangroves and Mayan ruins. Sea turtles nest nearby. CESiaK is paradise unfettered. Indeed, the resort is an archetype for self-indulgent tropical travel.

But here’s the kicker: CESiaK is also an ecologically responsible place to stay.

To start with the resort is completely off the grid: wind and sun power its buildings. Rainwater is collected, filtered and stored in cisterns for use. Local labor was used in the construction of the resort, and its current employees are natives to the area. CESiaK leads ecology education tours for visitors; its staff reaches out to more than 800 area kids via the public schools in Tulum and Punta Allen, where CESiaK leads environmental lessons.

Coolest new car colors

A car that changes from pink to white as it drives by? The latest developments in manufacturing make fancy paint colors mainstream.
By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer
April 11 2007: 2:28 PM EDT


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- As I drove north on the New Jersey Turnpike recently, a Mary Kay cosmetics saleswoman in a Cadillac DTS passed me on the right, her big car's paint job hitting me like a punch in the eye from the Pink Panther.

As it zoomed on past the car gradually changed color. Starting at the edges, the pink faded and turned to a pearly white.


Multicolored metal flecks in paint, like those seen in this car designer's "color frog," a model used to display car paint colors, can help accentuate contours.

Orange, like the "Tambora Flame Metallic" on this Land Rover LR2, has had surprising staying power as a popular car color.
Back in New York City, during the media preview days for the New York Auto Show in early April, I spent some time talking to Chris Webb, General Motors' (Charts) Exterior Color and Trend Designer. He helped design the paint used on that car.

"We have a dedicated line that just runs the Mary Kay cars for them," said Webb.

If you want drive a color shifting pink-pearl Cadillac yourself, you'll have to get a job with Mary Kay and start moving some serious eyeliner for the privilege.

Color shifting pigments aren't entirely new - the technology has existed for many years - but they have now entered the mainstream and are bringing new popularity to once boring shades.

Silver isn't silver anymore. Black might not always be black. Around the edges of the wheel wells it might glisten in purple or gold. Where the body curves inward, hints of blue or red might shine from the shadows.

The secret is extra layers of coating embedded with tiny metal flakes. The standard process for painting a car in a factory was - and still is - to lay down a layer of color and cover that with a clear coat. The clear coat gives the color a wet-looking shine and a sense of depth.

Now, the colored base coat can be covered with a second translucent layer that could be a different color. And within that second translucent layer there could be little flecks of aluminum and those flecks can, themselves, be another color. Or several other colors.

"The pink you saw had a solid pink base coat with silver layer sprayed on top," said Webb.

Best of the New York Auto Show
At the extreme of color shifting paints are the ChromaFlair colors created by JDS Uniphase (Charts). These pigments use colorless flakes which refract light creating colors in the same way that butterfly wings and bird feathers do.

A ChromaFlair color called "scorched penny" is used in the 2006 special-edition Scion xB Release Series 4.0 from Toyota (Charts). It changes colors dramatically from one viewing angle to another, going from a bright copper to nearly black.

The painting process required for these sorts of effects is expensive, so car companies charge more for them. But that just makes them more alluring.

"If you tell people you're going to charge them for a paint they like it even more," said Barb Parker, a color designer with JDS Uniphase.

Of GM's 26 car manufacturing plants, only five can do a "tri-coat" process, said Webb, so paint researchers are creating some of the same effects by just adding color flakes directly into the base coat.

These developments make life even more challenging for people like Webb whose job it is to predict what colors will be popular five or more years from now.

Right now, orange is going strong and should last. "Orange sales are increasing in popularity," he said. "I've developed orange products right up to 2010."

Copper-tinged oranges can be found on everything from the Chevrolet Corvette to the Ford Edge SUV to Honda's (Charts) Fit subcompact car.

Hues known in the industry as "naturals" - colors you and I would call brown and beige - are benefiting from these new color technologies. Today, browns can have a depth and richness reminiscent of expensive wood furniture. It's the sort of look that reminds one of craftsmanship and luxury rather than Silly Putty or mud.

"You're seeing a lot more consumer products offered in browns than maybe in previous years," said Jane Harrington, manager of color styling for PPG's automotive coatings division.

Greens are expected to see a resurgence as sales of hybrid vehicles increase, said Webb. People like to advertise their car's "greenness" in a fairly literal way. (Greens have been on the out lately as blues have become more popular. For some inexplicable reason, said Webb, blue and green alternate in popularity.)

Ford is working hard on, quite literally, the new black.

"Black is going to get more special and it's going to surprise and delight," said Susan Lampinen, Ford's chief designer for color and materials.

The new black will be used across Ford's line-up.

"We want to be the leaders in black," Lampinen said.

Looking ahead, the next frontier in car colors is dull. Very dull. By the 2010 model year, Webb hopes to be able to produce special car colors with no sheen to them whatsoever, as dull as a dusty kindergarten chalkboard.

"There would have to be caveats as to how to take care of the vehicles," he said.

Otherwise, someone might wax the car. That would just ruin the whole effect.

Forbes.com Launches Luxury Travel Site

Forbes.com officially launched its new, standalone luxury travel site on Thursday. The new site joins ForbesAutos.com, launched May 2005, and Forbes.com as the company's third online business.

ForbesTraveler.com is designed for discerning affluent travelers, and is intended to be an all-inclusive online destination for inspiring, planning and booking distinctive travel experiences, the company said, is. ForbesTraveler.com sponsors at launch include American Airlines, Coldwell Banker Previews International and SkyAuction.com.

"Travel coverage on Forbes.com has always been among our most popular lifestyle content…. We're taking that success and converting it into a standalone business dedicated solely to luxury travel, and we think consumers and advertisers will be pleased with the results," Jim Spanfeller, president and CEO of Forbes.com, said in a statement.

According to Guideline Research, among $100,000K+ income households, 52 percent of travel spending is done online; and households that had spent $3,000 or more on travel within the previous 12 months have a higher propensity for heavy web usage than any other media, including newspapers, TV or magazine, according to MRI research.

Barry Golson is editor of ForbesTraveler.com, having previously served as executive editor at TV Guide, Playboy and World Press Review, as well as editor-in-chief at Yahoo Internet Life. Todd Benedict is the site's advertising director; most recently he was the Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Forbes.com.

ForbesTraveler.com features include a specialized focus on luxury hotels and resorts only, advice from top hotel concierges worldwide, a luxury travel-expert panel, destination guides in collaboration with Mobil Travel Guide and Frommer's Travel Guides, travel tools (Flight Tracker, Frequent Flyer Distance Calculator, Mileage Manager, etc.) and a travel booking search engine powered by SideStep.

The ForbesTraveler 400 will be announced soon and will highlight the 400 hottest hotels and destinations in the world.

CNNMoney.com Luxury Channel Launched

CNNMoney.com launched a luxury channel this week, hoping to attract high-end advertisers with a rich-media-intensive environment, according to MediaPost. Infiniti, with a roadblock ad for the Infiniti G Sedan, is among the site's first advertisers.

Featuring eye-catching photography, galleries and videos, the site includes such features as Honeymoon Hotspots and homes from the wealthiest ZIP codes.

Previous luxury features on the site have proven popular. A story about the $8 million Maybach Exelero resulted in 22,000 video streams, and the private lives of millionaires yielded some 38,000 streams, according to a CNNMoney.com spokesperson.

CNNMoney.com draws content from other Time Inc. properties, including Money and Fortune magazines.

Angelina Jolie And Brad Pitt's $137 Million 'Love Boat'

Hollywood do-gooders Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are reportedly splashing out on their very own love boat - a $137 million luxury yacht. The 240 foot, three decker yacht has six en suite bedrooms, a swimming pool, helicopter pad and luxury gym, reports British newspaper The Sun.

Boat builder Mario La Via in Rome, Italy admits someone has snapped up the mega yacht, but refuses to name the boat loving buyers for "privacy reasons."

In other Jolie/Pitt news, Angelina Jolie's relationship with partner Brad Pitt has totally changed her life, according to reports.

James Haven is convinced his sister has found a partner for life following failed marriages to Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton.

Haven, 33, says, "Brad has changed my sister a lot. They have an extraordinary bond, it's not on the usual level ... He's great with her, and I've never seen a brood like that who are all so supportive of one another ... Brad is so strong for her. When she feels vulnerable, he has the most incredible strength .... I've never seen any sign of tension between them, and if it keeps going the way it's going, they'll be together for life." (c) WENN

Study: Wealthy Americans Web Savvier than Average

Fully 76 percent of U.S. internet users earning more than $150,000 read blogs, up from 57 percent two years ago, according to a new study by the Luxury Institute. Furthermore, 25 percent themeselves blog, up from 18 percent in 2005.

The figures compare with 25 percent of all U.S. internet users who say they read blogs and 9 percent who are bloggers, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

The Luxury Institute study also found that 55 percent of wealthy Americans use an instant messenging service, compared with 39 percent of general web users, and that 31 percent of wealthy Americans use a social-networking site, versus 16 of all web users.

The Luxury Institute's survey was conducted online, in March, among 1,000 web users earning more than $150,000 a year.

How To Live Rich Without Going Broke

While very few of us will reach the ranks of the world's billionaires, it doesn't mean we can't live like them.

And we don't have to shell out several million to do so.

That's because a number of companies are offering temporary use of high-end products and services such as yachts, exotic cars, luxury handbags, and even personal chefs and stylists.

In Pictures: Top 10 Ways To Live Rich
So while you may not be able to call it your own, you still get every benefit of living the rich life.

"We call it the Luxury Access Revolution," says Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, a research company that provides luxury information to high-net-worth individuals and the companies that cater to them. "It makes it easy for you to say, 'I'm not going to buy it. I'm going to carve out the experience and buy the experience,' because [people] don't want the hassle of owning the possession. You're seeing it across many more categories."

NetJets, a Berkshire Hathaway-owned company that began offering fractional jet ownership in 1986, caught on to customer desire for the luxe life with minimal commitment in 2001. That's when it introduced the Marquis Jet Card, which allows the user to sublease a NetJets fractional share of which Marquis Jet Partners is the owner. Individuals may pre-buy 25 hours of yearly flight time for $119,900 (excluding additional charges like tax, fuel, etc.).

Got time to kill between flights? Why not blow $3,000 on a Fendi bag? Chances are a terminal near you has that and other luxury goods for sale. Sneak a peek here.
Several other companies are following suit.

Home Cooking
Private Chefs, which has staffed the homes of Richard Branson and Madonna, will dispatch a personal cook to yours for as little as a day. Be prepared to pay a $100 agency fee plus $35 per hour, and everything else is taken care of, from the shopping and cooking to serving and cleanup.

"This is the part of our business that's been increasing steadily in the past year," says Christian Paier, PCI president. The company gets an average of 10 requests per week in each of its eight offices located in Beverly Hills, Calif.; Palm Beach, Fla.; Dallas; London; New York; Las Vegas; Seattle; and Washington, D.C. "It appeals," Paier continues, "to a lot more people than the full-time thing. It's affordable; anybody can do it." His customers often "want to splurge and have a wonderful experience, whether it's just them and their spouse, or a small dinner for six or eight friends. People absolutely love it."

It's hard not to feel privileged when an executive chef is serving you gourmet food, but when it's not simply your primary residence, but rather your only one, cabin fever tends to set in.

Solution? Get an apartment in Paris.

Ooh-La-La Life
Yes, it may be temporary, but opt for one of the exquisite, fully furnished pieds-a-terre available through ParisLuxuryRentals.com, and you're practically guaranteed an authentic experience. The company offers short- and long-term rentals in select neighborhoods, including Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Ile St. Louis, Le Marais and the Latin Quarter. To live like a local without the hassle, the company offers an optional daily or weekly housekeeping service, and an optional car and driver.

A 2,000-square-foot apartment, for example, which is considered very large for Paris, would run for about $3 million, and that's without taxes and the cost of maintaining such an investment. However, a brief stay in one of ParisLuxuryRentals.com's similarly sized dwellings, which combine the spaciousness and privacy of an apartment with the amenities of a hotel, might only cost about $10,000 per week at the higher end of the spectrum.

"It's a place of their own," says CEO Claude Nederovique. "They live like Parisians. They can really participate in life, [which is] a completely different experience [from a hotel]."

Nederovique saw the number of people requesting his service double last year. 90% of his clientele come from the U.S., and most rent from one week to one month, though some stay as long as three months.

$10,000 for a martini? It's just one on our list of world's most decadent cocktails. But better sip slowly--while delicious, these tipples will cost you.
Handbag Heaven
Even those who just want to dress like a socialite, but can't bring themselves to part with $1,200 for a Gucci handbag, can do it affordably with Bag Borrow or Steal, a site that lends customers high-end bags and jewelry from designers like Chanel, Versace and Dior, for a weekly or monthly fee.

"Borrowing is really about freedom, access and convenience," says Lynn Ridenour, senior vice president of marketing. "It gives [customers] greater access to a vast inventory of luxury accessories and the opportunity to indulge in more, more often."

Is there a downside? Of course: In the end, you do have to give it all back.

Still, says Pedraza, "There's no question that [the trend of temporary use] will grow. It is such a great convenience where you can buy the experience, not the depreciating assets.

Luxury resort

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. 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 managements main concern. A luxury resort will commonly also feature a superb architectural interior and exterior design as well as an interesting physical location.

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 yacht

luxury yacht refers to a very expensive privately owned yacht which is professionally crewed. Also known as a super-yacht or a mega-yacht, a luxury yacht may be either a sailing or motor yacht.

This term began to appear at the beginning of the 20th century when wealthy individuals constructed large private yachts for personal pleasure. Examples of early luxury motor yachts include M/Y (motor yacht) Christina O and M/Y Savarona. Early luxury sailing yachts include Americas Cup classic J class racers like S/Y (sailing yacht) Endeavour and Sir Thomas Lipton’s S/Y Shamrock. The New York Yacht Club hosted many early luxury sailing yacht events at Newport, Rhode Island, during the Gilded Age.

More recently, over the last decade or two, there has been an increase in the number and popularity of large private luxury yachts. Luxury yachts are particularly bountiful in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, although increasingly luxury yachts are cruising in more remote areas of the world. With the increase in demand for luxury yachts there has been an increase custom boat building companies and yacht charter brokers. Luxury boat building and yacht charter companies are predominantly based in the United States and Western Europe but are also increasingly found in Australasia, Asia and Eastern Europe. European manufacturers such as Azimut-Benetti, Feadship and Lürssen dominate the very top end of the yacht building market.

Some yachts are used exclusively by their private owners, others are operated all year round as charter businesses, and a large number are privately owned but available for charter part time. The weekly charter rate of luxury yachts around the world ranges from a high of Euro 661,500.00 (M/Y Annaliesse)to around Euro 20,000.00. [1] Expenses of approximately 25-30%, such as food, fuel, and berthage is charged as an extra as well as a customary 10% crew gratuity for good service. The luxury yacht charter industry functions effectively because private yacht owners mitigate their running costs with charter income as well as keeping their yachts and crew in top running order. Conversely, private charterers charter yachts (rather than owning them) because it is generally considered to be less expensive, and less hassle, than owning a yacht and it also provides them with extra choice related to yacht type, location and crew.

Yachts from 23 metres (75 feet) and up qualify for design awards from the Superyacht Society, [2] but at the bottom end of that scale yachts will not necessarily be crewed and many set the minimum length for a superyacht considerably higher. From around 30 metres (98 feet) and up yachts are almost always crewed. A 45 to 50 metres (148 to 164 feet) yacht, the smallest with a generally accepted claim to superyacht status, will usually be a three decker with cabins for 12 guests (that is a preferred number, more common than either 10 or 14, and is found on yachts across quite a wide size range), and for a crew of a similar size. The accommodation on this type of yacht is typically as follows:

Lower deck: exterior swimming platform at the stern; four (sometimes five) guest cabins with en-suite bath or shower rooms aft; engine room amidships; crew quarters forward.
Main deck: sheltered exterior deck aft leading into the salon; dining room and galley; entrance amidships; owner's suite forward, usually includes either a study or a second twin stateroom.
Upper deck: exterior deck aft, often used for outdoor dining; second salon (often called the sky lounge); staffed bar inside or outside or both; sixth stateroom will be amidships if it is not on the lower deck or part of the owner's suite; gym (may also be on the lower deck or part of the owner's suite); captain's cabin; bridge.
Sun deck: on the roof of the upper deck, often features a jacuzzi.
A 50 metre yacht will have one or more luxury yacht tenders for reaching shore and other "toys" which may include a speed boat or sailing boat, jet-skis, windsurfing and diving equipment and a Banana boat. Up to date yachts have multiple flat screen televisions and satellite communications.

The number of very large yachts has increased rapidly since the 1990s and increasingly only yachts above around 65 metres (213 feet) stand out among other luxury yachts. Yachts of this size are almost always built to individual commissions and cost tens of millions of dollars (most super-yachts cost far more than their owners' homes on land, even though those homes are likely to be among the largest and most desirable). A yacht of this size usually has four decks above the water line and one or two below. It is likely to have a helicopter landing platform. Apart from additional guest cabins, which are likely to include one of more "VIP suites" besides the owner's suite, extra facilities compared to a 50 metre yacht will include some or all of indoor jacuzzis, sauna and steam rooms, a beauty salon, massage and other treatment rooms, a medical centre, a discotheque, a cinema with a film library, plunge pool (possibly with a wave-maker), a playroom, and additional living areas such as a separate bar, secondary dining room, private sitting rooms or a library. There will be more boats and "toys" than there are on a 50 metre yacht.

As of 2006 yachts above 100 metres (328 feet) are still sufficiently rare that many yacht enthusiasts can name them all. They typically have five decks above the water line and two below. The very largest yachts have begun to incorporate such features as helicopter hangars, indoor swimming pools and miniature submarines. The burgeoning number of "small" super yachts has led to the introduction of the hyperbolic terms mega-yacht and giga-yacht to demarcate the elite among luxury yachts.

Luxury vehicle

A luxury vehicle is a relatively expensive vehicle which includes additional features designed to increase the comfort of the driver and passengers. Luxury vehicles usually place more emphasis on comfort, appearance, and amenities such as technological upgrades and higher quality materials than on performance, economy, or utility. Luxury vehicles are often built in smaller numbers than more affordable mass-market vehicles. Luxury vehicles include cars (sedan, coupé, hatchback, station wagon, roadster, etc.) and trucks, such as light pickup trucks or sport utility vehicles.

General definition (American market)

Polished woodgrain trim is a popular amenity in luxury carsWhile defining what constitutes a "luxury car" is somewhat subjective, guidelines such as price, design, comfort, and prestige that can be used to help define the term. Luxury cars also offer a higher degree of comfort than their mainstream counterparts as well as a highly sumptuous interior with a strong emphasis on design and beauty. Features such as interior leather and polished wood dashboards are common amenities. [2] Luxury cars typically carry prestige, which means the allure which the car carries.

In the 2000s, defining "luxury car" is more difficult, because many vehicles such as the GMC Yukon or the Chevrolet Suburban are expensive, yet they do not have many of the amenities of other luxury vehicles. As well, there are vehicles with luxury car-like prestige and/or pricing that do not offer the degree of comfort required for them to actually be considered luxury vehicles, such as the Hummer H1, the Chevrolet Corvette and the Dodge Viper. [3]

Many high priced prestige vehicles, such as the Porsche 911, Alfa Romeo GTV, most Ferrari and many Lamborghini are classed as luxury vehicles, when they lack many of the amenities of typical luxury vehicles. Other vehicles, such as the Mercury Grand Marquis, are not considered to be luxury vehicles due to their relatively low MSRPs, despite their numerous in-cabin comfort features.

Luxury brands

A luxury brand or prestige brand is a brand for which a majority of its products are luxury goods. It may also include certain brands whose names are associated with luxury, high price, or high quality, though few, if any, of their goods are currently considered luxury goods. The automobile manufacturer Hummer is an example of such a brand, as a Hummer automobile is considered a status symbol, even though none of the vehicles in the Hummer line-up meet the requirements to be classified as a luxury car.

Another market characteristic of luxury goods is their very high sensitivity to economic upturns and downturns, high profit margins as well as prices, and very tightly controlled brands. Other guidelines may apply to certain luxury markets such as the luxury vehicle market.

For example, following a nearly crippling attempt to widely licence their brand in the 1970s and 1980s, the Gucci brand is now largely sold in directly-owned stores. The Burberry brand is generally considered to have diluted its brand image in the UK in the early 2000s by over-licensing its brand, thus reducing its cachet as a brand whose products were consumed only by the elite.

LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) is the largest luxury good producer in the world with over fifty brands, including Louis Vuitton, the brand with the world's first designer label. The LVMH group made a profit of €2bn on sales of €12bn in 2003. Other market leaders include PPR (after it purchased the Gucci Group) and Richemont.

Luxury good

In economics, a luxury good is a good for which demand increases more than proportionally as income rises, contrast with inferior good and normal good. Luxury goods are said to have high income elasticity of demand: as people become more wealthy, they will buy more and more of the luxury good. This also means, however, that should there be a decline in income its demand will drop. It must be noted, though, that income elasticity of demand is not constant with respect to income, and may change sign at different levels of income. That is to say, a luxury good may become a normal good or even an inferior good at different income levels, e.g. a wealthy person stops buying increasing numbers of luxury cars for his automobile collection to start collecting airplanes (at such an income level, the luxury car would become an inferior good).

(openPR) - (Seattle) – Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate recently created a new program called Luxury Referral Services to improve its marketing abilities and ensure that its customers receive unparalleled levels of service.

“Some brokers and firms don’t have the time or money to use referral systems to buy and sell homes, even though they would really benefit from the opportunities those systems provide,” said Joanne Douds, who was recently hired as the director of global relocation with LuxuryRealEstate.com.

Luxury Real Estate plans to solve this problem for businesses by providing a complete service. Real estate experts, like Douds and Todd Stedman, vice president of membership, will monitor homes from the moment they’re listed on LuxuryRealEstate.com until the moment they’re sold. This new development will allow them to maintain high standards and solve issues quickly.

Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate is renowned as the top global network of luxury real estate brokers in the world. Luxury Referral Services will improve this network and allow real estate experts, who have been unable to use referral systems, to gain access to this lucrative service.

“We are very excited to see the new Luxury Referral Services come together because now we can set in stone our role as the best source of luxury real estate marketing in the world,” said John Brian Losh, CEO and publisher of LuxuryRealEstate.com, and broker, chairman and CEO of Ewing and Clark, Inc. in Seattle. “Companies that work with us are very pleased with our innovations and expert assistance.”

Luxury Referral Services will coordinate referrals and act as a catalyst for increasing business within the company. While nearly 75 percent of LuxuryRealEstate.com’s members are not yet able to take advantage of referrals through other networks, Luxury Referral Services will provide an important resource to help these companies join the referral marketplace.

“As Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate continues to lead in the international luxury real estate marketplace, we are excited to introduce a new chapter in our development,” Douds said. “Luxury Referral Services promises to awaken our membership to a new opportunity for unexpected and welcome collaborations with each other.”

Luxury Real Estate is an international marketing network creating innovative connections between industry professionals, the finest properties they represent, and the world. Luxury Real Estate encompasses LuxuryRealEstate.com, Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, the Board of Regents and Luxury Referral Services, among other resources. LuxuryRealEstate.com is the most-viewed luxury real estate Web site in the world. Luxury Real Estate’s network of brokers and firms make up Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, which provides referrals and listings of luxury homes for sale to more than 1,100 members.

Luxury Real Estate
2110 Western Ave. Seattle, Washington 98121

NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/10/07 -- Small Luxury Hotels of the World was rated the most prestigious luxury hotels and resorts brand in the 2007 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey from the independent New York-based Luxury Institute. Ritz-Carlton and Peninsula were rated second and third, respectively.

"The luxury hotels and resorts category is highly competitive and is becoming increasingly crowded," said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute. "The reason we conduct both Brand Status and Customer Experience surveys in the same category is to provide luxury executives and wealthy consumers an opportunity to compare and contrast reputation perceptions vs. experienced reality. In today's 'word-of-mouth' world you must manage both diligently. Our impartial surveys facilitate a measurable, candid dialogue between wealthy consumers and luxury brands to the benefit of all. Executives tell us that the Institute's unbiased research is essential to getting the truth from the voice of the wealthy consumer."

Brands rated (alphabetically): Fairmont, Four Seasons, InterContinental, JW Marriott, Le Meridien, Leading Hotels of the World, Loews, Mandarin Oriental, Orient Express, Park Hyatt, Peninsula, Regent, Ritz-Carlton, RockResorts, Rosewood, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, St. Regis, W Hotels, and Waldorf Astoria Collection.

The summarized results of this survey are available to members of the Luxury Board (www.luxuryboard.com), the world's first online community for luxury professionals, executives, and entrepreneurs.

The proprietary Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey is the only measure of the reputation of leading brands among wealthy Americans. A national sample of over 1,600 wealthy American consumers, with an average income of $313K, and average net worth of $3.3 million, was surveyed online. Survey results are weighted to match demographic and net worth profiles of the same audience according to the latest Survey of Consumer Finances from The Federal Reserve.

About the Luxury Institute

The Luxury Institute is the uniquely independent and impartial ratings and research institution that is the trusted and respected voice of the high net-worth consumer. The Institute provides a portfolio of proprietary publications and research that guides and educates high net-worth individuals and the companies that cater to them on leading edge trends, high net-worth consumer rankings and ratings of luxury brands, and best practices. The Luxury Institute also operates the Luxury Board (www.luxuryboard.com), the world's first global, membership-based online community for luxury goods and services executives, professionals and entrepreneurs. To reach the Luxury Institute, please call 646-792-2669 or go to www.luxuryinstitute.com.

Contact:
Martin Swanson
Vice President, Business Development
The Luxury Institute
(office) 914-909-6350
(cell) 914-715-3357
Email Contact
www.luxuryinstitute.com

While the fate of Tomson Riviera, the most expensive apartment building on the mainland, looks increasingly uncertain under stringent government policies on the property market, Lyceum Apartments recently surprised local residents with the announcement that it intends to sell the property for 64,000 to 80,000 yuan per square meter.

The upscale apartment, next to the historical Lyceum Theater and across the street from the landmark Jinjiang Hotel, where the Sino-US Communiqu was signed in 1972, is still under construction.

Developed by the Shanghai Shengda Real Estate Co Ltd, Lyceum Apartments will have 60 luxury flats.

It was reported that some overseas investment funds are eyeing the apartments in the downtown area, but pre-sale of the property has not yet started, local newspapers quoted Shanghai Shengda sources as saying.

The news of Lyceum Apartments' steep prices comes as a surprise as the central government continues to introduce new regulations to bring down property prices after previous measures failed to meet the target.

The Ministry of Construction and seven other central ministries and commissions are expected to send an inspection team later this month to Shanghai and other cities to probe into the illegal activities in the property market, such as corruption and artificial jacking up of prices.

Meanwhile, Tomson Riviera, which sells for an average of 110,000 yuan per square meter, has sold only three of its 181 flats along the Huangpu River bank in the last 17 months.

The luxury property was hit hard by new government policies to restrict overseas buyers. Xinmin Evening News has reported that Tomson Riviera's efforts to sell to overseas investment funds have not worked.

The property has also been affected by news that it might be levied as much as 5 billion yuan in value-added tax (VAT).

The figure was based on Tomson Riviera's estimated cost of 30,000 yuan per square meter, but it said its actual cost is much higher.

Tomson Riviera could still wait for another year or so before the VAT is due.

Plan de Ouates, Switzerland: One of the world's most prestigious watchmakers has opened its workshop to the very rich, giving clients an opportunity to design their own one-of-a-kind watches worth as much as $1 million or more.

Juan-Carlos Torres, chief executive of Vacheron Constantin, said that fast economic growth in China, and resultant financial booms across the world, had vastly expanded the ranks of those who can afford luxury goods and put a premium on unique and hard-to-get items.

More than 30 customers have already conferred with Vacheron Constantin experts to personally select each element of their time pieces since the high-end brand owned by Riche-mont launched its special orders division in December.

Some have spent hundreds of thousands of francs and about 10 have asked for watches worth 2 million francs ($1.6 million) each of which can take years to be assembled, adjusted and adorned.

"It is not possible to get more exclusive than this," Torres said in an interview at Vacheron Constantin's manufacturing headquarters on the outskirts of Geneva.

The company produces 17,000 watches each year at its Swiss facilities, with about 100 watchmakers and artisans in white lab coats working with intricate components by hand. Some screws and other pieces are so tiny they are invisible to the naked eye.

Torres said while it may be tempting to ramp up production and increase turnover in the near-term, maintaining the value of the brand was critical to shield it from any future downturn in luxury goods, a notoriously cyclical sector.

"We could double our sales if we wanted to," he said, stressing that the company has resisted increasing its output to meet the recent spike in customer demand. "At no moment have we sacrificed the exclusivity of the brand for immediate profit."

Vacheron Constantin's watches range from around 10,000 francs for an athletic model to millions for the Kalla, made up of diamonds, whose price depends on the number of carats used. Popular designs such as the Malte and Patrimony sell for hundreds of thousands of francs.

Richemont's seven specialist watchmaking houses, which also include Piaget and Baume & Mercier, reported a combined 14 per cent rise in sales in the six months to the end of September 2006, the latest period for which results have been announced.

Vacheron Constantin's sales in the period were slightly higher than the same time in 2005, when it had a significant boost from its 250th anniversary products, Richemont said.

Complicated luxury

Torres said the company had to turn away dozens of potential buyers when it unveiled the world's most complicated wristwatch - the Tour de l'Ile - to mark its 250th anniversary in 2005.

It received some 50 order requests for the 2 million franc watch but made just seven of them in a limited-edition run.

New Hilton Hotels luxury brand Waldorf=Astoria Collection will be available for bookings by travel agents under the WA chain code designation.
“The new WA chain code will continue to reinforce within the travel agent community that these wonderful hotels belong to a unique collection that stands apart from any other luxury hotel brand,” commented Waldorf=Astoria Collection brand management senior vice president David Greydanus.

“All of our elegant hotels and resorts in The Waldorf=Astoria Collection will continue to provide their legendary service and product offerings that their well-known names have embodied over the years, while extending the opportunity to enhance their guests’ stay with discovery and unique experiences that are available in their destinations.”

The luxury brand was released in January 2006 and these branded properties can be found in New York City, Maui, Phoenix, California and Saudi Arabia.

For more information about the Waldorf=Astoria Collection, visit their website at www.waldorfastoriacollection.com.

Thank God You're Here
Title: "Pilot"
Premieres: Monday, April 9, on NBC
The easiest way to describe NBC’s new improv skit show, Thank God You’re Here, is to say that it’s very much like Whose Line Is It Anyway? -- only without the elements that most encouraged creativity and spontaneity on that program. You can imagine the boardroom full of executives that determined that what was lacking from Whose Line were costumes, sets, and scripts. It would perhaps be too unkind to say that the most impressive thing about Thank God You’re Here is that it managed to jump three sharks in its first episode. It might be unkind, but it wouldn’t be far from the truth.

To their credit, the actors who show their improv skills here are quite good, and make fine use of what they’re given, but they aren’t given anywhere enough room to maneuver. Clearly, the best part of true improv is when the participants are forced to describe invisible settings and situations not only with their words, but also their bodies and interactions with one another. But in full costume, surrounded by sets and three or four other actors using scripts, the funniest bits come when the improvisers are stumped, not when they’re succeeding. And those bits aren’t terribly funny, because they impart the show a distinct feeling of amateur hour.

MC David Alan Grier is himself hamstrung by a goofy script, reminiscent of Bob Saget in old America’s Funniest Home Videos episodes. Semi-celebrity judge Dave Foley, most notably of Celebrity Poker Showdown fame, isn’t given the luxury and latitude of his best tool: self-effacing humor. Instead, his job seems to be to congratulate the improvisers on not failing any worse than they did. Everyone seems more than a bit awkward, but not in a way that’s funny.

The show has its laugh-out-loud moments, but they’re few and far between -- not nearly enough to sustain an hour-long program. In short, Thank God You’re Here is, much like primetime airings of Funniest Pets and People or Sunday afternoon reruns of American Gladiators on ESPN Classic, the type of show that you flip to when the program you really like is on commercial. If you’re lucky, you’ll tune in at one of the high points, and you can pretend that the parts you’re missing are as fresh. It is, after all, what’s not there that makes good improv so enjoyable. In this case, less really is more. It’s a shame that NBC seems to have lost faith in the power of imagination.

Walt Disney World: The ultimate luxury destination

When you hear the words "luxury vacation," Orlando, Fla., may not be the first place that leaps to mind. But along with the theme parks, Walt Disney World offers some world-class accommodations, dining, and resort experiences that you won't find anywhere else.

We asked Eddie Shapiro and Jeffrey Epstein, who penned the updated and expanded edition of "Queens in the Kingdom: The Ultimate Gay and Lesbian Guide to the Disney Theme Parks" (May 2007, Avalon Travel Publishing; $17.95), to outline a few indulgences for those of you who want to hit Space Mountain during the day but still enjoy Egyptian cotton sheets at night.

Splurge: A contemporary vacation

Hotel: A lake-view room in the tower of Disney's Contemporary Resort
The recently remodeled Contemporary is perfect for the hipster who can't travel without staying in a W hotel. Boasting flat-screen TVs, colorful tile work and luxurious bedding, the rooms are more Mitchell + Gold than Mickey Mouse. You may never want to leave. In fact, Eddie had to pry Jeffrey's hands off the balcony. But the best feature? Motion-sensor lights that can illuminate your way if you need to use the restroom at night -- or if you stumble in drunk. Either way. (Starting at $365/night; 407/W-DISNEY)

Dining: Dinner at the California Grill
Perched atop of the Contemporary is one of the resort's most elegant eateries. The fare is fusion (think Wolfgang Puck) and ranges from sumptuous sushi to fabulous flatbreads. Plus you can watch the fireworks without having to face the humidity that might frizz your hair. (407/WDW-DINE)

Experience: Spa treatments at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Just around the monorail track from your room is the Grand Floridian, which boasts one of the resort's elaborate spas. Our favorite treatments include the Couples Instructional Massage ($300 for three hours) or the Citrus Zest Sugar Scrub ($125 for 50 minutes). Eddie wanted the Mother to Be massage but that's for people who are actually pregnant as opposed to just planning ahead. (Call 407/824-2332 for appointments)

Super-splurge: A grand tradition

Hotel: One-bedroom suite at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort
Inspired by San Diego's Del Coronado, the resort's priciest hotel is also its prettiest. Traditional architecture, airy rooms, and a beach that features private cabanas (which, incidentally, are usually quite empty at night -- we're just sayin') are a few of the highlights. The resort is Victorian in design, but other queens fit right in, too. (Suites start at $975/night; 407/W-DISNEY)

Dining: Dinner at Victoria & Albert's Chef's Table
Dining so chi-chi the chef picks what you eat over seven delectable courses. A mere $165 per person before the booze, but hey, it's five stars. The last time central Florida saw that, the Jacksons were in town. (407/WDW-DINE)

Experience: Fireworks at sea
Or at least "at lake." You and your party can view the "Wishes" fireworks spectacular from aboard a private schooner equipped with everything you need -- champagne, chocolate-dipped strawberries and a butler. The boat has bedrooms, too, just in case fireworks make you frisky. ($375.58/hour. Butler service, food and beverage available for an additional charge; 407/824-2682)

You have more money than you know what to do with: The adventure of a lifetime -- and please take us!

Hotel: Presidential suite at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
($2,075-$2,735/night; 407/W-DISNEY) Picture a canopy bed so big it had to be built in the room. Picture a thatched roof in the living room, a curved couch, hand-carved furniture and a remote-control fireplace. Picture a treadmill on the balcony, overlooking more than 200 animals at play on the savanna (and if your imagination's really good, as you run on said treadmill, you can dream that you are outrunning a wildebeest stampede). No other Jacuzzi on property is better for some wild monkey love.

Dining: The sunset safari
Why take the Animal Kingdom's safari ride with the rabble when you can have a private three-and-a-half-hour sunset tour to get up close and personal with the furry critters? Then head back to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a four-course dinner at Jiko and eat them. ($160 per person, including dinner; (407) 938-4755)

Experience: Private beach party at Typhoon Lagoon
Who doesn't like after-hours pool parties? Rent out the wave pool and beach at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon water park for you and a couple of friends. You paid for the place -- you think they'll stop you from skinny-dipping? (Starting at $1,050; 407/939-7873)


Added indulgence

La Nouba
For an evening activity with a bit more class than the nearby Dolly Parton's Dixieland Stampede, head to Downtown Disney to see this incredible Cirque Du Soleil show. Like all Cirque shows, this one is quirky and mysterious and HOT, with beefy gymnasts and lithe ladies performing stunts and contorting their bodies in ways that defy biology. (407/939-7600)

Private tour
Oh yeah, the parks! We almost forgot! But don't stop spending now. Not when you can see all of the parks with the advantage of a private tour guide. In addition to steering you clear of sucky rides, they can provide VIP seating to parades and shows and will run and get FastPasses while you ride attractions. At last! An escort you don't mind sharing with your friends and family! ($125/hour for up to 10 guests; 407/560-4033)

For planning your Disney getaway, pick up Queens in the Kingdom on Amazon or at your local bookstore.

H3 Homes believes in putting the luxury back into luxury homes, without the unreasonable prices and upgrades.

Port St. Lucie, FL (PRWeb) April 9, 2007 -- South Florida homebuilders H3 Homes are offering new, safe and efficient luxury homes in South Florida with their new Barcelona model. The real estate boom in South Florida has sent home costs soaring, and luxury homes have become prohibitively expensive. In response to this, H3 Homes is offering great luxury homes for affordable prices.



We don't believe the 'luxury' should be an upgrade in any luxury home. That is why we include the luxury features and options in our standard package that everyone else charges you extra for.
Hurricane-ready with solid-poured concrete walls, engineered roof trusses with hurricane straps, and hurricane impact resistant windows, H3 Homes are safe and built to last. Every H3 Home also comes with high-efficiency Rheem air conditioning units and energy efficient insulation in all the walls (R-24) and ceiling (R-30). Outside the house you will find an oversized covered lanai with a summer kitchen that includes a grill, sink, and mini-fridge, a stamped concrete or paver driveway and walkway and a complete landscaping and irrigation package. The house also comes with a Mediterranean style barrel tile roof, textured stucco with Mediterranean style trim and crown molding, as well as decorative corbels and medallions.

Enter the Barcelona model through the 18 foot grand entry way with French doors, and see the spacious floor plan with oversized family room. These homes also come with a complete luxury package that includes travertine, marble, and hardwood floors, granite countertops, 11-13 foot soaring volume ceilings with a custom trim package including crown molding and window casing and 30+ recessed hi-hat lighting fixtures throughout. H3 Homes leave nothing to be desired, with their Barcelona model that features four bedrooms, with a study or optional 5th bedroom, and four full bathrooms (including a cabana bath), as well as a gourmet kitchen with 42 inch cherry wood cabinets, an oversized pantry, a breakfast/serving bar, and a professional series stainless steel appliance package. The Barcelona model is 4,027 total square feet with 3,019 square feet under air. H3 Homes offers an "On Your Lot" program, where they will build the luxury home on your own land anywhere in South Florida.

H3 Homes aims to deliver high-quality luxury homes at affordable prices. Jim Harkins of H3 Homes states, "We don't believe the 'luxury' should be an upgrade in any luxury home. That is why we include the luxury features and options in our standard package that everyone else charges you extra for."

H3 Homes chose Port St. Lucie for its Barcelona model, since it is one of the fastest-growing cities in South Florida - and for good reason. Port St. Lucie offers Tradition Field, spring training home to the New York Mets, as well as many historical sites, including museums and naval exhibits. Fishing and golfing are prime in St. Lucie County, with over 15 golf courses and a short drive to the beautiful Atlantic Ocean beaches.

H3 Homes is one of the newest and most exciting home-buying opportunities, with high-quality, safe, luxury homes for an affordable price. With a wide range of location options, H3 Homes is a safe bet for a great luxury home.

For more information about H3 Homes, visit: http://www.h3homes.com

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Cary, NC -- Apr 09, 2007 -- /prbuzz/ -- According to a recently-released Unique Homes magazine's special issue, a “spec home” in Big Sky, Montana that is currently still under construction tops the list of the 1000 most expensive homes currently on the market in the U.S. This “Pinnacle home,” built by Yellowstone Club developer Tim Blixseth, is set on 160 acres and includes four 4,000-square-foot guest houses, security and staff quarters, an underground garage stocked with a fleet of Chevy Suburbans, and even a retractable helipad complete with helicopter and pilot lounge.

By comparison, the most expensive home currently listed in the Cary real estate MLS is a $3,650,000 residence. For the price of the $155 million dollar Big Sky home, one could buy 42 of the most expensive pieces of Cary NC real estate. The average sale price of Cary real estate in the last 12 months is $314,780 with an average home size of 2,436 square feet.

There are currently 188 active properties in the Wake County MLS system priced at a million dollars or more," according to Mike Montpetit, a member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing and an agent with Town & Country Realty Inc (http://www.MikesRealEstateTeam.com). “39% of the active luxury homes on the market are new construction. The increase in luxury Cary real estate is an indicator of our town’s growing interest among sophisticated home buyers.”

"The number of million-dollar-home sales isn't available yet nationally for 2006, but the number of million dollar homes sold in the country jumped more than 10-fold from 10,000 in 1999 to over 109,000 in 2005 – a reflection of the significant growth in the number of wealthy households. Although many marketplaces are seeing slowing appreciation, higher inventories and longer sales time, the number of luxury homes is growing every year," says Montpetit.

In Wake County, there are currently 36 pending sales, 115 closed sales, and 188 active sales over $1million. This implies that there are over a year’s supply of luxury homes on the market in Wake County based on the absorption rate since April 1, 2007.

Luxury home specialist buyer agents like Montpetit work with luxury home buyers to select a builder, home site, upgrade options and a floor plan are that will strengthen the home’s resale value.

“Using a luxury home specialist buyer’s agent helps to level the playing field with builders and their agents who tend to have superior knowledge over typical home buyers. Best of all, the professional fee is typically paid by the builder’s real estate broker to the Buyer Broker. It definitely pays to consult with an experienced luxury home Realtor,” says Montpetit.

About Town & Country Realty Inc.: Town & Country Realty Inc. is a leading Cary NC real estate agency in its 7th successful year of business. The company is resolute in its mission to provide outstanding customer service and offers a “love it or leave it guarantee” as a measure of their unyielding commitment. Town & Country’s website, http://www.MikesRealEstateTeam.com offers a full local area property search, featured properties, and a library of downloadable resources for Cary NC real estate buyers and sellers. For more information or to find your next Cary home, contact Town & Country’s Quick Response Line at (919) 786-7776.

In Wayne, New Jersey, an upscale apartment complex went up in flames, leaving hundreds of tenants with nowhere to go.

Fire tore through the roof of "Mountain View Crossing" yesterday. Everyone got out safely of the 170-unit rental luxury apartment complex off Route 23.
One person was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze by 4:30 p.m., but some two dozen apartments were damaged by either flames or water, a manager at the complex said.

Hundred of tenants were displaced but some will be allowed to return today.

Temporary shelters have been set up to help people who can't go home.

Hosts Al Nucifora, Chairman of The luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco and his wife, Debbie, greeted all one hundred twenty guests.


More: http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=867

Got 103 days and half a million pounds to spare next year? Then join the rush to mega-expensive vacations
By Lauren Veevers
Published: 08 April 2007
It's the ultimate holiday: private butler, unspoilt views from penthouse suites and 103 days of relaxation. But like all the greatest luxuries, it has a price tag as remarkable as its itinerary.

With a brochure price of £229,839 per person, it is one of the most expensive and extravagant round-the-world trips. Next January the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship will set sail from Southampton on 103-day cruise that will cost £2,231 a day.

Those passengers will wake in their penthouse suites, take breakfast on a private verandah, bathe in a marble bathroom before walking into the massive wardrobe to pick out a fetching greatcoat to protect them from the winter Atlantic gales as they take a bracing walk on the private, forward-facing deck.

They may then use some of their £2,500 spending money in the ship's shops, casinos or the first seaborne branch of Harrods. The 103-day cruise travels first to New York, then calls at more than 30 destinations including Mexico, the Falkland Islands, New Zealand, Sydney and Singapore.

While £229,839 might buy most people a house, there is no shortage of takers for the top suites, according to Cunard spokesman Eric Flounders. He said: "The ship fills from the top: the more expensive suites are the first to go. We have our regulars who will have booked months ago. All the food and drink is included in whatever suite you choose, but the range of amenities available differs as the suites get more expensive. Some don't care what their suite is like because they are never in it. But others value the space more."

The luxury cruise market has had a sixfold increase in North America since 1980, and passengers spent $12.9bn (£6.5bn) on cruises last year.

The Queen Elizabeth 2's sister ship, Queen Mary 2, launched in 2004, is the biggest cruise ship ever built. Many regular "cruisers" are loyal to the 44-year-old QE2, preferring its history and traditional decor.

£229,839

A cruise for two people will set you back almost half a million pounds on the 'Queen Elizabeth 2' from next January if you opt for a grand suite on the 103-day South America, Pacific and Orient Odyssey

£128,000

Four weeks on the island of Little Whale Cay in the Bahamas can be arranged for up to 12 adults and two children at £4,158 per night

£120,000

Will get you to New York - with no flight back. Admittedly it will be on board a private Gulfstream jet, but you will still have the hotel and return journey to pay for

£110,000

A two-hour sub-orbital space flight with Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic will take passengers 62 miles above the Earth and will include up to 10 minutes of weightlessness

The Colombo Port has set a record during this tourism season receiving six luxury passenger vessels within 48 hours with foreign passengers on board.

This is the first time that six luxury passenger vessels arrived at the Port almost simultaneously.

A large number of passengers from Great Britain, United States of America, Germany and France arrived in Colombo on board these vessels. Maritime sources say the increased number of arrivals of passenger vessels to the Colombo Port signifies high recognition for Colombo in maritime and tourism industries.

The six ships are Ocean Odyssey, Amadia, Astot, Maxim Gorky, Sagarose and Silver Shadow.

The luxury “Silver Shadow” was the latest to call at Colombo with 800 passengers and crew on board, from Phuket in Thailand.

To mark the ship’s maiden call at the port, a plaque exchange was also held on board between the Additional Managing Director of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Capt. Nihal Keppetipola and the Ship’s Captain Emanuele Chiesa.

These days we are all global travellers heading off in pursuit of even more exotic destinations to explore.
One of the biggest growth sectors in holiday travel is that of luxury cruising. Up until a few years ago, most of us would have believed that cruising was an activity simply for the very rich but cruise companies have gone to great lengths to ensure that the experience is within reach of everybody these days with trips ranging from a 3 day long weekender to a 3 month...

New luxury travel site reviews the best hotels and upscale tours in Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Miami Beach, FL (PRWeb) April 6, 2007 -- Luxury Latin America (Luxury Latin America launches this week as the premier web site for upscale travelers planning a trip to South America, Central America, or Mexico. It provides filtered, authoritative recommendations on the top hotels in this dynamic region and highlights the best luxury travel opportunities.

Candid and detailed hotel reviews cover only the most luxurious hotels and resorts in Latin America, from Mexico through Central and South America. All hotel reviews are written by seasoned travel writers and guidebook authors who have inspected the top hotels in Latin America in person. Travel articles are based on deluxe trips in the region that writers have experienced first-hand. All are tours or guided day trips to be savored by the discerning traveler, journeys that are a clear step above the standard tourist fare.

"Even in well-developed resort areas in Mexico and Costa Rica, "deluxe" and "5-star" designations are so widespread that they have become meaningless," says Timothy Scott, Luxury Latin America's editor. "Our aim is to filter out the also-rans and save wealthy travelers time by pointing them to only the best hotels and tours in the Americas."

Luxury Latin America is not a booking service and has no stake in which hotels or travel adventures its readers choose. The initial launch includes reviews of top hotels in Argentina, Belize, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay. Remaining destinations will be added in the coming months.

See more about this upscale travel portal at www.LuxuryLatinAmerica.com.

Travellers heading north can now travel in style as this morning National Transport launched a new luxury service. The Premier Line consists of three buses making three trips from Belize City to Chetumal daily at six, nine, and eleven a.m. Executive Secretary Linda Trejo told News Five what amenities come with the ticket.

Linda Trejo, Executive Secretary, National Transport
“The accommodations are first class air conditioned bus, bathroom facilities, television and trained experienced drivers.”

“We did a couple surveys and we realized that the people are interested in the first class service that we had previously one time ago and we decided that we need to give the people the service that they are requesting.”

“This Premier Line is a premier, it’s an elite line that will not be stopping at no little junction at Pallotti or Biltmore or nowhere. It’s a direct line, Belize to Orange Walk, Orange Walk to Corozal, Corozal to Chetumal.”

That ticket to Chetumal will cost sixteen dollars one way, and thirty-two for a roundtrip. Tickets can be bought upon boarding at the Novelo's Terminal or at the National Transport office on Magazine Road. Trejo says the company also has plans to introduce the service in Dangriga and Benque Viejo.

Bankers Create Individual Loans Based on Trust and Assets for Premier Clients
By PAT BRODERICK

San Diego Business Journal Staff


Rancho Pacifica in Carmel Valley.
“The wealthy are going to do what the wealthy are going to do when the wealthy are going to do it.”

That is the mantra of Norma Nelson-Wiberg, the prominent branch manager of Private Mortgage Banking for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Rancho Santa Fe.

“They are not impacted by what they hear in the media,” she said. “If they plan to buy a house in the summer, they buy a house in the summer. If the market gets soft, they get a better deal. If not, they pay more. If interest rates get high, they have more to write off.”

But wealthy home buyers still need special attention, and this is what the private banker has traditionally done for them.

“Lending industries, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, didn’t have a place for the self-employed, high-end buyer,” said Nelson-Wiberg, part of the bank’s wealth management team. “They were required to fit into a box.”

Michael Taylor, sales agent for Dougherty Taylor Premier Estates — Prudential California Realty, includes among his major markets ultra-posh Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar. Last year, he said, about 60 percent of his transactions were in the $2 million-plus range.

“At the high-end level, it’s all about quality of personal service,” he said. “It’s like the difference between shopping at Kmart and going to Nordstrom. The private banker does the same thing.”

Trudy Stambook, a partner with downtown-based Centre City Properties, and a luxury real estate home specialist, estimates that she’s handled hundreds of millions of dollars worth of transactions during the course of her 27-year career.

“I’ve only had positive experiences with the banks,” said Stambook, who is a member of Seattle-based LuxuryRealEstate.com, a purveyor of high-end listings. “The banks and lenders that understand the high-end luxury buyer have been fabulous to work with, and have really provided invaluable service, not only to me, but also to home owners to achieve their goals.”

Lenders for the luxury-home buyers don’t only consider personal income, she said, but factor in their entire portfolios.

“For the seller, it’s not significant if the buyer is writing a check or someone is getting financing,” said Stambook. “It’s always cash to the seller in the luxury market. But to buyers, I find it’s their relationship to the lenders that is very important. There are so many programs and loans that can be structured to meet their needs.”

Relationship Banking

Echoing that sentiment is Michael P. Morgan, senior vice president at Wells Fargo’s Wealth Management Group in San Diego, who bills himself as “senior relationship manager” — which he considers to be the essence of private banking.

California, New York, Florida: It's no big surprise that this luxury-home trifecta topped the list of states with the most homes valued at $1 million or more in 2005. The rich may get richer and the homes pricier, but the lineup of the biggest luxury real estate markets changes little from year to year.
What makes these states perennial winners? The obvious answers: lifestyle and jobs. Earthquakes, fires, and smog have done little to deter wealthy buyers from California's mild weather and striking coastline, and the state's cities are technology and entertainment industry hubs. Nothing beats New York for cultural offerings and opportunities in the financial world, or Florida for miles of prime vacation land.

Having a lot of homes in general also may give the top three an edge over other states. California has the highest population in the U.S. [36 million], followed by Texas [23.5 million], New York [19 million], and Florida [18 million]. In 2005, California had 619,170 $1 million-plus housing units, or 8.76% of its total homes. New York had 165,641, or 4.21%, and Florida had 102,010 or 2.08%. But California also has the highest percentage of total homes valued at $1 million or above, followed by Washington, D.C. [7.67%], Hawaii [6.64%], and Connecticut [4.41%].

The other states rounding out the top 10 largest luxury home markets are New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Connecticut, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington--all states with or near major U.S. cities, and almost all, with the exception of Illinois, along the nation's two coasts.

"There was the expectation here a few years ago that the coast had seen most of their increase in prices, and estimates were that the middle part of the U.S. was going to catch up a bit," says John Karevoll, an analyst at real estate research firm DataQuick. "That hasn't happened yet, and it's surprised a lot of analysts."

In fact, the finite amount of waterfront space in coastal states has pushed prices up at the ultra-luxury end, says Anthony Armstrong of the Dallas-based Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. The Institute estimates that home sales at the $5 million-and-above price rose 11% in 2006, compared to a 8.4% decline in overall housing market sales. Between 1999 and 2005, the Institute says sales of homes for more than $1 million skyrocketed over 500%.

The most expensive home sold in 2006 was a 63-acre estate with a 10,000-square-foot mansion in Alpine, N.J., purchased by Advanced Photonix Chief Executive Richard Kurtz for $58 million. At least nine other buyers shelled out $28 million or more for a U.S. property last year.

Strong corporate profits and a global commodities boom helped boost fortunes in 2006--the number of billionaires in the world grew 18%, to 793. If Wall Street bonuses are any indication, 2007 is set to be an even more prosperous year [see BusinessWeek.com, 12/20/06, "Homes to Blow Your Bonus On"].

If the Street's winning streak continues, New York could even steal California's first-place spot in the next few years. Between 2000 and 2005, New York saw home sales at the $1 million-plus level rise 531.7%, the greatest increase among the U.S. states.

"As an ultra-luxury market, New York is passing California big time," says Miki Naftali, chief executive of privately held Elad Properties, which owns the landmark Plaza Hotel in New York. Last year, Elad converted part of the Plaza into condominiums, which start at $6.9 million for a 1,200-square-foot one bedroom.

Depending on how you look at it, New York is already the No. 1 state for luxury homes, thanks to Manhattan's generous supply. Of the 1,000 most expensive homes on the market right now, New York has the most of any state, with 240 homes equaling $4.5 billion in value, according to Unique Homes magazine, based in Princeton, N.J. Florida has 234 of the country's most expensive homes, which range in price from $10 million to $155 million, and California has 205.

"If you were to take all the luxury properties in San Francisco and L.A., it wouldn't match up with Manhattan," says Nick Antonicello, ' director of sales. "Peter Minuet [the Dutchman who is said to have bought Manhattan from Native Americans for $24) still made the best real estate deal of all time."

Interestingly, the two most expensive homes for sale in the U.S. are not in New York, California, or Florida, but in Montana--a $155 million spec home called the "Pinnacle"--and Aspen, Colo.--a Saudi prince's $135 million ranch. Is this a sign that other states are catching up with traditional luxury-home hot spots?

"The affluent market is growing, and not everyone wants to live in a condo or pay premium prices," says Armstrong. "Instead, many have turned to 'spillover' markets that were more inland and offer unique lifestyle choices."

This trend will continue, Armstrong predicts, but he says it is not likely that states like Colorado, Montana, and Arizona will see anything close to the number of luxury properties in New York, California, or Florida anytime soon. The competition for space has also produced a trend to build up, and condo hotels have an increasingly popular, low-maintenance choice among the affluent [see BusinessWeek.com, 12/4/06, "Checking Into Condo-Hotels"].

Can anything topple the luxury-home super states? More than anything else, high-end home markets are linked inexorably with the stock market's performance, especially in New York and in Florida, which absorbs much of the Northeast's wealth in the form of second homes.

Lately, investors have been nervous that still-sluggish home values will further weaken the troubled subprime mortgage market, and vice versa. If the pressure on stocks is severe enough, Moody's Economy.com housing economist Celia Chen believes luxury home sales may not be a strong as many are predicting. "But I don't think it's going to change that much," she says.

Other than the stock market, little seems to affect luxury home buyers, especially at the very high end. "These markets are by category and geography a world by themselves, they dance to their own tune," says DataQuick's Karevoll.

So when you don't have to worry about swings in the economy, the slowdown in the housing market, or qualifying for a mortgage under tighter lending standards, what do you worry about? For ultra-wealthy home shoppers, today's most pressing dilemma may be: California, New York--or both?

Click here to see the biggest luxury real estate markets in the U.S.

Imperium Luxury Home Collection is a new division of the MRI Group, providing a bespoke service to buyers looking to invest in luxury properties overseas.

Whether you’re searching for a dream holiday home or a high net-worth investment, Imperium offers a unique portfolio of distinctive, upmarket properties from €500,000 (£340,000), available across Europe in Spain, France and Portugal. Imperium will additionally launch properties in the USA, the Bahamas, Morocco and Cyprus over the next six months.

The company has seen a growing demand from high-net worth buyers in regions across Europe and the United States for specialist luxury properties over the past year. As part of the MRI Group, Imperium’s team of qualified professionals have expert knowledge of the luxury overseas property market to help buyers find their perfect home overseas that’s one in a million.

Geoffrey Donoghue, Imperium Luxury Homes Director says: “Imperium offers a tailor-made service to overseas property buyers searching for their dream luxury home abroad. We pride ourselves on our commitment to customer satisfaction as well as providing excellence as standard both across our properties and practices.

“We specialise in meeting our client’s exact needs, whether it’s a search for an exotic paradise with high-tech security or a one-off hidden retreat, Imperium aims to match our customers with their dream property.”

Imperium currently operates in three regions worldwide and its portfolio of luxury properties includes new developments and re-sale properties, from uber-cool penthouse apartments to luxury villas.

Arroyo del Moro, Spain

A spectacular country estate near Gaucin, Southern Spain, with panoramic views of the mountains and rolling countryside.

Property spec: 8 bedrooms; 7 bathrooms; 3 kitchens; gym; wine cellar, 37,000 square metres of land.

Price: €3,500,000

Puerto Banus, Marbella, Spain

Coral Beach, luxury furnished beach-side apartment with private garden and overlooking tropical gardens.

Property spec: 2 bedrooms; 2 bathrooms; communal swimming pool, parking.

Price: €735,000

For further information, visit imperiumcollection.com.

NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Cary, NC, United States, 04/08/2007 - An extravagant home set on 160 acres of Big Sky Montana property is loaded with over-the top luxury amenities and comes with a price tag that is 42 times more that the most expensive Cary NC real estate listing.


According to a recently-released Unique Homes magazine's special issue, a “spec home” in Big Sky, Montana that is currently still under construction tops the list of the 1000 most expensive homes currently on the market in the U.S. This “Pinnacle home,” built by Yellowstone Club developer Tim Blixseth, is set on 160 acres and includes four 4,000-square-foot guest houses, security and staff quarters, an underground garage stocked with a fleet of Chevy Suburbans, and even a retractable helipad complete with helicopter and pilot lounge.

By comparison, the most expensive home currently listed in the Cary real estate MLS is a $3,650,000 residence. For the price of the $155 million dollar Big Sky home, one could buy 42 of the most expensive pieces of Cary real estate. The average sale price of Cary real estate in the last 12 months is $314,780 with an average home size of 2,436 square feet.

There are currently 188 active properties in the Wake County MLS system priced at a million dollars or more," according to Mike Montpetit, a member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing and an agent with Town & Country Realty Inc. “39% of the active luxury homes on the market are new construction. The increase in luxury Cary real estate is an indicator of our town’s growing interest among sophisticated home buyers.”

"The number of million-dollar-home sales isn't available yet nationally for 2006, but the number of million dollar homes sold in the country jumped more than 10-fold from 10,000 in 1999 to over 109,000 in 2005 – a reflection of the significant growth in the number of wealthy households. Although many marketplaces are seeing slowing appreciation, higher inventories and longer sales time, the number of luxury homes is growing every year," says Montpetit.

In Wake County, there are currently 36 pending sales, 115 closed sales, and 188 active sales over $1million. This implies that there are over a year’s supply of luxury homes on the market in Wake County based on the absorption rate since April 1, 2007.

Luxury home specialist buyer agents like Montpetit work with luxury home buyers to select a builder, home site, upgrade options and a floor plan are that will strengthen the home’s resale value.

“Using a luxury home specialist buyer’s agent helps to level the playing field with builders and their agents who tend to have superior knowledge over typical home buyers. Best of all, the professional fee is typically paid by the builder’s real estate broker to the Buyer Broker. It definitely pays to consult with an experienced luxury home Realtor,” says Montpetit.

About Town & Country Realty Inc.
Town & Country Realty Inc. is a leading Cary NC real estate agency in its 7th successful year of business. The company is resolute in its mission to provide outstanding customer service and offers a “love it or leave it guarantee” as a measure of their unyielding commitment. Town & Country’s website offers a full local area property search, featured properties, and a library of downloadable resources for Cary NC real estate buyers and sellers.

If you're a high-level executive and an environmentalist at heart who just can't give up the leather, wood, and most importantly, big-car power for a Spartan-interior, gas-sipping Prius, the Lexus LS 600h L is the solution to your quandry. Toyota's luxury arm combines a 5.0 liter V8 with an electric motor and a CVT to produce 430 hp. Lexus says the car's sticker price will start at $104,750. On top of all the geeky hybrid bits, that money gets you the world's first production-car LED headlights, full-time all-wheel-drive, 19-speaker Mark Levinson sound system with an 8GB hard drive, Intuitive Parking Assist, and loads of luxury. Options include 4-zone climate control, a power-reclining rear seat with massage, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.

Lexus doesn't give fuel economy estimates for the 600h, but expects the car to receive the Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle rating and says the car will have the best-in-class V8 fuel efficiency that's roughly equal to the numbers achieved by other V6 AWD luxury sedans.

Click through to the jump for Lexus' press release and be sure to check out our high-res gallery.

Lexus Announces Pricing for All-New LS 600h L Luxury Hybrid Sedan

TORRANCE, Calif., April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexus today announced the
manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the all-new 2008 LS 600h L
luxury hybrid sedan. The LS 600h L will be the ultimate Lexus statement,
providing the highest level of luxury, technology, performance, safety and
efficiency.

With an extensive list of standard luxury equipment and technological
features, including the world's first full hybrid V8 powertrain, the LS
600h L will carry a base MSRP of $104,000 when it reaches Lexus dealers in
June.

The full-time all-wheel-drive LS 600h L will be the world's first
vehicle powered by a full hybrid V8 powertrain and will be mated to a newly
developed dual-stage electronically controlled, continuously variable
transmission. It will deliver power and performance on par with modern
12-cylinder engines, producing more than 430 horsepower while still
delivering fuel efficiency equal to or better than the combined
fuel-economy ratings of V6 all-wheel-drive mid-sized luxury sedans. The LS
600h L will also carry a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) rating,
emitting nearly 70 percent fewer emissions than the "cleanest" of its
competitors.

Now at the industry helm as an inherent successor to the women’s luxury sports industry, we are determined to not only increase the power and presence of women’s sports, but to bring coverage to our readers in a spectacular variety of media platforms.
In each Sporting Woman issue you will find coverage and in-depth features on the sporting lifestyles of today’s sporting women, highlighted sporting events, athlete interviews, modern trends, sportswear apparel lines and accessories, hi-tech sporting goods, sports-related travel, special charity and luxury events, dates and ticket information.
As President, Founder & League Commissioner for the U.S. Women's Polo Federation/U.S. Men's Polo Federation, it is one of my foremost goals to "innovate polo and bring it to the forefront of professional premium sports." I hereby welcome you into the wonderful world of polo and the world of professional sports with each issue. It is our goal at Sporting Woman to innovate women’s sports into the next frontier.
Sporting Woman features golf, tennis, polo, running, cycling, sailing, charity-hosted events, and so much more...it truly encompasses the diverse and exciting lifestyle of today’s modern sporting woman. In addition to picturesque, stunning, Full-Color spreads featuring the hottest athletes today, you will also find useful sections featuring golf, tennis, polo, and sporting calendar events, tips, hot new sports, sporting mom events, sports dateline interviews and stories, sporting health & fitness trends, developing technologies, great fashion picks, sporting gear picks and premium event coverage.
We at Sporting Woman hope you enjoy each issue and use it to your advantage to embrace the exciting lifestyle of the ever-evolving industry of premium sports. In our May/June issue, you will find an insightful department--the Commissioner's Corner--as well as our on-site coverage of highlighted sporting events and a breath-taking look behind closed doors of Palm Beach sports & society…So get ready to plan your 2007 Sporting Calendar, enjoy the sporting season with Sporting Woman, and find out what it's like to truly be "in the mix" in sports today!