EDITION Hotels Celebrates Debut in Singapore With Grand Launch Event

Explore Chanel’s latest perfume collection and discover your signature scent at the French luxury house’s Parfumeur Fragrance Experiencepop-up in Clarke Quay until June 2.

Spanning two floors, guests can experience an exclusive sensory journey into the art of perfumery and explore the “Les Exclusifs de Chanel” collection, which includes 19 fragrances that embody the brand’s identity on the first floor.

Aside from that, you can also take the “Les Caractères de Chanel” personality test to find out which scent suits you the best, or join the “Le Quart D’Heure Alchimique” program to help you understand the distinct characteristics of different scents. You can also take home a free sample vial without spending a dime!

On the second level lies the N°5 Immersive Experience Space, where guests can awaken their visual, auditory, and olfactory senses. Here, artworks inspired by the fragrance are also displayed.

Also located on the same floor is the Chanel Parfumeur Masterclass, where attendees can learn about the stories behind the brand's iconic fragrances and discuss the intricate details of their composition. The session also includes exclusive layering tips on how best to wear these scents. Unfortunately, the masterclass part is accessible by invitation only.

If you’re planning to visit, be sure to register since slots are limited and are on a first-come, first-served basis.

A new experience waits for you at The Paper Bunny’s latest revamped flagship store at Takashimaya. Unveiling its new look on May 3, the store has also introduced some of the brand’s latest products.

The store is splashed with neutral shades of brown and white, with an accent of green in the middle to balance the colours and highlight the displayed items, including sling bags, laptop bags, and pouches.

Aside from the reopening of their flagship store, the brand has also welcomed their new product, “The Arc,” lined up along with some of their well-loved bags. Boasting a water-resistant exterior, double zipper closure, pockets located conveniently for easier organisation, and a dedicated slot for your bottle, “The Arc” is the brand’s latest must-have work bag.

Aside from new products, fans of the brand can get their favourite “Multi-way Tote” and “Puffer Carryall” bags, which are also highly in demand in neighbouring countries, as well as their other offerings, including shirts, kitchenware, wallets, and more.

Starting as a stationery brand in 2013, as they gained more customers, The Paper Bunny has fully embraced being a lifestyle brand offering everyday life to wear, carry, gift, and more.

Check out their full catalogue on their website.

If you’ve got your heart set on a luxury timepiece, finding the right place to purchase it can make all the difference. While there may be plenty of watch stores in Singapore, not all of them are authorised retailers for the brands you’re eyeing.

For the widest selection and assurance of authenticity, it’s worth checking out the multi-brand shops that stock a variety of prestigious watchmakers under one roof. That way, you can explore all options and find the right timepiece for you. Ready your wallets! Here are the best luxury watch stores in the Lion City.

Leong Poh Kee

Dubbed the #1 watch retailer in Singapore, Leong Poh Kee sells a wide variety of timepieces to add to your collection, including exclusive Sarcar Geneve products, which start from S$276,000. This popular store also carries other niche luxury brands, such as Ball Watch, Leonard Montres, Romago Swiss, and Wolf 1834.

Located on Beach Road, Leong Poh Kee can be easily accessed through the MRT Bugis Station. It is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:30 AM-5:30 PM. Those who want to visit on a Saturday must book an appointment beforehand. Call the store via Whatsapp (+65) 6296 9988.

Location: Leong Poh Kee, 289 Beach Rd, #01-02, Singapore 199552

Cortina Watch

Founded in 1972, Cortina Watch is one of the pioneers in the luxury watch industry in Singapore. Specialising in the distribution and retail of high-end timepieces, this store offers a range of watch brands, including Rolex, Cartier, Franck Muller, Parmigiani, and Patek Philippe, among others.

One of the perks of buying from this store is that it has a service centre for “horology services,” such as repairs, battery replacements, and part upgrades to ensure your watch stays in top condition in the years to come. Contact Cortina Watch at (+65) 6339 9447.

Location: Cortina Watch, 391B Orchard Road, #18-01, Ngee Ann City Tower B, Singapore 238874

The Hour Glass

Servicing Singapore’s affluent population for more than 40 years, The Hour Glass is a luxury watch store that offers a range of brands, from Hublot and Rolex to Girard-Perregaux and Tudor. Whether you’re aiming to cop a simple yet stylish timepiece or you want something out of the ordinary that will turn heads, this decades-old store is the perfect place to buy a luxury watch.

For first-time buyers or those new to watches, The Hour Glass’ website has a handy tool to help you find your wrist size. For more information, consult a watch specialist through this link.

Location: The Hour Glass, 302 Orchard Road Tong Building, #11-01. Singapore 238862

Sincere Fine Watches

Dubbed the “oldest and most established name in luxury retail,” Smart Fine Watches was born in 1954 and has since become one of the most trusted retailers of renowned luxury brands in Asia. While Tudor is the main brand that it offers, the store also carries a flurry of other brands, including Chopard, Bell & Rons, Ferdinand Berthoud, Greubel Forsey, Kudoke, Laurent Ferrier, and Tutima Glasshutte, among others.

Customers may shop directly online, but its hospitable staff will also be glad to assist you in its branch in Orchard Road. For inquiries, contact enquiries@sincerewatch.com.

Location: Sincere Fine Watches, 391B Orchard Road #21-01 Ngee Ann City Tower B Singapore 238874

City Chain Singapore

If you’re always on the lookout for the latest luxury timepieces in the market, trust that City Chain Singapore will always be among the first to offer them. The store offers a wide array of luxury watches for men and women, including brands such as Seiko, Casio, Fossil, Alba, Primo, Solvil Et Titus, and more.

If you want to get first dibs on its latest drops, be sure to sign up through this link. For product availability questions and other concerns, reach out via cs@citychain.com.sg or call directly at (+65) 6325 1883.

Location: City Chain Singapore, 1 Harbourfront Walk #b2-02, Singapore, Central Singapore, 098585, Singapore

When we talk about luxury, the first things that come to mind are diamond-encrusted watches, multi-million-dollar couture gowns, ritzy island beaches, and more. Although the essence of luxury remains unchanged, its definition has evolved to sync with shifts in cultural values, technological advancements, and economic landscapes.

Despite its modest size, Singapore is undeniably amongst the top shopping destinations for luxury shoppers to access high-end merch and world-class brands, from ION Orchard to the Marina Bay Sands and Paragon to Changi Airport.

The Beat Asia had the chance to talk with Dr. Achim Schmitt, Dean of EHL Hospitality Business School, to discuss the growing relevance of luxury experience management education. For the uninitiated, EHL has three campuses: two in Switzerland (Lausanne main campus and Passugg) and one in Singapore.

Bankruptcy consultant turned strategic professor, Dr. Schmitt has been in the academic field for more than 20 years. He views his career transition as an opportunity to help others grow and succeed in their education. Even though he was initially unfamiliar with the hospitality industry, Dr. Schmitt found himself fascinated by its multifaceted and multicultural world.

As the Dean of EHL Hospitality Business School and a member of the EHL group's executive leadership team, Dr. Schmitt oversees the academic programmes across all three EHL campuses. These programmes support students’ higher education and lifelong learning paths, from professional courses to bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as executive education and business consulting.

“The diversity of the hospitality industry has been a key factor in keeping me engaged with hospitality education. It provides the chance to interact with people from various backgrounds which is exactly what we are aiming to replicate for our students. With around 125 nationalities represented on campus, we consistently prioritise diversity and inclusivity across all our initiatives, creating a sense of belonging for our students.”

The Master’s in Hospitality Management at EHL offers a Luxury Experience Management specialization for students who want to pursue a career in the luxury sector. While this particular track is currently only available at EHL’s Lausanne campus, EHL’s Singapore campus offers a lifelong learning education portfolio that features a course on Luxury Brand Management– a three-day short course designed to teach students to develop and implement innovative solutions, design marketing, and communication strategies, and apply luxury brand management concepts to the luxury hospitality business.

Luxury Experience Management Education

According to Dr. Schmitt, discovering luxury experience management is more than learning about the product. Instead, what future managers or luxury professionals learn is how to deliver a personalised experience that exceeds expectations and fosters long-term customer loyalty.

"The essence of hospitality is about making someone feel at home and welcome. By manifesting hospitality within a luxury mindset, we focus on crafting an experience that encompasses the luxury product. This approach transforms the product into an experience that is felt before, during, and after the interaction with the product or service."

Generally, the luxury industry has transformed beyond simply offering luxury commodities and now encompasses the whole experience that a brand delivers to its customers. According to Dr. Schmitt, the customer journey and experience will become a critical success factor for future luxury brands.

Individuals or prospective students interested in pursuing a luxury management education can explore a wealth of opportunities beyond the traditional fashion and luxury industries. While these sectors certainly offer prominent avenues for applying luxury management skills, the core principles of luxury—human-centricity and service excellence—extend across all sectors.

“Your job is not linked to glamour, your job is to make somebody else experience glamour. This tiny shift in mindset is very important for our students. They learn to understand what makes something a ‘luxury’ product, and they develop a greater appreciation of the product or service linked to it.”

EHL’s recent collaboration with Cartier, one of the most esteemed luxury brands in the world, represents a significant enrichment of EHL’s educational offerings, providing students with unparalleled access to the luxury sector.

The Paris-based brand will join EHL to offer a specialization in Luxury Experience Management as part of the Master’s in Hospitality Management. Starting in September 2024, students will have the opportunity to experience firsthand what it’s like to work with the renowned French luxury watch manufacturer and gain valuable work experience.

“Our partnership didn’t come out of the blue. We have established long-term collaborations with Cartier and other luxury brands under the EHL Alliance. Our programs with Cartier include campus recruitment, involvement in student business projects, ‘A Day with Cartier,’ roundtable discussions, and other activities. This partnership in Luxury Experience Management Education is grounded in our enduring relationship and shared values of human-centricity.”

Through field and industry visits, immersive experiences, and expert lectures provided by Cartier, EHL’s students are uniquely positioned to conceptualise and create cutting-edge luxury experiences.

Sustainability in Luxury, Fifth Industrial Revolution

The rise of sustainable luxury, often referred to as “green glamour,” is a turning point where a clear shift is seen towards eco-friendly designs and business practices. Thus, a new era of high-end apparel has emerged.

Although not a sustainability expert, Dr. Schmitt, as an educator, underscored the importance of raising awareness by providing a platform for best practices and benchmarks in sustainability within the luxury industry.

"As educators, our role is to stimulate thoughts and provide a platform to demonstrate sustainable practices, with the hope to impact the industry over the long term. While it is always difficult to generalize certain sustainability strategies, I do highlight our educational objectives—presenting various approaches and perspectives on this subject. Providing a range of possibilities is more effective than dictating a singular approach. To truly advance sustainability, we should promote a multifaceted approach and educate different industries on diverse strategies for sustainability.”

The luxury industry is not exempt from digital transformation and innovation. Most luxury brands are now embracing the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR), where companies adapt to evolving consumer expectations with the goal of thriving in an era of unprecedented technological advancement and consumer empowerment.

"I believe that the essence of the Fifth Revolution lies not only in the advancements of AI and digitalisation but also equally in the seamless integration of the human interface, illuminating a future where technological advancement harmonises with human ingenuity."

The hospitality industry has a long-standing tradition when it comes to industry service standards but with the redefinition of luxury management, a three-star hotel, for instance, can also serve a whole new and integrated luxury experience, thanks to its cosy lobby, diverse dining options, and thoughtfully optimised room spaces.

"I believe the future trend across industries, including luxury, involves a greater focus on individualising and aligning with human needs and desires. This redefinition of luxury extends beyond the tangible value of a product to emphasize the human service connected to it. This approach reflects a broader shift towards prioritising personalised experiences in every industry."

For those who aspire to embark on a career in the luxury management industry, Dr. Schmitt’s two cents are to maintain humility and an open-minded perspective.

“To succeed in this industry, you need to be the creator of luxurious experiences, which requires having a mindset of humility, personalisation, and a commitment to creating an exclusive atmosphere.”

Sweet tooths, you have another spot to check out this month as the chocolaterie under luxury brand Louis Vuitton is making its way to Asia! Set to open in time for Valentine’s celebrations, Le Chocolat Maxime Frédéric is bringing luxurious goodness to Singapore all the way from France.

The chocolate atelier will be inside the Louis Vuitton boutique in Marina Bay Sands, featuring the creations of award-winning French pastry chef Maxime Frédéric. Chef Frédéric is known for using premium ingredients sourced from his birthplace, Normandy. One of the widely known ingredients he uses is hazelnut, which is grown and harvested from his own farm.

Currently, the offerings have not yet been unveiled, but you can expect a selection of chocolates with designs ranging from simple to intricate. You might also find chocolates inspired by the brand’s iconic pattern or a chocolate version of the Vivienne doll perched on an LV trunk with a turnkey.

Maxime Frédéric is a three-star pastry chef at Louis Vuitton’s Cheval Blanc in Paris and was recognized as the Gault & Millau Guide’s 2022 Pastry Chef of the Year.

Mark your calendars! Satisfy your sweet cravings and spoil yourself this Valentine’s Day at Le Chocolat Maxime Frédéric Singapore. Book an appointment here.

Location: Island Maison B1-38/39, 2 Bayfront Ave., 018972 Singapore, Singapore

Opening hours: Daily from 11 AM

Porsche is giving Singaporeans a brand-new experience, as the luxury carmaker has launched a new showroom in the Lion City, and it’s nothing like we’ve seen before.

Nestled at Guoco Midtown, Porsche Studio Singapore features all-inclusive experiences across its two floors. The showroom houses Porsche’s latest car models, as well as various spaces for Porsche fans and customers.

Aside from the innovative showroom, what makes the new space one-of-a-kind is its unique lifestyle store concept. Downstairs, there’s Cafe Carrera by Baker & Cook, which offers a variety of cakes, pastries, and drinks to its visitors.

To make the customers’ experiences more interactive, there’s also a studio space upstairs, which houses a library, a lounge area, and two racing simulators. Here, visitors can sit, relax, and take a look at Porsche cars in the built-in car hoist area.

Guests can also create their dream Porsche car with the specifications they prefer at the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur corner.

Outside the studio, more community spaces are also in the works, dedicated to facilitating gatherings among Porsche fans and users.

Visit Porsche Studio Singapore at Guoco Midtown, 130 Beach Road. For more information, go here.

Location: Porsche Studio Singapore, Guoco Midtown, 130 Beach Road, #01-12, Singapore

Operating hours: 10 AM to 8 PM daily