The Luxury Item with Scott Kerr

Scott Kerr sits down with Ilaria Resta, CEO of Audemars Piguet, one of the world’s oldest and most exclusive luxury watch brands and renowned for its intricate craftsmanship, technical innovation, and iconic designs like the legendary Royal Oak timepiece. Ilaria, who joined the independent Swiss watchmaker as CEO in 2024, discusses how AP thinks with a 'telescopic' time horizon to keep the brand relevant in the future, how it nurtures a culture of experimentation and disruption, and the complexities of heading a family-controlled business. She also talks about why its Le Brassus, Switzerland factories are critical to AP's identity and how the brand maintains desirability in a challenging watchmaking environment. Plus: How AP is appealing to more women and younger collectors.Featuring: Ilaria Resta, Chief Executive Officer at Audemars Piguet (audemarspiguet.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout: The Luxury Item is the leading podcast on the business of luxury, and an important resource for global industry decision makers who want to stay one step ahead. Listen to insightful conversations with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands as they share the latest trends, insights, and strategies that are helping them forge a strong path forward.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr sits down with Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, one of the most influential figures in luxury real estate and hospitality. Dayssi is co-founder, president, and COO of Flag Luxury Group, a prominent New York-based hospitality real estate development firm specializing in luxury hotels and residences, known for projects like The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad and others. Dayssi discusses the firm's longtime development partnership with The Ritz‑Carlton brand, what goes into studying customer lifestyle patterns when developing a luxury hotel or residence, and how Flag Luxury thinks about building for the next generation of luxury guests. She also talks about the surging demand for hospitality-led branded residences and creating brand narratives around each luxury development. Plus: Why Daysii and her daughter launched the Women’s Power Series leadership and networking platform for women.Featuring: Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Co-Founder, President, and COO of Flag Luxury Group (flagluxury.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout: The Luxury Item is the leading podcast on the business of luxury, and an important resource for global industry decision makers who want to stay one step ahead. Listen to insightful conversations with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands as they share the latest trends, insights, and strategies that are helping them forge a strong path forward.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by highly acclaimed ready-to-wear designer Nili Lotan, founder and CEO of her 25-year-old namesake fashion label, to discuss her path to building a successful culturally-vibrant brand that has redefined what luxury means for a modern woman. Nili also talks about branching out on her own after years of leading design teams at top American fashion houses, shaping a distinct design language rooted in music and art, and following her instincts and often rejecting fashion industry norms. She discusses collaborating with rock duo The Kills, expanding her brand into menswear, and launching a handbag collection after 22 years. Plus: Why her experience as head designer at Ralph Lauren was her most formative.Featuring: Nili Lotan, Founder, CEO and Creative Director of Nili Lotan (nililotan.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout: The Luxury Item is the leading podcast on the business of luxury, and an important resource for global industry decision makers who want to stay one step ahead. Listen to insightful conversations with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands as they share the latest trends, insights, and strategies that are helping them forge a strong path forward.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr sits down with Chris Norton, chief executive of Equinox Hotels, the hospitality brand that promises to give guests the same experience its high-end gyms provide: "the ultimate high-performance luxury lifestyle." Norton, who joined Equinox Hotels as CEO in 2016 after a long tenure at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, discusses how the hotel is rewriting the playbook of luxury hospitality and guest experience, the challenge of designing a luxury hotel that matches the Equinox ethos, and why health is the new wealth for affluent consumers. He also talks about how Equinox Hotel is embracing the longevity trend and why community is a core pillar of its strategy. Plus: Is AI slop eroding the core signals of luxury?Featuring: Chris Norton, CEO of Equinox Hotels (equinox-hotels.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingThe Luxury Item is the leading podcast on the business of luxury, and an important resource for global industry decision makers who want to stay one step ahead. Listen to insightful conversations with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands as they share the latest trends, insights, and strategies that are helping them forge a strong path forward.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by Dino Michael, senior vice president & global category head for Hilton's luxury brands, overseeing the strategic growth and positioning of storied brands like Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, and LXR. Dino discusses the biggest shifts in luxury hospitality in the last two decades, how Hilton's luxury brands continually proves its value proposition in the fiercely competitive luxury hotel landscape, and why travelers are pivoting from escapism to emotional alignment. He also talks about the vision and strategy behind Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts' major revitalization spearheaded by its crown jewel Waldorf Astoria New York, and why the recently acquired NoMad Hotels was a strategic investment for Hilton's luxury portfolio. Plus: Why 'sleep is the new status symbol'Featuring: Dino Michael, Senior Vice President & Global Category Head, Luxury Brands at Hilton (hilton.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingThe Luxury Item is the leading podcast on the business of luxury, and an important resource for global industry decision makers who want to stay one step ahead. Listen to insightful conversations with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands as they share the latest trends, insights, and strategies that are helping them forge a strong path forward.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by Cliff Robinson, chief executive officer of Revo, the iconic premium eyewear brand renowned for high-performance polarized lenses rooted in NASA technology. Cliff discusses how after being owned by several companies (including Luxottica) since its founding forty years ago, Revo is undergoing a significant revitalization through new collaborations, store openings, and strategic initiatives. He also talks about the challenges of making a heritage brand culturally relevant again, strategies to appeal to younger audiences, why he chose Barcelona, Spain for its first European flagship store, and its exclusive eyewear collaboration with Universal Music Group that begins with The Rolling Stones. Plus: Will Revo be playing in the AI glasses arena anytime soon?Featuring: Cliff Robinson, CEO of Revo (revo.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr sits down with Kristie D'Ambrosio-Correll, CEO and co-founder of Dacora Motors, a groundbreaking American ultra-luxury electric vehicle that will compete with Rolls-Royce and whose design pays homage to the elegant lines of 1930s vintage automotive artistry. Dacora is the first female-founded and led car company in the industry’s history and the first made-in-America ultra-luxury vehicle brand in nearly a century. Kristie discusses what led her from CTO of Mirror to starting her own luxury EV company, the challenges she faced as female founder, and aiming to be the ultimate in luxury bespoke customization. She also talks about the opportunity for Dacora in a challenging luxury EV market and its design collaboration with the legendary Pininfarina Group. Plus: Why Dacora's extreme approach to personalization is unprecedented in this categoryFeaturing: Kristie D'Ambrosio-Correll, CEO and Co-Founder of Dacora (dacora.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by Julie Bramham, global managing director of Diageo Luxury Group, a division that unites prestigious ultra-premium spirits brands such as Johnnie Walker, Don Julio, Port Ellen, and others in one portfolio. Julie discusses Diageo's thinking behind the formation of a luxury division, why Johnnie Walker's iconic 'Keep Walking" message and platform stays culturally relevant, growth opportunities in the face of a challenging global drinks market and consumers trading down from expensive products. She also talks about creating custom luxury experiences for HNWIs, a haute couture and fine whisky collaboration, and resurrecting a legendary Scottish 'ghost' distillery. Plus: Why brand storytelling is central to the success of its brands.Featuring: Julie Bramham, Global  Managing Director at Diageo Luxury Group (diageo.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by Omni Hotels & Resorts' president Kurt Alexander, who is leading the charge in the brand evolution and portfolio enhancement of the upscale 'approachable luxury' hospitality brand. Kurt discusses how the $1.5 billion brand overhaul will allow the smaller player to compete with the global hotel giants, its strategic shift towards more approachable luxury, and why Omni still builds and owns hotels in an asset-light era. He also talks about how Omni is rethinking personalization for the today's traveler and prioritizing workforce development to deliver emotionally resonant guest experiences. Plus: Has travel become a human need?Featuring: Kurt Alexander, President at Omni Hotels & Resorts (omnihotels.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Fraser Yachts is the world's leading yachting company. Anders Kurtén, CEO of Fraser Yachts joins Scott Kerr to talk about why the luxury superyacht market is experiencing continued growth, the strong and sustained appetite for larger yachts, expectations of the younger generation of superyacht owners, and how the 78-year-old company stays relevant in a highly competitive field. Anders also discusses what's driving the latest yacht design trends, the surge of luxury fashion brands partnering with yacht manufacturers, Fraser's highly regarded business intelligence team, and the measurable steps the company takes to reduce its environmental impact. Plus: How wealthy superyacht buyer are dealing with tariffs.Featuring: Anders Kurtén, CEO of Fraser Yachts (fraseryachts.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr sits down with Luca Fuso, CEO of Cassina, the renowned nearly century-old luxury Italian furniture brand that blends tradition, innovation, and collaboration with world-famous architects and designers. Luca Fuso is also CEO of the Design Division at Haworth Lifestyle, a portfolio of brands including Cassina, Karakter, Zanotta and Cappellini. Luca discusses how Cassina pioneered innovative industrial production methods that fused craftsmanship and advanced technologies and how its long history of collaborating with the masters like Le Corbusier, Gio Ponti, Philippe Starck, Charlotte Perriand became crucial to its brand identity. He also talks about Cassina partnering with luxury Italian fashion houses on exclusive products or installations, the 'Cassina Perspective' philosophy that defines its creative vision, how Cassina actively shapes the discourse around design, and monitoring the impact of cultural shifts on our living spaces. Plus: Impact of the U.S tariffs on Cassina's businessFeaturing: Luca Fuso, CEO of Cassina (cassina.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr sits down with celebrated chef and global restaurateur Richard Sandoval, founder and executive chef of Richard Sandoval Hospitality, a company with over 60 locations across four continents specializing in contemporary Latin cuisine. Richard discusses switching from playing on the professional tennis circuit to enrolling in the Culinary Institute of America, what he learned about hospitality running his father's Mexico City restaurant, and how opening upscale Maya restaurant in New York City in 1997 became the seed of his global empire. He also talks about the rewards of introducing Latin cuisine in unexpected global regions and growing his licensing business with the leading luxury hotel brands. Plus: Richard Sandoval's mission to save the beesFeaturing: Richard Sandoval, Founder and Executive Chef at Richard Sandoval Hospitality (richardsandoval.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by Filippo Arnaboldi, CEO of Frette, the 165-year-old Italian luxury brand renowned for providing linens and bedding to many of world's most prestigious hotels, iconic properties, and royal families throughout Europe. Filippo discusses how Frette became a symbol of luxury and craftsmanship in the world of home textiles, designing luxury hotel brand-specific collections, and reaching younger audiences through luxury travel and sleep wellness. He also talks about accelerating Frette's global business through early investments in e-commerce, opening immersive boutiques in the world's top luxury shopping locations, and strengthening its hospitality business. Plus: Frette's collaboration with Thom Browne at Milan Design Week.Featuring: Filippo Arnaboldi, CEO of Frette (frette.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr sits down with Sam Ioannidis, managing director of The Plaza, New York City's iconic hotel, to discuss how it achieved near-mythical status and what makes it so unique in the world of luxury hospitality. Sam also talks about recently joining The Plaza after a 30 year stint at The Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, how he keeps the 120-year-old hotel relevant and forward thinking, his strategies for creating a winning service culture, and why he's providing more curated experiences to guests than ever before. Plus: How The Plaza's Palm Court became a cultural touchstone of New York City's hospitality, history, and high society..Featuring: Sam Ioannidis, Managing Director of The Plaza Hotel (theplazany.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr speaks to Aerin Lauder, founder and creative director of luxury lifestyle brand AERIN, about launching her own business in 2012 after a 25-year stint at Estée Lauder, the beauty empire founded by her legendary grandmother. Aerin discusses why she launched her eponymous brand, the ways she's continually inspired by Estée's life and career, and why the AERIN brand story appeals to consumers. She also talks about her desire to build a great American luxury brand, collabs with Mark Cross and William Sonoma, and how she stays on top of changing customer preferences and digital trends. Plus: How her passion for flowers blossomed into a Rizzoli coffee table book "Living With Flowers"..Featuring: Aerin Lauder, Founder and Creative Director of AERIN (aerin.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by Eyal Shani, iconic Israeli celebrity chef and founder of the hospitality brand, the Good People Group, which includes Shmoné, Miznon and a global lineup of some of the most respected and popular restaurants. Eyal discusses how he gained notoriety as the "godfather of Israeli cuisine" from his high-end Tel-Aviv restaurants and carving out a reputation as a chef who disrupts the status quo. He also talks about why his Israeli street food inspired Miznon restaurant chain is a global phenomenon serving "fine dining in a pita", why hospitality is one of the highest cultural levels in our humanity,  and what it means to have a Michelin star restaurant in New York. Plus: How his first Kosher eatery Malka breaks the bad rap of kosher food.Featuring: Eyal Shani, Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur (instagram.com/eyaltomato)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

The ‘luxury hotel superyacht’ is one of the most competitive and exciting new areas of luxury travel. The Ritz-Carlton was the first to market with the launch of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s 'Evrima' superyacht in 2022. Scott Kerr sits down with Jim Murren, executive chairman and CEO of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, to discuss why the Ritz-Carlton expanded into superyachts, the complexities of designing and building its ships and the similarities to designing one of its land-based hotel properties, and why its third superyacht 'Luminara' (embarking on her maiden voyage in July) is its most ambitious creation yet. Jim also talks about why the luxury hotel superyacht market is still relatively untapped and how the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is shaping its itineraries and destinations to meet the demands of UHNW travelers who are increasingly valuing purity of experience over traditional luxury amenities. Plus: Why most of its guests are first-time cruisersFeaturing: Jim Murren, Executive Chairman and CEO of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by David Pearson, president & executive chairman at Joseph Phelps Vineyards, one of the most respected and acclaimed wine properties in the United States. Founded more than a half a century ago, the family-run winery was acquired by LVMH’s Moët Hennessy in 2022, adding to its portfolio of luxury wines and spirits. David discusses the winemaker's legacy of revolutionizing California winemaking in the 1970s, how its flagship Insignia wine became a status symbol around the world, and why the brand was sold to Moët Hennessy. He also talks about ways the wine industry could right-set its many challenges and how its winery is adapting to climate change. Plus: How Canada's retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. has impacted his business Featuring: David Pearson, President & Executive Chairman at Joseph Phelps Vineyards (josephphelps.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

The lifestyle hotel segment is red hot, driven by experience-focused offerings that appeal to new generations of travelers. Scott Kerr speaks to Amar Lalvani, president and creative director at Hyatt's new lifestyle group, a dedicated division primarily focusing on lifestyle hotels including brands like The Standard, Thompson Hotels, Dream Hotels, Bunkhouse Hotels, and others. Amar discusses why Standard International was sold to Hyatt, the thinking behind Hyatt's brand groupings strategy, what's driving the boom in lifestyle hotels and how Hyatt is enhancing its leadership, the strategic benefits of being part of Hyatt's massive loyalty program, and the biggest changes in hospitality over the last 10 years. Plus: Why the buzzy new concept hotel The Manner in New York City 'feels like the living room of your coolest friend'Featuring: Amar Lalvani, President and Creative Director, Lifestyle Group at Hyatt (hyatt.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by world-famous fashion designer Gilles Mendel, who recently launched a new business venture House of Gilles, a couture atelier he founded along with his daughter Chloe Mendel Corgan. Gilles discusses the next chapter of the family-run house and how its offerings are bringing the essence of a Parisian atelier to New York City. He also talks about the rise of young couture clientele and their new expectations, why there has been a greater appreciation for artisans, why couture defies the economic climate, and designing costumes for New York City Ballet dancers. Plus: A new couture bridal footwear collaboration with CasadeiFeaturing: Gilles Mendel, Fashion Designer and Co-Founder of House of Gilles (houseofgilles.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!