Voyage Edge — Advertising + luxury travel

ISABELLA'S ISLAY Agency Intelligence Jul 22, 5:07 AM EDT

Omnicom Group

MSN Money ↗

Omnicom closed $13B IPG deal, creating world's largest ad firm

Omnicom has closed its acquisition of rival Interpublic in an all-stock deal reshaping the advertising and marketing sectors and creating the world's largest advertising firm.

ReadingThe merger of equals was always a myth. Omnicom gets scale; client procurement teams get leverage they did not have before.

WatchWatch which top-twenty clients announce RFPs in the next 90 days. The exodus begins quietly.

Read full analysis → Original ↗

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HENRI IV Branded Residences Jul 22, 5:07 AM EDT

Vladislav Doronin / Shinsegae

Forbes ↗

Aman and Shinsegae launched $500M joint venture for branded residences

The $500 million joint venture between Vladislav Doronin's OKO Group and the South Korean retail giant Shinsegae will develop Aman properties and branded residences across Asia.

ReadingAsia's UHNW cohort has a new address book. Seoul capital meets Doronin's design sensibility.

WatchWatch for the first Aman Residences launch. Tokyo or Hong Kong first. Q3 or Q4.

Read full analysis → Original ↗

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MACALLAN 1926 Hotel Openings Jul 22, 5:07 AM EDT

LVMH / Belmond

Reuters ↗

LVMH acquired Belmond for $3.2B, entering luxury hotel operations

Luxury goods maker LVMH has agreed to buy Belmond, the owner of iconic hotels including Venice's landmark Cipriani, for a total of $3.2 billion.

ReadingLuxury goods makers now own more beds than half the traditional hoteliers. Verticalization is no longer strategy; it is infrastructure.

WatchWatch Belmond's renovation pace. LVMH will not add rooms; they will add price.

Read full analysis → Original ↗

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LOUIS XIII Sponsorship & Activation Jul 22, 5:07 AM EDT

Ari Emanuel / MARI Group

Deadline ↗

MARI acquired majority stake in Bucket Listers, event marketing firm

Ari Emanuel's live events and experiences holding company MARI has acquired a majority stake in event-focused marketing firm Bucket Listers.

ReadingExperience-focused agencies are being absorbed into larger platforms. Independent event shops have two years to either scale or sell.

WatchWatch MARI announce the next two acquisitions. The vertical is rolling up.

Read full analysis → Original ↗

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PAPPY 23 Campaign Intelligence Jul 22, 5:07 AM EDT

Accenture Song

The Wrap ↗

Accenture Song acquired Whalar in largest creator economy transaction ever

Accenture Song, the consulting company's tech-powered marketing division, agreed to acquire creator agency Whalar in the industry's largest creator economy transaction.

ReadingCreator marketing shifted from talent representation to infrastructure. Accenture is buying the pipes, not the personalities.

WatchWatch which of Whalar's top creators stay post-acquisition. That number tells the story.

Read full analysis → Original ↗

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JOHNNIE BLUE Hotel Openings Jul 22, 5:07 AM EDT

Aman Resorts

Travel Weekly ↗

Aman announced three U.S. openings: Texas ranch, Mexico City, and residences

AMAN is expanding into new markets with Amansanu in Texas Hill Country, its Mexico debut, and a series of branded residence launches across North America.

ReadingAman is scaling without losing the Aman. The fact that it is possible means the brand commands pricing power most operators will never see.

WatchWatch the Texas Hill Country opening date and the residence pricing. Both will set market expectations.

Read full analysis → Original ↗

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WELL POUR Hotel Openings Jul 22, 5:07 AM EDT

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

MSN Travel ↗

Mandarin Oriental ranked No. 1 luxury hotel brand for third year running

For the third year in a row, the Hong Kong-based Mandarin Oriental chain topped the list of the world's best luxury hotels.

ReadingA brand that consistently ranks does not need to announce openings. The wait times do.

WatchWatch which markets Mandarin Oriental opens next. They will arrive quietly.

Read full analysis → Original ↗

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