Archive of 2011 Programs

The America’s Cup #101
Everything you need to know about the who, what, when and why of the Bay Area’s most significant event of the decade

Tuesday, October 25th
12.00 – 2.00

SCHEDULE:
12.00-12.30: Registration and light lunch
12.30-1.30: Presentations and Q & A
1.30-2.00: Optional networking

While the local media has done an admirable job of keeping everyone apprised of the major decisions and implications surrounding the America’s Cup World Series in 2012 and the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup in 2013, the details remain somewhat murky to the average business outsider. Many of the complex planning issues involving fund-raising, sponsorship sales, visitor transportation and lodging, traffic flow, etc. are still at the incubation stage. For the luxury marketer, interested in the planning behind the event, and the attendant business opportunities that it presents, information is everything.

In this detail-driven presentation, representatives from the City of San Francisco and the America’s Cup Event Authority will present an overview of AC34 (the 34th America’s Cup), discuss details of race-planning and respond to extensive Q&A on all matters relating to planning and execution of the event.

Featuring:

Peter Albert
Manager
Urban Planning Initiatives
SFMTA| Municipal Transportation Agency

Ariel Ungerleider
Community Outreach Manager
America’s Cup Event Authority

Adam Van de Water
Assistant America’s Cup Project Director
City of San Francisco

Location:

San Francisco Design Center
Showplace Building
2 Henry Adams Street
Suite 305
San Francisco, CA 94103

Presenting Sponsors:

From Concept to Reality

Introducing Range Rover luxury for an urban world…The Designer’s Perspective.

Thursday, October 6th 12.00 – 2.00 PM

Schedule:
12.00-12.30: Registration and light lunch
12.30-1.30: Presentation
1.30-2.00: Optional networking

This fall, Land Rover is launching its first new Range Rover model since 2005: the Range Rover Evoque. The all-new 2012 Range Rover Evoque targets a whole new generation of brand enthusiasts and is design-driven like no other vehicle on
the road.

The Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco and the San Francisco Design Center are honored to host the man behind its distinctive design, Gerry McGovern, Design Director for Land Rover. As the company’s first lightweight “city model”, the Range Rover Evoque introduces Range Rover luxury for an urban, contemporary audience. It is the smallest, lightest, most fuel efficient Range Rover ever produced and boasts a modern evolution of the Range Rover design aesthetic.

In this compelling insider’s presentation, Gerry McGovern will discuss his design inspiration for the all-new Range Rover Evoque and how luxury influences his approach to automotive design.

Featuring:

Gerry McGovern
Design Director
Land Rover/Range Rover

As Design Director for Land Rover, Gerry McGovern creates some of the world’s most distinctive and desirable vehicles.

A keen sketcher and painter, Gerry was interested in being an artist before his interests turned to industrial and automotive design. He worked for Chrysler and Peugeot, before joining the Rover Group, where he was the lead designer of the critically acclaimed MGF sports car and Land Rover Freelander (the best-selling compact SUV in Europe for 7 years). He also led the team that created the current Range Rover. In 1999, Ford recruited him to rejuvenate Lincoln-Mercury design. In 2004, he rejoined Land Rover as Director, Advanced Design. In 2006 he became Design Director for Land Rover, becoming a member of the Land Rover Board of Management in 2008 and the Jaguar Land Rover Executive
Committee in 2009.

Gerry’s influence became obvious with the introduction of the 2010 Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Discovery.

Gerry’s wider remit is to guide all aspects of visual communications ensuring a strong link between design and all relevant agencies, resulting in a consistent look and feel between vehicles and brand communications.

Location:

A. Rudin Showroom
Suite 303
Galleria Building
San Francisco Design Center
101 Henry Adams Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Presenting Sponsors:

Watch the Blue Angels Up Close and Personal

Friday, October 7th
12.00 – 3.00 PM

Buffet lunch: 12.30 – 2.00 PM
Blue Angels performance: 2.00- 3.00 PM

The Luxury Marketing Council, in partnership with the Golden Gate Yacht Club extends an invitation to watch the Blue Angels perform in a rehearsal from the best seats in the house.

Join us at the Golden Gate Yacht Club where we’ll enjoy lunch, raise a glass or two, and watch the spectacular Blue Angels perform right before our very eyes.

Please note: There will be a $25.00 per person, all-inclusive charge for the full buffet lunch and bar beverages. (Pay by check or credit card at check-in)

Location:

Golden Gate Yacht Club
1 Yacht Road
San Francisco, 34123
Parking: Free, but limited parking is available

Presenting Sponsor:

What Can We Expect From the Affluent Consumer in 2012?
Hot-off-the-press data and trends from the 2011 Mendelsohn Affluent Survey

Wednesday, September 21st
12.00 – 2.00 PM

Schedule:

• 12.00-12.30: Registration and light lunch
• 12.30-1.30: Presentation
• 1.30-2.00: Optional networking

Ipsos Mendelsohn is regarded as one of the country’s leading sources of behavioral data and trend information on the affluent and luxury buyer, with specific psychographic information on buying motivations, media habits, outlook on the future, reaction to recessionary times, etc.

Each year, this research leader produces a major annual survey report and updates its data quarterly which means that its findings and conclusions are both current and relevant, a significant point given the volatility and unpredictability of the luxury consumer in recent times.

The company has compiled its hot-off-the-press data and trend information on the luxury sector for 2011 and will present the report for the first time nationally to Luxury Marketing Council chapters in San Francisco and Las Vegas.

Please note that this proprietary information is only available to the Report’s paid subscribers. However, the information is being presented to Luxury Marketing Council members, without charge.

Featuring:

Bob Shullman
President
Ipsos Mendelsohn

Location:

One Rincon Hill Condominium Residences
489 First Street at Harrison
San Francisco, CA 94105

What You Don’t Know About Mission Bay Will Blow Your Mind!
The Secrets of San Francisco’s Next Major Real Estate Boom Revealed

Wednesday, September 14th
5.30 – 7.30 PM

For most Bay Area denizens, with the exception of those who frequent the ball games at AT&T Park, Mission Bay represents unknown and unchartered territory – a perceived amalgam of rundown seafront, urban decay and 4th world decrepitude. Never have so many been so wrong.

Reality vs. Perception
In reality, the Mission Bay back story is one of smart, proactive planning, heavy, committed investment and a future that transcends the traditional urban development model. The data surpasses impressive:

• 303 acres of land between the San Francisco Bay and Interstate-280
• Development plans include:
  • 6,000 planned housing units
  • 4.4 million sq. ft. of office/life science/biotechnology commercial space
  • A new UCSF research campus containing 2.65 million sq. ft. of building
  • space on 43 acres of land
  • A state-of-the art UCSF hospital complex serving children, women, and
  • cancer patients
  • 500,000 sq. ft. of city and neighborhood-serving retail space
  • A 500-room hotel
  • 41 acres of new public open space, including parks along Mission Creek and along the bay, plus 8 acres of open space within the UCSF campus
  • A new 500-student public school, a new public library and new fire and police stations and other community facilities
• The master developer will construct more than $700 million in public infrastructure. Total development cost is expected to exceed $4 billion
• Mission Bay is expected to create more than 30,000 new permanent jobs, in addition to hundreds of ongoing construction jobs
• Current major corporate entities with existing or planned commitment to the area include Pfizer, Salesforce.com, Bayer, Genentech, the Gap and Merck

What does this mean for real estate agents?
For Bay Area real estate agents, Mission Bay represents massive opportunity as high-tech and biotech company job holders and seekers pour into the area, the majority of them, potential home buyers. At the forefront of this surge is Bosa Development, the visionary development group responsible for Mission Bay luxury high-rise developments, Radiance and the about-to-come-to market Madrone.

At this private preview event, real estate agents will be briefed on the complete Mission Bay project, its current status and projected development activity, as well as an inside overview of the Madrone complex that is now available for pre-introductory condominium sales. (www.MadroneByBosa.com)

Location:

201 King Street (at Third Street)
San Francisco

Free valet parking will be provided

Presenting Sponsors:

Luxury of the Senses – Sleep
Celebrating the Luxury of a Good Night’s Sleep…and How to Get It

Tuesday, September 13th
12.00 – 2.00 PM

If the most important luxury in life is good health, then the second most important is a good night’s sleep. Statistics provided by the National Sleep Foundation say it all:

• Some 70 million people in the United States have a sleep problem. About 40
• million adults suffer from a chronic sleep disorder; an additional 20 – 30
• million have intermittent sleep-related problems.
• Effects of sleep loss on work performance may be costing U.S. employers
• some $18 billion in lost productivity.
• America’s adults average 6.9 hours of sleep each night, slightly less than
• the range of seven to nine hours recommended by many sleep experts.
• Three-quarters of America’s adults, (75%), said they frequently experience
• at least one symptom of a sleep problem in the past year.
• More than three-quarters of America’s partnered adults (77%) say their
• partner has a sleep-related problem; the most common problem is snoring.

So What’s An Insomniac To Do?
Well let’s start with the first line of defense, the mattress. With so many different types, models, designs, styles materials and competing claims, buying a new mattress without mistake requires the knowledge of a NASA engineer, wrapped in a cloak of attorney skepticism.

Now, we’ve taken the guess-work and the anxiety away!

The McRoskey Mattress Factory Tour…See How It’s Made!
Our good friends at McRoskey Mattress Company, the San Francisco–based manufacturer of the nation’s finest, customized bedding, and mattress purveyors to the sleep aficionado, will take us on a private, insider’s tour of the factory where we’ll follow the actual, real-time construction of a McRoskey mattress. You’ll learn the nuances of mattress construction and see why even the most subtle differences can make or break a good night’s sleep. And best of all, you’re encouraged to sample the wares, horizontally that is. Snoozing is definitely encouraged.

Location:

McRroskey Mattress Company Factory
1400 Minnesota Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

Presenting Sponsor:

The World of Luxury and Wealth…Deciphering the Data
Insights, Trends, Revelations and Strategies from the Research Files of Visa, Inc.

Wednesday, August 24th
6.00 – 8.00 PM

Social hour: 6.00 – 7.00
Presentation: 7:00 – 8.00

With more than 1.9 billion cards and 73 billion transactions worldwide, Visa Inc. is the world’s largest retail electronic payments network. A sophisticated marketer and industry trend-setter, Visa is noted for the knowledge it possesses of its customer base and the immense understanding that it has acquired and developed about consumer purchasing motivation and behavior.

Given that affluent consumers are among the savviest and most sought after customers, an informed approach is essential for success in delivering relevant products that will attract and retain this highly desirable market segment. So when it comes to the luxury consumer, having information that is rich, robust and nuanced, is highly desirable, if not mandatory, for the luxury marketer. Culled from terabytes of up-to-the–moment, real-time global research, the Visa Global Affluent Products Group has amassed and compiled proprietary trend information and behavioral research that luxury marketers greatly covet, yet rarely see.

In this illuminating presentation, Visa Inc. will:

• Share insights gleaned during the company’s most comprehensive (to date)
• global look at affluent lifestyles and preferences
• Define and size the affluent opportunity with a focus on identifying and
• understanding the different sub-segments within the affluent sector
• Focus on key findings in the U.S. market related to customer trends,
• lifestyle and product needs, and explain how these insights translate into
• product strategy and assets that fulfill the customer experience

Featuring:

Ava Kelly
Head of Global Affluent Products
Visa Inc.

About Ava Kelly

Ava Kelly has been with Visa seven years and is currently the Global Head of Visa’s Affluent Strategy with responsibility for segment profiling, strategic planning, product strategy and coordination of global assets and best practices. Kelly previously held the position of Head of North America Consumer Credit for Visa Inc. with responsibility for Product Strategy, Product Consulting, Product Development and Management Functions.

Prior to joining Visa, Kelly worked with American Express for eight years including senior level roles in corporate strategic planning and brand advertising, consumer credit products, stored value products as well as establishment services.

Kelly brings 15 years in the payments industry and over 23 years of experience in the product, marketing and advertising fields. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Commerce and Economics from the University of Toronto, Ontario

Location:

Fairmont Heritage Place
Ghirardelli Square
900 North Point Street @ Polk
San Francisco, CA 94109

Presenting Sponsors:

Sharp Pencils & Gimlet Eyes!
Insider Secrets on How Successful Contractors Manage Cost, Limit Risk and Generate Profit

Thursday, August 18th
12.00 – 2.00 PM

Not only do today’s interior designers have to confront project scarcity, intense competition, demanding clients and the request to cut the fee, they also live with the knowledge that even the slightest misstep or hiccup in estimating the job or the project can result in an absorbed write-off, if not financial peril.

First developed and presented to (and endorsed by) the staff of Barbara Scavullo Design, this highly-informative, lesson-driven seminar is conducted by one of the Bay Area’s most successful and astute building contractors who works with high-end building and remodeling projects.
In this program you will learn:

• How the successful contractor applies established method and discipline to the estimating process
• The contractor’s rules for bringing the job in on time and on budget
• How to manage client insecurity, indecisiveness and intransigence
• How contractor and designer can join forces to better manage the budget and deliver an optimal return in terms of client satisfaction and vendor profitability
• Actual tools, tips and strategies for more accurate estimating and job-end profitability

Note: This seminar will be accompanied by actual work history example, as well as in-depth presentation of documents, forms and procedures.

Featuring:

Robin Strandberg
Owner
Capo Mastro Group

About Robin Strandberg
Robin has 18 years of experience in the construction industry, and 8 years of experience in cost accounting and financial markets. As a Principal of Capo Mastro Group, she has estimated and managed projects in the residential and commercial sector, developing the complex documentation necessary for bid and construction. Robin has also served as the on-site construction manager for multi-million dollar residential and fast-track tenant improvement projects. Capo Mastro Group was featured on the cover of the April 2011 issue of House Beautiful for the firm’s recent remodel of a Marin residence and gardens.

About Capo Mastro Group (CMG)
CMG is a residential and commercial construction firm founded in 2006 by some of the most experienced and innovative builders in the San Francisco Bay Area. Led by three partners who have over 50 years combined experience in the construction and business industries, they are w! ell known for the techniques, processes, and infrastructure. CMG builds a superior product while simultaneously eliminating the disruptions, cost overruns, and general heartache that is all too often a part of the remodeling process.
CMG has committed to 100% adherence to the three basic principles of Budget, Quality and Schedule adherence. Working with a select group of clients, designers, and architects, they manage the entire process with rigorous focus on value and aesthetics.

Location:

Walker Zanger Showroom
San Francisco Design Center
Galleria Building
101 Henry Adams Street, Suite 412
San Francisco, CA 94103

Presenting Sponsors:

Persuasion!
What Every Luxury Marketer Must Learn to Win the Heart, Mind and Pocketbook of the “New” Affluent Customer

Wednesday, July 27th
11.00 AM – -1.00 PM

AGENDA:
Registration & light lunch: 11.00-11.30
Presentation: 11.30-12.30
Networking (optional): 12.30-1.00

Conspicuous consumption is out. Sophisticated style is in. And the appreciation of the “quiet” luxury is the emerging trend. Accessible luxury today is an uncharted, dynamic territory where certain traditional brands are creating places and products for an aspiring new luxury class. At the same time, performance and technical brands are creating a new standard of luxury in categories such as sport, technology, and services, not previously considered part of the traditional luxury marketplace.

The Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco is pleased to present this dynamic session to explore the shifting marketplace; to reveal how brands, particularly in this new territory of luxury, are seeking to create commercial scale, while maintaining a sense of aspiration and exclusivity. From the casualization of luxury to the repositioning of their prestige names, how do iconic brands such as Godiva and The North Face create memorable experiences that build a connection to their consumers’ future?

Featuring:

Ken Nisch
Chairman
JGA

About Ken Nisch…

Since 1971, JGA has grown to become a global leader in brand strategy and retail design. JGA has built its reputation by assisting retailers and brands in realizing their visual marketing potential and attain leadership within their niche. JGA’s studio has conceived retail experiences for clients including Godiva Chocolatier, Hickey Freeman, Jaguar, The North Face, LittleMissMatched, Cortefiel/Springfield (Spain), The Museum of Arts and Design, and Tata International (India).

As Chairman of JGA, Mr. Nisch works internationally with responsibilities that include client liaison and project strategy. His knowledge and entrepreneurial insights into the consumer are integrated into conceptual development and strategic image positioning for retail operators, manufacturers and brand marketers.

DDI Magazine recently recognized Mr. Nisch as a “Retail Luminary,” named among a select group of visionaries considered to have demonstrated “unparalleled creative excellence.” Nisch was also presented with the 2010 Retail Leadership Award at the Asia Retail Congress in Mumbai, India. In 2009, he was inducted into the Retail Design Institute Legion of Honor, recognizing his outstanding career achievement in the field of retail store design.

Location:

Henredon Interior Design Showroom
San Francisco Design Center
Showplace Building
# 319
2 Henry Adams Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Presenting Sponsor:

American Express Publishing
“2011 Annual Survey of Affluence & Wealth in America”

Wednesday, July 20th
6.00 – 8.00 PM

Considered the pre-eminent source of trend analysis with respect to the affluent consumer, the Annual Survey of Affluence & Wealth in America presents a buying-behavioral assessment of the top 10% of the most affluent American households responsible for roughly half of the nation’s consumer spending.

Representatives from Luxury Market Insights, a distinct partnership between American Express Publishing (Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, Departures and Executive Travel) and Harrison Group, the leading national research firm responsible for fielding the survey will reprise the much-lauded presentation made at the American Express Publishing Luxury Summit in Deer Valley, Utah earlier this year.

The study’s findings will bring an eye-opening understanding of:

• How has the luxury sector reacted to the recession?
• What are the future purchasing trends with respect to the affluent consumer?
• Which luxury sectors survived the recession best, and which are poised for post-recession success?
• What motivates big-spending customers, particularly in a post-recession phase? What, where and how do these consumers buy, and what are the reasons behind their choices?
• How do the affluent define themselves? What are their dreams, needs, fears, influences and core values?
• How do the affluent gather and assimilate the information they need in making buying decisions?

Featuring:

Ryan Manville
Vice President
American Express Publishing, Corporate Research and Insights

Dr. Jim Taylor
Vice Chairman
Harrison Group

Location:

The City Club of San Francisco
155 Sansome Street
10th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104

Presenting Sponsors:

RSVP Information:

To reserve your seat, email nucifora@luxesf.com or call 415-332-1085

• This program is presented without charge to members and guests of The Luxury Marketing Council
• Attendance is by invitation only and is subject to a confirmed reservation. Invitations are not transferable
• Dress code is strictly business or business casual

Are You Leaving Money on the Table?

Thursday, July 21st
12.00 – 2.00 PM

Agenda:

• Registration & lunch: 12.00-12.30
• Panel discussion: 12.30-1.30
• Networking (optional): 1.30-2.00

With the current recession still in play, interior designers, irrespective of size and reputation, have all experienced some degree of financial angst. Revenue streams have slowed or dried up as clients have cut back or placed projects on hold.

While silver bullet solutions are hard to come by, “best practice” experience suggests that interior designers may be leaving client dollars on the table because of outdated billing practices and ineffectual management of the client relationship.

In this candid, solutions-focused session, a panel of experienced home remodeling practitioners and industry experts will provide insights into new or more effective methodologies for building client trust, increasing client spend, maximizing revenue from the job and identifying more lucrative billing and compensation options.

Featuring:

Erin Feher
Executive Editor
California Homes + Design Magazine

Claudia Juestel
Principal
Adeeni Design Group

Robin Strandberg
Owner
Capo Mastro Group

Elizabeth Suzuki
Principal
Sutton Suzuki Architects

Location:

Bticino USA Showroom
Show Place East
111 Rhode Island St., Suite #8
San Francisco, CA 94103

Presenting Sponsors:

RSVP Information:

To reserve your seat, email nucifora@luxesf.com or call 415-332-1085

• This program is presented without charge to members and guests of The Luxury Marketing Council
• Attendance is by invitation only and is subject to a confirmed reservation. Invitations are not transferable
• Dress code is strictly business or business casual

Exclusive Tasting of Sonoma County’s Premium Wines at Gump’s… and the drinks are on us

Thursday, July 14th
6.00 – 8.00 PM

Featuring 15 boutique wineries showcasing more than 30 large format, library or new release vintages…

The Luxury Marketing Council and Gumps, in partnership with Sonoma County Vintners and its member wineries extends an invitation to experience a rare evening of fine wines in conjunction with SONOMA IN THE CITY: SAN FRANCISCO, a celebration of Sonoma County’s finest wines and winemakers from July 11 -July 15.

Please visit sonomawine.com/sf for a complete event schedule.

Featuring:

• Arista Winery
• Blue Rock Vineyard
• Cartograph Wines
• Cloud’s Rest Pinot Noir
• Davis Bynum Wines
• Dutcher Crossing Winery
• Freeman Vineyard & Winery
• Garden Creek Vineyards
• Huge Bear Wines
• Jordan Wines
• Lambert Bridge
• Lynmar Estate
• Mueller
• Red Car Wines
• Robert Young Estate Winery

Location:

Gumps
135 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94108

Presenting Sponsors:

Top Chefs Tell Their Tales …The 6th Annual Food & Wine Event

Thursday, June 16th
6.00 – 8.00 PM

Featuring the talented participants from Bravo’s top-rated program “Top Chef” plus… sumptuous wines from Napa and Sonoma’s finest wineries and vineyards

Can there be anybody remaining who is not a fan (closet, or not) of Bravo’s uber-popular “Top Chef”? After 8 seasons, the program maintains its killer-ratings status as foodies feast on a veritable cornucopia of food porn, palace intrigues and rock star chefs, not to mention inspired culinary creations executed under the most demanding of circumstances and conditions.

The Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco is honored to present a panel comprising six of the program’s most talented and sometimes controversial participants. In a spirited discussion, the chefs share their thoughts and reminiscences about the program, reveal the inner secrets of life behind-the-scenes (and the lens), and update us on the current status of their personal and professional lives.

Plus 25 fine wines–just for your tasting pleasure
Sample 25 outstanding vintages presented by Napa, Sonoma and Livermore counties’ most renowned wineries and vineyards.

Featuring:

But That’s Not All:

Be our guest to tastings and presentations from leading artisanal food producers and wine-related purveyors including:

Location:

Modern Fever Showroom
Galleria Building, Fourth Floor
San Francisco Design Center
101 Henry Adams Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Presenting Sponsors:

RSVP Information:

To reserve your seat, email nucifora@luxesf.com or call 415-332-1085

• This program is presented without charge to members and guests of The Luxury Marketing Council
• Attendance is by invitation only and is subject to a confirmed reservation. Invitations are not transferable
• Dress code is strictly business or business casual

Conversations with Leaders in Luxury
Featuring Larry Pimentel, President & CEO Azamara Club Cruises

Wednesday, June 8th
6.00 – 8.00 PM

The Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco continues its compelling series of “Conversations with Leaders in Luxury” with an in-depth interview of Larry Pimentel, President & CEO of Azamara Club Cruises, recognized as “One of the World’s Top 10 Cruise Lines” by Travel + Leisure Magazine’s “World’s Best” readers’ poll.

Larry Pimentel is an acknowledged leader and pioneer in the rapidly-growing luxury cruise category, as well as a high-profile, international travel and tourism industry figure who has a well-earned reputation as one of the foremost experts on the topic of selling and marketing to discriminating travelers. Prior to joining Azamara Club Cruises, he was President, CEO and Co-Owner of SeaDream Yacht Club. Earlier he served as President & CEO of Cunard Line and Seabourn Cruise Line and before that as President & CEO of Classic Hawaii, a tour operating company.

In this frank, one-on-one discussion with Council Chairman, Alf Nucifora, Pimentel takes us aboard the fascinating world of the luxury cruise line where the truly unique experience and flawless attention to the customer combine to meet the needs and desires of the demanding traveler, who in the main, has “been there, done that!”

The Conversation continues with an overview of the upscale travel marketplace, together with an in-depth assessment of market dynamics including a profile of the affluent traveler, purchase motivations and buying behavior and the marketing techniques that support the sale of a product that faces steep and growing competition, as well as a “shelf date” that expires the moment the ship pulls away from the dock.

Location:

The City Club of San Francisco
155 Sansome Street
10th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104

Presenting Sponsors:

The 5th Annual Alpha Agents Event
“As the Market Turns”
Preparing for the Real Estate Turnaround

Wednesday, June 1
6.00 – 8.00 PM

2008-2010 will always be remembered as “anni horribili” in the annals of Bay Area real estate. Everyone, regardless of reputation, ranking and past success suffered at the hands of a real estate collapse that decimated bank accounts, diminished reputations and prompted deep discussions on the true meaning of life.

Is it over? The optimists aver that there’s a rebound in the making with vast opportunity for the first-to-play. Even the pessimists concede that the initial ripples of market movement are starting to be felt in spite of foreclosure fatigue and continuing constricted credit.

Is the market coming back, and if so, where’s the opportunity? If it is, how do we reconfigure and revitalize sales and marketing strategies that were placed on life support as business dried up and budgets were slashed in response?

In this compelling program, trends will be presented and dissected, opportunities assessed and strategies delivered that will prepare the real estate professional for the turnaround that may lie just around the corner.

Featuring:

“What the Agents Say”
An assessment of Bay Area performance based on fresh results of a survey conducted among 600+ Bay Area real estate agents representing high-end residential sales

“2011 Midyear Economic Update: Heads or Tails: Which End of the Bull (Market) Are We On?”

Presented by:

John Workman
Chief Investment Strategist
Convergent Wealth Advisors

“What’s Happening to Vacation Resort Real Estate Markets?”

Presented by:

David Gemme
Chase International Real Estate

“The Agent Viewpoint on the Other Markets”
A panel discussion analyzing and reviewing resort market opportunities for investment property and multiple homeowner sales.

Panelists include:

Kris McAuley
V.P. & Managing Broker
Preserve Sales and Marketing, Inc. (Carmel)

Ashley Damron Mohan
Vice President
Ohana Real Estate Investors
(Operating portfolio includes the Montage Laguna Beach, the Montage Beverly Hills and the Montage Deer Valley)

Trinkie Watson
Broker
Chase International Real Estate (Tahoe)

Location:

Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showroom
San Francisco Design Center
2 Henry Adams Street
Showplace Building
Suite 410
San Francisco, CA 94103

Presenting Sponsors:

Savor!
A Celebration of Cheese, Chacuterie, Wine, Olive Oil & Crunch

Tuesday, May 10
6.00 – 8.00 PM

The Luxury Marketing Council presents a unique series of entertaining and informative events that delve into the senses in order to provide a better understanding of the true essence of luxury. Join us as we learn from the Masters, sample the wares and gain insight from the experiences. The end result? An appreciation of luxury in its purest form; an understanding of the aesthetics that define the luxury experience; and the acquired knowledge and judgment that help separate bespoke quality and the artisan’s touch from the mass-produced cheap thrill.

In the second of the series, SAVOR!, be prepared for a symphony of tastes as we sample cheese, chacuterie, olive oils and flatbreads from the country’s finest artisanal producers and top-rated food purveyors. And pair them with incomparable wines of Wente Family Estates.

Featured for your tasting appreciation…

• Bellwether Farms
• Creminelli Fine Meats
• Dry Creek Olive Company
• Rustic Bakery
• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company
• Sweet Grass Dairy
• Wente Family Estates

PLUS… the insights, musings and tasting tips from Cheese Guru, Raymond Hook, former advisor to Saveur Magazine.

AND…the breathtaking 13,000 square foot Purcell Murray Showroom showcasing the world’s finest kitchen brands including Bertazzoni, Best, Bosch, Broan, Franke, Gaggenau, Thermador, U-Line and La Cornue.

Location:

Purcell Murray Showroom
185 Park Lane
Brisbane, CA 94005

Presenting Sponsors:

Sparkle!

Tuesday, April 26
6.00 – 8.00 PM

In the first-of-the-series, Luxury of the Senses Series, Sparkle!, will show that all that glitters is not gold. And all that sparkles is not a diamond. But we’ve got the real thing, and the experts who will explain the difference between facet and flash.

Featuring the finest diamonds from the collections of:

• Dilek Sezen
• Las Vegas Cut Diamonds

Location:

The Atelier of Dilek Sezen
1933 Union Street
(Between Laguna & Buchanan)
San Francisco, CA 94123

Presenting Sponsors:

I Want My ROI! … Linking Brand Strategy to Return on Investment

Wednesday, April 20th
12.00 – 2.00PM

Agenda:

12.00 – 12.30 … Registration and boxed lunch
12.30 – 1.30 … Presentation
1.30 – 2.00 … Optional networking

One of the cruel but inevitable ironies of the recent recession has been the ease with which once-vaunted luxury brands have lost customer loyalty and share-of-wallet. When put to the test, they were unable to leverage the strength of their brand heritage and retain the loyalty and purchasing dollars of a formerly-committed clientele. But what those brands that got it right?

Join The Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco as we investigate the key attributes and factors that deliver brand dominance and strength in the world of luxury marketing.

In this compelling presentation, we will:

• Explore how and why the most successful luxury companies gain insight into their customer and employee experience
• Detail the critical success factors, including the customer experience, that luxury marketers must be cognizant of in order to grow their brand value
• Discuss the linkage between enhancing brand equity and maximizing financial return

Featuring:

Mario Simon
Managing Director
Millward Brown Optimor
(A division of the WPP Group)

Joseph DeVito
Former Customer Experience, Training and Implementation Manager
Gucci America

Location:

One Rincon Hill Condominium Residences
425 First Street @ Harrison
(at the entrance to the Bay Bridge)
San Francisco, CA 94105

PARKING:
Free valet parking is available within the building

Presenting Sponsor:

How to Manage Client Expectations
More Lessons from the Architect, Designer & Contractor

Thursday, April 7th
12.00 – 2.00PM

Agenda:

12.00 – 12.30 … Registration and boxed lunch
12.30 – 1.30 … Panel presentation
1.30 – 2.00 … Optional networking

Everyone’s in agreement. Clients have become more demanding, more budget-conscious and in many cases more unreasonable in their expectations. If a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, then risk and peril lurk silently in many of the relationships that exist between today’s Internet-educated client and the hapless architects, designers and contractors who have to confront relationships that are no longer weighted in their favor. The current recession certainly hasn’t helped.

At this intimate luncheon gathering, a panel of prominent industry leaders and practitioners will deliver advice and best practices that will guide you through the perilous journey of managing client relationships and creating an environment where expectations are controlled, the final result is better, the client is happier and all the parties prosper.

Featuring:

Bill Ballas
Vice President
Plath & Company

Andrew Skurman
Principal
Andrew Skurman Architects

Elizabeth Suzuki
Principal
Sutton Suzuki Architects

Suzanne Tucker
Principal
Tucker & Marks Design, Inc.

Location:

Bticino USA Showroom
Show Place East
111 Rhode Island St., Suite #8
San Francisco, CA 94103

Presenting Sponsors:

The Barnyard … What SIMA Saw and Why They Bought It

Wednesday, March 23rd
6.00 – 8.00 PM

• Social hour: 6.00 – 7.00 PM
  Bahama Island Steakhouse (at the Barnyard)
• Presentation: 7.00 – 8.00 PM
  Elliot Frame Design, Suite F 21 (at the Barnyard)

At a time when the commercial real estate investment market is riddled with properties at risk, the aggressive investor commands notice. Santa Barbara-based SIMA Corporation is one of those select investment enterprises that continues to build its portfolio with carefully chosen, strategically-sound investment plays.

In this compelling presentation, Kevin Burnes, President of SIMA Corporation and its family of companies provides insight into the decision making process behind SIMA’s decision to acquire the Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel and how he views the future for Carmel’s retail sector including the retail center, the store and the customer.

About SIMA Corporation
SIMA Corporation, founded in 1984, has grown steadily and prudently into a multifaceted enterprise that is a best-in-class operator in real estate investment management, commercial lending, and asset management. The SIMA family of companies consists of SIMA Corporation (real estate investments), SIMA Management Corporation (asset management, property management, and leasing), SIMA Financial Corporation (commercial lending), and West Coast Athletic Clubs, Inc. (High End Fitness Clubs), which combined employs approximately 500 valued team members.

SIMA has a strong reputation in the industry for efficient and timely closings on large and complex transactions. SIMA has steadily grown its portfolio of holdings, which currently exceeds $500 million worth of assets. Holdings include commercial, retail, residential, hospitality, and mixed-use properties in California, Oregon, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida. The portfolio encompasses approximately 4.2 million square feet, which includes approximately 2,450 apartment units and 200 hotel rooms.

Featuring:

Kevin Burnes
President
SIMA Corporation

Location:

The Barnyard Shopping Village
3618 the Barnyard
Carmel, CA 93923

Please note above the social hour & the presentation will be held in different locations

Presenting Sponsors:

Conversations with Leaders in Luxury — Featuring Fred Reid, President, Flexjet

Wednesday, March 30th

6.00 – 8.00 PM

The Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco continues its compelling series of “Conversations with Leaders in Luxury” with an in-depth interview of Fred Reid, President of Flexjet, the nation’s premier private jet services provider. The Flexjet stable of aircraft includes the renowned Challenger and Learjet brands.

In this intimate, one-on-one discussion with Council Chairman, Alf Nucifora, Mr. Reid, a Bay Area resident, revisits his illustrious 25-year career in the aviation industry, including leadership and management roles at Delta Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines, American Airlines and PanAm. He also delivers insights into the back story surrounding his role as the creator of the increasingly-successful and rapidly-growing Virgin America where he shaped America’s “next generation airline” from the ground up.

The Conversation continues with an overview of the private jet marketplace together with an in-depth assessment of market dynamics including a profile of the affluent private jet flyer, purchase motivations and buying behavior, and the marketing techniques that support the sale of a product that varies in price from $125,000 + for a jet card delivering 25 hours of flight time, all the way to whole and fractional ownership with an investment in the millions.

About Flexjet

Flexjet* is part of Bombardier*, a global company with more than 100 years of aviation heritage. Bombardier is the world’s largest manufacturer of business aircraft.

Introduced in 1995, Flexjet provides access to a portfolio of private jet solutions from whole aircraft ownership and management, and fractional ownership, to jet cards and charter brokerage services. Flexjet manages the single largest closed fleet of Bombardier business aircraft anywhere in the world. Flexjet has developed many industry-first programs and continues to find innovative ways to provide exceptional value to customers and raise the standards for the industry.

*Unregistered or registered trademark(s) of Bombardier, Inc. or its subsidiaries.

Location:

Ferrari/Maserati of San Francisco

595 Redwood Highway

Mill Valley, CA 94941

Presenting Sponsors:

Inside the Mind of the Luxury Customer

Wednesday, February 23rd
6.00 – 8.00 PM

Inside the mind For the first time in recent recorded history, the affluent customer has surprised everyone, marketer and pundit alike. Commencing with the recession of 2008, luxury buyers attached padlocks to their wallets and credit cards as they slashed spending of all types from autos to accessories, trinkets to travel, home remodeling to philanthropy. Although declining investment portfolios were part of the root cause, much of the cut-back can be tied to psychological factors beyond the control of even the most adroit marketer.

In this compelling kick-off to the year, Alf Nucifora, Chairman of the Luxury Marketing Council Chapters in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Carmel/Monterey takes us inside the mind of the today’s affluent consumer as he details the trends driving the category and delivers a roadmap for better understanding this complicated consumer, with a psyche to match.

In this presentation, you will learn:

• The changing “personality” of luxury as a product and category to be purchased and consumed
• Emerging trends with respect to the ever-morphing characteristics and profile of the luxury consumer
• Buying and behavioral characteristics of three levels of affluence from the Uber-Wealthy to the Aspirationals
• Marketing implications as they relate to customer service, technology, product development and promotion

Location:

Gaul Searson Showroom
San Francisco Design Center
Showplace Building, Third Floor
2 Henry Adams Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Presenting Sponsors:

Photo by Lou Mora

Live With Jeff Lewis

A Conversation With the Star of Flipping Out, Bravo’s Hit Docu-Series

Wednesday, February 2nd
10:00 – 11:00 AM

“Idiosyncratic”, “obsessive-compulsive” and “controlling” are just a few of the descriptions applied to Jeff Lewis, the ever-popular star of Bravo TV’s Flipping Out, now in its fourth season. But there can be no doubt of the considerable design talent and business skill of this flipper-turned-designer who commands national attention and the patronage of residential and commercial clients throughout the U. S.

Jeff’s popularity continues to grow. He was tapped by House Beautiful to design their 2010 Kitchen of the Year. His television audience is increasing by leaps and bounds. And his legions of devoted fans include upscale acolytes, real estate professionals, and interior designers.

In a Charlie Rose-type conversation with skilled interviewer Alf Nucifora,Chairman of The Luxury Marketing Council, Jeff will discuss his current work in interior design, his past and current real estate development ventures and the behind-the-scenes machinations of his dysfunctional “household”, housekeeper and pets included. Never one to hold back, Jeff will respond to probing questions with the candor, passion and fearlessness that are the hallmarks of both his personality and design philosophy. Audience questions and participation are highly encouraged.

Location:

Galleria Atrium
San Francisco Design Center
101 Henry Adams Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Presenting Sponsors:

Atop Tiburon…A Celebration of Design

Tuesday, January 25th
5.30 – 8.00 PM

The Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco is honored to extend an invitation for a private and exclusive viewing of a stunning, new custom home designed and constructed by the Bay Area’s premier team of architects, designers and contractors.

Following an informal tour of this exciting new Tiburon home, with commanding, sweeping 180° views of the Bay, guests will be treated to a brief, entertaining and informative presentation by members of the design team as they discuss the design philosophy and imperatives that guided their work on one of the region’s most inspired homes.  Highlights of the home include:

• Size: 5000 sq. ft.
• Construction time: 18 months.
• 10 months on foundation construction
• Texas Cream limestone used on the interior and exterior walls
• Unique concrete construction methodologies employed in order to meet planning department requirements

Featuring:

Sutton Suzuki Architects
Ron Sutton
Elizabeth Suzuki AIA LEED AP

Plath & Company
Tom Hall
Bill Ballas

C. Wright Design
Cynthia Wright

Magrane Associates
Penney Magrane

Anna Kondolf Lighting Design
Anna Kondolf

AudioVisions
Greg Merriman

Presenting Sponsors: