•Place Vendôme, Qatar sponsors the first Condé Nast International Luxury conference

Doha, Qatar 31 May, 2015:

Place Vendôme, a USD 1.25 billion mixed-use development by United Developers currently underway in Lusail City, partnered with Condé Nast International, to host the first Condé Nast International Luxury conference in Florence, Italy last month.

Condé Nast International is one of the most exciting and influential multimedia companies in the world. For this event, the company brought together the power of its magazine titles including Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ and other international magazines. The Condé Nast International Luxury Conference was held on the 22nd and 23rd of April and brought together more than 500 of the most influential leaders in the global world of luxury to discuss the “future of luxury – a new world, in which technology competes with ‘hard luxury’ (watches and jewelry) and leather goods”.

Over the past two years, Place Vendome has been engaging with the leading brands of the luxury industry to introduce them to the project and the ample opportunities available in the Qatar retail market. In 2014, Place Vendôme held an exclusive roadshow in Milan, Paris and Cannes where they met with top executives of luxury brands to introduce them to the Place Vendôme development. These efforts have continued through the partnership with Condé Nast International that came in place to strengthen the position of Qatar and the project on the global Luxury scene.

The conference was curated by Suzy Menkes, International Vogue Editor, and hosted an impressive line up of keynote speakers including CEOs and Creative directors of the world’s leading luxury brands such as Apple, Berluti, Chanel, Chloé, Delfina Delettrez, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, Gucci, Hermès, Lanvin, Loewe, Moschino, Ralph Lauren, Salvatore Ferragamo, Swarovski, Tiffany & Co, Tory Burch, Van Cleef & Arpels, among others.

In addition to being an official partner of the conference, Place Vendôme sponsored and hosted the Condé Nast Gala Party that was held on the evening of the first day at the old Palazzo Corsini overlooking the famous Ponte Vecchio..

Commenting on the company’s participation in the Condé Nast Conference, Mr. Sean Kelly, Project Director of Place Vendôme said: “ We are proud to partner with Condé Nast International for this pioneering event in the luxury industry. Our support to this event aligns with our effort to reinforce the position of Qatar and Place Vendôme in the global luxury industry.”

Valued at USD 8 billion annually, Qatar’s retail sector is expected to grow by more than 6% annually between 2014 and 2017. In 2014, Qatar was identified as the 2nd shopping destination in the Middle East and ranked in 7th place out of 40 “important retail markets” worldwide.

“We are delighted with the interest that the luxury brands and industry peers exhibited towards our upcoming project. The internationally renowned brands are starting to understand the value of Qatar’s retail industry and the role it plays as an emerging luxury market. Place Vendôme presents the ideal opportunity for international retailers to tap into and expand within the Qatar market in a unique setting.”

Currently well underway in Lusail City, Qatar’s emerging master development, Place Vendôme Qatar spans over 800,000m² and will host two five-star luxury hotels, serviced apartments, a mall featuring up to 400 different retail outlets and a central entertainment amphitheater. The mall will also feature a luxury precinct that will host leading international luxury brands. The project, which broke ground on 17th of March 2014, is slated for opening in the third quarter of 2017.