http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurabell/2590631334/Except when travelling internationally, I’ve taken to travelling only with carry-on luggage wherever possible. Even when flying international I’ve learnt the benefit of having a well stocked carry-on bag after having experienced the debarkle which was the Heathrow T5 opening.

Some people have called me paranoid but it seems that the Air Transport Users Council supports my fear. Their latest report indicated that more than 42 million bags were “mishandled” (ie sent to the wrong place) in 2007 and one million of those were never found.

The AUC study also indicated that passengers were often not fairly compensated for lost luggage. Complaints showed travellers were sometimes asked for receipts for each item in lost luggage and in other cases the airlines were taking into account the depreciating value of items.

Image :LauraBell

The New Luxury Signal: Emotional Stability

The New Luxury Signal: Emotional Stability

Luxury resorts used to sell status and spectacle. Now they sell something quieter: relief. Guests arrive overloaded, and the best resorts are redesigning around sensory calm, reduced friction, and emotional steadiness. Modern luxury is less about what you add, and more about what you remove.

When You Can’t Leave: Designing for the Flight Reflex in Airports, Venues, and Hospitals

When You Can’t Leave: Designing for the Flight Reflex in Airports, Venues, and Hospitals

In high-stimulus public spaces, our bodies do more than react – they strategise.
Airports, hospitals, and stadiums all evoke subtle “Flight” responses: scanning, pacing, early exits.
Understanding how threat appraisal drives behaviour can help architects and planners design calmer spaces – and reveal why relaxation, not excitement, predicts dwell, spend, and satisfaction.

Small Towns, Big Relief: Nostalgia, Tradition, and the Break From Self

Small Towns, Big Relief: Nostalgia, Tradition, and the Break From Self

Small towns do more than change the scenery. They give visitors a break from themselves. This piece unpacks how nostalgia and tradition create identity relief that boosts spend, dwell time, and community value. Practical takeaways for tourism, luxury, food, museums, and policy.

The Last Ten Minutes of Luxury

The Last Ten Minutes of Luxury

Guests pay for days yet remember minutes. The peak end rule explains why a stay often lives or dies on one high moment and the day of departure. What works, what fails, and how to design the arc so memory carries your brand home.