Marbella Luxury Weekend 2012… go on, indulge yourself!

If you’ve just about had your fill of reading, watching and listening to the international media reporting – seemingly endlessly – on cuts, austerity, economic crisis and crushing doom and gloom, then the news that the 2^nd edition of the Marbella Luxury Weekend is about to take place in Puerto Banús is truly a breath of fresh air. And it goes without saying that it’s a potent shot in the arm for all of us that when it comes to pushing the boat out, Marbella is still in the very front line…

Of course, a $10 million violin, or a €400,000 Rolex – apparently the only one in Spain – might be just a little beyond your budget, but then just looking… and maybe even dreaming… costs absolutely nothing!

An extravaganza featuring high-end fashion, designer shopping, jewellery, gastronomy, art, supercars, leisure, technology, yachts to die for and more… all accompanied of course by canapés and lashings of champagne… the programme for the Marbella Luxury Weekend – to be held from 31 May to 3 June 2012 – is still pretty much under wraps.

But we can tell you that a line-up of international celebrities will be flying in from all over to attend the event, described by Marbella mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, as “a showcase which, for the 2^nd year, will reinforce our town as a shop-window for exclusivity in a world where our competitiveness is the hallmark of our identity as a holiday destination, something that the Town Hall has been working on over the last few years in order to project our image as a brand.”

With high-profile sponsors including Ascari Race Resort, Grupo Guarnieri, La Zagaleta, Marina Marbella and Playas del Duque, plus the participation of 30 high-end brands, here’s just a taste of what lovers of luxury can expect to see at the 4-day show…

For fashionistas, Andalucía’s own cutting-edge designers David Delfín and Victorio y Lucchino will be taking part, there’s the launch of Tom Ford’s first collection of womenswear, and collections from Dolce & Gabbana as well as A&G Rock and Roll Couture, plus a preview of Jimmy Choo’s winter shoe collections… and that’s just for starters.

The Cars & Arts Luxury Show is another must, while the Guarnieri Group’s Málaga Porsche Centre will feature 24 Porsche 911 GT2 bonnets – each one a masterpiece in its own right – commissioned from 19 different artists.

In addition, the world-famous marina’s chicest eateries will be preparing mouth-watering dishes especially for visitors to the Marbella Luxury Weekend; shops and boutiques – which will be offering guests cocktails and other treats – will be staying open long into the night; while other attractions include parades, fashion shows, live music, DJs and much more besides.

As Marbella’s Councillor for Tourism, José Luis Hernández explains, “The Marbella Luxury Weekend has been conceived primarily to kick-start consumption in a depressed economy. The consumer sector represents 65% of Spain’s gross national product, an even bigger slice than property and construction, so it’s vitally important to get people spending and shopping again.”

And where better than in Puerto Banús?