LSN : Daily Signals : Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

Hôtel de Crillon teams up with Skateroom for a summer exhibition

Hôtel de Crillon and The Skateroom exhibition, France

Hôtel de Crillon and THE SKATEROOM exhibition, France

Hôtel de Crillon and The Skateroom exhibition, France

France – This summer, Hôtel de Crillon, a Rosewood hotel on the Place de la Concorde in Paris, has teamed up with The Skateroom for a unique art exhibition. The collaboration brings the dynamic culture of skateboarding and contemporary art into the world of luxury hospitality.

Running from 18 June to 14 September, the exhibition is the brainchild of Sarah Andelman, a figure in the Parisian fashion and culture scene, and is curated by Aline Asmar d’Amman, founder of Culture in Architecture. The show features skateboard decks with art by renowned names such as Cindy Sherman, Juergen Teller, Jenny Holzer, Ai Weiwei, Jeff Koons and Andy Warhol. A special limited-edition piece by French artist Inès Longevial is also on display.

By hosting this exhibition, Hôtel de Crillon not only celebrates skateboarding as an art form but also cements its support for contemporary creativity. This initiative echoes LS:N Global’s New Codes of Luxury, fostering a deeper connection with visitors and transforming the hotel into a living gallery.

Strategic opportunity

Can you leverage art partnerships to create unique, immersive hospitality experiences to attract culturally savvy guests and enhance brand prestige?

Lynk & Co Club opens Madrid store perfect for work, play and practice drives

Lynk & Co Club in Madrid, Spain

Spain – Lynk & Co has redefined the traditional dealership with its Lynk & Co Club Madrid, an open and versatile space designed for work, shopping, socialising, attending events and test-driving the brand’s 01 model.

The club's design, a collaboration between Masquespacio and the Lynk & Co design team, draws inspiration from Madrid's seven artistic disciplines and iconic references, offering a fun and ironic experience throughout. Upon entering, visitors are welcomed in a cosy lounge area where mirrors and coloured lights create a dynamic atmosphere. As they move through the space, they encounter a bar and a meeting area surrounded by purple rain. The bathrooms feature Madrid-themed decor, such as a theatrical ambience inspired by Teatro de la Zarzuela, and a fitting room with a fluorescent curtain reminiscent of Las Meninas' skirts.

The centrepiece, the Lynk & Co 01, is showcased in a setting that reflects the futuristic and technological essence of the vehicle. This innovative approach transforms the dealership experience into an engaging and multifaceted destination.

In our Community Commerce report, we dived into how businesses can tap into the retail-tainment trend and create a more interactive shopping experience for their visitors.

Strategic opportunity

Use Lynk & Co Club Madrid as inspiration to combine shopping, working, socialising and entertainment in your retail stores

Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

24x36, France

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, deputy foresight editor Dan Hastings tackles the French early parliamentary elections, the business of Taylor Swift and the song Espresso.

: As a French citizen, the past 10 days felt like a whole year as I worry for the future of my home country, democracy and the lack of interest people have in politics. To win over abstainers, all political parties are turning to TikTok. Leftist Gen Z are creating K-pop-inspired 'fancams' of favourite progressive candidates, while others use the collaborative graphics website 24x36.art to create posters supporting the New Popular Front. As seen in the US, elections are all about the power of precision micro-influencing now.

: In the age of Ozempic and ultra-thin bodies on the catwalk, it brings me so much joy to see the stunning Nicola Coughlan as the main love interest in Netflix's hit series Bridgerton. Coughlan, who has been very vocal about her support for a ceasefire in Gaza, has raised over £1.5m ($1.9m, €1.7m) for Palestine over the last months. It's interesting to see how her activism has not impacted her worldwide press tour and upcoming projects: SKIMS just tapped the Irish actress for a campaign.

: In other news, Thailand officially became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, Vogue Business investigated The Business of Taylor Swift, and I love how Scholastic is installing vending machines full of books in schools – kids can 'buy' them via tokens they receive for good grades and acts of kindness.

Quote of the week:

'I decided to put that burden on other people'

Singer Sabrina Carpenter on having her song Espresso stuck in her head since 2023 (source: Rolling Stone)

Stat: Gusto survey reveals LGBTQ+ business owners prioritise community

Photography by Alexander Suhorucov, UAE

US – A study from payroll specialist Gusto highlights the civic-minded motivations of LGBTQ+ founders in the entrepreneurial landscape.

Gusto’s 2024 New Business Formation Report, which surveyed over 1,300 entrepreneurs who started businesses in 2023, revealed that 70% of LGBTQ+ business owners prioritise having a positive effect on their local communities. This compares to 53% of all business owners who participated in the survey.

The study also stressed that LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs typically receive less funding than their heterosexual peers. In 2023, 40% of LGBTQ+ founders began their businesses with less than £786 ($1,000, €932), whereas 17% started with more than 10 times that amount, compared to 31% of all new businesses. This funding disparity may be due to LGBTQ+ founders often starting smaller businesses. The report noted that 27% of new LGBTQ+-owned businesses in 2023 had no employees, compared to 20% of all new businesses.

For more insights on how businesses can use collaboration and culture to build community read our Work States Futures report.