rich disneyland
After a turnover of 500 million euro in its inaugural year, the Millionaire Fair returns to Crocus Expo, offering the best of the luxury industry. From Oct. 27 to 30, the World’s Most Expensive City collects its yachts, racehorses and Goldvishes.
TEXT SHANNON MEYERHOFF feedback
For those who manage the doldrums of late autumn by spending money — that is, lots of money — an excellent outlet presents itself: the Millionaire Fair. The trade fair, which is in its second year running in Moscow, offers the chance to check out and buy a wide assortment of luxury-class items and services. There’s real estate and tourist packages; cars and cosmetics; diamonds and watches; and really big boats. Want to improve your golf game in the comfort of your own home? Purchase a golf simulator for $76,500. In the market for a yacht? Timmerman Yachts will be presenting some of their newest models. If your favored mode of transportation is equine, there are Akhal-Teke racehorses, which carry up to a $1 million price tag. And in case a marriage proposal is in the near future, high-end diamonds are available for $5,000,000. Some of the world’s leading luxury brands will be debuting new collections at the trade fair, such as cell phone manufacturer Goldvish’s diamond-encrusted limited edition phones, available for the first time in Russia, and BMW’s 7 Series cars. What does luxury smell like? French perfume line Guerlain and Yves Gijrath, founder of the Millionaire Fair, collaborated to create a special perfume for the trade show, priced at 35,000 euro. The Millionaire Fair, dubbed the “adult Disneyland” by promoters, was founded in Amsterdam in 2002 and visits in five cities this year: Shanghai, Cannes, Amsterdam, Korkrijk (Belgium) and Moscow, which is experiencing a growing need for high-end consumer goods. Now populated by 88,000 millionaires, Russia is ready to go shopping. According to organizers, the sale of luxury goods increases by 18 percent annually in this country. Last year’s Millionaire Fair, the first held in Russian, saw a 500 euro sales turnover, and 40,000 of wealthy buyers. This year, 200 hundred companies, twice the number as before, will bring their fabulous wares to Crocus Expo. The trade fair opens on Oct. 27 with a VIP gala at which a select 7,000 will be treated to a lineup for that includes British singer Sarah Brightman, the American jazz group The Many Moods of Linard and a DJ from club First. For those who aren’t VIPs, the doors will open widely the following day. Saturday’s events will include a presentation of Russian Fashion Week at 2 p.m. and a jazz festival starting at 3 p.m., featuring a repeat performance by The Many Moods of Linard. Saturday is also “The Day of Italian Cuisine,” with master classes offered by Chef Andrei Rydzevsky throughout the day. Oct. 29 offers more of the same: children will delight in horse riding opportunities, businessmen can test their skills in golf simulations and amateur cooks will be able to take master classes with Andrei Rydzevsky, who is preparing German food this time in concordance with “The Day of German Cuisine.” Sunday also features a presentation of a new BMW line and Escada’s new haute couture collection. At 5 p.m., there will be a fashion show of the Crocus City Mall, and a display of furs by Helen Yermak. The program for Monday, Oct. 30, will have a more academic bent. Beginning with the Russian Luxury Forum, experts will tackle the question, “Luxury: Made in Russia?” The forum, which will last from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., will analyze the history of the elite goods market and discuss the market for these goods in Russia. Considering that $2.5 billion a year are turned over in the fashion industry, perhaps Russia is ready to enter the market with its own, unique products? Some of the experts slated to appear are Alyona Doletskaya, editor of Russian Vogue, and haute couture designer Igor Chapurin. Attendance at the forum costs 10,220 rubles. In addition to the Russian Luxury Forum, Monday will also be “The Day of Russian Cuisine,” dedicated to the homeland’s gourmet culinary repertoire. There’s a culinary show by kitchen appliance firm Gaggenau at 4 p.m, and a closing ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Though traversing the halls of the Millionaire Fair is humbling, and maybe even a little laughable, for those of us with more modest means, you don’t have to be a millionaire to attend. Tickets, which cost a trifling 1,000 rubles, can be purchased at the fair’s website. Regardless of whether you’re in the market for a yacht, go for the unparalleled spectacle of some of the world’s richest people at play. The Millionaire Fair will be held at the Crocus Expo from Oct. 27 to Oct. 30. Tickets are available at millionair fair.ru for 1,000 rubles. |
