Department Stores Vie for Luxury Travel... Lotte Follows Shinsegae With Exclusive Packages

Lotte Department Store Launches "Global Trip" for Avenuel Customers
Features Ritz-Carlton Yacht Cruises and More
Up to 100% of Travel Purchases Count Toward VIP Qualification
Competition for High-End Lifestyle Services Heats Up

Department stores are competing to offer premium travel packages targeting VIP customers. After Shinsegae Department Store linked purchases made through its travel platform Via Shinsegae to VIP qualification, Lotte Department Store has joined the race to attract customers by introducing its own travel packages.

Lotte Department Store said on Oct. 14 that it would launch AVENUEL GLOBAL TRIP, a premium travel program for its VIP customers, known as Avenuel members. Co-planned with a travel agency, the packages go beyond ordinary sightseeing to offer distinctive experiences such as luxury cruises, fine dining and art.

The first package is a luxury cruise using The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The 10-day, eight-night itinerary offers an opportunity to experience Alaska's vast wilderness. Departing from Vancouver, Canada, it is designed to let travelers observe local wildlife, including glaciers, wild bears and whales, up close. Business-class flights and stays at Fairmont hotels are also included.

A Japanese culinary tour during cherry blossom season is also available. The 11-day, 10-night itinerary departs from Tokyo and travels through Shimizu, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka before visiting Busan and Jeju. The company also plans to offer art and culture tours featuring small cities in Spain and southern France, as well as Gaudi architecture.

AVENUEL GLOBAL TRIP offers customized travel planning through one-on-one concierge service. It also includes a butler service for transportation between home and the airport, exclusive gifts for use during the trip, and credits worth up to $1,000.

Reservations can be made through the "AVENUEL Only" tab in the Lotte Department Store app. Members from the Avenuel Orange tier through the Black tier can apply. Up to 100% of the purchase amount will count toward annual Avenuel qualifying sales, capped at KRW 100 million.

Lotte Department Store plans to use the new packages to expand VIP services beyond shopping to encompass the broader lifestyle, including travel, culture and fine dining. This year, it revamped its Avenuel points program as "Avenuel Curation" and is enhancing experience-focused benefits through more than 100 partner businesses across six categories, including hotels, fine dining, golf and leisure.

"AVENUEL GLOBAL TRIP is a travel curation service that selects and recommends the most valuable experiences for our customers," said Park Sangwoo, head of marketing at Lotte Department Store. "We will offer distinctive customer experiences across a range of areas, including travel, culture and fine dining, beyond shopping."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.