Redefining Luxury Services: Exclusive Experiences, Emerging Elites, and the Future of Yachting

CALL FOR PAPERS

Journal: Journal of Services Marketing

Publisher: Emerald Publishing

Submission Opens: 9 February 2026

Submission Deadline: 31 July 2026

Introduction

The Journal of Services Marketing invites submissions for a Special Issue focused on the future of luxury services — with particular emphasis on exclusive industries such as yachting, private aviation, bespoke travel, and Ultra-High Net Worth (UHNW) client strategies.

This Special Issue aims to uncover how elite experiences are transforming under the pressure of digital innovation, intergenerational wealth transfer, and shifting global value systems. With next-generation Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) redefining expectations around time, access, and intimacy in luxury, service providers must move beyond conventional models.

At the same time, new entrants — from digital-native luxury brands to personalized hospitality ventures — are challenging incumbents to deliver more emotionally resonant, tech-enhanced, and sustainability-conscious experiences.

This Special Issue welcomes empirical, conceptual, and methodological contributions that challenge assumptions and propose bold new directions for research and practice in luxury services. Practitioner-academic collaborations and research exploring luxury consumption behaviors across cultures and emerging markets are particularly encouraged.

Thematic Areas & Topic Areas

Theme 1 — Transforming Experiences and Delivery

Yacht, jet, and bespoke travel experiences as luxury service paradigms
AI, immersive technology, and the "phygital" interface in elite experiences
Privacy, security, and discretion as strategic differentiators in luxury services

Theme 2 — Consumer Behavior and Strategic Management

Emotional drivers of luxury across UHNW demographics
Intergenerational value shifts — Gen Z, Alpha, and next-generation wealth holders
Exclusive membership models and personalization at scale

Theme 3 — Methodological Innovations in Luxury Services Research

Ethnographic, netnographic, and behavioral approaches to UHNWI insights
Quantifying experience quality and its impact on loyalty and advocacy
Luxury journey mapping beyond traditional customer experience frameworks

List of Topic Areas

Manuscripts are invited on themes including, but not limited to:

Yachting, private aviation, and bespoke travel as luxury service paradigms
AI and immersive technologies in elite and exclusive service experiences
The phygital interface in luxury — blending physical and digital service delivery
Privacy, security, and discretion as strategic differentiators in UHNW services
Emotional drivers of luxury consumption across UHNW demographics
Intergenerational wealth transfer and shifting luxury values — Gen Z, Alpha, and next-gen wealth holders
Exclusive membership models and hyper-personalization in luxury services
Sustainability-conscious luxury — reconciling exclusivity with environmental responsibility
Ethnographic and netnographic approaches to UHNWI consumer insights
Quantifying experience quality, loyalty, and advocacy in luxury service contexts
Luxury journey mapping beyond traditional customer experience frameworks
Cross-cultural and emerging market perspectives on luxury consumption behavior
Digital-native luxury brands challenging traditional luxury incumbents
Practitioner-academic collaborations in luxury services research

Guest Editor

Prof. Dr. Phil Klaus 📧 (contact via journal submission platform)

Key Deadlines

📅 Manuscript Submission Opens: 9 February 2026

⏰ Manuscript Submission Deadline: 31 July 2026

Submission Guidelines

Submissions are made through ScholarOne Manuscripts, the official submission platform of Emerald Publishing. Authors must strictly follow the journal's author guidelines.

When submitting, select "Redefining Luxury Services: Exclusive Experiences, Emerging Elites, and the Future of Yachting" from the special issue drop-down menu at the appropriate step in the submission process.

⚠️ Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication elsewhere while under review for this journal.

🌐 Submission Portal: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jsmktg

🌐 Author Guidelines: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/jsm#jlp_author_marketing

About the Journal

The Journal of Services Marketing (JSM), published by Emerald Publishing, is a leading peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing research and practice in services marketing. It provides an international platform for scholars and practitioners exploring service design, customer experience, service innovation, and value creation — bridging academic theory with real-world marketing practice across diverse service industries and global contexts.

ServiceSetu Academics — Premier Platform for Academic Opportunities & Research Collaboration

Visit official website of the publisher

DETAILS