​Luxury department store Harrods has filed its accounts for the year to the end of January 2021 and they show just how big an impact closed borders and lockdowns had on its business.

We’re seeing a lot of high-end collaborations at present focused on the reviving travel segment and British leathergoods business Tusting has launched a range of bags in a link-up with designer and writer India Hicks.

In an iconic travel setting, Orient Express and Au Départ showed off their chic partnership collection this week inside a luxury passenger carriage, as the luggage brand gathers momentum in France and abroad.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd founder Jack Ma is in Europe on a study tour, South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday, making it the Chinese billionaire's first trip abroad in over a year.

Ever since it opened during last month fashionistas, fans and tourists have chorused that the retrospective Thierry Mugler: Couturissime inside the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris is essential viewing.

The signs are looking good. UK retail footfall “surprisingly" continued to strengthen in September, boosted by a slow return to office working together with the beginnings of the return of overseas tourists.

​Diamanti Per Tutti (DPT) wants to push deeper into the global travel retail sector. So the contemporary Belgian jeweller has appointed strategic retail consultancy Harper Dennis Hobbs (HDH) to assist in its journey.

Dior went into full court press in the first 48 hours of Paris Fashion Week – unveiling its new Cheval Blanc spa, feting its Dior Home and Kids creator Cordelia de Castellane, and unveiling a Miss Dior floral pop-up. 

The new Queen The Greatest experiential pop-up store opened on Carnaby Street on Tuesday morning with a big focus on apparel as Universal Music Group’s Bravado unit looks to take advantage of rising West End footfall.

​There were many warnings and they seem to be coming true. When the UK ended the tax-free shopping perk for tourists, it was feared international tourists would shun Britain. A new survey suggests they’re doing that.

European outlet malls operator VIA Outlets has unveiled a new corporate look and feel “following an extensive rebranding undertaking”.

City centre retail has suffered from the pandemic as tourists haven’t returned in large numbers and office workers stay home. But there’s  hope, with signs of office workers returning to semi-normal working patterns.

Engaging concepts to entice shoppers are just as essential at the top end of the market and until International tourists return in numbers, stores are having to be extra creative to attract those extra shoppers.

​London's West End may still be a long way from normality, but the key shopping neighbourhood is bouncing back and on Monday, major landlord Shaftesbury emphasised that fact with its latest trading update.

​Hermès became the latest luxury group to announce a rebound on Friday as the upscale leather goods and fashion maker saw its sales soaring during Q2 and the first half as a whole.

​Visitors have been returning to the West End of London in large numbers in the past week since so-called Freedom Day last Monday when just about all lockdown restrictions were eased in England.