According to a report from Marketwire, the Luxury Institute has just released its latest WealthSurvey. It seems that high net worth (HNWI) American consumers are just like the rest of us when it comes to customer service. Wealthy people don't like their personal data being shared with third parties, they want frontline staff to be empowered to sort out their problems regardless of company policies, and if they need to return a purchase, they want the experience to be fast, easy and convenient.

Local newspaper Monaco Matin reports today on key demographic statistics for the Principality in 2007.

Tomorrow sees the opening of the 3rd Monaco Spa Event. There are three days of conferences, workshops, exhibitions and most importantly, networking for those involved in the luxury spa and wellness industry. It's just what's needed after the excesses of the Christmas and New Year festivities.

There are just nine days left for Monaco's political parties to put together their candidate lists for the parliamentary elections.

Local newspaper, Monaco Matin, reports today that several Monaco trade unions are hoping to turn casinos into no smoking areas.

The annual Hurun Report surveys the wealthiest Chinese to find out which premium and luxury brands are the most preferred. This year's overall winner is BMW, but awards were presented in several categories including jewelry, drinks, financial services and luxury travel destination, won by France. In comparison to rich Americans' favourite whiskey, the Chinese placed Macallan in 3rd place, after Royal Salute and Johnny Walker.

A survey conducted by the Luxury Institute reports that wealthy Americans think Grand Marnier is the most prestigious liqueur. The institute regularly surveys the richest 10% of Americans for their Luxury Brand Status Index. Besides the findings for liqueurs and cognacs, they've also discovered that the favourite whiskey of high net worth individuals in the USA is Macallan.

There's a report on caterersearch.com that Andrew Davis of luxury hotel group Von Essen is interested in buying a hotel in Monaco.

The Consulate General of Monaco in the UK now has a website where you'll find contact details, a profile of the Consul General, and background information on Monaco. Prince Albert II was in London in October to launch the new consular service, which aims to change the image of the Principality in the UK and attract young, entrepreneurial British millionaires.

A report from Bloomberg warns that we'll soon be seeing a shortage of Champagne due to increasing demand from the UK, USA and Japan. High demand and low supply will inevitably lead to higher prices, which is probably a good thing for the producers. But according to the article, the Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) is intending to extend the Champagne region in order to increase output over the next few years.