Information and Application
Program Information and Expectations
Students will be selected to participate in this short-term course through a competitive application process. Applicants must be in good academic standing. All undergraduates are eligible to apply for this course. Preference will be given to first- and second-year students who are beginning their career exploration. This course must be taken for a letter grade.
Professor Barbara Kahn will serve as the faculty director for the course and will be in residence with the students throughout the program.
The Miami course is focused on branded luxury experiences and lifestyles. This interdisciplinary course will touch on real estate, hospitality, marketing, private wealth management, and the legal contracts underpinning the luxury experience market. In addition to connecting students with alumni and other industry professionals, the goals of the course include:
- Understanding what the luxury “brand” means when we move away from “European luxury” as is classically known (e.g., the Hermes Birkin) and redefine those values for the Miami luxury lifestyle (e.g., Mercedes Benz Places, Armani/Casa Residences, Aston Martin Residences, Four Seasons Yachts). How does the Miami execution reflect or challenge the traditional models of luxury?
- Understanding the difference between delivering luxury personal goods and luxury branded experiences in place (e.g., hospitality, entertainment, restaurants, real estate, or even neighborhoods). How does real estate or hospitality become a brand platform?
- How do luxury brands use cultural capital, storytelling, or art to create luxury experiences? What is the role of celebrity? What are the “must-haves” to create a luxury experience?
- How do we monetize the luxury experiences? What is the role of licensing? What are the benefits and risks involved in these types of businesses?
Course Requirements
There will be two mandatory preparation sessions prior to the travel—one for three hours (lecture, trip overview), and one for two hours (case discussion and student presentations). These sessions are intended to help you get the most out of the trip and to aid you in making connections between your academic program at Wharton and your experience while traveling. Following the trip to Miami, there will be one mandatory 1.5–hour session for student presentations of their final projects and a summary discussion of the trip.
While on the travel portion of the course, students must attend all scheduled lectures, business-site visits, and networking events and will be subject to Penn’s disciplinary guidelines.
Program Deadlines, Fees, and Logistics
Program Dates and Deadlines
| Completed Application Due | October 5 |
| Notification of Students | October 24 |
| Payment Due | Spring 2026 bursar bill |
| Pre-Trip Class 1 | Fall semester/tentative date: TBD |
| Pre-Trip Class 2 | Fall semester/tentative date: TBD |
| Travel Dates | January 5 – 10, 2026 |
| Post-Trip Class 3 | Spring Semester/ tentative date: January 16, 3 – 4:30 (accepted students will be notified of date and time via email) |
Program Fees
The program fee for the course is $1,414. There is financial aid allocated to this program based on student need.
This fee covers lodging for the duration of the program, most meals, course supplies, ground transportation, business site visits, cultural excursions, and fees for services.
The fee does not include:
- Airline travel (up to $500 will be reimbursed)
- Some meals
- Incidental expenses such as snacks, outside entertainment, etc.
Payment will be due on the Spring 2026 bursar bill.
Financial Assistance
Thanks to generous support from alumni, financial assistance is available for WIEP. Please check the box on the application if you would like to be considered for financial assistance. To determine your expected aid should you be accepted into the program, please use the Penn Abroad Short Program Calculator. We will notify you about your financial assistance upon admittance to the program.
Travel Logistics
Airline Tickets: Students will be responsible for securing their own airline tickets. Flights to/from Miami will be reimbursed up to a total of $500. Students must arrive in Miami at the designated hotel for check in on Monday, January 5. Check out will be Saturday, January 10.
Accommodations: Hotel arrangements in Miami will be made for all participants. Rooms will be double occupancy.
Insurance: All participants must show proof of current health insurance coverage before departing on the program.
Ground Transportation: Participants will travel by private coach to all business and cultural sites.
Cancellation Policy
The Wharton School reserves the right to cancel the course for any reason before the departure date. Participants will be notified as soon as possible in the case of trip cancellation.
If the Wharton School cancels the program for any reason before the date of departure, all monies received will be refunded.
Please note: If a participant cancels prior to December 1, 2025, 50 percent of the payment will be refunded. On or after December 1, the entire payment is non-refundable.
Program Contact Information
Leann Curley, Associate Director, Signature Events & Programs
Wharton Undergraduate Division
Email: lcurley@wharton.upenn.edu