Friday newsletters all the time function journey contests, suggestions, or information.
As we speak: December 2024 luxurious journey information
Each final Friday of the month, you’ll be able to learn my information round-up of what’s occurring on this planet of luxurious journey and aviation. On this situation:
- Mandarin Oriental provides two well-known European lodges to its portfolio
- Donald Trump’s daughter and son-in-law will open an Aman Resort in Albania
- 4 Seasons expands portfolio in Greece with luxurious resort in Port Heli
- St Regis Bahia Seashore in Puerto Rico might be rebranded as a 4 Seasons
- 4 Seasons pronounces plans for a luxurious resort at Deer Valley in Park Metropolis, Utah
- Six Senses will remodel a famed Spanish citadel right into a luxurious lodge
- The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok debuts in Thailand
- Marriott will deliver The Ritz-Carlton to Serbia
- The primary lodge underneath the famend Orient Categorical model is now bookable
- KLM completes greatest product change in years on its Boeing longhaul fleet
1. Mandarin Oriental provides two well-known European lodges to its portfolio
The Mandarin Oriental Resort Group has introduced the choice to signal two iconic additions to its portfolio of remarkable lodges from early 2025: Hôtel Lutetia in Paris and the Conservatorium Resort in Amsterdam. The acceptance of the provide is topic to the completion of a session course of with the related Works Councils, which is able to start shortly. Following completion of the transaction, Hôtel Lutetia might be rebranded as Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, Paris, whereas the Conservatorium Resort – which I reviewed right here – is about to be rebranded as Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium, Amsterdam in January 2026, following a complete improve (the lodge will keep open throughout that interval). Each properties are famend for his or her historic significance and architectural grandeur, and Mandarin Oriental is dedicated to making sure that every property’s distinctive character and native cultural essence is preserved, whereas seamlessly delivering the model’s distinctive method to luxurious hospitality, steeped within the model’s twin Asian roots.
Listed below are some particulars about each lodges:
- As the one luxurious Palace lodge on Paris’s Left Financial institution, Hôtel Lutetia underwent a complete restoration led by famend architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte and reopened in 2018. The renovation fastidiously preserved its storied heritage whereas introducing modern luxuries to boost the visitor keep. The lodge affords 184 spacious and fantastically appointed visitor rooms, together with 47 suites. Lots of the signature suites have been designed by artistic icons, together with the Saint Germain Penthouse by Francis Ford Coppola, Suite Parisienne by Isabelle, Huppert, who has been a Mandarin Oriental Celeb Fan for greater than ten years, and the Joséphine Baker Suite, which options personal terraces with beautiful views of the Eiffel Tower.
- Positioned in Amsterdam’s famend Museum Quarter, the Conservatorium Resort is a placing fusion of historic grandeur and trendy sophistication. Initially designed within the late nineteenth century by architect Daniel Knuttel, the constructing has a storied previous as a former financial institution and music conservatory. As we speak, it stands as an emblem of refined luxurious, reimagined by celebrated Italian architect Piero Lissoni. The lodge options 129 spacious rooms and suites, the place trendy class and craftsmanship seamlessly mix with the constructing’s historic structure.
2. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner purpose to open an Aman Resort in Albania
Ivanka Trump – daughter of USA President Elect Donald Trump – and her husband actual property developer Jared Kushner are constructing a luxurious resort in Albania that might be managed by Aman Resorts, owned by Russian businessman Vladislav Doronin. Trump unveiled the resort development information on a Lex Friedman podcast. Jared Kushner reaffirmed the information in an interview with Bloomberg, stating his plans to construct an Aman resort that includes luxurious villas on Sazan Island. Kushner revealed that his curiosity on this funding was sparked in 2021 throughout his first go to to Albania. Nevertheless, environmentalists have publicly voiced considerations, arguing that such an funding might injury the distinctive pure surroundings of Sazan, Albania’s solely island. The buyers, in response, have assured that the supplies used for the mission might be environmentally pleasant. Sazan Island, through the communist regime, was a army zone off-limits to civilians. For the reason that regime’s fall, there have been no investments, leaving solely the ruins of army buildings as remnants of the totalitarian system.
3. 4 Seasons expands portfolio in Greece with luxurious resort in Port Heli
4 Seasons, one of many world’s main luxurious lodge manufacturers, has introduced plans for the redevelopment of a beachside property at Hinitsa Bay, Porto Heli, Greece right into a luxurious resort and personal residences. Set in opposition to the scenic backdrop of southeastern Greece, 4 Seasons Resort and Residences Porto Heli will provide bay views of the Argolic Gulf and the close by island of Spetses. The enlargement and redevelopment will remodel an current beachfront property, which at present spans 75 hectares (185 acres) and three.25 kilometres (3,250 metres) of shoreline, into a brand new 4 Seasons expertise with 80 visitor rooms and suites and 30 bungalows, in addition to 4 Seasons branded residential villas. Because of its very best and prime location, company and residents could have ease of entry to the seaside, close by city centre and intensive strolling trails, together with the companies and facilities of 4 Seasons. 4 Seasons Resort and Residences Porto Heli will add to 4 Seasons portfolio in Greece, together with the award-winning 4 Seasons Astir Palace Resort Athens (which I reveiwed right here), and 4 Seasons Resort Mykonos, which is able to open in 2025.
4. St Regis Bahia Seashore in Puerto Rico might be rebranded as a 4 Season
The rebranding of The St Regis Bahia Seashore will mark the entry of 4 Seasons to Puerto Rico and the continued enlargement of the famend luxurious model within the Caribbean. The native environment of the present St Regis property will proceed to be preserved, with interiors present process renovations earlier than unveiling as 4 Seasons Resort Puerto Rico in late 2025. Further renovations will embrace a showstopping arrival expertise, showcasing views of the ocean from the second company step inside. The foyer might be reimagined creating house for rest and connection, whereas swimming pools might be reconfigured to offer unobstructed views of the ocean, together with new cabanas. A steam room, sauna and new experiences might be added to the spa amenities. 4 Seasons Resort and Personal Residences Puerto Rico will provide 139 reimagined rooms and suites and 85 Personal Residences, with further current items that may be a part of the residential portfolio upon the property’s reopening as a 4 Seasons expertise. The property is ideally situated a brief 30-minute drive from San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín Worldwide Airport.
5. 4 Seasons pronounces plans for a luxurious resort at Deer Valley in Park Metropolis, Utah
4 Seasons has introduced plans for a resort and residential providing in Deer Valley East Village, North America’s first new luxurious alpine village to be developed in additional than forty years. 4 Seasons Resort and Personal Residences Deer Valley will present company and residents with a seamless mountain expertise paired with the legendary service for which the model is famend. With design led by ODA Structure, the brand new growth will provide 134 visitor rooms and suites, and 123 one to 6 bed room personal residences with fully-serviced houses starting from 1,200 to 7,000 sq. ft (110-650 sq. metres). All with unparalleled ski-in/ski-out mountain entry, 55 residences might be located above the resort. An adjoining constructing will include 68 owner-exclusive items starting from one to 5 bedrooms, with further resident-exclusive facilities. Deer Valley’s new East Village – situated on the base of its 3,700-acre (1500-hectare) ski terrain enlargement – won’t solely make the celebrated vacation spot one of many largest ski resorts in North America, however it can additionally introduce enhanced slopeside entry, a state-of-the-art skier companies facility, new retail choices, culinary experiences and a group of après venues.
6. Six Senses will remodel a famed Spanish citadel right into a luxurious lodge
Quietly tucked away in Ávila, simply 50 minutes from Madrid, lies a Sixteenth-century palace with a narrative to inform. In-built 1563 by Juan de Herrera, El Quexigal was well-known for being probably the most stunning nation property in Spain. Acquired by King Felipe II for use for leisure pursuits for the Royal Home, the farm was run by Jerome monks, producing oil, wine, honey, and meals, together with wooden from the abundance of bushes together with the quejigos oak, which gave its identify to the property. This month, Six Senses has signed a lodge administration settlement to welcome company just like the royalty of centuries previous inside the 100-hectare (250 acre) nation property, which is predicted to open on the finish of 2026. The 60 visitor lodging might be distributed inside the primary and auxiliary buildings and embrace 13 suites and a presidential suite with personal gardens. For household teams, and personal occasions, there may even be a totally serviced five-bedroom villa. Native, sustainable, and seasonal would be the method to meals and beverage, with farm-to-fork goodness grown recent within the surrounding fields and served within the signature restaurant and varied salons and personal eating places all through the gardens.
7. The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok debuts in Thailand
A part of the Luxurious Group portfolio by Marriott Worldwide, The Ritz-Carlton Bangkok is about in an alluring skyscraper at One Bangkok, a world-class enterprise and way of life vacation spot within the coronary heart of Bangkok. The architects at Chicago-based SOM and Thailand’s A49 have designed a constructing facade that includes gracefully ascending open-air terraces that present sweeping views of Lumpini Park and town’s skyline. Inside, Thailand’s premier inside design studio, PIA, has created areas that evoke a way of timeless class and trendy sophistication. A seamless mix of basic Thai artistry and modern design, the lodge rooms and suites embody a spirit of cultural change. Ground-to-ceiling home windows body breathtaking views, whereas many guestrooms provide personal loggias and terraces overlooking the luxurious expanse of Lumpini Park. Three new eating experiences transport company by means of distinct culinary worlds, every providing its distinctive tackle taste and environment. Duet by David Toutain, led by the eponymous Michelin-starred chef and culinary prodigy Valentin Fouache, is the signature restaurant and serves trendy French delicacies in a shocking glasshouse. Spa and wellness amenities embrace two swimming swimming pools.
8. Marriott will deliver The Ritz-Carlton To Serbia
Anticipated to welcome company in 2027, The Ritz-Carlton, Belgrade will deliver the model’s legendary service and chic design to Serbia’s capital metropolis. The property is predicted to function 193 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites together with The Ritz-Carlton Membership expertise and two distinct eating venues. Plans for the property embrace a variety of amenities resembling an indoor swimming pool, health centre and spa, together with greater than 1,700 sq. meters of conferences and occasions house. The lodge might be located on the Nikola Tesla Boulevard, proper on the Danube river entrance, in shut proximity to authorities establishments and the enterprise district. The placement may even present handy entry to Stark Area, Sava congress centre and Belgrade’s outdated city. The brand new construct property is deliberate to be part of the location revitalisation of the previous Resort Jugoslavija, bringing this well-known location again to life. Serbia, with its strategic location on the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, affords a rising enterprise surroundings, aggressive prices, and a sturdy startup ecosystem. Its Capital, Belgrade, blends historic allure with vibrant nightlife, cultural landmarks, and trendy infrastructure.
9. The primary lodge underneath the famend Orient Categorical model is now bookable
Located within the historic Piazza della Minerva, within the coronary heart of Rome and simply steps from the Pantheon, Orient Categorical La Minerva is about to open in Spring 2025 as the primary lodge underneath the famend Orient Categorical model. The 93 key property, previously generally known as Palazzo Fonseca relationship again to the seventeenth century, occupies a complete island website and was acquired in 2021 by Arsenale SpA. Following a complete renovation, the constructing’s interiors and historic options have been meticulously designed and restored underneath creative path of Franco-Mexican architect and inside designer Hugo Toro. Initially inbuilt 1620 because the residence of the aristocratic Portuguese Fonseca household, the historic constructing was remodeled right into a lodge for the primary time in 1811. It quickly it turned a favourite vacation spot for distinguished artists and intellectuals through the Grand Tour, internet hosting figures resembling Stendhal, Vittorio Alfieri, and Herman Melville; and hosted a go to from Pope Pius IX. The restoration work displays a mission rooted within the historical past of Rome, impressed by Roman domus and the riches of the Everlasting Metropolis, combining artwork Déco model with modern class, in excellent concord with the mysterious identification of the Orient Categorical journey.
10. KLM completes greatest product change in years on its Boeing longhaul fleet
In two years, KLM Royal Dutch Airways has accomplished the introduction of a brand new class, Premium Consolation Class, on its Boeing 777 and 787 plane. The intermediate class affords more room, luxurious and privateness than Financial system Class, at a extra reasonably priced fare than World Enterprise Class. It took 4 to sixteen days per plane to put in Premium Consolation Class. The KLM Royal Dutch Airways technicians concerned labored day and evening – actually – to make the refitting occur (a complete of 54 plane have been fitted with the brand new class). Relying on the plane sort, there are 21 to twenty-eight seats within the Premium Consolation part, which options wider seats with extra legroom, a bigger display screen and a footrest in comparison with Financial system Class. The seats in Premium Consolation may also be reclined again greater than the Financial system Class seats. In the course of the conversion of the Boeing 777 plane, KLM Royal Dutch Airways additionally changed the seats in Enterprise Class. These chairs function a sliding door for extra consolation and privateness. As well as, all passengers in Enterprise Class have direct aisle entry (learn right here my overview in KLM’s new Enterprise Class seat onboard the Boeing 777).
*** Observe me on Instagram, Youtube, X (Twitter) or Fb for a every day second of journey inspiration ***
