Friday newsletters always feature travel contests, tips, or news.
Today: August 2024 luxury travel news
Every last Friday of the month, you can read my news round-up of what’s happening in the world of luxury travel and aviation. In this issue:
- Aman welcomes tennis star Djokovic as its first Global Wellness Advisor
- Qatar Airways new serves caviar in Business Class
- Qatar Airways acquires 25% stake in Airlink
- Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor is now open
- Rosewood announces expansion in the Caribbean with Rosewood Exuma
- Six Senses will open a resort in Telluride in the Colorado Rockies
- Hyatt acquires The Standard Hotels
- Emirates introduces new Business Class on the Boeing 777
- Lufthansa’s Discover Airlines will introduce new Business Class product
1. Aman welcomes tennis star Djokovic as its first Global Wellness Advisor
In a union of mastery, Aman – the world’s most exclusive hotel brand – welcomes tennis legend, Novak Djokovic, as its first Global Wellness Advisor. Entering a multi-year partnership, Aman expects Djokovic to brings a wealth of expertise, both on and off the court, to the Aman guest experience, enhancing an ever-evolving approach to health, fitness and wellbeing. In addition, he will have an adversarial role with Aman Essentials, specifically focusing on future product development and extensions of the brand, as relates to wellbeing. The partnership will grow and develop year-on-year, with early plans across the Aman globe including hosted wellness retreats and specially curated programs available to guests year-round. Aligning with Aman’s wellness philosophy and the notion of longevity that rests at its heart, Djokovic is an athlete whose resilience and adaptability have allowed him to stay at the pinnacle of the sport for over a decade. With 24 Grand Slam titles to his name, Djokovic’s pursuit of excellence sets him apart as a true icon with a trajectory that extends far beyond tennis success; his dedication having inspired countless professional athletes.
2. Qatar Airways new serves caviar in Business Class
Qatar Airways has announced further enhancement to its award-winning Business Class service with the introduction of caviar service on its menu offering. Launched on 13 routes, caviar lovers can now experience the luxurious service onboard Qatar Airways Business Class between Doha and Boston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, New York, Paris, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney, and Washington. Qatar Airways’ award-winning Business Class service features extensive food and beverage options, as well as on-demand dining where passengers can dine at their preferred meal time. The new caviar service can be enjoyed as a standalone option or part of the onboard meal courses. Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Product Development and Design, Ms. Xia Cai, said: “As the world’s only 11-time winner of the Skytrax ‘World’s Best Business Class’ award, Qatar Airways takes pride in providing the best premium business class travel experience. The introduction of caviar service, commonly available only in first class cabins, further elevates Qatar Airways’ award-winning business class experience. We are committed to continuously enhance our onboard services to elevate the industry’s standards and delight our passengers.”
3. Qatar Airways acquires 25% stake in Airlink
4. Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor is now open
After thoughtful restoration and the addition of numerous enhancements, a long-time European summer favorite has been reborn as a Four Seasons Hotel. With deep respect for the natural beauty of the land and high regard for its history, the completely updated and modernized Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor blends poetic charm with luxury hospitality and European sophistication. The 40-hectare (100-acre) resort is set amid a large estate that also includes a working vineyard – truly a world away, and yet easily connected to surrounding sites and countless recreational pursuits. With sustainable practices at the core of the Resort’s restoration effort, all 110 guest rooms and suites have terraces facing the sea, and some also offer private plunge pools. The décor of both private and public spaces is bright and airy with natural materials throughout, evoking a seaside glamour that is both nostalgic and very modern. The property offers several culinary experiences overseen by Executive Chef Francesco Mannelli. Shima, a sophisticated Nikkei-style dining experience, will debut in 2025. A pop-up spa with two treatment rooms is now open for the 2024 season, with a new, full-service spa debuting in 2025. With a fleet of luxury vehicles on land and sea, Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor is the starting point for explorers of all interests.
5. Rosewood announces expansion in the Caribbean with Rosewood Exuma
Exuma, a pristine archipelago of 365 islands in the Bahamas, has long been a haven for sophisticated globetrotters and seafarers. Now, Rosewood has named the destination as the latest addition to the brand’s Caribbean portfolio with the announcement of Rosewood Exuma, a private island experience that is set to open in 2028. Situated on a 124-acre private island referred to as East Sampson Cay within the Exumas, Rosewood Exuma will comprise just 33 suites, all offering dramatic views of the island’s pink and white sands and turquoise waters and several sitting directly on the beach. Six unique food and beverage outlets will showcase local delicacies, including ingredients grown from the resort’s organic garden. Rosewood’s signature Asaya Spa concept will immerse guests in time-honored Bahamian wellness traditions. The wellnesssanctuary will boast six treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy facility, outdoor tranquil pool, and fitness center. It will be complemented by an outdoor sports center featuring tennis, padel and pickleball courts, as well as watersports equipment. The property will be home to a fully serviced beach club with a grill restaurant, beach and pool bars, and a private dining room. Two marinas with slips are planned to accommodate yachts, encouraging those traveling around the nearby islands to enjoy Rosewood Exuma’s beach club and various restaurants and bars.
6. Six Senses will open a resort in Telluride in the Colorado Rockies
Known for its epic outdoor adventures, Telluride is one of the most sought-after mountain towns in the Colorado Rockies. Designated a National Historic Landmark District, the former mining town holds an authentic charm, from its film, jazz, and blues festivals to its arts and community events. Putting down roots just above the town in Mountain Village, Six Senses Telluride will be tucked into a box canyon flanked by the rugged 14,000-foot peaks of the San Juan Mountains. With nature this striking, Six Senses will blend the drama unfolding outdoors with interiors that are carved as gracefully as a perfect turn in the snow. The 77-key resort and 24 branded residences aim to exude an airy and refined sophistication that will respect and reflect the setting. As part of IHG Hotel & Resorts’ Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, Six Senses Telluride also marks IHG’s first luxury resort and residences in North America’s Mountain West region. Neil Jacobs, CEO, Six Senses, said, “Becoming an active part of the community is hugely important to us and so where better to begin our North American mountain adventure than Telluride, with the global sophistication of Mountain Village and eclectic old-world nature of the town below. Having lived in the Colorado Rockies in the 1980s, I can attest to the mountain environment lending itself to the expression of our values around wellness and sustainable development today.”
7. Hyatt announces plans for Park Hyatt Sapporo
Scheduled to open in 2029, the new Park Hyat hotel will be situated in the economic and cultural center of the Hokkaido Prefecture in northern Japan. Hokkaido’s year-round attractions now account for the most inbound overnight stays and tourism spending of any regional area in Japan, separate from the nation’s three major metropolitan areas. The property will be the fourth Park Hyatt branded hotel in the country and will complement the award-winning Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, a luxury mountain retreat located in Hokkaido’s leading ski resort. The hotel will be conveniently located in a mixed-used tower under development at the intersection of the famed Odori Park and bustling Sapporo Ekimae-dori, the city’s main commercial and business thoroughfare. Spanning the 27th through 35th floors, it offers magnificent views of the park and city. The building will be designed by celebrated architect Kengo Kuma, who is renowned for his innovative ability to blend architecture and the natural world. Park Hyatt Sapporo will offer 157 luxurious rooms and suites, world-class culinary and wellness experiences, an indoor swimming pool and inspiring spaces for meetings and events.
8. Hyatt acquires The Standard Hotels
Hyatt announced the planned acquisition of the brands and most of the affiliates of pioneering lifestyle company Standard International, parent company of The Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels brands. The transaction is anticipated to close later this year, subject to customary closing conditions. With this transaction, Hyatt will form a new dedicated lifestyle group that will be headquartered in New York City. Led by Standard International’s Executive Chairman Amar Lalvani, the lifestyle group will leverage Hyatt’s best-in-class operational and loyalty infrastructure while assuming distinct leadership across key functions including experience creation, design, marketing, programming, public relations, restaurants, nightlife and entertainment. The planned acquisition will continue Hyatt’s evolution to a brand- and experience-driven company. The acquired portfolio will be 100% asset-light and includes management, franchise and license contracts for 21 open hotels with approximately 2,000 rooms, including The Standard, London, The Standard, High Line in New York City, The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon and boutique treasures like Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin, Texas and Hotel San Cristóbal in Baja California, Mexico. Following the closing of the transaction, Hyatt plans to integrate these hotels into World of Hyatt, bringing this portfolio of celebrated lifestyle properties to the program’s 48 million loyalty members.
9. Emirates introduces new Business Class on the Boeing 777
The first Emirates Boeing 777 with a nose-to-tail Business Class cabin refresh sporting a new look has rolled into service between Dubai and Geneva. The new Emirates 777 Business Class is set in a warm and inviting cabin featuring thoughtful refinements with enhanced privacy for passengers. The cabin’s seats and colour story have been enhanced to echo the design elements of Emirates’ iconic A380 experience, with soft leather cream seats accented with champagne trim, lighter wood panelling, and modern technology touches that deliver function and luxury. Set with 38 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, each ergonomic 20.7-inch-wide seat converts to a spacious flat bed which reclines up to 78.6 inches. The seat also features a padded headrest for enhanced comfort. Seats in the cabin are arranged four-abreast offering every passenger direct access to the aisle. Each seat features a personal mini-bar, table for dining or working, multiple charging outlets for personal devices and more. The seat’s touch screen seat controller for in-flight entertainment and seat operation and a personal 23-inch HD screen, one of the biggest in the skies ensure every customer can fully enjoy the airline’s award-winning ice entertainment system. The Emirates Boeing 777 Business Class cabin also includes a small bar for customers to quickly grab mid-flight snacks and refreshments.
10. Lufthansa’s Discover Airlines will introduces new Business Class product
Discover Airlines is the Lufthansa’s leisure airline in Germany, flying travelers from Frankfurt and Munich to the most beautiful holiday destinations in the world. The leisure carrier was launched in 2021 as Eurowings Discover, as a response to the changing travel landscape caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and rebranded as Discover Airlines last year. Since its launch, Discover Airlines has relied on Airbus A330s on long-haul routes and Airbus A320s on short and medium-haul routes. Over the next three years, a total of six Airbus A330-300s and at least three Airbus 320s will join the fleet. The Airbus A330s are scheduled to enter service by mid-2027, while the Airbus A320s will already enter service in 2025. In the course of 2026, three Airbus A330-200s are scheduled to leave the leisure airline’s fleet due to expiring leases. From 2027, Discover Airlines will also gradually introduce a latest-generation product on its Airbus A330 fleet. In addition to an AAA configuration (‘All Aisle Access’) in Business Class, this includes seats with significantly more comfort and a new entertainment system with larger screens and better resolution in all three travel classes. Further details on the product renewal are currently being finalised and will be announced at a later date.
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