Friday newsletters always feature travel contests, tips, or news.
Today: December 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:
- Mandarin Oriental adds two famous European hotels to its portfolio
- Donald Trump’s daughter and son-in-law will open an Aman Resort in Albania
- Four Seasons expands portfolio in Greece with luxury resort in Port Heli
- St Regis Bahia Beach in Puerto Rico will be rebranded as a Four Seasons
- Four Seasons announces plans for a luxury resort at Deer Valley in Park City, Utah
- Six Senses will transform a famed Spanish castle into a luxury hotel
- The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok debuts in Thailand
- Marriott will bring The Ritz-Carlton to Serbia
- The first hotel under the renowned Orient Express brand is now bookable
- KLM completes biggest product change in years on its Boeing longhaul fleet
1. Mandarin Oriental adds two famous European hotels to its portfolio
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced the option to sign two iconic additions to its portfolio of exceptional hotels from early 2025: Hôtel Lutetia in Paris and the Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam. The acceptance of the offer is subject to the completion of a consultation process with the relevant Works Councils, which will begin shortly. Following completion of the transaction, Hôtel Lutetia will be rebranded as Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, Paris, while the Conservatorium Hotel – which I reviewed here – is set to be rebranded as Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium, Amsterdam in January 2026, following a comprehensive upgrade (the hotel will stay open during that period). Both properties are renowned for their historic significance and architectural grandeur, and Mandarin Oriental is committed to ensuring that each property’s unique character and local cultural essence is preserved, while seamlessly delivering the brand’s unique approach to luxury hospitality, steeped in the brand’s dual Asian roots.
Here are some details about both hotels:
- As the only luxury Palace hotel on Paris’s Left Bank, Hôtel Lutetia underwent a comprehensive restoration led by renowned architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte and reopened in 2018. The renovation carefully preserved its storied heritage while introducing contemporary luxuries to enhance the guest stay. The hotel offers 184 spacious and beautifully appointed guest rooms, including 47 suites. Many of the signature suites have been designed by creative icons, including the Saint Germain Penthouse by Francis Ford Coppola, Suite Parisienne by Isabelle, Huppert, who has been a Mandarin Oriental Celebrity Fan for more than ten years, and the Joséphine Baker Suite, which features private terraces with stunning views of the Eiffel Tower.
- Located in Amsterdam’s renowned Museum Quarter, the Conservatorium Hotel is a striking fusion of historical grandeur and modern sophistication. Originally designed in the late 19th century by architect Daniel Knuttel, the building has a storied past as a former bank and music conservatory. Today, it stands as a symbol of refined luxury, reimagined by celebrated Italian architect Piero Lissoni. The hotel features 129 spacious rooms and suites, where modern elegance and craftsmanship seamlessly blend with the building’s historic architecture.
2. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner aim to open an Aman Resort in Albania
Ivanka Trump – daughter of USA President Elect Donald Trump – and her husband real estate developer Jared Kushner are building a luxury resort in Albania that will be managed by Aman Resorts, owned by Russian businessman Vladislav Doronin. Trump unveiled the resort construction news on a Lex Friedman podcast. Jared Kushner reaffirmed the news in an interview with Bloomberg, stating his plans to build an Aman resort featuring luxury villas on Sazan Island. Kushner revealed that his interest in this investment was sparked in 2021 during his first visit to Albania. However, environmentalists have publicly voiced concerns, arguing that such an investment could damage the unique natural environment of Sazan, Albania’s only island. The investors, in response, have assured that the materials used for the project will be environmentally friendly. Sazan Island, during the communist regime, was a military zone off-limits to civilians. Since the regime’s fall, there have been no investments, leaving only the ruins of military buildings as remnants of the totalitarian system.
3. Four Seasons expands portfolio in Greece with luxury resort in Port Heli
Four Seasons, one of the world’s leading luxury hotel brands, has announced plans for the redevelopment of a beachside property at Hinitsa Bay, Porto Heli, Greece into a luxury resort and private residences. Set against the scenic backdrop of southeastern Greece, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Porto Heli will offer bay views of the Argolic Gulf and the nearby island of Spetses. The expansion and redevelopment will transform an existing beachfront estate, which currently spans 75 hectares (185 acres) and 3.25 kilometres (3,250 metres) of coastline, into a new Four Seasons experience with 80 guest rooms and suites and 30 bungalows, as well as Four Seasons branded residential villas. Thanks to its ideal and prime location, guests and residents will have ease of access to the beach, nearby town centre and extensive walking trails, along with the services and amenities of Four Seasons. Four Seasons Resort and Residences Porto Heli will add to Four Seasons portfolio in Greece, including the award-winning Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens (which I reveiwed here), and Four Seasons Resort Mykonos, which will open in 2025.
4. St Regis Bahia Beach in Puerto Rico will be rebranded as a Four Season
The rebranding of The St Regis Bahia Beach will mark the entry of Four Seasons to Puerto Rico and the continued expansion of the renowned luxury brand in the Caribbean. The local surroundings of the current St Regis property will continue to be preserved, with interiors undergoing renovations before unveiling as Four Seasons Resort Puerto Rico in late 2025. Additional renovations will include a showstopping arrival experience, showcasing views of the ocean from the moment guests step inside. The lobby will be reimagined creating space for relaxation and connection, while pools will be reconfigured to provide unobstructed views of the ocean, along with new cabanas. A steam room, sauna and new experiences will be added to the spa facilities. Four Seasons Resort and Private Residences Puerto Rico will offer 139 reimagined rooms and suites and 85 Private Residences, with additional existing units that will join the residential portfolio upon the property’s reopening as a Four Seasons experience. The property is ideally located a short 30-minute drive from San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
5. Four Seasons announces plans for a luxury resort at Deer Valley in Park City, Utah
Four Seasons has announced plans for a resort and residential offering in Deer Valley East Village, North America’s first new luxury alpine village to be developed in more than forty years. Four Seasons Resort and Private Residences Deer Valley will provide guests and residents with a seamless mountain experience paired with the legendary service for which the brand is renowned. With design led by ODA Architecture, the new development will offer 134 guest rooms and suites, and 123 one to six bedroom private residences with fully-serviced homes ranging from 1,200 to 7,000 square feet (110-650 square metres). All with unparalleled ski-in/ski-out mountain access, 55 residences will be situated above the resort. An adjacent building will contain 68 owner-exclusive units ranging from one to five bedrooms, with additional resident-exclusive amenities. Deer Valley’s new East Village – located at the base of its 3,700-acre (1500-hectare) ski terrain expansion – will not only make the celebrated destination one of the largest ski resorts in North America, but it will also introduce enhanced slopeside access, a state-of-the-art skier services facility, new retail offerings, culinary experiences and a collection of après venues.
6. Six Senses will transform a famed Spanish castle into a luxury hotel
Quietly tucked away in Ávila, just 50 minutes from Madrid, lies a 16th-century palace with a story to tell. Built in 1563 by Juan de Herrera, El Quexigal was famous for being the most beautiful country estate in Spain. Acquired by King Felipe II to be used for recreational pursuits for the Royal House, the farm was run by Jerome monks, producing oil, wine, honey, and food, along with wood from the abundance of trees including the quejigos oak, which gave its name to the estate. This month, Six Senses has signed a hotel management agreement to welcome guests like the royalty of centuries past within the 100-hectare (250 acre) country estate, which is expected to open at the end of 2026. The 60 guest accommodations will be distributed within the main and auxiliary buildings and include 13 suites and a presidential suite with private gardens. For family groups, and private events, there will also be a fully serviced five-bedroom villa. Local, sustainable, and seasonal will be the approach to food and beverage, with farm-to-fork goodness grown fresh in the surrounding fields and served in the signature restaurant and various salons and private dining locations throughout the gardens.
7. The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok debuts in Thailand
Part of the Luxury Group portfolio by Marriott International, The Ritz-Carlton Bangkok is set in an alluring skyscraper at One Bangkok, a world-class business and lifestyle destination in the heart of Bangkok. The architects at Chicago-based SOM and Thailand’s A49 have designed a building facade featuring gracefully ascending open-air terraces that provide sweeping views of Lumpini Park and the city’s skyline. Inside, Thailand’s premier interior design studio, PIA, has created spaces that evoke a sense of timeless elegance and modern sophistication. A seamless blend of classic Thai artistry and contemporary design, the hotel rooms and suites embody a spirit of cultural exchange. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame breathtaking views, while many guestrooms offer private loggias and terraces overlooking the lush expanse of Lumpini Park. Three new dining experiences transport guests through distinct culinary worlds, each offering its unique take on flavor and atmosphere. Duet by David Toutain, led by the eponymous Michelin-starred chef and culinary prodigy Valentin Fouache, is the signature restaurant and serves modern French cuisine in a stunning glasshouse. Spa and wellness facilities include two swimming pools.
8. Marriott will bring The Ritz-Carlton To Serbia
Anticipated to welcome guests in 2027, The Ritz-Carlton, Belgrade will bring the brand’s legendary service and elegant design to Serbia’s capital city. The property is expected to feature 193 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites along with The Ritz-Carlton Club experience and two distinct dining venues. Plans for the property include a range of facilities such as an indoor swimming pool, fitness centre and spa, along with more than 1,700 square meters of meetings and events space. The hotel will be situated on the Nikola Tesla Boulevard, right on the Danube river front, in close proximity to government institutions and the business district. The location will also provide convenient access to Stark Arena, Sava congress centre and Belgrade’s old town. The new build property is planned to be a part of the site revitalisation of the former Hotel Jugoslavija, bringing this famous location back to life. Serbia, with its strategic location at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, offers a growing business environment, competitive costs, and a robust startup ecosystem. Its Capital, Belgrade, blends historical charm with vibrant nightlife, cultural landmarks, and modern infrastructure.
9. The first hotel under the renowned Orient Express brand is now bookable
Situated in the historic Piazza della Minerva, in the heart of Rome and just steps from the Pantheon, Orient Express La Minerva is set to open in Spring 2025 as the first hotel under the renowned Orient Express brand. The 93 key property, formerly known as Palazzo Fonseca dating back to the 17th century, occupies an entire island site and was acquired in 2021 by Arsenale SpA. Following a comprehensive renovation, the building’s interiors and historical features have been meticulously designed and restored under artistic direction of Franco-Mexican architect and interior designer Hugo Toro. Originally built in 1620 as the residence of the aristocratic Portuguese Fonseca family, the historic building was transformed into a hotel for the first time in 1811. It soon it became a favorite destination for prominent artists and intellectuals during the Grand Tour, hosting figures such as Stendhal, Vittorio Alfieri, and Herman Melville; and hosted a visit from Pope Pius IX. The restoration work reflects a project rooted in the history of Rome, inspired by Roman domus and the riches of the Eternal City, combining art Déco style with contemporary elegance, in perfect harmony with the mysterious identity of the Orient Express journey.
10. KLM completes biggest product change in years on its Boeing longhaul fleet
In two years, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has completed the introduction of a new class, Premium Comfort Class, on its Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft. The intermediate class offers more space, luxury and privacy than Economy Class, at a more affordable fare than World Business Class. It took four to sixteen days per aircraft to install Premium Comfort Class. The KLM Royal Dutch Airlines technicians involved worked day and night – literally – to make the refitting happen (a total of 54 aircraft have been fitted with the new class). Depending on the aircraft type, there are 21 to 28 seats in the Premium Comfort section, which features wider seats with more legroom, a larger screen and a footrest compared to Economy Class. The seats in Premium Comfort can also be reclined back more than the Economy Class seats. During the conversion of the Boeing 777 aircraft, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines also replaced the seats in Business Class. These chairs feature a sliding door for more comfort and privacy. In addition, all passengers in Business Class have direct aisle access (read here my review in KLM’s new Business Class seat onboard the Boeing 777).
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