Friday newsletters always feature travel contests, tips, or news.
Today: June 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. In this issue:
- Ritz-Carlton Reserve makes its debut in Saudi Arabia with an exclusive private island oasis
- The St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort in Oman is now open
- The Luxury Collection arrives in Germany with the opening of Koenigshof Munich
- Finnair completes rollout of its new long-haul Business Class cabin
- First Park Hyatt Hotel in Central China opens in the vibrant city of Changsha
- Banyan Tree announces a luxury hotel in Kyoto, Japan
- Fiji Airways will become a full oneworld member
- Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London, is now open
- Delta introduces Missoni designed Business Class amenity kits
- LVMH and Accor join forces to take Orient Express to new horizons
1. Ritz-Carlton Reserve makes debut in Saudi Arabia with exclusive private island oasis
Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Middle East, is set on Ummahat Island in the tranquil waters of The Red Sea. The private island retreat is nestled within the captivating Blue Hole cluster of islands, where pristine coral reefs thrive beneath the surface and the celestial canopy above paints an endless tapestry of star. Designed by Foster and Partners, Nujuma’s sweeping shell-inspired architecture and elegant interiors are crafted with natural materials imbued with calming sea and sand tones, and geometric patterns reminiscent of the region’s design motifs. Accessed by chartered boat or seaplane, Nujuma features 63 overwater and beach villas, offering one-to-three-bedroom accommodation, spacious living areas and private pools overlooking the sea. Each of the Reserve’s five culinary experiences honor the generations of fishermen from the Umluj region whose lives have been deeply intertwined with the area for over 50 years. The resort’s Neyrah Spa is a tranquil sanctuary dedicated to holistic wellness to rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit.
2. The St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort in Oman is now open
The all new St Regis Al Mouj Resort is positioned on the tranquil shores of the Al Mouj waterfront with direct access to a secluded white sand beach and views across the lush, manicured greens of the adjacent, award-winning golf course. The resort’s curved superyacht-style architecture draws inspiration from the surrounding environment and features a unique wave design. A soothing palette of oceanic tones imbued with rich tan and local natural stone set the tone for the design, a nod to Oman’s breathtaking landscape. The property features 250 lavishly appointed guest rooms and suites including one-to-three-bedroom duplexes, offering expansive ocean, golf course or city views. A new vibrant destination in the capital, the resort presents exceptional culinary journeys through the nine distinct dining venues including internationally acclaimed and Michelin-starred concepts. The resort is also home to the first Guerlain Spa in Oman. A place of serenity and rejuvenation, the spa features 11 treatment rooms including 2 exclusive couple suites, steam rooms, and saunas, and offers a bespoke wellness menu inspired by Omani philosophy and traditions.
3. The Luxury Collection arrives in Germany with the opening of Koenigshof Munich
Located in the heart of the city, Koenigshof, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Munich opens with contemporary design, impeccable service, and an array of epicurean experiences. Inside the hotel, art plays a key role as part of the guest experience – reflecting the history of the House of Wittelsbach, the former Bavarian ruling family, who were enthusiastic art collectors in the 16th century. The property features 106 artfully appointed guest rooms and suites, showcasing modern luxury with a sophisticated blend of elegant interiors, curated artworks from local Bavarian artists, and state-of-the-art technology. Koenigshof’s crowning jewel is the Presidential Suite – the largest hotel suite in the city – boasting a private sauna and a pool with breathtaking city views. Guaranteeing an epicurean delight, Koenigshof is home of three distinctive destinations including signature restaurant GRETA OTO Munich, located on the ninth floor offering panoramic views of the city.
4. Finnair completes rollout of its new long-haul Business Class cabin
Finnair‘s new state-of-the-art Business Class cabin was first launched in 2022, and within the space of two years, has been rolled out to the airline’s entire long-haul fleet of A350s and A330s. Passengers can now enjoy a consistent Finnair experience on all of Finnair’s long-haul routes between Finnair’s home hub Helsinki, and the US, Middle East, and Asia. Finnair was the launch customer for the brand-new concept in Business Class seats, developed in close collaboration with Collins Aerospace. Designed to maximise space, the unique fixed shell lounge seat enables a wide variety of sitting and sleeping positions, allowing customers to make the space their own during a relaxing long-haul flight. The cabin has been inspired by Finnair’s Nordic design language and warm, dark, comforting colour scheme – following the palette and design of the airline’s non-Schengen lounges, unveiled at Helsinki Airport pre-pandemic.
5. First Park Hyatt Hotel in Central China opens in the vibrant city of Changsha
Hyatt announced the opening of Park Hyatt Changsha, marking the debut of the Park Hyatt brand in the heart of central China’s Hunan capital. Park Hyatt Changsha houses 230 modern rooms, including 24 suites with floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light. The interiors of Park Hyatt Changsha were created by the architectural and interiors practice Conran and Partners, founded by the late Sir Terence Conran. True to the Park Hyatt brand’s renowned connection to the arts, Park Hyatt Changsha is filled with original paintings and sculptures rooted in the context of their location. Spanning the hotel’s entire 62nd floor, Lilan is the dining and drinking destination, which lays claim to five unique venues — a tea room, sun room, dining room, library and bar, all with spectacular views out over Changsha. Guests looking to exercise can swim laps in the heated pool fashioned from 250-million-year-old Valser quartzite from the Swiss Alps or kick back on the cabana-style loungers.
6. Banyan Tree announces a hotel in Kyoto, Japan
Banyan Tree has announced the opening of Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto in the third quarter of 2024, which will mark the debut of the brand in Japan. Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto will stand on the former site of the esteemed Hotel Ryozen, nestled in Kyoto’s renowned Higashiyama district, home to attractions such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Kodai-ji Temple. Designed by Yukio Hashimoto, the hotel’s 52 guestrooms will draw inspiration from the concept of “yūgen” (mysterious, quiet beauty) and the famous phrase “Hisureba Hana” from the Noh theory bible “Fushikaden.” Each room will feature traditional Japanese materials, including large cypress wood bathtubs, tatami mats, natural wood elements, and gold leaf accents, engaging all five senses and providing a serene sanctuary. The award-winning Banyan Tree Spa will be crafting unique Kyoto-specific treatments that promises guests distinctive ways to unwind and explore. Additionally, guests can look forward to two unique dining experiences that highlight the rich culinary heritage of Kyoto.
7. Fiji Airways will become a full oneworld member
Oneworld, the world’s leading airline alliance, has announced that Fiji Airways is to become its 15th full member airline. Nat Pieper, oneworld CEO, said: “It’s a very warm bula, or hello, to Fiji Airways as we welcome them as our 15th full member airline in the oneworld alliance. Fiji Airways is already part of the oneworld family, as we have had a highly successful relationship since the airline joined as a oneworld connect partner five years ago.” Fiji Airways, with its hub at Nadi International Airport, recently announced record annual profits and revenues, for 2023, with 2.2 million passengers carried on its flights, offering 2.8 million seats. With an unprecedented growth, increased capacity, and fleet enhancement, Fiji Airways is well set to continue its growth now as a full oneworld member airline, offering even more flights and new routes in response to the growing customer demand.. Fiji Airways originally commenced flying on 1st September 1951 and now has a fleet of 21 aircraft, including Airbus A350s, Airbus A330s and Boeing 737s.
8. Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London, is now open
Mandarin Oriental introduced the group’s second property in London with the opening of Mandarin Oriental Mayfair on historic Hanover Square, where fashion, art, business and culture intersect. The sleek and boutique sister property to Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park comprises of 50 guestrooms and suites, 77 private residences, award-winning Chef Akira Back’s London restaurant debut, two bars and a beautiful spa. The best of the East (Mandarin Oriental’s heritage) and West are found within the hotel’s public spaces – the reception, atrium, Akira Back restaurant, ABar Lounge, 14-seater chef’s table Dosa, private dining rooms and spa – all by Tokyo based design agency Curiosity who have used colour and texture to great effect. For indulgence of the more holistic kind, the subterranean The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair brings some dynamic firsts to the UK wellness scene. These include new to London binaural biohacking treatments, offering ‘stress release’, ‘mindfulness’, ‘awaken’ and ‘power nap’ as quick fix 22-minute experiences.
9. Delta introduces Missoni designed Business Class amenity kits
Delt Air Lines has launched a collaboration with Italian luxury fashion house Missoni. Together, Delta and Missoni – a brand known for its creative use of colors and patterns – will elevate Delta One with a new customer amenity kit and top-of-the-line details woven into key touchpoints throughout the Delta One travel experience. The new Delta One amenity kits will feature Missoni’s signature textured zigzag pattern on the exterior of the bag. That same intentional design continues inside the bag, as Missoni and Delta teams created an exclusive pattern and color palette that celebrates the view from the window at 30,000 feet while paying homage to Delta’s nearly 100-year flying heritage. The new amenity kits will be available in Delta One beginning in mid-July on all Delta flights to and from Italy and Paris before launching worldwide in September. Delta Premium Select will continue to feature amenity kits designed by Someone Somewhere. In addition to the new kits, a selection of Missoni’s home collection will also be featured in the Delta One Lounge at New York-JFK, which will open on June 26.
10. LVMH and Accor join forces to take Orient Express to new horizons
Accor and LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of Orient Express, a legendary brand synonymous for more than a century with the most exclusive travel experiences. Since the inaugural voyage of its train in 1883, Orient Express has been taking the discovery of the world to new heights for clients in search of distinctive and refined adventures. Following its acquisition by Accor in 2022, Orient Express is developing new iconic ventures for trains, hotels and sailing ships whose exacting standards will reflect an extraordinary positioning within the travel world. The renaissance of an historic train and the launch of the first Orient Express sailing ship in 2026 will be the next steps in this renewed impetus. In parallel with these launches, Orient Express will open its first hotels in Rome and Venice while continuing the selective development of its global destinations. By contributing to the revival of this iconic brand, LVMH will add its unique expertise in high-quality products and services, illustrated in particular, in the world of travel, by the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train and the five other trains also operated by Belmond around the world.
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