Friday newsletters always feature travel contests, tips, or news.
Today: December 2023 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:
- Aman’s new Janu Tokyo Hotel is now accepting reservations
- One&Only announces a new ultra-luxe resort in Antigua
- Rosewood will open a five-start resort in Barbuda
- Park Hyatt Marrakech officially opens its doors
- Four Seasons returns to Shanghai with new luxury hotel
- Six Senses La Sagesse, Grenada is opening next spring
- Six Senses announces a new resort along Mexico’s Pacific Coast
- Air France releases a stunning new YouTube video
- Banyan Tree Dubai welcomes its first guests
- Marriott unveils its W Edinburgh Hotel
1. Aman’s Janu Tokyo is now accepting reservations
In March 2024, Aman – one of the world’s most exclusive hotel groups – will launch a new brand – Janu – with the opening of its first Janu Hotel in the Japanese capital. At the heart of Tokyo’s Azabudai Hills development – a vibrant community hub of nature, culture and art – Janu Tokyo will feature 122 guest rooms, eight restaurants and an expansive spa and wellness center inside a new, landmark building designed by visionary architects Pelli Clarke & Partners. Derived from the Sanskrit word for ‘soul’, Janu aims to be a visionary hotel, residence and lifestyle brand designed to encourage connection, restore balance and promote collective joy. Serving as a catalyst for Aman Group’s evolution, Janu marks a progressive new chapter, harnessing the potential of the legendary Aman brand to achieve a pipeline of sustainable growth. While Aman is renowned for its hallmarks of whisper-quiet seclusion and unparalleled service, Janu strategically positions itself at the vanguard for luxury hospitality, committed to providing a more dynamic, sociable experience.
2.One&Only announces a new ultra-luxe resort in Antigua
This latest addition to the exclusive One&Only collection, slated to open in 2027, will expand the ultra-luxury resort brand into the Caribbean, pairing Antigua’s beautiful landscapes with One&Only’s rich hospitality. The resort will be located at Half Moon Bay, on the tranquil, southeast side of the island. The 132-acre site overlooks a secluded beach, adjacent to a protected national park, with cliffs rising into panoramic views over the Caribbean. The architectural design of the resort respects the terrain and minimal impact will be made to the location’s ecosystem during development. Blending seamlessly with nature, the resort will reinterpret the island’s vernacular design with an elegant contemporary lens, providing flowing indoor & outdoor spaces, breathtaking views and chic living areas. Inspiration will be taken from Antigua’s storied past and rich history to curate spaces of timeless luxury and laidback comfort. As with every One&Only, unique experiences will be created to allow guests to experience the very best of what the island has to offer, encompassing nature, wildlife, cuisine and culture.
2. Rosewood announces a new five-start resort in Barbuda
Rosewood announced that the secluded island of Barbuda will welcome its latest Caribbean escape. Developed by Murbee Resorts, Rosewood Barbuda will bring an intimate expression of Rosewood’s ultra-luxury hospitality experience to the island, featuring 50 resort suites and 35 Rosewood Residences. Set on 85 secluded acres including 900 meters of pristine beachfront, Rosewood Barbuda will feature the brand’s integrative wellness concept, Asaya Spa with a menu of treatments and experiential offerings that address Rosewood’s five pillars of wellness: emotional balance, fitness and nutrition, physical therapies, skin health, and community. In addition to the spa’s six treatment rooms, wellness seekers can also enjoy an expansive fitness center and two pools, including one dedicated to families. Offering a diverse culinary program, the property will feature three unique dining outlets including a farm-to-table restaurant, which will showcase the flavors of the island by making use of local produce. Rosewood Barbuda is set to open in 2028.
3. Park Hyatt Marrakech officially opens its doors
Located about 9 mi (15 km) from Marrakech’s historic Medina district, the new resort is situated in an off-the-beaten path location at the base of the Atlas Mountains. Surrounded by palm trees, olive trees and jacaranda trees, Park Hyatt Marrakech sits adjacent to the magnificent Al Maaden Golf resort, exclusively offering guests convenient access to the 18-hole course. Composed of 16 pavilions arranged around a central, zeolite patio, the resort encapsulates the personalized, understated luxury of the Park Hyatt brand. Renowned Marrakech-based architect Imaad Rahmouni drew inspiration from Arab-Berber traditions to create a luxurious contemporary design for the property. The 130 residentially inspired guestrooms and suites are among the most spacious in Marrakech, and promise privacy and serenity, with Moroccan touches throughout. A variety of authentic and globally inspired dining options is available to guests, reflective of the brand’s elevated food and wine expertise. The hotel’s spa is a temple of tranquility and an ode to Morocco’s culture of hammam rituals and holistic therapies.
4. Four Seasons returns to Shanghai with new luxury hotel
The new Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai will soar 44 storeys high with 160 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites, anticipated to welcome guests in 2027. Located along the iconic Huaihai Zhong Road within the Huangpu district of Puxi, the hotel will be at the heart of the city’s shopping, dining and entertainment hub, where neighborhoods are characterized by neoclassical villas that celebrate Shanghai’s modern creativity and Art Deco heritage architecture. Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai will include 160 rooms and suites, contemporary design throughout, architecture by Ricardo Bofill and P&T Group, as well as interior design by Jean-Michel Gathy of DENNISTON. Adding to the growing collection of more than 600 unique restaurants and bars across the company’s global portfolio, Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai will introduce five new original culinary concepts. There will also be 670 sq m (7,212 sq ft) of meeting & event space alongside the 690 sq m (7,438 sq ft) of comprehensive wellness facilities, including a resort-style outdoor heated pool.
6. Six Senses La Sagesse, Grenada is opening next spring
Enjoying a pride-of-place setting between the ocean and a protected cove on the southern part of the Caribbean island of Grenada, Six Senses La Sagesse aims to invites guests to put their feet up and worries down and embark on a journey of discovery, rejuvenation, and celebration. Designed to reflect Caribbean village vibes and bursting with bold colors and scents, the resort will maintain a connection to Grenada’s “Spice Island” heritage. There will be 56 pool suites, which will combine eco-credentials and comfort using natural, renewable, and repurposed materials. The organic and contemporary interiors will feature open-plan bedrooms, each with an outdoor terrace leading to a private plunge pool for a cooling dip. In addition, there will be 15 villas enjoying prime hillside or beachfront settings, ranging between one, two, and four bedrooms, all with generously sized bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. The property will feature 3 restaurants, including the signature restaurant SeaFire. The two-floor spa will house treatment rooms, a Hammam, a state-of-the-art gym and a yoga pavilion.
7. Six Senses announces a new resort along Mexico’s Pacific Coast
A two-and-a-half-hour drive or 20-minute flight from Puerto Vallarta and a 10-minute drive from the new Chalacatepec International Airport, Six Senses Xala is slated to open in 2026. Balancing copious space with intimacy and a “developed to be undeveloped” low-impact vibe, Six Senses Xala will comprise just 51 accommodations, all with private pools, ranging from beachfront and elevated guest rooms and suites to one- to three-bedroom villas. Their graceful village-like architectural direction embraces the wild landscape, and their careful placement takes advantage of the site’s view and topography to create moments of quiet introspection and communal celebration. Quirky touches will be used to inject a playfulness that is a signature of Six Senses globally while integrating Costalegre’s artistic heritage to bring a smile to the soul. Restaurants will include a signature dining room, deli, farmers’ market, bakery, and a “feet in the sand” surf club. For the peace-seekers, Six Senses Spa will offer a healing environment for locally inspired treatments, journeys, and multi-day wellness programs.
8. Air France releases a stunning new YouTube video
To round off a year of celebrations marking Air France’s 90th and the Patrouille de France’s 70th anniversaries, the two jewels of the French aviation industry are honored in a special film featuring them together in spectacular aerial footage. At the end of September 2023, the company’s 22nd Airbus A350-900 named “Les Sables-d’Olonne” made its ferry flight from the manufacturer’s assembly site in Toulouse to Paris-Charles de Gaulle. For the occasion, the pilots of the Patrouille de France Alphajet operating a positioning flight in preparation for an airshow in the Occitanie region flew alongside the aircraft as part of an air display choreographed to perfection. Meticulously prepared by the crews, this special mission dubbed “Athos A350” involved eleven aircraft of various sizes and operating at different speeds flying together to create exceptional images. Directed by Eric Magnan (Airborne Films), a specialist in aerial footage, the film was shot from a French TBM 700 DAHER camera-mounted aircraft incorporating a leading-edge gyro-stabilized camera system.
9. Banyan Tree Dubai welcomes its first guests
Banyan Tree, one of the world’s leading hospitality brands, has opened its first property in Dubai. Banyan Tree Dubai fronts the shoreline of Bluewaters Dubai – a vibrant lifestyle destination by Dubai Holding offering a mix of residential, retail, hospitality and entertainment options. Modern and streamlined in concept, the property is imbued with a strong sense of place, fitting in seamlessly among the buildings of the gleaming Dubai Marina in the background. The star attraction occupies a 500 m (1600 ft) stretch of pristine, private beach boasting uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf and the iconic Ain Dubai observation wheel, as well as three temperature-controlled swimming pools. The property’s 178 rooms have been rejuvenated by BLINK Design, introducing a touch of soft minimalism. There are seven dining experiences, offering post-beach eating that chime with the holiday mood, as well as sophisticated destination dining venues from world-class chefs. The resort also features a spa where seasoned therapists perform personalised holistic treatments in a stunning oceanfront setting.
10. Marriott unveils its W Edinburgh Hotel
W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of over 30 hotel brands, announced the opening of its first Edinburgh outpost. W Edinburgh sits at the heart of the St. James Quarter, a newly revitalized neighborhood in the city center which combines world-class retail, entertainment, and dining. The hotel comprises three distinct buildings positioned around St. James Square: the Ribbon Building, James Craig Walk, and the Quarter House, with a total of 199 rooms and 45 suites, many with outdoor terraces. Designers Jestico + Whiles have reimagined the best of Scotland with locally rooted influences and creative collaborations throughout W Edinburgh’s public areas and rooms. Interiors draw influence from the elements of the coastal city built on volcanic rock, with fire and water providing juxtaposed inspiration throughout. Features include a rooftop deck with 360-degree views and Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian fusion restaurant Sushisamba, as well as Brazilian-inspired speakeasy named Joao’s Place, the brand’s signature W Lounge, a fitness centre and spa facilities.
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We are thinking of going to Vietnam (US folks on the east coast). We love the 4 Seasons clip of Hoi Ann. Any other worthwhile places besides Hue, Hanoi, and HoChiMin-with corresponding beautiful properties. We were thinking of a 3 day 2 night cruise on Halong Bay, but we heard it is very polluted? It looks spectacular with the limestone Karsts, but not sure if it is worth it.
We are planning 2 weeks in Vietnam and we would like a beautiful beach, great snorkeling and clear ocean water. We were thinking of Palawan in the Philippines or Raja Ampat on the Aqua Blue yacht-we are older travelers and don’t know if it’s easy to get to either one of those destinations. Any help on ideas/properties would be much appreciated.