The Travel Top 10

HOTEL NEWS

New Trends At Popular Hotels

The Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown is reintroducing its Restaurant-in-Room Chef Series, bringing the city's culinary elite right into guests' rooms. Executive Chef Maria Tampakis is collaborating with Michelin-starred Chef Mitsunobu Nagae of l’abeille and Tokyo's Chef Yosuke Suga from Sugalabo, offering an exclusive menu featuring dishes like crispy scallops with sunchoke veloté and wagyu teriyaki burger. This limited-time, in-room dining experience is crafted to emulate the ambiance of New York’s top dining spots, available only to hotel guests. Reservations can be made for this unique culinary venture which promises to blend international flavors and techniques seamlessly.

YOTEL introduces the "Land like a local" package, featuring the FlyKitt Rescue kit, a jet lag alleviation solution developed in partnership with Fount. This innovative offering, available across select YOTEL locations, enables travelers to combat jet lag effectively with natural supplements, ensuring they can enjoy their destination without the usual travel fatigue.

The Islands of Tahiti hotel are opening up for summer travel with unprecedented availability and enticing rates starting at $350+ per night. Despite expectations of crowds due to the Olympics Surfing competition in July, savvy travelers can capitalize on this trend, indulging in luxury accommodations, pristine lagoons, and authentic Polynesian experiences for an unforgettable summer escape in July and August.

The Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa in Lake Como reopens with fresh culinary innovations, led by Executive Chef Maichol Morandi, and introduces the new fine dining Restaurant 1827. Highlighting an exquisite seven-course menu and a comprehensive wine program, the hotel pairs traditional Italian gastronomy with creative modern dishes, enriching the luxury experience in one of Italy's most scenic destinations.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts recently revealed updates to their properties in Dominican Republic, where the chain operates 16 hotels with over 5,000 rooms including the Wyndham Alltra Samana which is estled in Las Galeras, Samaná on the pristine Javo Beach La Playita, the hotel offers an all-inclusive, family-friendly experience with activities like scuba diving, kayaking, and volleyball.

ON THE WATER

Yachts Grow In Popularity - Here’s Why

On the Water: The global yacht market, fueled by a rise in recreational tourism and an expanding high-net-worth individual population (+4.2% in 2023), reached a value of $8.9 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow annually by 5.8% through 2030. Luxury hotel brands are capitalizing on this trend by launching private yachting experiences, regardless of their proximity to water. For instance, this summer, the Tuscan resort, Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, offers guests luxury yacht charters to explore the Mediterranean's blue waters, including snorkeling around the Tuscan coast's hidden bays and historical islands like Elba. These exclusive experiences, available by request, highlight a unique fusion of traditional luxury lodging with high-end maritime adventure.

Exploring Croatia: Sail Croatia has launched attractive summer deals for 2024, featuring exclusive private yacht tours around the Adriatic. These offers start at $4,811 for a week-long voyage from Split, which includes airport transfers, insurance, fuel, and taxes, on a self-catering basis. The promotion celebrates three new luxury vessels joining their fleet, expanding it to 19. Ideal for families or groups, no sailing experience is needed as a professional skipper manages the navigation. Guests enjoy flexible itineraries with highlights like the Blue Cave on Vis island. More details and bookings are available directly through their website.

HOLIDAY TRAVEL 2024

New Ideas For Memorial Day Weekend Getaways

Memorial Day is just a few weeks away, but there are plenty of unique vacation opportunities you can still book, here’s a round-up of some of the new destinations you should consider:

Sunny Sky: St. Petersburg's Memorial Day festivities invite you to sunny Florida less crowded than Miami, boasting live music and carnival attractions. The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, freshly renovated to evoke Florida's Golden Age, stands out with its array of luxurious amenities. Guests can enjoy a history tour capped with high tea, relax at a holistic spa, or explore the vibrant downtown via e-bikes, making it a premier choice for a leisurely long weekend.

Nature Lovers: Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a sanctuary for nature lovers, with the Foundry Hotel located at the heart of the historic African American business district. The hotel enhances a visit to the local Memorial Day arts festival with luxury, offering experiences like Vinyasa yoga atop mountains and craft cocktails at its jazz-filled bar, Workshop Lounge. This boutique hotel is steps away from the new Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail, offering a rich, immersive local history.

Hawaii Dream Vacation: On Maui's sun-drenched coast, Wailea Beach Resort offers a lavish retreat with its scenic luxury poised between two golden sand beaches. Ideal for an extended Memorial Day getaway, the resort's amenities include the longest waterslide on Maui and culturally enriching activities like outrigger canoeing and ukulele lessons. The resort encourages conscious travel with suggestions for local volunteer opportunities, blending indulgence with impactful experiences.

Turks and Caicos, particularly Providenciales ("Provo"), is poised as an ideal Memorial Day destination, offering a blend of adventure and luxury for family travelers. At Beach Enclave, guests can indulge in diverse activities from kiteboarding in Long Bay’s shallow waters to serene free diving near Grace Bay’s coral reefs. The local culture comes alive with cooking classes and traditional crafts, enhancing the travel experience. For ultimate relaxation, the newly introduced contemporary beach houses at Beach Enclave offer expansive ocean views and private amenities, encapsulating both modern luxury and the tranquil beauty of the island’s secluded beaches.

Orlando, Florida, is set to be a standout destination for family vacations this summer, thanks to NFL legend Chris Johnson's Windsor Island Retreat vacation rentals. Just a stone's throw from the magical Walt Disney World, these luxurious properties offer spacious accommodations, private pools, and themed rooms ranging from Fortnite to Mermaid, designed to delight children and adults alike. Perfect for those looking to enhance their summer getaway with a touch of celebrity style and comfort, Johnson's retreats promise a blend of relaxation, entertainment, and convenience

Young Adult Travel: Contiki, the travel company for 18–35-year-olds, is enticing young adventurers with its spring Switch On Travel Sale, offering significant discounts on 34 dynamic trips across Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. Travelers can enjoy up to 25% off European journeys, 20% off in Asia and Australia, and 15% off New Zealand explorations. Top trips include the Best of Spain & Portugal, Greek Island Hopping, and Ireland in a Week. This sale, running through April 30th, applies to select trips departing from April to December 2024, making now an ideal time to plan that dream vacation.

Bourbon Travel Trends: Travel and bourbon are increasingly interconnected, as seen in Templeton, Iowa, where the historic Templeton Rye Whiskey distillery serves as a prime example. Reopened in 2018 with a $35 million investment, it now includes a visitor center and museum, capitalizing on the burgeoning trend of bourbon tourism. This attraction not only highlights the traditional distilling process but also the brand’s expansion with the introduction of Templeton FORTITUDE Bourbon in 2024. This evolution positions Templeton as a key destination for bourbon enthusiasts, blending cultural heritage with modern spirit innovation.

EARTH DAY 2024

Sustainable Travel

Discover a unique Earth Day celebration on April 22 in the Missouri Ozarks, where the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium and Dogwood Canyon Nature Park offer family-friendly adventures. These conservation-driven non-profits provide hands-on wildlife experiences, including a Sea Turtle Center rehabilitating endangered species and immersive tram tours through nature's beauty. Join in to learn, explore, and help conserve wildlife in a setting that educates and entertains.

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort: Celebrating Earth Day, Kona Village promotes environmental stewardship with sustainably sourced dishes at Moana restaurant and an upcycling pop-up event featuring locally crafted items from recycled materials.

Caruso's at Rosewood Miramar Beach: Honoring Earth Day, Caruso's hosts a special dinner in collaboration with the James Beard Foundation, highlighting hyper-local, sustainably sourced ingredients crafted into a gourmet five-course menu.