Travel news: this month (April 2024) in luxury travel

Friday newsletters always feature travel contests, tips, or news.

Today: April 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:

Six Senses Kyoto debuts in Japan
Six Senses La Sagesse Grenada is now open
Lufthansa’s new Allegris Business Class will enter service on May 1st
Marriott will open a second Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Saudi Arabia
Eihad Airways will resume A380 flights to Paris
American Airlines launches new amenity kits and dual-sided pillows
Hyatt adds more than 700 Mr & Mrs Smith boutique & luxury hotels
Hilton opens a new lifestyle hotel in the Seychelles
Hawaiian Airlines’ new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner welcomes first guests
Auberge Resorts Collection takes over the iconic Shore Club in Miami Beach

1. Six Senses Kyoto debuts in Japan

Conveniently situated among the city’s iconic heritage shrines and palaces, Six Senses Kyoto invites guests to both an epicenter and an escape, to enjoy holistic wellness, signature sustainability and out-of-the-ordinary experiences. The hotel’s design draws inspiration from the Heian period (794-1185), when Heian-kyo (now Kyoto) was the capital of Japan, considered by many the golden age of art and culture that gave birth to “Miyabi” (courtly elegance) concept. This heritage is reflected in the hotel’s modern interpretation, incorporating elements of traditional arts to create a unique and elegant ambiance. The lobby artwork sets the tone with a folding screen featuring 504 hand-crafted Kyoto-made Rakuyaki tiles. The design narrative extends to the 81 guest rooms and suites, offering a sanctuary for contemplation. Inspired by Kyoto’s Zen philosophy, Six Senses Spa integrates traditional healing techniques with modern science. Guided by the Eat With Six Senses ethos, the hotel’s food and beverage offering take guests on a journey through the ancient Japanese calendar.

2. Six Senses La Sagesse Grenada is now open

With a pride of place beachfront setting, verdant rolling hills and spacious accommodation, Six Senses La Sagesse‘s location offers effortless access to Grenada’s shimmering reefs and mystical rainforests. The brand’s debut resort in the Caribbean has 56 pool suites and 15 villas, ranging from one, two and four bedrooms, all with large outdoor terraces and private plunge pools. Every aspect of the resort’s design has been carefully considered, putting guests’ well-being at its heart, from abundant light and space to using natural and repurposed materials for the interiors. Featuring three restaurants, two bars, a bakery and destination dining that incorporates the Eat With Six Senses ethos, Six Senses La Sagesse menus are inspired by Caribbean and South American cuisine while keeping well-being in mind. The spa is designed to leverage the abundance of fragrant spices with medicinal healing properties, along with local community knowledge, age-old traditions, and indigenous plants and herbs, to create innovative wellness programs that focus on sleep, movement, yoga, and longevity.

3. Lufthansa’s new Allegris Business Class will enter service on May 1st

Lufthansa Allegris, the new Business Class product of Germany’s flag carrier on long-haul routes, will start its scheduled service on May 1. The first Airbus A350 equipped with Allegris will fly from Munich to the Canadian metropolis of Vancouver. The second destination is Toronto, which will be served alternately with Vancouver on selected flights in the first few months. With further A350s delivered, the Allegris cabin will also be used on flights to Chicago and Montreal in the summer. For the first time, travelers can now also view a seat map for all Allegris flights from 1 May in the familiar booking channels with all special Allegris seats, such as the five options in Business Class. A photo gallery with important additional information on the various options gives travelers a detailed picture of the product benefits. Guests who are already booked on these flights will be notified of their “upgrade” to the new cabin. Seat reservations in Business Class are free of charge in the first few months and can be made and changed conveniently via the familiar booking channels. Passengers can see whether a flight is equipped with the Allegris product three weeks before departure.

4. Marriott will open a second Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Saudi Arabia

Marriott announced it has signed an agreement with NEOM to open its second Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Saudi Arabia. Anticipated to open in Trojena, a destination located in the northwest region of the country, the property will offer a complete escape into a private world of luxury. The resort is expected to feature 60 expansive one-to-four-bedroom villas. Plans also include a range of amenities including a lavish spa, swimming pools, and multiple culinary venues. Situated in a remote area of Trojena, the resort is expected to offer an idyllic escape complete with expansive views across the desert and mountain ranges of the destination. Trojena, one of the flagship developments within NEOM, is being developed and positioned as a year-round adventure sports destination that will include activities such as skiing, water sports, hiking and mountain biking. Trojena will also include apartments, chalets, retail, dining, entertainment, leisure, sports and recreational facilities, and other hospitality offerings, including a W Hotel and a JW Marriott Hotel. Ritz-Carlton Reserve currently features a rare collection of only six properties in destinations including Thailand, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

5. Eihad Airways will resume A380 flights to Paris

Etihad Airways has announced that it will start flying its A380 double-decker again to Paris, CDG from 1 November, 2024. The French capital becomes the third major city to enjoy the Etihad A380 experience after London and New York. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “The introduction of the A380 on the Abu Dhabi – Paris route enriches both leisure and corporate travel. It underscores Etihad’s commitment to facilitating business connections and travel to Abu Dhabi and beyond. Our state-of-the-art cabins and bespoke amenities ensure that business travellers can work, relax, and arrive refreshed.” The A380 brings a special touch to air travel. Economy passengers enjoy a warm welcome with comfortable seating arrangements, including 68 seats offering four inches more legroom and 337 Smart seats featuring Etihad’s innovative fixed-wing headrests and large pillows. On the upper deck, Business Studios™ feature 70 private spots, complemented by The Lobby lounge area. The upper deck houses nine First Apartments as well as The Residence, the world’s only three-room suite in the sky.

6. American Airlines launches new amenity kits and dual-sided pillows

American Airlines is heating up the inflight experience ahead of the summer travel season with a wave of premium onboard enhancements to make travel even more enjoyable. American’s new primary amenity kit will include staple amenities customers have come to expect while in flight, such as a toothbrush, dental kit, eye mask and earplugs, in addition to new and evolving skincare products and offerings. American collaborated with beauty retailer Thirteen Lune to curate the skincare offerings, which will feature high-quality beauty brands from Thirteen Lune’s tailored collection with wide ranging representation of diverse founders and voices such as Joanna Vargas and Relevant. In addition to these rotating products within the kits, customers will enjoy limited-edition specialty kits created in collaboration with diverse designers and brands based primarily in the USA. Passengers will alos travel in elevated comfort with new bedding, pillows and sleepwear that deliver on customer expectations for a restful experience on board. This will include dual-sided pillows with cool touch fabric on one side, and traditional fabric on the other.

7. Hyatt adds more than 700 Mr & Mrs Smith boutique & luxury hotels

Hyatt announces that its loyalty program – World of Hyatt – is offering members new access to earn and redeem at a collection of more than 700 boutique and luxury hotels and villas around the globe with Mr & Mrs Smith, the luxury travel platform Hyatt acquired in 2023, now available for booking today. From glamping stays and boutique wellness retreats to grand palazzos, world-class ski resorts and more, members can earn and redeem World of Hyatt points in hundreds of unforgettable destinations when they book through Hyatt channels. The participating properties from the Mr & Mrs Smith portfolio adds more than 20 new, sought-after countries to World of Hyatt such as Namibia, Fiji and the British Virgin Islands. From the remote tented hideouts of Zannier Hotels Sonop in Namibia to sustainability focused retreats at Hotel Aguas Claras in Costa Rica, or lofty lodgings at Arctic TreeHouse Hotel in Finland, every Mr & Mrs Smith property available through World of Hyatt has been carefully chosen for its inspiring design-led decor, personalized touches and above-and-beyond attention to detail.

8. Hilton opens a new lifestyle hotel in the Seychelles

Hilton announced the opening of its newest property, Canopy by Hilton Seychelles – marking the boutique lifestyle brand’s debut in the Indian Ocean. Situated in the south of Mahé, Canopy by Hilton Seychelles is the brand’s first resort property in the world, seamlessly blending local flair with contemporary charm to deliver an idyllic getaway for families and adventure seekers alike. A short drive from the Jardin du Roi (Spice Garden), and the Anse à la Mouche beach known for its shallow and calm seas, the 120-guest room resort draws inspiration from its surroundings to offer an authentic guest experience – from the stylishly designed rooms infusing elements of the locality to the tranquil spa and world-class food and drink offerings. Guests can enjoy a compelling range of culinary options at the resort’s three dining venues, and relax and rejuvenate at the Afloya Spa, a symphony of natural beauty framed by the mangroves that surround the property. The ethos of the spa centers around the connection to nature, and tranquil relaxation through the elements and restorative power of natural botanicals.

9. Hawaiian Airlines’ new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner welcomes first guests

Hawaiian Airlines marked a milestone in its 94-year history: seeing off the inaugural flight of its new flagship aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, on April 15th. Aircraft N781NA, named Kapuahi (a star known as Aldebaran in Western astronomy), departed Honoluluʻs Daniel K. Inouye International Airport this afternoon for San Francisco. The carrier’s first 787-9 guests were welcomed with fresh lei and treated to live music and hula by the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders. Kapuahi, which was revealed in February during a formal blessing ceremony in Honolulu, will operate the carrier’s nonstop, daily Honolulu-San Francisco flights until May 14, when it will join Hawaiian’s second 787-9, N780NA, to begin dedicated service between Honolulu-Los Angeles (HA2/3) starting May 14, and Honolulu-Phoenix on May 15. The moment they step onboard Hawaiian’s 787-9, guests are immersed in an island-inspired design in a cabin that evokes Hawaiʻi’s beauty through form, texture, and soothing sunrise and sunset lighting. The 34 Leihōkū (garland of stars) Suites feature lie-flat seating, an 18-inch in-flight entertainment screen, personal power outlets, wireless cell phone charging and direct aisle access. Set in a 1-2-1 configuration with doors, the suites offer privacy or a shared experience with combinable double suites allowing couples to fall asleep while gazing at a starlit ceiling inspired by the constellations that guided early Polynesian voyagers.

10. Auberge Resorts Collection takes over the iconic Shore Club in Miami Beach

Auberge Resorts Collection, the award-winning portfolio of one-of-a-kind luxury hotels, resorts and residences, has been appointed to manage The Shore Club Resort & Residences in Miami Beach, Florida. The reimagining of this icon in the heart of Miami – set to open in 2027 – will see it restored and elevated to welcome the world’s most discerning individuals once again, not just as a hotel, but as the city’s most exclusive new permanent address. A historic landmark both architecturally and socially, The Shore Club has stood at 1901 Collins Avenue in the heart of Miami Beach since 1949, when Albert Anis designed the Art Deco-style hotel within a lush, beachfront oasis – even more verdant today. As an Auberge Resorts Collection property, this world-famous, oceanfront playground will encompass not only the original Shore Club and its Art Deco contemporary, The Cromwell Hotel, built in 1939, but also a new 18-story residential tower and a free-standing residential villa, both designed by the globally esteemed Robert A.M. Stern Architects as the lauded firm’s very first oceanfront project. Just 73 rooms and suites, including a luxurious penthouse, will offer guests the ultimate Miami Beach experience, with direct beach access, five-star amenities set within landscaped botanical gardens and the unparalleled, intuitive service and singular experiences for which Auberge Resorts Collection is known worldwide.