Luxury travellers today are looking for personalised, tailored, and unique experiences on their vacation. For Guillaume de Saint Lager, Vice President, Orient Express, the greatest travel experiences that travellers expect are “the ones that are most memorable—the ones that evoke emotion, the ones that you remember for years to come.” As an experienced hotelier, truly memorable luxury hotel stays now have to be “experiences that cannot be found just anywhere.”

To put it simply in three words; “Unexpected, memorable, and emotional.”

Vladislav Doronin, owner, chairman and CEO of Aman, agrees that memory-making experiences do matter for luxury travellers, and how Covid-19 played a role in re-shaping one’s expectations of a dream vacation. “People are investing in travel experiences to make long-lasting memories and moments of connection which will stay with them for a long time,” he says. “There is greater demand for luxury travel experiences now than there ever has been. While the pandemic of course was difficult, it also reinforced to people what matters to them.”

But the status quo is such that travellers in the pursuit of such once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences may start to get bored with the increasing homogeneity found in hotels that share more or less the same facilities or offer pretty much the same experiences. In light of this, some luxury hotel groups are already thinking beyond the box and recreating their own hotel experience in a unique setting to wow this faction of sophisticated customers. Simultaneously, they are exploring the potential to extend their brands into other luxury and lifestyle verticals.

The Ritz-Carlton on the sea

The Ritz-Carlton is extending their luxurious experience to the sea with its new branded superyacht. After several delays, the much-anticipated Evrima is reported to finally set sail in mid-October. The luxury cruise liner will swan across a variety of destinations depending on the season, including the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. It will also set off for transatlantic voyages, for example, between Bermuda and Lisbon.

Above: All images courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton.

The 190-metre-long Evrima has eight guest decks, offering a wide array of facilities and 149 suites—all fitted with a private terrace overlooking the ocean, including two Owner’s Suites that feature a 59-square-metre terrace with private whirlpool, and 12 Loft Suites that span two levels. A personal concierge will be assigned to each suite to help guests with their specific needs.

Cruise dining is offered across a variety of dining outlets onboard. Notably, an inspired European menu offered for degustation at S.E.A. designed by Chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three Michelin-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg in Germany. To grab a drink, drop by the cocktail lounge the Bar, which also serves champagnes with caviar pairings, or the Humidor, on the top deck, for premium cognacs and fine, hand-rolled cigars.

Signature recreational spots onboard include the Marina that provides direct entry into the sea when the vessel is at anchor, the pool area that can be transformed for deck parties and open-air movies, the Ritz-Carlton Spa which also houses a full-service Beauty Lounge and a Gentleman’s Grooming Salon, and the Observation Lounge for top-deck views, sunset cocktails, and late-night dancing.

Following Evrima’s maiden voyage, two more superyachts will join the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection fleet in the coming years—Ilma and Luminara, slated to set sail in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Both superyachts will feature all-terrace suites and a wine vault. Also, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has joined Marriott Bonvoy. Members of this travel programme can earn and redeem points for their cruise voyages. 

Private jet experience with Four Seasons

Since the launch of its very first Private Jet Experience programme in 2015, Four Seasons has been flying its guests to different destinations in the world, recreating the luxury hotel experience in the sky.

Above: Four Seasons Private Jet. All images courtesy of Four Seasons.

A new, first-class-dedicated Airbus A321LR just entered service in late 2021. Operated by British charter airline Titan Airways, the new private jet features 48 leather flat-bed seats and an exclusive new onboard lounge area for socialising and interactive workshops along with custom design. In-flight comfort is ensured with increased personal space, Four Seasons-quality meals prepared by an onboard chef, and handpicked onboard amenities. A physician will also be accompanying the guests all the way along the journey.

The first itineraries for 2024 were just unveiled, including an all-new “Asia Unveiled” journey. Highlights and options of the 16-day trip include a private samurai lesson in Tokyo, rafting through vine-hung gorges in Bali, a turtle safari in the Maldives, a guided night out sampling Vietnam’s famous street foods or a cycling tour of Cam Kim Island in Hoi An, a hike to Bhutan’s Tiger’s Nest Monastery, a day stop to explore the lesser-known aspects of Angkor Wat, and a private klong cruise through Bangkok. Guests will generally stay at Four Seasons’ hotels and resorts, while in more remote locations, they will stay at luxury accommodations selected by the team.

The return of Orient Express by Accor

Launched in 1883, the Orient Express travelled across continental Europe, synonymous with pure luxury rail travel. 140 years later, French hotel group Accor is bringing back the Orient Express experience in Italy with the Orient Express La Dolce Vita train.

Above: Orient Express La Dolce Vita Train. All images courtesy of Accor.

As its name implies, the concept of the train pays tribute to “La Dolce Vita,” a historical period of glamour, joie de vivre, and artistic fervour of Italy during the 1960s. Characteristics of the iconic era are reflected in design and décor of the train’s 12 Deluxe cabins, 18 Suites, one Honour Suite and restaurant that serves award-winning Italian wines and haute cuisine.

Set to welcome its first passengers next year, six trains will take passengers to embark on several itineraries across 14 regions and 131 cities in Italy. At the same time, another three international routes will take passengers through eight countries, linking Rome to Paris, Istanbul and Split, respectively. Before departure at an exclusive private terminal inside the Roma Termini station, the centre of every route for the Orient Express La Dolce Vita train, guests will receive a warm welcome at the Orient Express executive lounge with a selection of refreshments.

A stopover in Rome will feature Accor’s very first Orient Express Hotel, Minerva, slated to open in 2024. Rebranded from the historic Grand Hotel de la Minerve, the hotel will be refurbished with a new décor and interior inspired by the Roman domus and the riches of the “Eternal City” with a contemporary touch. The second Orient Express Hotel will also open in Italy, at the spectacular Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice. As soon as the 45-key hotel opens in 2024, passengers on the Orient Express La Dolce Vita train will be able to disembark directly at the Venice Santa Lucia Station and reach the Orient Express Venice Hotel on foot or by boat.

Glamping with Aman

For those who love outdoors, nothing is more romantic and healing than a night of stargazing by the fire in the nature, tranquil and undisturbed. Aman’s Camp Sarika in Utah is a dream come true.

Located in the desert heart of Utah, Camp Sarika is a secluded retreat that opened in 2020 to herald the 10th anniversary of Amangiri, only a five-minute drive away.

Above: Camp Sarika. All image courtesy of Aman.

There, a back-to-the-wild, idyllic glamping experience is awaiting travellers with 10 tented one- or two-bedroom pavilions. Each canvas-topped pavilion comes with a private terrace with a firepit and an individual heated plunge pool, overlooking the iconic flat-topped mesa rock formations. The restaurants, lounge areas, two spa suites, one main swimming pool, and a jacuzzi are housed in a common pavilion. Complementing the glamping site is a wide array of adventure activities such as desert and mountain hiking, canyoneering, and horseback riding.

In addition to this unique glamping site located in the Utahn canyons and desert, you can also choose to visit Aman-i-Khás located in the Bengal tiger-inhabited jungle of Ranthambore National Park in northern India, or Amanwana on a tropical island in Indonesia for totally different glamping experiences with Aman. 

“Our brand loyalists demand the Aman experience at every moment in their travel experience and they look to us to continue to push boundaries and create new experiences,” says Doronin from Aman. Another exciting new project that Aman fans can look forward to is a new 600-feet luxury motor yacht slated to launch in 2025—Aman at Sea. Currently named “Project Sama,” the luxury superyacht will feature 50 balcony suites, an array of dining outlets, an Aman spa, and an expansive beach club area for ocean access.

“In the future, luxury travel will deepen its focus on experiences and offer guests something unexpected or different to what they have done before,” says Doronin. “This is part of what’s shaping the pipeline for Aman – how can we bring our guests access to a destination which offers them something which is entirely unlike anywhere else?”