The third day of ILTM kicked off as Hyatt wowed the crowd with an immersive, multi-sensory breakfast event that began with breathwork, light stretching, yogic chanting and a graceful dance performance inspired by the company’s Alila brand. Javier Águila, group president EAME at Hyatt, followed with a major announcement: the company is restructuring and has created a new, dedicated luxury group. Hyatt recently established a lifestyle group with the acquisition of Standard Hotels, led by Amar Lalvani, which is already making waves—most notably by hosting the hottest New York Fashion Week party at The Manor, a hotel that hasn’t even opened yet. With similar ambitions for the luxury group and plans to further expand into branded residences, Hyatt is "redefining" its path forward in the luxury and lifestyle space.
TJ Abrams, VP of global well-being, presented findings from the “Buzz Versus Reality” wellness survey conducted with ILTM, noting that 74 percent of luxury travelers incorporate wellness into their daily lives. Hyatt is leveraging this with over 600 wellness experiences across its portfolio, designed to connect guests to local cultures and embrace the slow travel trend.
Crystal Vinisse Thomas, VP of Luxury and Lifestyle Brands, highlighted Hyatt’s focus on growth, with recent openings like Park Hyatt Marrakech and Park Hyatt London River Thames. Upcoming openings in 2025 include Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, Johannesburg, Phu Quoc and Taipei. Other notable developments include Grand Hyatt properties in Cancún, Grand Cayman and the Red Sea; Miraval’s international debut at the Red Sea; Andaz hotels in Doha, Miami Beach, Lisbon, Bangkok and the Gold Coast; and Thompson Hotels in Houston, Palm Springs, South Beach, Vienna, Rome, Monterrey and Shanghai.
Katie Johnson, VP of The Unbound Collection, shared the brand is now 45 hotels strong, all with unique buildings infused with art and history, including historic icons like Hôtel Martinez, the setting for Hyatt’s ILTM breakfast.
Press Conference Highlights
Regent Seven Seas unveiled a bold new brand strategy, tailored to meet the evolving needs of the more active travelers they hope to attract. President Andrea DeMarco introduced four pillars driving this transformation:
- Desire for Space: The Seven Seas Prestige, debuting in 2026, will have the highest space-to-guest ratio and "larger-than-ever" accommodations.
- Desire for Immersive Experiences: Select itineraries now offer immersive overnight stays, with some including multiple nights in each port.
- Desire for Themed Travel: Exclusive voyages include golf cruises with Annika Sörenstam, culinary journeys with Alain Roux, and Formula 1 adventures with Pedro de la Rosa. A standout is the 13-night "Spotlight on Fabergé" sailing in May 2026, hosted by Sarah Fabergé.
- Desire to Live Carefree: Regent’s new all-inclusive pricing includes unlimited shore excursions, fine dining, customizable air options (even helicopter transfers), and pre- and post-travel arrangements.
These pillars underpin Regent’s new global marketing campaign, "Unrivaled at Sea," which debuted at ILTM.
Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) continues its impressive growth, now boasting 600 hotels (including 400 properties participating in its Hilton partnership) in 90 countries. This year alone, SLH added over 80 properties in iconic destinations such as the Canaris Resort in Napa Valley and The Dylan in Ireland. Notably, the brand has also expanded into luxury travel at sea with the launch of its first private yacht in the Galapagos Islands, complete with 12 luxurious suites.
SLH is advancing its commitment to sustainability through its "Considerate Collection," which now includes 70 actively sustainable luxury hotels, such as Casa de Uco in Argentina. Good to know: A "Call to Action Report" on sustainability will be released in January 2025, with plans to launch a new sustainable collection in April.
Next year marks SLH’s 35th anniversary, which will be celebrated with a global ad campaign and a casting call in Tokyo and Sydney aimed at engaging younger travelers.
Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs shared highlights of Six Senses Rome, housed in a restored 16th-century palazzo, marking the brand's second urban property after Istanbul, and Six Senses La Sagesse in Grenada, the brand's first Caribbean resort. Upcoming projects include Six Senses London, opening in 2025 within the iconic Whiteley building, and Six Senses Milan, set for the artsy Brera district in 2025. The brand is also developing Lake Como (2026) and Antognolla in Umbria, complete with a 10th-century castle and a Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course.
Wellness programming continues to be a cornerstone of the brand, with the introduction of hormone-balancing treatments focused on women’s health and menopause, alongside therapies like breathwork and Watsu. Six Senses also remains committed to sustainability, with initiatives like its "Journey to Plastic Freedom" and the expansion of its "Considerate Collection" of actively sustainable properties.
Rocco Forte Hotels, led by Sir Rocco Forte and his son Charles Forte, is accelerating its global expansion following the sale of a 49 percent stake to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). This partnership has significantly raised the brand’s profile, injected capital for faster growth and paved the way for expansion in the Middle East. A £45 million reinvestment in flagship properties, including Brown’s Hotel in London and Hotel Savoy in Florence, is enhancing guest experiences and addressing post-COVID recovery.
With 11 properties in Italy, Rocco Forte Hotels is recognized as one of the country’s premier operators and remains focused on quality-driven growth. New developments include The Carlton in Milan (2025), an ornate Palazzo in Noto (2026) and residences in Sicily. The group is also expanding into management contracts, with two projects in the pipeline and more under negotiation. Still family-run, Rocco Forte Hotels is thoughtfully expanding its presence, with plans to grow into the U.S., Central America and the Caribbean.
Maybourne Hotel Group COO Roland Fasel and CMO Simon Scoot, unveiled a new branding direction with a tapestry launched earlier this year that symbolizes the “stories of distinction” and the group’s evolution into a luxury lifestyle brand. Claridge’s will celebrate 100 years of Art Deco in 2025 with projects like a new bakery and art gallery, while The Connaught is redesigning its Mount Street suites for next year. The Berkeley will add to London’s entertainment scene with La Môme London, opening in January. The Emory is London’s most expensive hotel, having opened in July 2024 with all-suite accommodations and starting rates of £1,600 per night.
The biggest news is Maybourne’s expansion to Paris, with its first branded residences—combining a 100-room hotel and 23 residences—announced today and set to open by 2027. A private club concept launching in 2025 will include townhouses for socializing and wellness in cities like Paris and New York. Speaking of wellness, Surrenne, Maybourne’s science-based wellness brand, will expand from The Emory to Claridge’s and the Maybourne Riviera, with further global rollout planned.
The group is also venturing into retail, soon to be offering home and fashion lines by its in-house designers. With plans to expand into markets like New York, Tokyo and Dubai, Maybourne is positioning itself to enter a new era in the ultra-luxury space.
Kempinski Hotels & Resorts' Barbara Muckermann, who assumed the CEO role in May 2024, presented her vision for the brand's future, emphasizing a commitment to history, heritage and strategic refinement. Kempinski, known for launching its first resort in 1897 and pioneering the practice of serving wine by the glass, continues its legacy of innovation in hospitality. A standout example is the reopening of the Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden, comprising 180 rooms and 31 suites. Originally built in 1705 by Augustus the Strong for his mistress, Countess Constantia von Cosel, the property is a testament to Kempinski's dedication to preserving heritage while offering modern luxury.
Muckermann outlined three strategic pillars for moving forward: relaunching and elevating the brand, adopting an asset-heavy approach to assert a stronger vision for its properties, and expanding the company’s footprint in key resort destinations across Europe, Asia, the U.S. and the Gulf region. She stressed the importance of refining the portfolio to enhance quality before pursuing future growth.
A Detailed Look at High-Net-Worth Travelers
Internova CEO J.D. O’Hara and Executive Vice President Albert Herrera unveiled the 2024 Internova Index, which provided a detailed look at the preferences of North American travelers, with a focus on the elite group dubbed the "High-Net Jet-Set." The report, which analyzed millions of travel bookings and surveyed 3,000 travelers, revealed key priorities such as wellness, culinary experiences and emerging destinations.
The High-Net Jet-Set, a group of 50,000 ultra-luxury travelers, has a median age of 53 (compared to 43 for typical clients). Based primarily in New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Miami, they travel four or more times annually, exclusively in first or business class, and stay in five-star hotels such as The Connaught in London and The Peninsula in Beverly Hills.
Their preferred destinations include the United Kingdom, Italy and France, but interest is growing in off-the-beaten-path locales like Chile, Cambodia and Rwanda. Over the past few years, luxury travel to Japan has seen significant growth, alongside a strong demand for private tours with VIP guides. High-Net Jet-Sets prioritize immersive experiences in destinations like Fiji, the Maldives and Morocco, with a focus on cultural connection and exclusivity.
“Travel advisors are becoming the new travel influencers,” O’Hara noted. “They offer a personalized, trusted and expert-driven approach to travel that social media influencers can’t always provide. They also provide their clients access to exclusive experiences and insider deals that are often unavailable through AI or other online platforms.”
Waldorf Astoria New York to Open for Bookings
The day ended on a high note with a cocktail party overlooking Cannes, hosted by Hilton, where we savored the news—and the food—celebrating the long-awaited reopening of the Waldorf Astoria New York. Set to reopen in spring 2025, with reservations opening on December 10, the legendary property will house 375 redesigned guestrooms and suites, most exceeding 570 square feet, blending modern comforts with Art Deco elegance, thanks to the vision of interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. Good to know: Managing Director Luigi Romaniello confirmed the iconic clock will be back in the lobby!
The culinary preview stole the show, offering a tantalizing taste of what’s to come at Lex Yard, the hotel’s two-story American brasserie helmed by acclaimed Chef Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern. The hotel will also offer a 30,000-square-foot spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and an outdoor terrace.
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