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Innovations and extraordinary experiences continue to redefine the boundaries of luxury travel and this month is no exception. British Airways has unveiled its new First Class seat whilst Singapore Airlines is embarking on a bold cabin upgrade also, with both setting new standards for long-haul premium travel. Learn about this and other developments in our latest round-up of stories from the world of luxury travel.

British Airways has unveiled its brand-new First seat, combining elegant design with expert British craftsmanship, reflective of modern British luxury travel. The new cabin forms part of the airline’s A380 retrofit plans, expected to take to the skies in mid-2026. The airline’s new First has been carefully designed to provide the feel of a modern luxury hotel, alongside home comforts and thoughtful British touches at 35,000ft. The seat has been beautifully curated by expert designers and world-class manufacturers from all corners of Great Britain and Ireland, including London, Glasgow, West Yorkshire, Kilkeel and Dublin.

The new seat is ultra-wide (36.5inches), with a bed length of 79inches, and features a multi-purpose ottoman and elegant stowable table, a 32-inch 4K TV screen, adjustable mood lighting including scenes such as ‘relax’, ‘dine’ and ‘cinema’. The seat can be adjusted with the touch of a button to find the perfect level of comfort and is located within a cocooned 60-inch curved wall for ultimate privacy, whilst still providing a spacious environment.

Desert & Delta Safaris, the leading safari operator in Botswana, has been honoured with the prestigious World Luxury Travel Awards (WLTA) for Sustainable Tourism in Southern Africa. This accolade recognises the company’s outstanding commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism in one of Africa’s most pristine wildlife destinations.

Established in 1982, Desert & Delta Safaris has become one of the most successful and respected safari operators in Botswana over the past four decades. The company owns and manages a portfolio of nine premier safari properties located in prime wildlife areas, including the iconic Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park Setting Desert & Delta Safaris apart is its unwavering commitment to sustainable tourism and community development. As a 100 per cent Botswana-owned company, it has played a significant role in the country’s tourism industry, contributing to economic growth and conservation efforts.

IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) has launched its new exquisite lifestyle brand, Atwell Suites, in Greater China. Using “new territorial home” as the core design concept, Atwell Suites is dedicated to offering a high-quality experience for young guests seeking an exquisite lifestyle, and creating a living space with aesthetic value, emotional value and spiritual value. It also offers a new choice with excellent returns for hotel investors through a high premium and low cost business model.

Everything you need to plan your trip in 2024

Originally opened by Qantas in the 1960s, this iconic five-star hotel has been revitalised with 436 redesigned rooms and suites, four new dining and bar venues by House Made Hospitality, and upgraded event spaces, including one of Sydney’s largest ballrooms.

Located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, just footsteps from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, its new vision reignites the ’60s jet-set glamour that attracted royals, movie stars, and dignitaries to Australia‘s premier international hotel. The rebirth of a Sydney icon coincides with the Diamond Jubilee of Accor’s Sofitel brand, celebrating 60 years of French-inspired luxury and understated grandeur.

Bentley Motors has joined forces with London-based fashion and lifestyle brand, PICANTE, to launch an exclusive capsule collection. The collaboration highlights Bentley’s rich heritage through PICANTE’s contemporary lens and the brands’ love of travel, creating a unique storyline of the open road, and the journey to uncover hidden gems.

The Italian luxury wellness group, Lefay Resorts & Residences is pleased to announce its Grual Restaurant at Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti, led by Executive Chef Matteo Maenza, received a Michelin Star.

Opened in December 2019, the Grual Restaurant is named after the mountain that forms the backdrop of the resort and emphasizes Trentino-South Tyrol ingredients sourced from organic and sustainable suppliers. Inspired by an enchanted forest, it relies on ethical cooking and careful selection of raw materials for a cuisine of ideas that excite. Its menu is “altimetric” – or organized by altitude – with each dish is made from ingredients that celebrate the mountains, in a metaphorical journey that from the valley floor, rises to the High Mountains, passing through the Alpine pastures. There are two tasting menus: “The Path” and “the Peak,” with 8 and 12 courses, respectively.

Red Sea Global, the developer behind regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA, is excited to announce that Saudi Arabia’s newest luxury resort, Shebara, and the fourth to open its doors at The Red Sea destination is welcoming guests from November 2024.

Shebara, the first to open of RSG’s owned and operated resorts, is built to offer luxury, sustainability, and innovation converging to redefine how tourism is delivered. The resort provides direct access to an extraordinary marine environment where guests can enjoy diving in some of the most pristine, biodiverse waters in the world.

Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi has announced that legendary Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, will headline its annual New Year’s Eve celebration. Set against the serene backdrop of the Arabian Gulf and the glittering skyline of the Capital, Andrea Bocelli’s timeless melodies will captivate guests as they ring in 2025 in style.

The magical evening will begin with a welcome cocktail at the Grand Dome followed by an exquisite selection of unlimited premium beverages and lavishly curated gourmet tasting stations. As the countdown begins, guests can expect spectacular renditions of Bocelli’s classic songs performed outdoors on the Palace Terrace. At midnight, a dazzling fireworks display will light up the skies over the Corniche and an exclusive after-party featuring renowned international DJs will continue until the early hours.

Singapore Airlines is investing SG$1.1 billion in a multi-year initiative to upgrade the long-haul cabin experience across its fleet of 41 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. This bold move aims to redefine premium travel, enhancing comfort and luxury for passengers on long-haul and ultra-long-range routes.

As part of this program, the airline will introduce an opulent First Class cabin on its seven A350-900ULR aircraft, setting new standards for luxury on the world’s longest flights. Business Class passengers will also benefit from cutting-edge seat designs, offering greater privacy, comfort, and convenience across the entire fleet.

Halong Pacific JSC has launched its 5-star luxury cruise ship, Luna Halong Cruise, with its maiden voyage having been made on 21st November 2024. As pioneers in integrating the latest technology, equipment, and innovative designs, Luna Halong Cruise aims to deliver a refined and unique cruise experience.

Boasting a maximum capacity of 550 guests, the Luna Halong Cruise is currently the largest vessel operating in both Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Guests can enjoy a wide range of facilities, including two luxurious restaurants, 11 private dining and reception rooms, 50 premium cabins with private balconies, a modern 360-degree panorama stage and a glass bottom pool.

EG Ch a uffeurs – London & UK Wide, a leading provider of luxury chauffeur services, is proud to announce that it has been awarded the title of The Best Chauffeur Company 2024 and named Regional Winner for Northern Europe at the prestigious World Luxury Travel Awards.

Founded in 2013, EG Chauffeurs specializes in professional and discreet chauffeur services, offering a luxurious fleet that includes the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class, V-Class, Range Rover, and electric models like the New BMW i7 and EQVs. The company serves a global clientele, including royal families, EAs, CEOs, private jet operators, DMCs, and investment firms, with services tailored to meet the highest expectations. Our experienced chauffeurs ensure a seamless, first-class experience tailored to your needs. Whether for business or leisure, EG Chauffeurs delivers impeccable service with a focus on safety, punctuality, and discretion.

Insider Villas has officially opened its doors in Sweden, marking its first expansion into Scandinavia. Located in the mesmerizing beauty of Trensum, Villa Lily Croft offers luxury travelers an escape to the breathtaking Blekinge Archipelago. Guests can experience private kayaking trips through the lake waters, past unspoiled islands and unspoiled nature. This unique villa combines adventure with tranquility, perfectly capturing the essence of Insider Villas’ commitment to luxury experiences.

With Sweden now part of its growing collection of over 200 hand-picked villas and chalets, Insider Villas invites you to explore this Nordic luxury retreat.

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is delighted to announce its new partnership with luxury skincare brand, Biologique Recherche, the renowned French company celebrated for its holistic approach to skincare. Known for curating products that combine clinical expertise with personalised care, Biologique Recherche will bring a new range of revitalising and purposeful treatments to the resort’s AVI Spa. This exciting collaboration launched on 25th November 2024.

Biologique Recherche was founded 40 years ago by Yvan and Josette, a biologist and a physiotherapist. Driven by their shared passion and expertise, they developed a clinical approach to beauty care, utilising pure, concentrated, and raw ingredients alongside innovative, meticulously crafted protocols. The brand’s methodology is distilled into a three-step care process: beginning with analysis, followed by preparation, and concluding with targeted treatment. Each of their products is designed to support and enhance this process at every stage. Integrating Biologique Recherche’s products and methodology into AVI Spa enhances its offerings for guests, delivering an elevated skincare and body care experience that goes beyond a pampering treatment and offers wellness services with a deeper, purposeful focus.

British Airways has announced three new routes for summer 2025, bolstering its extensive network of Italian destinations. Launching in May 2025, British Airways will introduce new flights to Rimini (RMI) on the Adriatic Coast from London Heathrow, and Salerno (QSR) on the Amalfi Coast from London Gatwick. A new service from London City to Olbia (OLB) in Sardinia will complement existing flights from Heathrow. The new routes will bring the total number of Italian destinations served by the flag carrier to 19, more than any other European country on the airline’s network.

Step into a world of elegance and indulgence as InterContinental Singapore launches the world’s first Champagne Express Lane. Elevating the traditional drive-through concept, this luxurious experience offers guests an unparalleled opportunity to enjoy the finest bubbles and caviar on the go.

The highly anticipated opening of The Sira, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Lombok has opened. Nestled in the heart of West Nusa Tenggara province in Indonesia, the resort is just a 90-minute drive from Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport. A living cultural expression of the beloved destination, the resort beautifully embodies Lombok’s history, culture, and indigenous traditions, offering global explorers unique and authentic experiences, as well as direct access to the sprawling sands of Sire Beach. With its debut, The Sira in Lombok joins an ensemble of Luxury Collection properties in Indonesia as the third jewel, alongside the iconic The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua in Bali and the enchanting TA’AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Labuan Bajo. Each property offers an immersive experience uniquely crafted to showcase the mesmerizing beauty, indigenous culture, and spirit of Indonesia’s most treasured destinations.

Jean-Michel Gathy, renowned for his visionary contributions to luxury hospitality design, has once again raised the bar with his latest project, Cheval Blanc Seychelles opening on 1st December 2024. His partnership with LVMH marks a new milestone with the launch of this villa-only resort: another jewel in the Cheval Blanc portfolio.

With 52 villas, Cheval Blanc Seychelles offers mesmerizing panoramas of the Indian Ocean, with 24 elegant villas set on the immaculate beaches and 28 ensconced in the lush hills, effortlessly harmonizing with Seychelles’ natural beauty. Ranging from 220m² to 620m², each villa features a private 12.5-meter swimming pool, creating an idyllic setting for couples, families, or groups of friends to relish a remarkable holiday experience.

The Luxury Group and Sotheby’s will auction two captivating experiences designed to pair world-class hospitality with exceptional treasures from Sotheby’s auctions offering guests the chance to explore their passions while discovering unforgettable destinations.

Watch enthusiasts will have the exclusive opportunity to bid on an intimate horology immersion at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva with legendary watch brand Girard-Perregaux, including a hands-on workshop with the artisans; singular opportunities to shop limited-edition timepieces; and a private culinary experience at the Villa Girard-Perregaux in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the brand’s ancestral home. Meanwhile, an epicurean voyage curated by The Luxury Collection will see guests check into Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris before exploring the country’s culinary treasures, from a guided day trip to Champagne Lallier’s historic Maison in Aÿ for a taste of its latest harvests, to an afternoon tea with Global Explorer and esteemed chef and artist, Laila Gohar, whose food-inspired works have been showcased around the world.

INFINITUM has retained its crown as ‘Europe’s Best Golf Real Estate Venue’ at the illustrious World Golf Awards, while the acclaimed Ruins layout was named ‘Europe’s Best Nine Hole Golf Course’. Already a major player in continental golf, the Catalan resort has taken the real estate industry by storm in recent years, building and selling more than 200 villas and luxury apartments a stone’s throw from the Mediterranean Sea.

The third phase of INFINITUM’s ambitious residential project, comprising of 90 luxurious two, three and four-bedroom apartments, is under construction across prime locations at the resort. All 150 properties in phase one sold out within a year, and phase two – a selection of opulent apartments and villas designed by leading architectural firm Batlle I Roig – is on track for similar sales success.

Qatar Airways is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with Novak Djokovic as the airline’s Global Brand Ambassador and Wellness Advisor. This multi-year collaboration positions Qatar Airways as the Official Airline Partner of Novak Djokovic, bringing together the World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2024, and a sporting icon renowned for excellence, resilience, and global appeal.

The partnership was unveiled at the Altitude Wellness Centre at Al Maha Qatar Airways Crew Accommodation Building, a location symbolic of peak performance and well-being – qualities synonymous with Novak’s legendary career. Paying homage to Novak’s unmatched success on tennis courts across the world, this collaboration celebrates his unparalleled achievements and relentless pursuit of high performance.

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Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.