Luxury Brands are venturing into the hotel & hospitality industry quicker than I can say, Room Service! Fashion brands are now curating hotel experiences while hotels are setting sail into the cruise sector,  home furnishing giants are embracing the lifestyle hospitality arena and even Hollywood is getting into the act. To further add to the confusion, there are so many major brands now under one umbrella, you need a webinar just to figure out who’s opening what, where and when.  Lucky for you, I’m here to break it down.  BTW, I’m thinking of jumping on the bandwagon and opening a Bear & Bear boutique.  jkjk!

When the Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts decided to go in a different direction, they dove right into it, no pun intended!  Welcome to the Four Seasons Explorer, a luxury floating resort in Palau’s western Pacific waters that’s part of Micronesia.   If snorkeling with millions of rare fish, diving through caves and canyons and communing with nature at its most pristine is on your bucket list, maybe the Explorer is your jam. And, for those of you who have waited patiently for Manhattan’s Four Seasons 57^th Street location to open, the target date is October 2024. Hallelujah!

‘Brand-switching’ can be dizzying, to say the least.  Hotel Danieli in Venice was a Ciga Luxury Collection hotel until Marriott took over the Luxury Collection brand (Ciga got lost somewhere in the takeover) and now the Hotel Danieli will become a Four Seasons in 2025…and this is why you need me!

Mark your calendars: the landscape in Milan just got another upgrade: located on fashionable Via Manzoni, the Rocco Forte House is opening on August 28. This 19^th century palazzo has been restored into luxury 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom residences all with the creature comforts including, daily housekeeping, concierge services and a 24-hour gym. The Baglioni Carlton on iconic Via della Spiga has been taken over by Rocco Forte and will be rebranded as The Carlton Milan. Following a full refurbishment, this luxury 71 room and suite hotel is scheduled to open in June 2025. 

Aman is branching out: Janu is the new lifestyle brand to its big sister, Aman. While Aman is stark, sleek, and private, Janu is more colorful , livelier, and less strain on your pocket. Janu Tokyo opened in March of this year and Janu Dubai is scheduled to open in 2026. In 2027, Aman at Sea is launching their 50-suite hotel with a spa, a Japanese garden, two helipads, an expansive Beach Club, and an array of dining options. I recommend booking now or you’ll miss the boat!

RH, previously known as Restoration Hardware, launched its inaugural hotel & restaurant RH New York in Manhattan’s meatpacking district. With a global vision, they are poised to expand their hospitality footprint starting with RH Residences, hotels and restaurants and Aspen, Colorado marks their initial step into this new venture.   Anticipate the arrival of an RH establishment in Paris by 2025. Hey, it makes perfect sense—this chic furniture retailer can seamlessly outfit their own properties!

TwentyTwo in London is a stylish, sexy boutique hotel with quite a following and this triumph has paved the way for the brand’s expansion. The inaugural TwentyTwo , the first in the U.S. , is set to open in Manhattan’s Union Square on 16^th Street between 5^th Avenue and Park.  This 77 room and suite boutique hotel will have a public restaurant , bar and private member’s club.  Don’t worry, I will pull some strings to get you in!!!!

Sir Ridley Scott, maestro of the silver screen with epics like Gladiator and Alien, is now unveiling a slice of paradise with luxury guest villas at Mas des Infermières, nestled in the heart of Provence. But wait, there’s a plot twist! Not one to be overshadowed, Producer/Director George Lucas, is also opening the doors to an expansive 18-bedroom retreat Château Margüi in Provence’s Var region. And cut to Francis Ford Coppola, the Godfather of film himself, has been quietly curating a collection of exquisite Family Coppola Hideaways across the globe from Italy to Belize . As for the ultimate hotel Oscar party, I’m interested in what goodies will be in the  ‘swag bag’ !!!  🎬✨