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Hotels with History officially kicked off Season Two last night with an intimate celebration at The Lowell on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The host, Richard, entertained the room with his signature humor and storytelling, keeping guests partying late into the evening. The launch marks the release of the season opener on the Waldorf Astoria, tracing the iconic hotel’s origins from a bitter Gilded Age family feud to its rise as the unofficial palace of New York high society.

What began as a niche concept has quickly built a massive audience, with Season One surpassing 100,000 listeners and the new release following the same rapid trajectory. The new eight-episode season takes listeners on a global tour of historic luxury, stopping at legendary properties like Eden Rock in St. Barths, Mount Nelson in Cape Town, Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como, The Breakers in Palm Beach, The Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok, and The Adlon in Berlin.

Special thanks go out to the team at The Lowell for hosting a memorable evening and to everyone who came out to mark the milestone. Listeners can catch up on all available episodes of Season Two by visiting hotelswithhistory.com or tuning in on major podcast platforms.

The performative era of luxury travel is officially over, giving way to a new paradigm defined by substance, discretion, and effortless ease. According to Perowne International’s latest Mid-Year Trend Report, high-net-worth travelers are actively rejecting social media posturing, algorithmic recommendations, and logistical friction. Instead, artificial intelligence has sparked a massive resurgence in human Super Agents tasked with curating hyper-personalized escapes, while crowded trophy destinations are losing ground to well-connected secondary cities that offer seamless, stress-free travel. At the same time, top-tier hospitality brands are rewriting the rules of creator partnerships, favoring quiet cultural relevance and guest discretion over mass reach and staged photos.

This shift toward tangible value is also transforming wellness and luxury accommodation. After years dominated by invisible stats like sleep scores and cell metrics, the wellness pendulum is swinging back to medical-grade, visible aesthetic results that guests can instantly see and feel. Meanwhile, the ocean has become the new frontier for land-based service, highlighted by pioneer brands like Explora Journeys and heavyweights like Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Aman, and Orient Express launching hotel-branded superyachts. These floating hotel rooms allow loyalists to wake up to a new destination every morning without airport queues or repacking, proving that the ultimate luxury isn’t about flexing on a feed, it’s about depth, seamless design, and unmatched convenience.

Marking its official arrival as the latest addition to the Perowne portfolio, El Cortés has opened its gates in the heart of Mexico City’s vibrant Roma Norte neighborhood. The boutique property—originally a historic presidential residence—has undergone a meticulous restoration that honors its architectural legacy. Tucked away among the neighborhood’s celebrated tree-lined streets, independent galleries, and design studios, the hotel preserves its striking Art Nouveau facades, hand-carved moldings, and original marble finishes. Each of its 15 highly personalized rooms and suites acts as a gallery of contemporary Mexican talent, balancing historical preservation with modern artistic design.

The hotel’s culinary anchor, Lotti, has already established itself as a standout in Mexico City’s highly competitive dining scene. Led by chef Luc Liebster, the destination restaurant features European-inspired cooking shaped by personal memories and deeply grounded in local Mexican ingredients. Combining historic elegance with a fresh, contemporary pulse, El Cortés delivers the intimate, design-forward retreat that Roma Norte has long been missing.

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, boutique hospitality group Auric Road has launched two major July debuts across the American West, reinforcing its commitment to restoring and stewarding historic properties. In Big Sky, Montana, the historic Lone Mountain Ranch—fresh off its cover feature in Condé Nast Traveler’s July/August issue—has unveiled Bison Lodge, its newest and largest accommodation. Perched on a scenic ridge overlooking the valley, this 5,000-square-foot private mountain residence hosts up to 16 guests and features six king bedrooms, expansive indoor-outdoor living spaces, a dedicated game room, and a private heated pool and sauna, all framed by panoramic mountain views.

Simultaneously, in Southern California, Palm Springs’ historic Korakia Pensione is debuting a brand-new spa and wellness enclave alongside an outdoor fitness area. Inspired by the elemental desert landscape—incorporating the themes of sun, mountain winds, fault lines, and geothermal waters—the new sanctuary is designed to elevate the body’s natural restorative process. Guests will be guided through a curated sequence of dry heat, wet sauna, exfoliation, massage, aromatherapy, and facial treatments. Together, these dual openings showcase Auric Road’s dedication to creating deeply authentic destinations shaped by local character, layered history, and a strong connection to their natural surroundings.

The Turkish Riviera has welcomed a major new design destination with the opening of OKU Bodrum. Marking the award-winning lifestyle brand’s official debut in Türkiye, this intimate, adults-only sanctuary is carved into the rugged northern coast of the Bodrum Peninsula. Framed by dramatic mountain backdrops on one side and the glittering, turquoise Aegean Sea on the other, the 58-room boutique property joins the brand’s acclaimed portfolio in Ibiza, Kos, and Andalusia, bringing a refined philosophy of barefoot luxury and slow living to one of Europe’s most sought-after summer coastlines.

True to the brand’s name derived from a Japanese architectural concept meaning ‘inner space’, the design seamlessly blends a minimalist, boho-chic aesthetic with distinct Turkish heritage. Earth-toned linens and contemporary lines are balanced by walls crafted from reclaimed stone and striking accents of local marble. In a special collaboration with leading Turkish art curator Begüm Güney, the property features unique sculptural installations that connect the architecture directly to the land. Every single one of the 58 guest rooms and suites offers front-facing sea views and private terraces, with many featuring private or shared plunge pools tucked into the hillside.

The culinary landscape at OKU Bodrum introduces three distinct dining destinations that champion locally sourced produce and bold, vibrant flavors. At the heart of the hotel is To Kima, a relaxed poolside restaurant serving Mediterranean classics with Asian-inspired twists. As the sun sets, guests can head to The Round Bar on the cove-side jetty for crafted cocktails and local meze snacks against panoramic coastal views, or dine at Teyo Bodrum, an open-air dinner concept where Japanese culinary techniques meet a vibrant South American spirit.

Wellness and exploration are woven deeply into the guest experience, anchored by the serene OKU Spa. The facilities include a traditional Turkish hammam, a sauna, a sea-view fitness area, and open-air treatment cabanas right on the water’s edge. Beyond standard therapies, the wellness program features sunrise beachside breathwork and dusk sound healing sessions. For those looking to connect with the local culture, the hotel coordinates curated experiences ranging from garden-to-glass foraging workshops in the surrounding hills to guided hikes and visits to traditional artisanal weaving studios. With direct access to a protected swimming bay and a private jetty for boating adventures, the retreat offers an ideal balance of secluded relaxation and easy access to Bodrum’s famous marinas.

Claridge’s has officially unveiled A Farm in Mayfair, a spectacular two-week sensory installation in collaboration with the renowned Somerset estate, The Newt. Running from Monday 18th May until Sunday 31st May 2026 to coincide with the iconic RHS Chelsea Flower Show, this unique partnership transforms the hotel’s legendary Art Deco lobby into a rural oasis. Visitors and guests are invited to experience the rich sounds, scents, and textures of the countryside right in the heart of the capital, complete with a naturalistic meadow planting of British-grown grasses and native perennials inspired by The Newt’s vibrant spring gardens.

At the center of this transformation is a breathtaking, six-meter-tall sculptural tower made entirely from 60,000 rods of locally grown Somerset willow. Crafted by a team of skilled British artisans using both traditional and contemporary weaving techniques, the monumental piece took ten people 148 days to complete. The structure features beautifully woven figures of water buffalo, British White cattle, a stag, and chickens ascending toward the sky, all paying homage to the estate’s rich agricultural heritage. At the very peak sits a single willow egg symbolising seasonal renewal, while the experience extends throughout the hotel with willow-framed archways, facade decorations, and a stunning hallway installation of 800 fresh apples for guests to take home.

The collaboration beautifully extends beyond the visual and into the culinary, with Claridge’s menus completely embracing the bounty of the Somerset estate. Throughout the fortnight, guests dining in The Foyer and Reading Room can savor exclusive dishes featuring estate-reared British White beef, lamb, heritage tomatoes, and fresh buffalo mozzarella from The Newt’s own Creamery. Dessert menus will spotlight seasonal rhubarb, strawberry, and apple creations, while Claridge’s Bar will be pouring The Newt’s signature Cyder. To commemorate the event, a limited-edition Claridge’s x The Newt tote bag will also be available to purchase online and in both properties’ boutiques.

For those looking to fully immerse themselves in this unique celebration of British hospitality and artistry, a special Claridge’s X The Newt Stay package is available for booking. Starting from £1,120, the exclusive experience includes luxury overnight accommodation, bed and breakfast, a curated three-course dinner in The Foyer showcasing the collaboration’s estate-to-table menu, and a selection of handpicked welcome gifts from The Newt. For more information or to reserve a stay, visit the official Maybourne booking page.