April 2022
ALL KICKING OFF
LISBON
When an iconic sportswear brand launches a luxury lifestyle hotel
The Portuguese city that looks good enough to eat
ISLANDS IN THE SUN
NEW PURSUITS OF PLEASURE IN THE MALDIVES THAT HAVE TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED EXCLUSIVE TIMEPIECES
♦
EXQUISITE JEWELS
♦
UNIQUE ESCAPES
♦
LUXURY CARS
SPEND IT OUT OF THIS WORLD
88
April 2020 dotwnews.com
SPEND IT OUT OF THIS WORLD
dotwnews.com March 2020
89
SPEND IT OUT OF THIS WORLD
88
April 2020 dotwnews.com
SPEND IT OUT OF THIS WORLD
dotwnews.com March 2020
89
DISCOVER JOURNEYS OF ASIAN SPLENDOUR CONTENTS ON THE SHORES OF PALM JUMEIRAH.
DISCOVER THE LUXURY OF ISLAND DREAMING JUST OFFSHORE. Enter a new destination for island luxury at Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort. A private island paradise with personalised encounters and exquisite culinary events. Find total relaxation across 70 rooms, suites and villas designed with distinctive holidays in mind.
LIFE IS A JOURNEY. Visit anantara.com
14
August 2020
Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort South America, The World Islands, Dubai, UAE T +971 4 567 8777 E worldislands@anantara.com | reservations.AWID@anantara.com anantara.com dotwnews.com
CONTENTS April 2022
NEWS
20
20 Europe 22 Middle East & Africa 24 Asia & Oceania 26 Americas 28 Debut 30 Restaurant Review
New life flows into Bleu Blanc at The St. Regis Downtown Dubai, filled with contemporary French vibes
32 Gourmet News
29
DESTINATIONS 36 Flight of Fancy
New pursuits of pleasure up the ante in Indian Ocean allure with these paradise havens in the Maldives
46 A Living Masterpiece
The art of fine dining in Lisbon, as Sarah Freeman uncovers a city awash with culture as fine as its cuisine
54 Escapes
HOTELS
60 Suite Dreams
The secret’s out at an all-villa resort on the Caribbean island of Domenica
62 Staycations 72 Suite Dreams
A salubrious stay in Italy at Lazio’s Palazzo Fiuggi
74 No Adults Allowed
SPEND IT
78 Jewels 80 Jewels: Mahallati 82 Watches 84 See The World
36
46
57
Differently
Travel, luxury and culture come together with the new Beautifully Curated by Raffles raft of exclusive experiences
84
82
The Future of International Travel
HYBRID
Dubai 9 - 12 May 2022 Virtual 17-18 May 2022
#ATMDubai
wtm.com/atm/dowtn Part of:
Destination Partner:
Official partners:
NEWS
H OT E V E N T S , N E W H OT E L S A N D G LO B A L J E T- S E T T E R S
24
IDYLLIC ISOLATION From new spor tswearbranded hotels and worldfamous brands finding homes in new corners of the world, there’s much excitement in the hospitality industry this month. In Sri Lanka, Eden Villas has added a new trio of luxury beach escapes to its collection, meaning this palmfringed hideaway could be all yours this summer.
20 28 30
32
NEWS Luxe travel updates from around the world DEBUT Our pick of the best new hotels CULINARY REVIEW The relaunch of an old favourite sees French flavours compliment a relaxed approach to Continental fine dining GOURMET Culinary updates, from near and far
NEWS MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
DISCOVER ZIMBABWE
WITH GREAT PLAINS’ NEW ZAMBEZI CAMPS
WILDLIFE OUTNUMBERS THE TOURISTS IN ZIMBABWE, a relative newcomer to the luxury safari game that has plenty to offer for travellers seeking a path less travelled. Home to five UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the mighty Victoria Falls, the destination is quickly becoming a must-visit among well-heeled safari fans. Tourism conservation organisation Great Plains, which was founded in 2006 by National Geographic filmmakers and Beverly Joubert, has made its Zimbabwe debut with two new luxury camps. Situated on the banks of the Zambezi, Mpala Jena Camp is an intimate hideaway in the 138,000-acre Zambezi National Park, a short drive from Victoria Falls. Architects Craig Hayman and Hannah Charlton and interior designer Tracy Kelly have used natural materials throughout the main buildings, while the five guest tents are covered in canvas and wrapped in translucent netted walls so guests can enjoy the sights and sounds of the local wildlife uninterrupted. Each of the tents has a shaded veranda and an outdoor bathroom, plus a private deck leading down to the sandy riverbank. After a morning game drive or river cruise, guests can explore
22
April 2022 dotwnews.com
the local craft market, set off a white-water rafting or bungee jumping adventure or pay a visit to Victoria Falls, which are just 10 miles away. Also on the Zambezi, nestled in a riverside forest, Tembo Plains Camp is set in the 128,000-hectare Sapi Private Reserve. Five tents Ω four doubles and the two-bedroom Tembo Plains Suite Ω all offer an expansive veranda with exercise bikes and an outdoor swimming pool, as well as indoor lounge area, handmade bathtubs and indoor and outdoor showers. Each suite is also equipped with a professional camera and selection of lenses for guests to use, and high-quality binoculars are also available to help catch a glimpse of the wild dogs, lions and leopard that roam around Sapi Reserve, or the buffalo and elephant that can be spotted cooling down in the river. Part of Great Plains’ Reserve Collection, which includes six other camps in Botswana and Kenya, Tembo Plains is the only member of Relais & Châteaux in Zimbabwe. Paired with Mpala Jena, the two camps offer a tempting twin-stop escape and a great way to sample the wonders of Zimbabwe. www.greatplainsconservation.com
NEWS MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
JW MARRIOTT EMBARKS ON AN EPIC AFRICAN ADVENTURE
MARRIOTT IS TAKING LUXURY TO NEW HEIGHTS IN KENYA’S MARA NATIONAL RESERVE with plans for JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, a stylish safari camp on the banks of the Talek River. When it opens in 2023, the lodge will be home to 20 private tents, each with a terrace overlooking the river, including a presidential pavilion and two interconnecting suites. The tents boast plush interiors courtesy of designer Kristina Zanic, who has drawn inspiration from the elements and the surrounding landscape, yet created spaces that are also modern and elegant. Natural materials, earthy tones and warm colours reflect the hues of the Mara Reserve, with
billowing canvas drapes, timber floors and local design influences offering a refreshing new take on the safari tent experience. Beyond the tents, the lodge is home to a restaurant, lounge bar and spa, and a large terrace where guests will gather around the firepits each evening to enjoy Masai dance performances and swap stories of safari adventures. Conservation and community engagement will be at the heart of the experience at the lodge, which will employ up to 50 locals from the Masai community and offer guests opportunities to learn more about the destination and its people. www.marriott.com
LXR UNVEILS PRIVATE ISLAND GOLF RESORT IN ABU DHABI HILTON’S SWIFTLY EXPANDING LXR HOTELS & RESORTS is set to manage a spectacular all-villa private island resort off the coast of Abu Dhabi, complete with private marina and golf course. Al Nawras Island, LXR hotels & Resorts will be home to 80 spacious beach and water villas, as a well as a 450-square-metre Royal Villa when complete in 2023. Surrounded by the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf and perfectly positioned to enjoy year-round sunshine, the resort will place an emphasis on outdoor activities and wellbeing, with two outdoor swimming pools (and an indoor pool), an exclusive beach club, tennis and paddle courts and a private marina, as well as an upscale, gym, fitness studio and spa. Two signature restaurants with open-air dining areas, two bars and a wellness-inspired café will mean guests don’t have to leave the island’s sandy shores unless they want to; while a dedicated kids’ club, swimming pool, splash pad and playground will keep junior jetsetters occupied throughout their stay. The announcement follows recent news about another new-build property in Saudi Arabia: Wadi Hanifah, LXR Hotels & Resorts at Diriyah Gate will open by 2026. www.lxrhotels.com
THERE ARE DID CURRENTLY YOU HEAR? MORE THAN 32,000 HOTEL ROOMS UNDER DEVELOPMENT IN SAUDI ARABIA, AS THE KINGDOM SURGES AHEAD WITH PLANS TO DIVERSIFY ITS ECONOMY AWAY FROM OIL AS PART OF SAUDI VISION 2030. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH FROM STR GLOBAL, COMMISSIONED BY ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2022, THE CITY OF AL KHOBAR IS OUTPERFORMING ALL OTHER SAUDI CITIES AS DEMAND PASSES PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. PENT-UP DEMAND AMONG MUSLIM PILGRIMS FOR TRAVEL TO MEDINA AND MAKKAH IS LIKELY TO DRIVE FURTHER RAPID GROWTH AS COVID-RELATED RESTRICTIONS CONTINUE TO EASE. ATM TAKES PLACE FROM MAY 9-12 AT DWTC IN DUBAI AND WILL FEATURE CONFERENCE SESSIONS DEDICATED TO SAUDI ARABIA’S TRAVEL AND TOURISM SECTOR. WWW.WTM.COM/ATM dotwnews.com April 2022
23
NEWS DEBUT
Debut April
HOT HOTELS, CHIC BOUTIQUES AND EXCLUSIVE NEW RESORTS HERE’S OUR PICK OF THE WORLD’S MOST LUXURIOUS NEW LAUNCHES
IL SAN CORRADO DI NOTO
Sicily, Italy
An ancient Sicilian farmhouse once owned by Italian royalty emerges from a three-year transformation this month as Il San Corrado di Noto, a boutique all-suite resort in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Val di Noto. The 26 suites and eight pool villas provide a harmonious blend of traditional and modern, with outdoor patios surrounded by ancient citrus and olive groves and private pools in the one- and two-bedroom villas. During the renovation, architect Corrado Papa restored the property’s 18th-century architecture and preserve the important heritage features of the building, including a chapel that dates back to 1836, yet the finished produce looks every bit like a contemporary country hideaway. Natural materials including Modica stone and Guatemalan marble have been used throughout the suites and public areas, which include two signature restaurants: Casa Pasta and Principe di Belludia. In the summer months, the resort operates a private beach club, a short drive from the hotel, and closer to home, Il San Corrado di Notos’ 100-metre heated swimming pool is one of the largest on the island and one of two at the hotel. www.ilsancorradodinoto.com
PARAMOUNT HOTEL MIDTOWN
Dubai, UAE
Two years after the world’s first Paramount hotel opened, the company has called “action” on a second Dubai outpost: Paramount Hotel Midtown. Like its predecessor, the Business Bay hotel taps into the 110year history of Paramount Pictures and celebrates the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, with 281 movieinspired rooms and suites including Scene Rooms, A-List Suites and the penthouse Paramount Suite, all with balconies looking out towards the Dubai skyline and Burj Khalifa. The Hollywood homage continues in the hotel’s dining venues, with Paparazzi Tuscan, Cinescope and Melrose Bar & Lounge, while the rooftop Malibu Sky Lounge and Bar will be a see-and-be-seen hangout for movie buffs. Junior cinephiles are kept entertained at The Kids Studio Club, where a menu of cinematic experiences awaits, and the PAUSE Spa has everything you need to prepare for your big screen debut. Created in partnership with French brand Château Berger, the spa offers a menu of massages and skincare treatments, while the PAUSE Fitness Centre is packed with state-of-theart health and fitness equipment to keep you in tip top physical condition. www.paramounthotelsdubai.com
28
April 2022 dotwnews.com
NEWS DEBUT
INTERCONTINENTAL RAS AL KHAIMAH MINA AL ARAB RESORT & SPA
Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
IHG makes its Ras Khaimah debut this month with an elegant beachfront escape on Hayat Island. Inspired by the emirate’s varied topography of mountains, desert and sea, the 351 ocean-facing rooms, suites and private pool villas embrace the concept of space: large windows frame and grand ocean vistas, while interiors reflect the natural hues of sea, sky and desert in a palette of blues and earthy tones. The 150-square metre One-Bedroom Private Pool Villas are some of the biggest at the resort, complete with private terraces and daybeds for space and privacy, while the Presidential Suite offers a sprawling 200 square meters of indoor-outdoor living. Club InterContinental Lounge offers a raft of benefits for Club guests including breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails, and has its own dedicated check-in area and swimming pool. Modern Levantine cuisine is the star of the show at Levant & Nar, which has an outdoor terrace and firepit, while NoHo evokes the artsy vibe of New York’s North Houston neighbourhood. As well as being the first InterContinental resort in the emirate, the new property is a meaningful addition to the IHG portfolio for Haitham Mattar, managing director for India, Middle East and Africa, who served as CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority from 2015 to 2019. www.ihg.com
REGENT PHU QUOC
Phu Quoc, Vietnam
The Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc is a tropical paradise covered in 314 square kilometres of UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve rainforest fringed with white sand beaches. At the southwestern end of the island, Regent Phu Quoc opens its doors this month, welcoming guests into a beachfront hideaway where health and wellness take centre stage. Bangkok-based BLINK Design Group created the 176 suites and 126 pool villas, which range from one-bedroom suites to remarkable seven-bedroom ultra-villas. The resort layout is inspired by traditional Vietnamese architecture, which makes use of small interior courtyards and covered indoor-outdoor living areas throughout. The Spa at Regent Phu Quoc is a sanctuary of wellness where traditional treatments complement modern techniques using state-of-the-art Gharieni equipment, including acoustic/vibrational therapy and psammo hot sand therapy. The Spa is also home to a Bastien Gonzalez Pedi:Mani:Cure salon and treatments by Biologique Recherche, as well as a Health Club with fitness centre, meditation studio and rooftop yoga pavilions. Traditional Vietnamese cuisine is served all day at Rice Market, one of six dining venues at the resort, and long lazy evenings can be spent watching the sunset and counting the stars at rooftop Fu Bar. www.ihg.com
dotwnews.com April 2022
29
rsvn
DESTINATIONS T H E W O R L D ’ S M O S T D E S I R A B L E L O C AT I O N S
36
BLUE LAGOON Azure seas abundant with wildlife, pristine white sand that feels untouched by footprints and coconuts ready to quench your thirst on demand... there’s much to love about the Maldives. For even more reasons, simply turn the page...
36 46 54
It’s all about fresh-perspectives in the Maldives and seeing some of our favourite properties in a new light A Living Masterpiece: Discover Lisbon’s artful side with a side-order of fine dining Escapes: Journey from Morocco to the Maldives, Tuscany to the Serengeti, with escapes to enrich your soul
D E S I T N AT I O N M A L D I V E S
FLIGHT OF FANCY
MALDIVES
Take to the skies to find paradise in the Maldives, where new pursuits of pleasure raise the bar in Indian Ocean allure
36
April 2022 dotwnews.com
D E S I N TAT I O N M A L D I V E S
dotwnews.com April 2022
37
D E S I T N AT I O N L I S B O N
46
April 2022 dotwnews.com
D E S I N TAT I O N L I S B O N
A LIVING MASTERPIECE Portugal’s captivating coastal capital is awash with art as fine as its dining, Sarah Freeman discovers…
dotwnews.com April 2022
47
H O T E L S S TAY C AT I O N S
IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND A stay at Fairmont the Palm always comes gift-wrapped with some of the most beautiful views in Dubai, as it casts its views over the vertiginous Marina and Ain Dubai. Surrounded by palm trees, it’s a bucolic enclave in the city, with eight pools and restaurants and beach access along the wonderfully cosmopolitan Palm West Bay. Book the Stay Longer, Save More offer for five or more nights and you’ll get 20 per cent off the best available rate. If you’re travelling during Ramadan, celebrate with a Fairuz iftar or suhour at Flow Kitchen and Seaview Garden, with live entertainment and a hugely diverse buffet with over 150 dishes. www.fairmont.com
Arabian Journeys As we welcome the Holy Month, immerse yourselves in some reflective staycations, iftars and suhours around the region
DESERT, DUNES & STARS If you’re looking to truly immerse yourself in Arabia this month, and experience a slice of local life, book a stay at Mysk Al Badayer - part of the Sharjah Collection by Mysk - with a one-night ‘adventure offer’ stay. Here you’ll sleep in a one-bedroom tent with a private pool and breakfast, with uninterrupted desert views, and you’ll venture out on a half-day tour to Mleiha, with dune drives to fossil rocks, as well as a bonfire and live BBQ dinner, an archaeological centre visit and stargazing. Definitely one for the curious traveller. www.myskhotels.com
62
April 2022 dotwnews.com
H O T E L S S TAY C AT I O N S
FOOD FOR THOUGHT W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island is feeling generous this month, with a giveaway fuelled with typical W flamboyance and flair. Book a standard room at the iconic trackside property on Yas Island, and you’ll get full credit back in drinks and bites across the hotel. With six restaurants and bars, it won’t be hard to find somewhere to indulge... Fuel up for your day with a steaming coffee from Roastery; journey round the world with lunch at Garage, sampling bites from its five different culinary hubs; spend the day at WET Deck, sunbathing, socialising and sipping cocktails, mocktails and more; head to W Lounge for some sophisticated drinks from one of three bars, against a backdrop of bold beats and views of the racetrack; then finish off strong with an elegant dinner at Angar or Amici. Credit vouchers have never tasted this good! www.wabudhabiyasisland.com
SPEND IT OUT OF THIS WORLD
@dotw news FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM SNAPCHAT
TWITTER PINTEREST LINKEDIN
Essential Travel Intelligence WWW.DOTWNEWS.COM 88
April 2020 dotwnews.com
SPEND IT U N I Q U E E X P E R I E N C E S A N D S O P H I S T I C AT E D E S S E N T I A L S
GIFT WRAPPED With Eid al-Fitr on the horizon, thoughts turn to the art of gifting. A watch is so much more than just the teller of time, it’s an investment, an heirloom, a love story all wrapped up in one. Take Harry Winston’s Avenue C Mini Art Deco... A 32.3mm watch in 18k rose gold with 325 brilliant-cut diamonds, it’s the epitome of grand statements filled with subtle sentiment. Powerful and radiant in equal measure.
78 80 82 84
Jewels: It’s a power play for your jewellery box this month Eid gifting courtesy of Mahallati Jewellery Watches: Hang tight with timepieces that are bold in gold with strong flourishes of femininity Out of this World: See the world differently with Raffles Hotels & Resorts’ new and exclusive curated experiences
S P E N D I T J E W E L L E RY
STORY OF AN ICON Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Pomellato’s Nudo ring celebrates individualism and creates new narratives for a woman who is bold, assertive and strikingly original. In its monochrome form, it is the epitome of multi-faceted beauty
POWER
PLAY
There is beauty in simplicity yet strength in numbers, as these multi-faceted pieces show, designed to stack, pair or stand proud alone 78
April 2022 dotwnews.com
3
2
1
1. Verso ring, Hermès 2. Al Otaiba bracelet, MKS Jewellery 3. Earrings, Mouawad 4. Perles Impériales ring, Breguet 5. Two Butterfly ring, Van Cleef & Arpels 6. Winston Gates necklace, Harry Winston 7. Cocktail ring, Rubeus Milano 8. Possession ring, Piaget 9. Bois de Rose bracelet, Dior 10. B Blossom bracelet, Louis Vuitton 11. Atlas X bracelet, Tiffany & Co. 12. La Gioia bracelet, Pomellato 13. Calla earrings, Vhernier 14. Bracelet, Messika Paris
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
10
14
12 13
dotwnews.com April 2022
79
SPEND IT OUT OF THIS WORLD
SEE THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY
CULTURE-RICH, EXCLUSIVELY-CURATED EXPERIENCES have seen a significant spike in demand following the pandemic, with travellers wanting to dive deeper into more personalised, one-of-a-kind adventures that stir the soul. Never one to sit on its laurels, Raffles Hotels & Resorts is tapping into this increased demand with the introduction of an exclusive collection of unique travel experiences called ‘Beautifully Curated by Raffles’. An illustrious brand known for its legendary service and ability to curate guest experiences that change the way people see the world, the new ultra-personalised experiences will immerse guests even further into their destination, from Paris and Dubai to Udaipur and Bali, targeting discerning gourmands, art aficionados, culturephiles, adventure seekers and wellness lovers. The Timeless Royalty Experience at Raffles Bali will take guests on
84
April 2022 dotwnews.com
a two-night, old-world-meets new journey of discovery, with a royal wellness spa experience, an exquisite afternoon tea inspired by the classic High Tea ceremony of the royals, a private full-day tour at the Puri Agung Karangasem Royal Palace, and an evening spent in The Secret Cave, for an intimate dinner and Krug champagne tasting. Over in France, A Private Guide Through History at Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris, will embark on a private tour through The Louvre, home to one of the most impressive art collections in the world, where Ω as VIPs Ω you’ll be able to get close to the museum’s masterpieces, including the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and works by Caravaggio and Botticelli. To take the exclusive experience from day to night, guests will then be led to an intimate, private three-course dinner at the very heart of the Louvre’s iconic glass Pyramid Ω an architectural marvel by day and an illuminated beacon of romance come night. www.raffles.com
PHOTOS: Caterina Belova/Shutterstock; Robyn Mackenzie/Shutterstock
Travel, luxury and culture combine, with the new Beautifully Curated by Raffles collection of ultra-immersive and exclusive experiences
SPEND IT OUT OF THIS WORLD
SPEND IT OUT OF THIS WORLD
Confused about where to go for your holiday? Hola España! With eased entry for all vaccinated travelers, Spain is your perfect year-round holiday choice. Delight your senses in one of Europe’s finest destinations. Indulge in Barcelona’s delicious tapas, shop until you drop in Madrid, and bask in the beautiful beaches of the Balearic Islands. It’s hard to choose just one highlight of Spain: beaches, food, culture, fiestas, majestic medieval towns, whitewashed Moorish villages, passionate locals and their love of life, family and friends – they’re all exceptional. Expect surprises around every corner and wonderfully diverse regions that are well worth seeking out #Youdeservespain
#visitspain
Follow us on
@Spain.info.me
@Spain
@SpainMiddleEast
@visitspain
www.spain.info/gcc abudhabi@tourspain.es 88
April 2020 dotwnews.com
dotwnews.com February 2022
85
BREGUET.COM
SPEND IT OUT OF THIS WORLD
MARINE 5527 88
April 2020 dotwnews.com