Beyond 09, The St. Regis Magazine Issue 9 - Spring/Summer 2017

T H E S T. R E G I S M A G A Z I N E

B E Y O N D , T H E S T. R E G I S M A G A Z I N E

ISSUE 9

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T H E S T. R E G I S M A G A Z I N E

Cover photographed by Tobias Lundkvist; styling by Victoria Bain; with thanks to Aali Ghufran, Melissa Mohan, and the team at The St. Regis Langkawi

Editorial Editor: Lisa Grainger Design: Vanessa Arnaud Sub-editor: Damon Syson Fashion: Alice Newbold Photographic director: Lyndsey Price Picture editor: Emma Hammar  Editorial director: Gill Morgan Publisher: Crispin Jameson Project manager: Sarah Glyde

Creative and Publishing Brave New World Publishing Ltd, 6 Derby Street, London W1J 7AD T +44 (0)20 3819 7520

Advertising Advertising: Sarah Glyde Represented by: Couture Marketing (couturemarketing.com) in USA EPN Communications (tony.galaxis@epncommunications.com) in EAME Nexus Ltd (tak.man@nexusmediaasia.com) in Asia Pacific

Reproduction Color reproduction by: PH Media Printed by: Logical Connections

Š Copyright 2017 Brave New World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the publishers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors it may contain

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© Didier Gourdon

CALIBER RM 037

www.richardmille.com

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CONTRIBUTORS David Gritten Since spending a decade in Los Angeles as an editor and columnist, David Gritten has lived in London, writing mostly about film for the Los Angeles Times. More recently he has specialized in profiling screenwriters for Written By, the Writer’s Guild of America magazine. Examining Rome’s La Dolce Vita scene of the 1950s (page 80) was, he says, “a perfect assignment. I’ve loved Italy and its neo-realist films since my teens. His dream destination: “To travel the whole length of Chile – in my own sweet time.

Esther Freud In the two decades since her first book, Hideous Kinky, was made into a film starring Kate Winslet, and she was named one of the UK’s top young novelists by literary magazine Granta, the actress-turned-writer has penned six more bestsellers. In this issue she recalls the journeys that influenced her life, including a trip to Italy with her father, the painter Lucian Freud, and a sojourn in South Africa with her actor husband, David Morrissey.

Her latest book, Mr Mac and Me, is based on the life of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Stanley Stewart Described as “among the first rank of contemporary travel writers by The Times, the Canadian-born author has traversed the globe, from the ice deserts of Mongolia to the jungles of the Amazon, meeting maharajas, tribesmen and bandits en route. In between writing hundreds of articles for magazines like National Geographic and Condé Nast Traveller, winning Travel Writer of the Year six times, he has published three books. For Beyond, he describes a journey down the Nile through the cultural wonders of Egypt.

William Drew The Group Editor of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants has been a journalist and editor for more than 20 years. He considers himself incredibly lucky, being able to indulge his gluttony in a largely professional capacity. Recent food highlights include sampling wild mountain sheep in San Francisco and eating world-beating kebabs in Berlin, with plenty in between, including his top foodie destinations, Japan and Brazil. He is most looking forward to eating at Brae in Australia.

Jessica Diamond Having worked for British Vogue, and been watch and jewelry editor for Wallpaper*, the aptly named Diamond now writes about all things precious for Condé Nast Traveller. Her hunt for the latest trends in the world of horology and gems has taken her to Kuwait, St Barts and India (page 76), meeting CEOs and creative directors, from Victoire de Castellane of Dior to Francesca Amfitheatrof of Tiffany. Next on her wish list for 2017?

To meet the cult jeweler JAR, and the most important stone man of all, Laurence Graff.

Tobias Lundkvist Stockholm-based Tobias Lundkvist, who traveled to Malaysia to shoot our beachwear story on page 50, has been a fashion photographer since 2008, working for major global brands like Lacoste, H&M and Hugo Boss as well as shooting covers for magazines such as Elle, Tush and L’Officiel Homme. This year, the thing he’s looking forward to most is a well-earned vacation in Indonesia: “I’m planning a surfing trip around Halmuhera in the Maluku Islands. It’s going to be amazing.

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CONTENTS 38 Lauren Santo Domingo – Interview –

The brains behind the luxury-shopping e-tailor Moda Operandi has just opened her first New York atelier. Tamsin Blanchard gets a peek into fashion’s new private salon

42 Smart Packing – Vacation Style –

Whether you’re planning a beach holiday in the Maldives, a glamorous trip to Shanghai, a family adventure in Puerto Rico or a Houston citybreak, these are the essentials you need to take

14 Seven Wonders

50 Fantasy Island

– The World in Seven Objects –

– Fashion –

From the haute brooch’s return to fashion to a cool modernist rocking chair, we present the stories behind seven fascinating objects from around the globe

Our summer fashion story was photographed at The St. Regis Langkawi, an island paradise off the coast of Malaysia. Expect golden sands, crystal waters and the season’s chicest swimwear

28 A River Runs Through It

62 Wedding Belles

– The Journey –

– The Trend –

The Nile is a giant among rivers, with many secrets to tell. Stanley Stewart discovers the lost world of Ancient Egypt as he embarks on a nine-month journey from source to mouth

Modern brides want a wedding that’s a feast for all the senses – and one that reflects their own style. Rosie Green meets the four experts who provide the icing on the cake

59 Hidden Treasures

66 Dream Racer

– A Little Place I Know –

– The Connoisseur –

Tastemakers share with us their addressbook secrets, from Viscount Linley’s favorite linen shop in Mumbai to Anna Fendi’s go-to trattoria in Rome

The king of Swiss watches, Richard Mille, takes Beyond around the garage of his French château to explore his real passion: cars

Cover: Nanushka white dress, $285, nanushka.hu. Dower & Hall sterling silver Nomad cuff, $560, dowerandhall.com Above: Melissa Odabash woven hat, $145, odabash.com; Bower bikini top, $192, bowerswimwear.com; Tibi cotton shorts, $325, tibi.com

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Contents

68 The St. Regis Atlas

89 Kitchen Confidential

– The Directory –

– Food –

Our international network of hotels and resorts, from Doha to Deer Valley and Mexico City to Macao, plus the Aficionado’s Guide to St. Regis, to help you make the most of your stay

Oscar Portal, The St. Regis Mexico City’s head chef, talks about his secret passion for fast food, his grandmother’s kitchen, and the most memorable dinner of his life

76 Ringing the Changes

90 The Heat is On

– Jewelry –

– Food –

The ancient traditions, gems and styles of Indian jewelry are inspiring magical new ranges in the West, says Jessica Diamond

The trend for smoked and barbecued food is sweeping the globe, with unexpected delights emerging from the grill. William Drew meets the chefs making the restaurant scene sizzle

80 La Dolce Vita

92 East Meets Best

– The Back Story –

– Interiors –

Movie stars flocked to Rome in the 1950s and 1960s, and the birth of the paparazzi quickly followed. David Gritten looks at the city’s flashgun-popping past and the role that the St. Regis hotel played in the scene

Eastern interior design is getting a 21st-century twist: out go the bamboo screens, in come steel-and-rosewood wardrobes. Rachel Loos reports on the new contemporary style

86 Splashing Out

96 Esther Freud

– The Trend –

– A Life in Seven Journeys –

Forget the blow-up dinghy. Today’s beach and ocean toys wouldn’t be out of place in a James Bond movie. Risa Merl on the new wave of hi-tech yacht accessories

The novelist reflects on life-changing trips, from her early years in Morocco – immortalized in her book and film Hideous Kinky – to New York and South Africa

70 Govinda Sah “Azad” – Art –

Nepalese artist Govinda Sah “Azad draws inspiration from his native Himalayas and the cosmos to create delicate and ethereal paintings like this 2016 work, Emptiness: Matter and Nothingness

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THE WORLD IN SEVEN OBJECTS Words by Oliver Bennett Photography by Louisa Parry

UNIQUE, BEAUTIFUL OBJECTS EACH TELL A STORY OF THEIR AGE. FROM THE REVIVAL OF THE HAUTE BROOCH TO THE MODERNIST ROCKING HORSE, WE PRESENT SEVEN WONDERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD FOR YOUR DELIGHT

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The brooch The brooch tends to exist at the fustier end of the jewelry spectrum: the oval miniature on tweedy breast, the commemorative pin. Somehow, over the years it became maiden-aunt wear. But there are signs that it is fashionable again. This summer, Uma Thurman wore a vintage Cartier Birds of Paradise brooch to the last Met Gala – part of a trend towards exhuming really high-end vintage brooches. There are startling originals too, from Versace, Rochas and Michael Kors, as well as Chanel, Chaumet and Chopard.

Look into the history of the brooch and you’ll find a fascinating world of ceremonial genres: the “aigrette” feather-shaped brooch, the “grand tour” cameo brooch, and the “en tremblant” – the figure that trembles like the flutter of a romantic heart. The diamond company Graff’s brooch of yellow and white diamonds, pictured here, interprets the en tremblant for our era, reminding us of the brooch’s ceremonial use. There are differences, as the new brooch is sartorially as well as socially mobile. Today it might hold a dress together, or be pinned into the hair to maintain a chignon.

Then there’s the “micro-sculpture” aspect of brooches. Gallery owner Louisa Guinness has picked up on this by commissioning them from contemporary artists like Claude Lalanne and Mariko Mori, and reviving art brooches from the past by Niki de Saint Phalle and Keith Haring.

There’s another factor about the brooch: it’s a real power jewel. Think of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and her 2009 hymn to the brooch, Read My Pins, about her huge collection of brooches and how they expressed her politics. “I saw it as a visual way to deliver a message,” she said. For example, when her team learned that the Russians had planted a listening device in a conference room, she wore a brooch in the shape of a bug to their next meeting. “They got the message.”

Now that’s statement jewelry.

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The rocking horse When Prince George, the youngest member of the British royal family, was born in 2013, he received a fantastic range of luxurious gifts. But one in particular captured the public attention: a rocking horse from the venerable toy manufacturers Stevenson Brothers. Somehow, the rocking horse ticks all the right dynastic boxes: it’s an heirloom, a domestic icon, and it carries a sense of childhood past as well as a feeling of continuity.

But had the typical rocking horse become stuck in a slightly 19thcentury groove? Well, yes, which is why modish parents everywhere will be delighted that, in the last few years, rocking horses have been given a new lease on life. Top designer Marc Newson set the ball rolling with Rocky, made in 2012 for the design company Magis, a long-skirted polyethylene palamino which took its character from medieval jousting horses.

Then came Reggie the Eco Rocker, made by the Australian designer Shell Thomas, a flat-pack cardboard rocking horse made of tough Ultraboard which can be drawn upon as well as taken apart and recycled – a muse for creative kids and a boon to households with limited space.

But our favorite is Kartell Kids’ H-Horse (pictured) by the Canadian/ Japanese designer Nendo, rendered in transparent methacrylate. This model has taken the rocking horse to a whole new level of design-buff seriousness. “Kartell has always linked to the experience of the child with themes of exploration, research and innovation,” explains Claudio Luti, president of Kartell. “Our products are functional as well as playful, fun and exciting. This is why I wanted to take a project that belongs to our history and create a new line that’s dedicated to a market segment we were missing.”

Stylish, innovative, fun... it rocks.

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The pomegranate If you’re staying at The St. Regis Istanbul, you’ll no doubt have encountered one of the great joys of Turkish street food: the pomegranate juice cart. It’s part of the city’s theater to hear the vendors’ stage whispers about this fruit’s health benefits (in particular on the male reproductive system). Whether or not there’s any truth in this, the pomegranate has gained prime position on the world-food repertoire, underscored by reality-TV star Kylie Jenner, who claims to eat three packs of pomegranate seeds (known as “arils”) a day.

So why is this deep-crimson fruit going through a fashionable moment?

It’s partly down to its “superfood” status. Rammed with antioxidants and vitamins, it’s a nutrient bomb – as suggested by its French name: “grenade”. Moreover, it’s the centerpiece of a worldwide rediscovery of Levantine cooking, as the pomegranate’s spiritual home runs from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea. It’s also visually arresting, inspiring painters like Henri Matisse, whose Still Life with Pomegranates (1947) can be seen at the Matisse Museum in Nice.

Food specialist Ozlem Warren of Ozlem’s Turkish Table, which teaches Turkish cooking in Jordan, the US and the UK, is loving the pomegranate’s new-found attention. “It’s wonderful, the food of the Sultans,” she says.

“Pomegranate molasses really is the new balsamic vinegar.”

Now this sweet-sour flavor is conquering Western tables, and there’s a growing awareness of pomegranate varietals: from the most popular (and reddest) variety, simply called Wonderful, to the Russian variety Salavatski.

Whichever you choose, they all have that sense of fecund mystery when jewel-like arils spill from their chrysalis-like hard skin. “We Turks have a saying about pomegranates that sums them up,” says Ozlem, “‘I bought one home from market. Now I have a thousand.’”

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The Polaroid

In October, Bonham’s put up an auction of Polaroid photographs by the director Andrei Tarkovsky. Shown in New York and London, these small, square, framed images were intended by the Russian film director to be ephemeral – guidance for the shots needed for his 1983 film Nostalgia.

Yet interest in them was huge. Indeed, despite the fact that Polaroids were intended to be disposable, they have become increasingly collectible.

When this ground-breaking self-developing film from inventor Edwin Land was first released in 1947, it seemed magical. Few could resist the allure of watching an image form before their eyes. The camera’s futuristic design also helped, as did names like the “Swinger Model”. In time, the Polaroid came to represent the alchemy of the fashion shoot, and the white-framed format photograph became an object of desire.

The Polaroid company filed for bankruptcy in 2008, but this much-loved format still has plenty of devotees. In the Netherlands, former employees bought a factory to create film for the cameras still in use, naming it The Impossible Project, and created the I-1 camera, modeled on the 1970s Polaroid camera. Last September, Leica launched the Sofort, its first instant camera, referencing the Polaroid heyday. And the Polaroid brand still exists, partly to sell retro merchandise. There’s a new digital Polaroid Print Store app from Polaroid that has a film look, to provide that gritty quality lacking in the digital domain. And Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Tommy Stadlen and Frederick Blackford have started an iPhone app called Polaroid Swing, out of a San Francisco lab decorated with old Polaroid cameras. “In its heyday, Polaroid was Andy Warhol, buzzing around Manhattan taking pictures,” says Blackford. “We felt, if we could connect the design heritage and the brand with cutting-edge technology, and make Polaroid a forward-thinking innovation brand again, we could do something really special.”

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Japanese whisky Once, all whisky connoisseurs deferred to Scotland, and although whisky was made elsewhere (notably as bourbon in the US), it was considered a pale imitation or a different genre entirely. But over the last decade or so, there has been a real growth in Asian whiskies, notably in Japan. A keen whisky-drinking nation, it has made the drink for almost a century, and now Japanese whiskies are revered. “In the 2000s, Japanese whiskies started winning awards and couldn’t be ignored any longer,” says Dominic Roskrow, author of Whisky Japan: The Essential Guide to the World’s Most Exotic Whisky. “Now Japan is one of the holy grails of whisky drinkers, with specialist bars and a real buzz with collectors and connoisseurs.”

A key reason is that Japan has followed the Scottish model of whiskymaking, and alongside great discipline has added its own sense of flair.

“When the Japanese adopt something, they really go for it 100 per cent,” says Roskrow. “So despite restrictions, they’ve innovated, with different barrel types, aging and yeasts – and their own subtle flavors.” Although there are only a dozen or so distilleries and the market is dominated by two companies – Suntory and Nikka – the Japanese can do things that are not done elsewhere, like, for example, making Coffey Malt (from Nikka), which is distilled in a Coffey or column still, illegal in Scotland.

So what’s different about Japanese whisky? As Roskrow says, although it’s based on Scotch, one can find many styles, from plummy to peaty, floral to fragrant. People are discovering the differences and specifying Hakushu 12 Year Old or Yamazaki Bourbon Barrel. “Young people like them,” says Roskrow, “and the fact that Japanese whiskies are often made in small batches, and are often pricey, adds to their glamour. It also means collectors are snapping them up, like the recent release of a Yamazaki single malt, matured in Scotland in Bowmore casks. It was my whisky of 2016.”

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The lightbulb It’s curious that new technology is making us hark back to old technology with nostalgia-infused fondness. Take lightbulbs. The market for LEDs is booming and everywhere you look, fingernail-sized lights are casting their dentist-glow. And yet, at the same time there has been a massive march of old-fashioned glass globes with exposed (and often decorative) filaments, all looking as if they were fashioned in Thomas Edison’s very studio, 130 years ago. Filament lights have become the de rigueur lighting choice in the world’s hippest cafés, restaurants and homes.

The New York restaurant Craft is said to have kickstarted this trend more than a decade ago, with reproduction bulbs used to achieve what Craft’s interior designer Paul Bentel of Bentel & Bentel called “a very warm glow”. Why the return? They’re often far warmer, twinklier and more expressive than those hidden, high-tech LEDs. Most crucially, filament lights work fantastically with the industrial-loft look. Find an exposed brick and a filament will not be far behind, often dangling from cloth-covered wires for that boffin-workshop look.

Since the trend began, many entrepreneurs have located old bulbs, while manufacturers and distributors like Aamsco in Charleston and Kyp-Go in Florida – which has been replicating Edison’s original carbonfilament bulb for nearly 50 years – have been given a shot in the arm. But there’s also a problem, which is that traditional incandescent lightbulbs are being phased out in many parts of the world, due to their energyinefficiency. So, what to do? Make environmentally friendly lights that look like filament lights, that’s what. In the US, the firm Newcandescent started making ecological filament lights in 2010 and the CEO, Larry Birnbaum, now offers a range of lights with all the stars, hearts and spirals you need.

“We’re all addicted to that soft, warm glow,” says Birnbaum.

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The luxe sneaker

So common is sportswear as daily wear, it has a special word: “athleisure”.

And it’s booming. While a decade ago sportswear had become déclassé, athleisure went straight back to the top. Perhaps it was Donatella Versace, whose Atelier Versace collection “athletic couture” in Paris kicked off 2016, but the last year has seen the rise of “haute athleisure”.

The greatest athleisure talisman is the training shoe, which has always had a bit of cachet since it emerged as a fashion item in the 1970s. But the urban dandyism of the past has given way to a move for sneakers to become exclusive after-party items, with prices to match. Valentino’s elastic band sneaker, pictured here, is at the reasonable end of the market, at about $600. You can drop $3K on Fendi’s Monster Python Leather High-Tops (and yes, they are partly made from python as well as silver fox fur from Finland). Stefano Ricci’s suede and croc trim sneakers run to $6,470, while Rick Owens’ Faun Geobasket shoes, made from alligator leather, are about $8,500. Meanwhile, there’s a battle to be the most expensive sneaker, a record currently held by The Fire Monkey, designed by Bicion and Mache Custom Kicks. Launched last year to gasps of disbelief, priced at $4m, they’re a glittering symphony of diamonds and sapphires with a solid-gold tag.

Others are more discreet: John Lobb’s Levah sneakers can be tailored to specifications; Zehra’s stitched designs have that “informal office” look; Versace, Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton all offer couture sneakers.

But what type of occasion are top-end sneakers for? They could be for state visits – Cara Delevingne wore Pumas to the White House – or they could be for the office or coffee bar, anywhere you can show them off, which is more likely to be day-life than night-life. Whatever the event, a pair of thousand-buck sneakers is more likely to be “leisure” than “ath”.

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The Journey

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT Words by Stanley Stewart

THE NILE IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST WATERWAYS, FLANKED BY VIBRANT CITIES, EPIC DESERT SCENERY AND A HOST OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL WONDERS. BEYOND EMBARKS ON A NINE-MONTH ODYSSEY FROM MOUTH TO SOURCE

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ŠHarry Gruyaert/Magnum Photos. ŠTuul & Bruno Morandi/4Corners Images

The Nile

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The Journey

Buried secrets Above: the tombs of Deir el-Gabwari, which are cut into the hillside in Asyut.

Previous pages (left): a bread-seller in Cairo; (right) a felucca in Aswan, on the banks of the Nile

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arly evening on the Nile in Cairo, and the sail of our felucca, the traditional Egyptian sailing boat, was swollen with pink light. Mohamed – guide, boatman, sage – was standing in the stern, balanced against a stay, guiding the tiller with his bare foot. Caught up in the arms of the river, we were talking pyramids.

“You are mistaken,” he said. “There are no secrets on the Nile.”

From vantages all over Cairo, from the windows of the new St. Regis Cairo to the ramparts of the Citadel, the great pyramids of Giza are visible beyond the rooftops, icons of the city standing on the edge of the western desert. Their scale is staggering; Napoleon calculated that the stone from the three pyramids could build a wall 9ft high around the whole of France.

Their antiquity is scarcely creditable; they were already 2,000 years old when ancient Rome was still a collection of thatched hovels. But as much as anything, it is their silence that intrigues.

The pyramids tell us almost nothing about their occupants, about the lives they lived, about the world they came from. Only diligent archaeological detective work has discovered the names of the pharaohs buried within them. There are no inscriptions, no reliefs, no wall paintings. By the time the ancient Greeks turned up to swoon at the feet of the pyramids, even the contents were missing; the tombs had been looted centuries before. As a window on ancient Egypt, they are closed, shuttered and secretive.

Mohamed pushed the tiller starboard and we tacked towards the eastern bank, the direction of medieval Cairo. The old city, now a World Heritage Site, is the antithesis of the pyramids. In the warren of narrow lanes and alleys, vociferous life swirled around traditional Cairene houses, past some of the greatest buildings of medieval Islam. There seemed to be so few secrets here among crowds surging towards the clamor of Khan el-Khalili bazaar in search of everything from a cradle to a camel saddle, from perfume to chamber pots, from junk to jewels.

“But there are no secrets in ancient Egypt either,” Mohamed insisted.

‘Everything you want to know about the pyramids, about the men once buried in their chambers, about the world of ancient Egypt – everything, you will find along the banks of this river. The Nile is an open book.” Laughing, he scooped a handful of river water and splashed me. “Follow it,” he said. “It will answer all your questions.”

So follow it I did, though the idea of traveling the length of the Nile had occurred to me long before I had met Mohamed. A giant among rivers, the world’s longest and mightiest (though some claim this title for the Amazon), it runs almost 4,000 miles from its headwaters in the Mountains of the Moon in Central Africa to its twin mouths on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. To anyone who loves travel, and the challenge of a grand journey, an expedition up the Nile is irresistible.

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The Nile

Sacred art

Kenneth Garrett/National Geographic Creative; George Steinmetz/National Geographic Creative

The ruins of Philae Temple, an ancient pilgrimage center for the worship of the goddess Isis.

Overleaf: fishermen on the banks of the Nile, between Luxor and Aswan. Great temples line this stretch

As the morning sun polished the river, voices drifted from the banks, elongating across the surface of the water. Blue-domed shrines rose from fields of sugar cane. An old man passed on a donkey. In the palm groves, between the aisles of tall trunks, flocks of sheep wandered through latticed shade, trailed by robed shepherds. On the Nile, past and present intersect; the fascination of these river banks, and of the fellahin or farmers who mine its waters, is how little has changed since the days of pharaohs.

Without the Nile, Egypt would not exist. The country is a desert, the eastern reaches of the Sahara, and its inhabited territory merely a long thin oasis, a line of irrigated cultivation, framed by dry wastelands. The border between the two is so distinct that you can straddle it, one foot in lush grasses, the other in sand. I wondered if ancient Egyptian anxieties about death might owe something to this tenuous geography, to the proximity of the enveloping desert, traditionally the land of the dead.

At Abydos in middle Egypt, I went ashore to see the great Temple of Seti. This was the journey every ancient Egyptian longed to make, just as Muslims today all wish to make the pilgrimage to Mecca. If they didn’t manage to come to Abydos in life, they believed their soul would travel here in death. Up and down the Nile on the painted walls of tombs, on the carved reliefs of temples, under the lids of sarcophagi, is this theme of river journeys, of boats, their sails hoisted to the north wind, all traveling

Beyond Egypt, it curves through Sudan and Uganda. But that perhaps is another river, and another story. In Egypt itself, a country that Herodotus described as the gift of the Nile, the monuments along the banks, and indeed the river itself, tell the story of the lost world of ancient Egypt in detail so graphic that we come to feel a part of it.

I followed the Nile from its mouth at Rashid on the Mediterranean to its source at Lake Victoria in Central Africa. For nine months I traveled in antiquated buses, in freight trains, in the backs of lorries, and wherever I could, on the river itself. I drifted to the tombs of Beni Hasan in a leaky boat piloted by an ancient fellow with the creased and leathery features of a pharaonic mummy. I traveled from Asyut to Luxor in a barge carrying cement, sleeping on a mat on the decks with the three-man crew. I sailed upriver in a felucca from Luxor to Aswan, stopping at the great temples of Edfu and Esna and Kom Ombo, picturesque on its bluff above the river.

I fell in love with the Nile, and the timeless life along its banks. In the early mornings, the surface of the river was glassy as egrets flew upstream, their yellow legs skimming their own reflections. Small boys shepherded dusty buffalo down to the water’s edge. Men appeared among the reeds, climbing into fishing skiffs. Caryatid women followed paths through the fields with water pots on their heads, moving like belly dancers – their bodies undulating, their heads perfectly still.

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ŠTuul & Bruno Morandi/4Corners Images

©Günter Gräfenhain/4Corners Images

The Journey

Setting sail Above: an imposing Lazuli sailing boat on the Nile – a giant among rivers. Previous pages: the Great Temple of Abu Simbel, on the west bank, commissioned more than 3,000 years ago by Pharaoh Ramses

intrigues, and family conflicts, culled from inscriptions. On Luxor’s east bank stands Karnak, the colossus of ancient Egyptian temples, that has dazzled visitors for centuries. On the west bank, the funerary side of the river, I explored the Colossi of Memnon, the Ramesseum, which inspired Shelley’s Ozymandias, the Temple of Hatshepsut, a magnificent elegy for Egypt’s first female pharaoh, and Medinet Habu with its ithyphallic gods.

But it is in the Valley of the Kings that you come face to face with the fears and hopes of the ancient Egyptians. Sixty-three tombs and burial chambers are tunneled into the soft earth of this remote valley, their corridors lined with paintings that depict the rituals of death, and the images of paradise.

In the tomb of the Pharaoh Merneptah I made my way down the long tunnel towards the burial chamber. Along the walls were reliefs of elegant gods and their attendants with images of the dead pharaoh preparing for his journey to the next world. The carvings seemed as clean and precise as the day they were made. Their colors, after more than 3,000 years, glowed in the dim light.

I paused to examine the lithe figure of the Western Goddess. She was wearing a rather fetching topless frock. In the sloping tomb-shaft I passed the Hour Goddess, the different forms of Ra, the jackal Anubis, alert and watchful, past the sun disks and the scarab beetles, past the exquisite registers of hieroglyphics that unlocked the secrets of eternity.

to Abydos, the center of the Osirian cult of resurrection. The painted river scenes are eerily familiar to the modern traveler.

Largely intact, the temple is like the set for an Indiana Jones film, the remnant of a lost civilization. The disembodied voices of other visitors echoed between the stone walls. Figures flickered like ghosts in the shafts of light between the massive columns. The gloom deepened as I passed from one hall to another towards the inner sanctuaries where the gods lived.

Here, on the wall reliefs, some of the most beautiful in Egypt, all the secrets of the sacred rituals are displayed, rituals that would have been known only to the high priests and the pharaohs. We see the royal figure washing and dressing the statue that represents the God’s soul. We see the rituals of purification and the presentation of offerings. Finally, we see the pharaoh withdrawing, scattering sand on the floor, and sweeping away his own footsteps as he backs out of the sanctuary. These are works of art, masterpieces of the ancient world, and they appear on these walls like faded and cracked film footage from a world that flourished four millennia ago.

At Luxor in Upper Egypt, any lingering notions about the silence of ancient Egypt were soon overturned. Known as Thebes in ancient times, Luxor is a treasure trove of antiquities, and they come with a language, a history, a pantheon of identifiable gods, a list of kings, not to mention the endless tales of warring dynasties, of hopes and despairs, of political

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The Nile

On the shoulders of giants

©Massimo Ripani/4Corners Images. ©Günter Gräfenhain/4Corners Images

The main pillared hall of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel, in Nubia. Ramses II is depicted on these pillars as the god Osiris. Hieroglyphs detail the king’s victory at the Battle of Kadesh

At the bottom I emerged in the tomb chamber. All that remained was the granite lid of one of the four sarcophagi that had enclosed the mummy.

Across the top was an effigy of the pharaoh, his arms folded across his chest.

He was ageless. Beneath the lid was the beautiful Nut, goddess of the sky, stretched above the wrapped mummy like a lover. In one of these Valley tombs, some 19th-century graffiti captures the Egyptian anxieties as simply and eloquently as a dozen ancient reliefs. Scrawled on the hull of a royal barque is a single line: “You must not forget me.”

For ancient Egyptians, the next world was not a cloud-strewn heaven of angels and harps. Their paradise was simply the Nile. Their images of the next world were images of their beloved river. In the tombs we find feluccas with sails set, fishermen casting nets, boatman waiting for fares. If they were to live forever, what could be more divine than the banks of the Nile?

Over two millennia later, the third Aga Khan agreed. One of the world’s wealthiest men, he spent his winters in Aswan, and asked to be buried here on the banks of the Nile when he died in 1957. Every evening his mausoleum, standing on the west bank, darkens to a silhouette against a colored sky.

Now emphatically the end of Egypt, Aswan was for millennia the limit of the known world. Even in the early years of the 20th century, European visitors, enjoying cocktails on the terraces of the Old Cataract Hotel, could still thrill to the idea that beyond lay a barbarian darkness, little known and

largely unexplored. Yet Aswan has none of the melancholy transience of a frontier town. It is a delightful and sophisticated place. If Luxor is a town of archaeological sights, an intense immersion in ancient Egypt, Aswan is a place for aimless meandering, where people come and go on boats.

One day I took a boat across to Elephantine Island, and strolled through villages where women sat on their doorsteps sifting rice and gossip. Another day I went upriver to the ruins of Philae, a temple that seemed to have sprung from the Nile itself. Through the empty windows of the Hall of Nectanebo were views of boats and water birds. Yet another day I explored the sprawling ruins of San Simeon Monastery, on a bluff, half a mile into the desert. Founded in the seventh century, it was originally dedicated to Saint Hadra, a cheery fellow who encountered a funeral procession on the day of his wedding. Seized suddenly with the tragedy of life, he went straight to a hermit’s cave without ever consummating his marriage.

In the evenings the feluccas spread swallow wings to the north winds that have carried boats up the Nile, against the currents, since before they built the Great Pyramid. Nowhere in Egypt is the river in such picturesque form, threading through islands between banks of desert sands and smooth granite. It looks, as the ancient Egyptians believed it to be, a kind of paradise.

Your address: The St. Regis Cairo

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Profile: Lauren Santo Domingo

‘We want to encourage a woman to dream. We’re playful, fun and unexpected’ Words by Tamsin Blanchard Photography by Tawni Bannister

JUST OFF MADISON AVENUE, LAUREN SANTO DOMINGO HAS CREATED A THOROUGHLY MODERN MAISON: WHERE FASHION LOVERS CAN NOT JUST SEE THIS SEASON’S FINEST COLLECTIONS, BUT HAVE ENTIRE WARDROBES CURATED FOR THEM IN SUMPTUOUS SURROUNDS

T

he typical super-busy, fashion-savvy woman from New York, what does she do when it comes to buying clothes?” asks Lauren Santo Domingo. “Is she going to walk around Bergdorf Goodman and throw things over her arm, then drag them to a fitting room? This woman doesn’t go to the supermarket, so why would she be expected to do the same thing at a department store?” Why indeed? If anyone knows about shopping, it’s Santo Domingo. The perfectly polished brains behind the luxury shopping e-tailer Moda Operandi is very good at it, too. So good, in fact, she has perfected the experience to a fine art.

Her latest boutique opened on Madison Avenue and 64th Street in 2016, an appointment-only, luxury-shopping experience that is entirely tailored around each individual woman who shops there. And trust her, there will be no carrying clothes over your arm as you peruse the rails. Your every wish will be taken care of, before you’ve even made the wish.

Santo Domingo calls it “hi-tech, high touch”. Before a client even walks through the door, her personal shopping advisor will know her shopping

habits: what she likes, what she’s returned, her size, her wish list, what she’s put in her shopping cart and taken out. “We cater the experience around her,” says Santo Domingo. “So when she comes in and says, ‘I’m looking for an evening gown for my son’s bar mitzvah,’ we say OK. Then we put in a pair of earrings or a jacket in the changing room when she arrives, so although she’s there for the dress, the coat she’s been looking at for two weeks is there too.”

Although around 80 per cent of Moda Operandi’s business is done online (the average transaction is $1,200, with customers ordering an average of seven to eight times a year), the experience of actually touching the clothes, trying them on, and interacting with a salesperson is still important. Santo Domingo set up her new model of shopping in 2010 to allow members of the public to shop the runways as soon as the fashion show was over (a privilege open only to the elite fashion insiders who were allowed to pre-order items at showroom appointments the day after the show).

“When we shop online, clothes are laid out as still life images; you are

Your wish list is her command Lauren Santo Domingo: “I learned to have this confidence. Someone once told me, ‘If you’re interested in something, and think it’s cool, then maybe everyone else will too.’”

women who live and shop the city, Santo Domingo is keen to attract women traveling through – other Americans, as well as foreign visitors.

“When a woman comes to New York, what’s she doing? She’s shopping, looking in museums, and going out to dinners.” What the private Madison Avenue salon can offer is hand-picked eveningwear, a real insider’s edit of high-end fashion (and not just the usual suspects; Santo Domingo has a keen eye for the up-and-coming designers), exquisite jewelry, together with an entrée into the often impenetrable world of fashion that she so loves.

Clients are invited to meet the designers at trunk shows (Santo Domingo’s star trunk-show host is Giambattista Valli, who she says can read a woman immediately and knows exactly what she wants out of life and her clothes – and, she adds, he’s always right). “There are a lot of women who are creative and want a creative outlet and are drawn to fashion.” With Moda Operandi it’s possible for them to gain access to that world, to sit front row at a show, to be immersed as well as to shop.

seeing it from the front, and when you’re in a shop, all you are seeing is the arm. Shops haven’t evolved or changed the way women buy.” The experience at Moda Operandi is much more intimate. The clothes all hang face-out like they do when you view them online. “If we can figure out a way to get all the most perfect things you can get online – and you can touch and feel it – that’s the perfect shopping experience. That’s our goal.”

The first MO boutique opened in London, tucked away in a mews at the back of Hyde Park Corner. But in New York, Santo Domingo says, there is a lot more snobbery about location. “We opened in London first because it just felt right, but in New York it can’t just feel right, it has to be right. You can’t expect a woman who lives in the perfect building on 5th avenue to come to 73rd between 2nd and 3rd. It’s just not going to work.

So we are East 64th right off Madison, between Madison and 5th. It took us a little longer to find the perfect spot.”

And while the London mews attracts a lot of foreigners, VIPs and Middle Eastern royalty, New York is much more local. As well as the

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interested in it and think it’s cool, then maybe everyone else will too.’ ” Now she doesn’t question her instincts. New finds like the Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz (a family friend of her Colombian husband, Andrés Santo Domingo) have been a runaway success. “It’s about confidence to go, ‘This is how women want to shop. If they don’t today, they will tomorrow.’ ” Moda Operandi has ambitious plans. While building the exclusivity and choice of the online experience, the salons will continue to open around the world. As well as San Francisco, LA and Miami, there will be openings in the Middle East and Asia. “If you stay in one place, your mindset and business will stay local. The more you move, the more you spread it,” she says. Her belief that fashion and the right accessory can change your outlook is infectious.

“Sometimes I’ll go to a party and see someone buttoned up in the perfect dress and barely holding it together. You just want to go up to them and mess up their hair and trade bags and say, ‘I know if you were carrying this crazy Inés Figaredo clutch, you’d have so much more fun tonight.’ We’d have a dance.

Come on! It can be life-changing if you just let it.’ ”

Santo Domingo, 40, grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, in the 1980s.

Her father, Ronald V Davis, was CEO of Perrier in America, so he traveled to France a lot. “As I got older, my father started to take me and I’d see glimpses of what life could be. Then we’d go back to Greenwich. It was such a small, conservative, don’t-raise-any-eyebrows place. Everything had to be perfect. I’d do all my back-to-school shopping in Paris with my father. You’d get the little French notebooks and pens and that would be as crazy as you could be.” Her mother, Judy Davis, is a mosaic artist and visually very creative. Her father was, she says, the complete opposite: “Very business oriented. I got a bit of both of them, which is quite lucky.”

While she says she wasn’t interested in clothes as a child, Santo Domingo started her career as a fashion assistant at Vogue in New York. “I learned to have this confidence. You have all these importantly connected women in the office and we were expected to come up with ideas and pitch things and I was shy and embarrassed to speak up. Someone told me once, ‘Don’t overthink things so much. You’re out and about; if you’re

Heeling power

This page: Matthew Williams

A display at Lauren’s new Madison Avenue boutique – where an appointment-only, luxury-shopping experience awaits

Fashion should be fun, she says. “We want to encourage a woman to dream. We try to take a conservative approach to the most far-fetched fashion and that strikes the right balance. Our point of view is playful and fun and unexpected. But it’s considered.”

Santo Domingo understands well the life of her wealthy clients. She lives with her husband and their children, Nicholas, 5, and Beatrice, 4, in Gramercy Park, her favorite New York neighborhood. She has great teams supporting her both at work and at home, where she loves to entertain – usually with an informal buffet. But she also loves being out and about in her city. She and her husband are regulars on Citi Bikes. If it’s a day out with the kids, she’ll go to the High Line, the Whitney, the park in Tribeca, and for lunch at Balthazar or Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. “The Children’s Museum of New York on the Upper West Side is probably the greatest place for children in the world – more of a playhouse.”

If she had a day without kids, she says, it would begin with coffee at Via Quadronno on the Upper East Side. Then the bookshop at the Met.

She would then go to Moda to look at the jewelry. Lunch would be at Sant Ambroeus in SoHo, followed by a visit to the new Whitney. Then a beauty treatment (“I have a whole list of facials; it depends on my mood, but maybe a Georgia Louise facial”). Then a snack of grilled corn at Café Habana and a browse around De Vera gallery and Opening Ceremony. Cocktails would be on the back terrace of the Bowery Hotel, with dinner at Momofuku Ko. A late night with friends would involve the new Socialista at Cipriani. “I’d go home at 4am and sleep until 3!” she says, with a mischievous laugh.

It really does sound perfect (and perhaps not so far from her own life).

“I always wanted my own business, to travel, to make my place in the world,” she says. “I wanted a family, so this is the life I always dreamed of. It would be ridiculous to complain for a second, for even a moment.”

Lauren Santo Domingo is co-founder and creative director of Moda Operandi; modaoperandi.com. Your address: The St. Regis New York

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Fiore Ingenuo necklace, $POR, Bulgari, bulgari.com Small Tulip leather tote, $1,450, Victoria Beckham, victoriabeckham.com

Dana embroidered cover-up, $290, Melissa Odabash, odabash.com

Kaikai straw hat, $390, Yosuzi, matchesfashion.com

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SHANGHAI NIGHTS FEW CITIES IN THE WORLD CONJURE IMAGES OF SOPHISTICATED GLAMOUR AND EXOTIC PROMISE LIKE SHANGHAI, SO MAKE SURE YOUR OUTFIT RAMPS UP THE ST YLE FROM DAY INTO EVENING

Your address: The St. Regis Shanghai Jing’an

Ink Samba flats, $725, Aquazzura, avenue32.com

Orange and pink striped organza pleated trousers, $2,530, Delpozo, delpozo.com

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Secret Wonder platinum, diamond, sapphire and aquamarine ring, £POR, Harry Winston, harrywinston.com

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Your address: The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico

Tiger cap, $43, Kenzo Kids, designerchildrenswear.com

Wallie whale bag, $104, Stella McCartney, stellamccartney.com

Lilac and white ribbed frill swimsuit, $97, Melissa Odabash, odabash.com Moorea swim shorts, $280, $10 donated to Te mana o te Moana, Vilebrequin, vilebrequin.com

Fusion sneakers, $580, Dior, dior.com

Crocodile cotton backpack, $138, Stella McCartney, stellamccartney.com

Striped organza dress, $351, Moschino Kid-Teen, childrensalon.com

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Woven striped wool tie, $150, Dunhill, dunhill.com Time Off leather backpack, $2,970, Berluti, berluti.com

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Melle trench coat, $700, Acne Studios, acnestudios.com

P9 Signature headphones, $899, Bowers & Wilkins, bowers-wilkins.com

Branigan pistachio tailored-fit linen polo, $165, Orlebar Brown, orlebarbrown.com

CITY LIGHTS THE TEXAN CIT Y OF HOUSTON IS A FASCINATING PLACE TO VISIT, WHETHER YOU’RE IN TOWN ON BUSINESS OR SEEING THE SIGHTS. JUST MAKE SURE YOUR OUTFIT IS UP TO THE JOB

Your address: The St. Regis Houston

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FANTASY

ISLAND Photography by Tobias Lundkvist Styling by Victoria Bain

WITH ITS GOLDEN SANDS AND CRYSTAL CLEAR WATERS, THE ST. REGIS LANGKAWI IS A PICTURE PERFECT TROPICAL PARADISE. WHAT BETTER PLACE TO SHOWCASE OUR EDIT OF LANGUID SUMMER STYLES AND LAID-BACK BEACHWEAR?

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Previous page: Palmer Harding cotton shirt dress, $480, palmerharding.com; Vix Lycra bikini briefs, $240, net-a-porter.com; Dower & Hall sterling silver Nomad cuff, $530, dowerandhall.com; Muun woven basket, $150, muun.bigcartel.com. Above: Raquel Allegra black silk dress, $495, raquelallegra.com. Right: Bamford silk blouse, $740, bamford.co.uk; Eres cream bikini top, $260, net-a-porter.com; brown suede sandals, $230, ancient-greek-sandals.com; Masscob cream trousers, $268, masscob.com; Dower & Hall 18ct gold vermeil concave Nomad cuff, $685, and double concave Nomad cuff, $741, dowerandhall.com

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Left: Eres navy bikini top, $250, net-a-porter.com; Masscob striped trousers, $250, masscob.com; Dower & Hall sterling silver Nomad cuff, $530, dowerandhall.com; Lock & Co hat, $140, lockhatters.co.uk. Above: Melissa Odabash white bikini, $220, odabash.com; Alexia Jordan 18ct gold Lobster Claw ring, $1,039, and 18ct gold Triangle of Alchemy ring, $655, alexiajordanjewellery.com; Dinny Hall Signature Bar bracelet, $225, dinnyhall.com

Above: Nanushka white dress, $285, nanushka.hu; Dower & Hall sterling silver Nomad cuff, $560, dowerandhall.com. Right: Nanushka blazer, $404, nanushka.hu; Ganni navy silk skirt, $239, ganni.com; Mikoh Lycra bikini top, ÂŁ110, net-a-porter.com; Dower & Hall cuffs, from $560, dowerandhall.com; Dinny Hall silver Toro slider pendant, $137, dinnyhall.com; Ancient Greek suede sandals, $162, ancient-greek-sandals.com Hair and make-up: Linda Sundqvist at Adamsky, using Laura Mercier. Model: Shenyue Ding at Models 1

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A Little Place I Know ADDRESS-BOOK SECRETS FROM LUMINARIES OF THE WORLDS OF FASHION, FOOD AND DESIGN

A linen shop in Mumbai

by David Linley Khadi Stores, 145 Prathana Samaj, Ram Mohan Road, Mumbai

I went to this shop primarily because Amin Jaffer, international director of Asian art at Christie’s in India, took me there – so it’s really his Little Place I Know, which I’ve learned to love too. Like all the best places, it’s in a nondescript alley, in a nondescript building. But once you’ve gone up the stairs, you find yourself in an Aladdin’s cave of linens; it’s a purveyor of the finest khadi (or hand-woven) cloth in India.

What’s interesting about khadi is that it’s not just cloth. In 1918, Mahatma Gandhi encouraged everyone in India to spin and weave, as a way of reducing dependency on Britain. So the cloth also has political resonance (hence Khadi Stores’ motto: “The Original Freedom Wear Since 1937”). The Maheshwari family has had Khadi Stores for four generations, and the father and son who run it are always dressed beautifully with their crisp white shirts, waistcoats and Nehru jackets. All their cotton is exquisite, from dhoties and kurtas to tablecloths and bedspreads, and all neatly stocked in one big room. Should you want to see something, it’s extracted and shaken out: a very good sales trick, because you then feel obliged to take it. Most things are hard to resist, anyway. Amin Jaffer always ends up buying all sorts, and I keep thinking about a beautiful throw.

I haven’t given in... yet.

David Linley, a nephew of the Queen, is an English furniture-maker and honorary UK chairman of the auction house Christie’s Your address: The St. Regis Mumbai

A trattoria in Rome by Anna Fendi Trattoria Al Moro, Vicolo delle Bollette 13, Rome

This will always be my favorite place to eat in Rome; it’s where my husband took me on our first date, and we discovered we had the same favorite dish. It’s like stepping inside a time capsule, with the walls of its three smallish dining rooms covered in newspaper clippings and photographs. It’s full of history: Mario Romagnoli (whose nickname was Il Moro) started it in 1929, and it’s now run by the third generation of Romagnolis, who have served every artist, performer and filmmaker who has come to Rome. The staff are also part of the restaurant’s appeal: older Italian men, who are kind and attentive, especially with difficult customers like me. Although they’re well known for their spaghetti al Moro (a piccante reinterpretation of carbonara), my favorite is zuppa di arzilla, a humble Roman soup with fresh vegetables and stingray, which is incredibly delicate and delicious. They also have an extensive wine list, handwritten in a giant book. Everything about it is special, which is why it’s full of Romans.

Anna Fendi is head of development for her family’s fashion brand. In 2016 she launched her own tableware and wine company. Your address: The St. Regis Rome

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A Little Place I Know

A Scandinavian gallery in New York

by Eva-Lotta Sjöstedt Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York

The American-Scandinavian Foundation, established in 1911, opened the Scandinavia House at the start of the millennium as a showplace for Scandinavian culture and life. Today it has several exhibitions a year, ranging from photography and painting to fashion and literature.

From outside, it’s quite modern-looking: a discreet entrance, near the best shops in and around Madison Avenue, framed by flags from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Inside, you see extraordinary things that you’d never see elsewhere; a few years ago, for example, there was a beautiful exhibition of paintings from the Danish Golden Age from the private collection of John L. Loeb Jr., the former US ambassador to Denmark. The center puts on exhibitions that explore nature and sustainability, concerts, panel discussions and film screenings that focus on Nordic life. It’s very special to me; not only is it a place to keep in touch with my Nordic heritage, it’s also a Scandinavian sanctuary in the middle of the hustle and bustle of New York.

Eva-Lotta Sjöstedt is the CEO of the Danish design brand Georg Jensen Your address: The St. Regis New York

A Tibetan café in Lhasa

by Jean-Michel Gathy In Tibet, everything people do has a religious and spiritual value. The most important temple in Lhasa is the Jokhang, which is surrounded by sub-temples, and a long path, about a kilometer long, which goes around the edge of the complex.

Tibetan pilgrims walk around it, clockwise, praying and turning prayer wheels as they go, and perhaps stopping off for some refreshment afterwards. Of many restaurants near the temple, I particularly like a very Tibetan one that is always full of local people. It’s two levels high: on ground level is the owner’s house, and about 12ft above that, a mezzanine restaurant. Its architectural language is simple, unadorned – it’s merely a place to stop and eat after you’ve finished your prayers. Unlike the temples below, which are incredibly peaceful, up there it’s chaotic: packed with tables and Tibetans in religious dress.

There’s a real spirit about it, a real soul. You could stay there three hours just watching people come and go, and walking around below, doing their prayers in an uninterrupted line.

You don’t go for the comfort, or the food. They eat yak, which they cook in yak butter, so it’s incredibly fatty and rich, with a local big fat potato from the Himalayas, and beans with a tomato sauce. I try not to eat – you wouldn’t unless you were incredibly hungry; I usually have tea. The people serving are all lovely Tibetans: high-cheekboned, black-haired, smiling people with reddish skin. It’s a bit like going to Café de Flore in Paris; you don’t go for the food, you go for the street life.

Jean-Michel Gathy is a leading hotel designer Your address: The St. Regis Lhasa

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Illustrations by David Sparshott

Mayke Ame, Barkhor Street, Lhasa

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WEDDING BELLES Words by Rosie Green

PERFUMED ROSES, HAND-ILLUSTRATED INVITES, INSTAGRAM-WORTHY TABLESCAPES – MODERN BRIDES WANT A CELEBRATION THAT’S A FEAST FOR THE SENSES. WE MEET FOUR OF THE WORLD’S LEADING TASTEMAKERS WHO CREATE DREAMY WEDDING DAYS

Christian Oth

N

obody wants a bare hall in a country club any more,” says Sylvia Weinstock, the cake-maker of choice for three presidential clans (the Trumps, Kennedys and Clintons). No, rather than standard décor, staid group photos, cookie-cutter sponges and restrained bouquets of roses, she says today her clients want to make a “standout visual statement” with unusual touches that capture the imagination and provide guests with that all-important “wow” factor.

All four wedding tastemakers Beyond talked to agreed that modern couples want a personalized occasion that takes into account their style, quirks, dreams and tastes to create something truly unique.

If it all feels less formal, stiff and regimented than in previous eras, there’s a reason. “Most brides are not 18 years old any more,” says Weinstock.

“They are career women and some are paying their way.” Which means greater bridal autonomy? “Yes,” says Sydney-based super-florist Saskia Havekes, adding that directives “rarely come from the family any more”.

Which may also be why weddings have become smaller and more intimate, offering the few guests who are invited a higher-quality experience. “I’m from Texas,” laughs Rebecca Gardner, go-to wedding planner for Hollywood and fashion royalty, “so I know all about huge blowout receptions, but it definitely feels like they’re on their way out of style.”

Yet some things remain the same. “The bride wants to look beautiful,” says Christian Oth, the No 1 lensman for the style cognoscenti. “The guests need a drink!” adds Rebecca. “And the cake needs to taste delicious!” laughs Sylvia. No change there, then.

The Next Gen Photographer

The Coveted Cake Maker

“So much has changed in wedding photography,” says Christian Oth. The globetrotting lensman, who started photographing brides 15 years ago and counts couples Sean Parker and Alexandra Lenas and Amanda Peet and David Benioff as clients, laughs when he says, “It used to be so bad. It was full of formal, staged line-ups that felt stiff and self-conscious.”

Oth was at the forefront of a new style of nuptials photography, more candid with a photojournalism feel (as seen on the previous pages). But there was a problem. “The bride still wanted to look beautiful,” smiles Oth, “and lots of photographers doing this new style didn’t know how to photograph a woman so she’d look good; how she should cross her legs; how to get a bride into a pose without looking stiff.”

So his style was born. Authentic, but still flattering, softer without being syrupy. And Oth sees it as his mission to “add to the energy of the wedding, not disrupt it”. So what are his tried-and-tested tricks for loosening up a nervous bride? “I’ll always ask her to twirl around once or twice.”

What’s changed? In the past few years, says Oth, “brides have become much more visually savvy; they’re really into the photos.” To that end, “they’re all in search of the next beautiful venue. Now I’m doing a lot more destination weddings.”

And with that, Oth heads off to catch his flight to the Maldives… christianothstudio.com

Sylvia Weinstock’s cakes have a fairytale quality that elicits an involuntary intake of breath from even the most hardened wedding-goers. All her creations showcase impeccable taste and artistry, which is surely what attracts her star-studded clientele (she counts heavyweights Oprah, Robert De Niro, Ralph Lauren and Jennifer Lopez among them).

What’s her trademark? Spellbinding sugar flowers, from blowsy roses to whimsical lilacs to heart-stoppingly gorgeous peonies. Perhaps the ultimate example of her talent was the 10ft-tall, 13-layer cake (it had different-flavored sponges and fillings) for Ivanka Trump’s marriage to Jared Kushner, which had cascades of handcrafted lisianthus, roses, lily of the valley and baby’s breath in beautiful creams and white.

Sylvia doesn’t just decorate with flowers, though; she can create galloping horses, dogs, shoes and houses from her ingredients, adapting her cakes to suit each culture: “In Japan they want more fruit, in the Middle East they like sugar. The English like fruit cake, Americans prefer sponges, often chocolate.” So popular are her cakes that Sylvia has been traveling the world, teaching cooks how to recreate her masterpieces. Her brand is now licensed in countries like Japan and Kuwait, with more collaborations planned.

Which means soon brides all over the world will be able to enjoy a slice of heaven. sylviaweinstock.com

Immaculate confections Sylvia Weinstock (top) is a cake designer to the stars, including Robert De Niro and J-Lo. She adapts her extravagant creations to suit each culture; some cakes are 10ft tall

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Melanie Dunea

The Trend

Modern Weddings

The Star Scene Setter

The Fantasy Florist

“All brides I know want a non-wedding,” laughs Rebecca Gardner, the go-to event/wedding planner for ultra-chic It Girls like Margherita Missoni and Lauren Santo Domingo.

“They all want a great party with a jolt of whimsy and delight.”

And providing this is Gardner’s specialty. “Brides have seen everything now,” she smiles, so she goes the extra mile to conjure up breathtaking “visual installations” that create a memorable talking point. Examples? She has suspended hand-painted butterflies over tables, constructed magical woodland scenes under centuries-old oak trees and delivered Bacchanalian tablescapes with an excess of sugared fruits (“so outdated, they’re funky”).

There’s always something magical, ethereal and irreverent underpinning her work. And all her weddings are highly personalized. “You want to reflect the bride’s style,” she says.

Gardner is adamant that guests’ enjoyment should be key.

Hence, she’s a stickler for maintaining a free flow of drink, and for flattering lighting (often provided by hundreds of twinkling candles) because “that way everyone feels pretty”.

So what’s the secret to her success? “For me, it’s about making the whole process joyous.” she laughs. “After all, it’s often a year-long relationship with the bride.”

Anything else? “I never say no,” she adds with pride.

“My job is to create a dream!” rebecca-gardner.com

“Luxurious blooms in large quantities,” says Grandiflora’s Saskia Havekes when asked to describe her company’s signature wedding style. The Sydney-based florist, who works for clients such as Elle Macpherson, Cate Blanchett and Miranda Kerr, adds that her arrangements are “less structured, more as if they were just picked from the garden”.

Her flowers are luscious, sensuously full and gloriously real.

And often her arrangements are given “an elegant twist with fresh greens, berries and herbs” to create a “rustic, earthy feel”.

After years of minimalist white, Saskia’s love of riotous colors feels modern and refreshing. “Color is huge,” she says, adding that “jewel-toned” blooms create a “lovely party atmosphere”. And for the ceremony and bride’s bouquet, where white or pale is often a requirement, Saskia introduces a sophisticated “dusty nude tone”.

Riotous colors? Loose, thrown-together arrangements?

Do such looks rattle family members who might be footing the bill? “Traditionally, the groom’s family would pay for the flowers,” says Saskia, but now most brides and grooms pay the bill together. This means there’s a much stronger sense of style and personality coming from the bride.”

What’s the bride’s No 1 request? “There’s a strong desire for the flowers to be a conversation piece,” she says. And in this Instagram age, who would expect less? grandiflora.net

Dream big The wedding planner Rebecca Gardner is a stickler for free-flowing drink and flattering lighting. “That way everyone feels pretty,” she says

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The Connoisseur: Richard Mille

LIFE IN THE

FAST LANE Words by Alex Doak Photography by Peter Christensen

This car paved the way for 50 years of racing. I’m used to saying my main business is automobiles, and watchmaking is to help me pass the time!” he chuckles, as we venture inside, classic racer after classic racer revealing itself beneath the low oak beams – a Lotus 49B here, Matra MS5 there, a BRM P115 next to that. “For me, the racing machines always came first,” Mille explains.

But which car came first? When did his collection start to snowball? “My first-ever car was a rusty old Peugeot,” he says, with trademark gusto. “I was a student at the time, full of dreams and testosterone. The car didn’t really fit my ideals nor my lifestyle! But a ‘collection’? Does it start when you have two or three cars?” he ponders out loud. “I really don’t know, to be honest.

I suppose it became serious when I started paying big money for some cars, like my ’67 BRM.” His collection is not all F1, though.

Picking our way around the heart of his artfully cluttered man-cave, it’s clear that Mille’s favorite era is what he refers to as the “golden period” of Le Mans: the heyday of the 24-hour endurance race, from the mid-1960s to ’70s. (A preference underscored by his Porsche 907 and 908/3, not to mention an original Ford GT40 – the famed American “Ferrari Killer” that occupies every petrolhead’s fantasy collection – all squeezed into his garage’s workshop area.)

“Squeezed” being the operative word. Without building another annex and further upsetting Marlinspike’s symmetry, surely something has to give? “I wouldn’t sell anything in my collection now,” he says. “I’d rather perform hara-kiri!”

And his next purchase? “I’d rather not say,” he grins, sliding the doors home emphatically, “because if I do, and you publish it, the price will be even higher when I find it!” richardmille.com

Whisper it, but while Richard Mille founded the most revolutionary watch brand of recent years – with boutiques near numerous St. Regis hotels in cities from Jakarta to Beijing – his first passion has always been cars, as the extraordinary garage at his French château attests.

Crunching up the driveway towards Mille’s private residence near Rennes in France, I’m reminded of a scene from the pages of a Tintin comic book: in particular, Marlinspike Hall, home of the doughty Captain Haddock.

Like Marlinspike, perfect symmetry, manicured grandiosity and Louis XIII style are all present and correct at Monsieur Mille’s own château in northern France – right down to the surrounding lawns and sprawling parkland. The only difference between my cartoon fantasy and real life seems to be the owners themselves: one, a cartoon seadog; the other, a swarthy, urbane genius of modern watchmaking, who single-handedly breathed hi-tech life into a fusty old craft at the turn of the millennium.

On this visit, though, it isn’t the house I’ve come to see, nor the mindbendingly complex tourbillon ticking away on his wrist; it’s the building just to the right of the sweeping driveway, just within the moat (yes, there’s a moat). Outwardly, it’s built in keeping with the château’s light brickwork and slate tiles.

Inwardly, it’s packed to the brim with pure motorsport nirvana, with a few classic coupés thrown in for good measure.

When we enter, the first car crouched by our feet is Bruce McLaren’s original Formula One car of 1966 – one of only three “M2B” chassis models ever built. “If, when I created the company 15 years ago,” Mille says, “someone had told me that my watch brand would one day partner with McLaren, I wouldn’t have believed it.

‘If, when I created the company 15 years ago, someone had told me that my watch brand would one day partner with McLaren, I wouldn’t have believed it’

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THE ST. REGIS ATLAS The St. Regis story around the globe, from the first hotel opening in Manhattan in 1904 to the latest in Astana

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1. The St. Regis New York 2. The St. Regis Beijing 3. The St. Regis Rome 4. The St. Regis Houston 5. The St. Regis Washington, D.C. 6. The St. Regis Aspen Resort 7. The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort 8. The St. Regis San Francisco 9. The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort 10. The St. Regis Singapore 11. The St. Regis Bali Resort 12. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort 13. The St. Regis Atlanta 14. The St. Regis Mexico City 15. The St. Regis Princeville Resort 16. The St. Regis Deer Valley 17. The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico 18. The St. Regis Osaka

19. The St. Regis Lhasa Resort 20. The St. Regis Bangkok 21. The St. Regis Florence 22. The St. Regis Tianjin 23. The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort 24. The St. Regis Shenzhen 25. The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi 26. The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort 27. The St. Regis Doha 28. The St. Regis Mauritius Resort 29. The St. Regis Abu Dhabi 30. The St. Regis Chengdu 31. The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya 32. The St. Regis Istanbul 33. The St. Regis Mumbai 34. The St. Regis Dubai 35. The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central 36. The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur

37. The St. Regis Langkawi 38. The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort 39. The St. Regis Cairo 40. The St. Regis Changsha 41. The St. Regis Shanghai Jing’an 42. The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club 43. The St. Regis Astana

COMING SOON 44. The St. Regis Amman December 2017 45. The St. Regis Kanai Resort January 2018 46. The St. Regis Nanjing January 2018 47. The St. Regis Quingshui Bay Resort (Sanya) March 2018 48. The St. Regis Zhuhai April 2018 49. The St. Regis Lijiang Resort June 2018 50. The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm December 2018

The Back Story

NO PLACE

LIKE ROME Words by David Gritten

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visited Rome to shoot the epic Cleopatra, and carried on an illicit affair that made global headlines for weeks on end.

While the film was being shot in 1962, the couple stayed at what was then called the Grand – which has been known as The St. Regis Rome since the turn of the century – and it became one the film’s informal production offices, with ordinary Romans waiting in line to be auditioned for lavish crowd scenes. The gorgeous belle époque palace, founded in 1894 by the legendary hotelier César Ritz, had become a Roman home away from home for dozens of stars, ranging from Kirk Douglas, Jack Lemmon, Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner and her then husband Frank Sinatra (sometimes quarreling furiously) to Fiat’s playboy tycoon Gianni Agnelli, who maintained an apartment there all year round.

Jess Walter’s bestselling 2012 novel, Beautiful Ruins, gives a flavor of the place. One of his characters, an Italian man of modest means named Pasquale, enters the hotel to see hundreds of extras for Cleopatra being cast: “The mahogany door opened on to the most ornate lobby he’d ever seen: marble floors, floral frescoes on the ceilings, crystal chandeliers, stained-glass skylights depicting saints and birds and glum lions. It was hard to take it all in, and he had to force himself not to gape like a tourist...”

Via Veneto was heaven for the press, even in daylight, with all these famous people strolling and behaving impeccably.

After all, they were rich, elegant, fashionably dressed by chic designers – and their images sold newspapers. Journalists

hroughout the 1950s and early ‘60s, Rome was the coolest city on earth, synonymous with fashion, style, design, glamour, a vibrant if sometimes disreputable nightlife – and, of course, movies.

The epicenter of all this excitement and frenetic activity was a hitherto-unremarkable 200-yard street named Via Veneto. It was here that international high society would gather: the rich, louche and beautiful. There were movie stars and international financiers; haute couture tycoons and minor noblemen; millionaire playboys and stunning models, dressed to kill. The stories that emerged from this small street made it one of the most famous places on earth.

The after-dark activities, and sometimes outlandish behavior, in bars, restaurants and nightclubs on and around Via Veneto were the stuff of worldwide gossip. It looked like one long, wild party to which only the gilded and glittering were invited. All this lasted a decade or more, and from the outside, at least, it looked like a sweet life. No surprise, then, that the greatest film documenting the era was called La Dolce Vita – even if its title was sardonic.

What a scene it was. On any day in this feverish period it was hard not to catch sight of people so famous they could be identified by their surnames alone: Bardot. Sinatra.

Ekberg. Welles. Lollobrigida. Mastroianni. Loren. You might glimpse Prince Rainier, Aristotle Onassis, the Aga Khan, Jackie Kennedy, King Farouk. Not to mention Burton and Taylor, or Liz and Dick, as the papers called them when they

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AGT s.r.l./REX/Shutterstock

IN THE 1950S AND ’60S, SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN MOVIES DECAMPED TO ITALY TO MAKE FILMS IN A CIT Y THAT NO PAINTED BACKDROP COULD REPLACE: ROME. MOST OF THEM STAYED IN ONE HOTEL, NOW THE ST. REGIS, PLAYING OUT THEIR LEGENDARY ROLES — AND PERSONAL DRAMAS — IN THIS SO-CALLED “HOLLYWOOD ON THE TIBER”

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thing about it was the speed with which it happened and its time-frame: only a few years previously, the Eternal City was a devastated place, having been occupied by invaders – first the Nazis, then the Allies – with large sections of it reduced to ruins. Plus, of course, Italy had been on the losing side in World War II; it was a Fascist nation ruled mercilessly by the tyrannical dictator Benito Mussolini. Yet only five years after hostilities ceased, it felt as if the western world had swiftly forgiven Italy, and Rome re-assumed its place as a friendly international playground.

Three great neo-realist Italian films, all shot so cheaply and convincingly they looked like documentaries, helped to sway opinion, especially in America. Roberto Rossellini’s Rome, Open City (1945) and Vittorio de Sica’s Shoeshine (1946) and Bicycle Thieves (1948) convinced the world that Rome’s citizens were mostly poor, decent and struggling to get by in their beautiful but war-ravaged city.

It also helped that Italy underwent an economic resurgence in the post-war years: “il boom”, as it became known. This was partly due to generous American aid under the Marshall Plan, but was also thanks to the country’s production of well-designed products for mass consumption: domestic appliances, Fiats and Vespa motor scooters, all of which introduced us to items that were both chic and iconic.

After the war, the population around Via Veneto changed. Although once a hangout for artists, writers and intellectuals, after the US Embassy opened for business in

and cameramen worked the Via Veneto beat in pairs, nosing out juicy titbits of gossip. Any celebrities behaving in an unseemly manner found their activities captured as they fled from gangs of ruthless cameramen, indifferent to their feelings and privacy. These men – some on Vespas, some simply sprinting – came to be known as paparazzi – after Paparazzo in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, the photographer sidekick to Marcello Mastroianni’s gossip columnist.

The paparazzi made the lives of some celebrities sheer hell. One of their favorite targets was Anita Ekberg, famous from La Dolce Vita as the sex-goddess actress who provocatively waded into the Fontana di Trevi and beckoned Mastroianni to join her. She and her husband, English actor Anthony Steel, were often out late on Via Veneto, sometimes openly arguing, with Steel frequently quite tipsy. He would literally fight back at the paparazzi, throwing punches. On one occasion Ekberg felt so persecuted by paparazzi who had tailed her all the way home, she grabbed a bow in her house and fired off arrows at her pursuers.

The standoffs between celebrities and paparazzi, out for scandalous photos that hinted at adultery or inebriation, became an almost nightly melodrama. Scuffles, shouting, chases and recriminations were commonplace. It wasn’t always seemly, yet the whole world seemed to be watching.

The phenomenon of La Dolce Vita seemed to emerge from out of nowhere, and several unlikely elements contributed to bring it into being. The most remarkable

Scooting star Above: Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd on the set of Ben Hur, 1958, in Cinecittà studios, Rome. Heston (left) is riding one of Italy’s iconic inventions: the Vespa scooter.

Previous page: Brigitte Bardot gets snapped by the paparazzi in Rome, 1970

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Below: Mondadori Portfolio/Contributor. Opposite: Keystone/Stringer (both Getty Images)

The Back Story

No Place Like Rome Hollywood studios circumvented this by making films abroad, using blocked funds as their budgets. Italy was a beneficiary of this gambit: it boasted a reliable climate for uninterrupted shooting, and great locations including beaches, coastlines and the glories of Rome. Above all, it had Cinecittà (Cinema City), a world-class film studio conveniently situated on the outskirts of Rome. Opened in 1937, the dream factory was Mussolini’s brainchild (something Italians are still a little sheepish about). Il Duce grasped how potent moving images could be for propaganda, and resolved to make Cinecittà the equal of Hollywood studios. This was a dictator who genuinely loved movies (he founded the Venice Film Festival); with Cinecittà, he effectively created a viable film industry for Italy.

So it was that 20th Century Fox shot Prince of Foxes, a medieval adventure story starring Tyrone Power and Orson Welles, wholly in Italy. On its release in 1949, it grossed enough money to make shooting Hollywood movies in

1946 in the old Palazzo Margherita, the street became the heart of an unofficial American colony, which the Yanks nicknamed “the Beach”. By the end of the 1950s, it boasted a Harry’s Bar and a Café de Paris, establishments already existing in cities favored by jet-setters, and the airline TWA began operating direct flights between New York and Rome. The city’s status as a glamorous destination was sealed; and Via Veneto was the hub of a neighborhood where visiting Americans, especially wealthy ones staying in luxury hotels, might feel at home.

As for movies, the genesis of La Dolce Vita was rooted in a pragmatic business decision. The Italian government, like others in Europe, was alarmed by the overwhelming post-war success of Hollywood films and passed legislation to defend its film industry in a number of ways. These included a strategy known as “blocking” funds earned in Italy by American films, insisting they could only be spent in the country where they were earned.

The after-dark activities on and around Via Veneto were the stuff of worldwide gossip. It looked like one long, wild party to which only the gilded and glittering were invited

Red-hot lovers Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton drive off after dinner in Piazza Navona, Rome.

The couple met on the set of Cleopatra. Both were married to others at the time, and their illicit affair became hot tabloid fodder

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Elizabeth Taylor photo: AP/Topfoto.co.uk. All other photos: Getty Images

No Place Like Rome Italy seem a shrewd idea. In its wake, MGM upped the ante, announcing an epic production of Quo Vadis, set in ancient Rome and starring Robert Taylor and Deborah Kerr. A huge production, even by Hollywood standards, it boasted a then remarkable budget of $7.6 million. Statistics about the film’s scale were bandied about by publicists. Some scenes used 30,000 extras, all of them job-hungry Romans.

A record 32,000 costumes were designed for the movie.

The production took over Cinecittà for a whole year.

Quo Vadis was such a big deal that, in June 1950, Time magazine ran a leading piece about it, and the significance of making American movies abroad (now known as “runaway production”). The piece was titled Hollywood on the Tiber, and the phrase quickly stuck.

If it seemed a risky proposition, it paid off. Quo Vadis went on to gross three times its budget in North America, and became the highest-grossing film of 1951. As a place for making Hollywood movies, Rome was suddenly hot.

And Hollywood kept on coming. The next big film was wildly different, but also advanced Rome’s credentials as a destination for Hollywood film-makers. Roman Holiday (1953) was a charming romantic comedy starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. She played a princess, in the city on an official visit; she abandons her duties when she falls for Peck, playing a reporter who takes her sightseeing on the back of his Vespa (of course), taking in the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum and the Trevi fountain. Director William Wyler chose to shoot largely out in the streets,

aware that the real city looked better than any backdrop the movies could devise. Thus, the film had three stars, Hepburn, Peck – and Rome, at its most ravishing.

No-one would argue that Three Coins in the Fountain (1954) was much of a movie. Its premise was paper-thin: three young American women, in town and looking for love, each tosses her loose change into the Trevi Fountain and makes a wish. But it was a huge hit and its title song, crooned by Sinatra, topped the charts and won an Oscar.

Rome? It looked as lustrous as ever.

Looking back, it feels as if Cleopatra (1963), a film that was a spectacle but failed to justify its absurdly expensive budget, was the high water mark of the La Dolce Vita era.

No bubble suddenly burst, but as the 1960s progressed, it seemed other cities (notably London) had seized Rome’s mantle. The Café de Paris moved out, as did Harry’s Bar. They have since returned, and although Via Veneto is a less frantic street than in its heyday, it still has a real allure.

It’s not hard to conjure up images from its illustrious past: a young Sophia Loren striding down the street, heading for the stardom that awaited her; Mastroianni, avoiding the gawping gaze of passers-by, and looking rueful; Ava Gardner, flashing her brilliant smile as she leaves a restaurant. And, of course, the ever-present paparazzi, jostling, shouting and waving, their flash guns popping.

Times may change, but good stories never die.

Your address: The St. Regis Rome

Lights, cameras, acting Above: Taine Elg at Cinecittà Studios while filming Les Bacchantes, 1960.

Opposite, clockwise from top left: Dolce Vita star Anita Ekberg lights up a cobblestoned street in Rome, c. 1955; Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra, 1962; Greta Garbo gets mobbed in the Eternal City, 1958; scooting through Via Veneto

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MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE Words by Anna Wallace-Thompson

THE NEPALESE ARTIST GOVINDA SAH “AZAD” DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE SUBLIME LANDSCAPES OF HIS NATIVE HIMALAYAS, THE COSMOS, THE PHYSICAL AND THE METAPHYSICAL, TO CREATE PAINTINGS FILLED WITH LIGHT

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ebulas burst before your eyes, galaxies mingling with divine light. Some are rose-gold like sunrise; others are inky and bruised like a rainy evening sky. In the large-scale paintings of Nepalese artist Govinda Sah “Azad” (b. 1974), the many faces of the sublime in nature can be found – from bursts of energy exploding like volcanic eruptions to swirling, smoky cloudscapes. “Nature is a force far bigger than us,” he says. “What I try to do is immerse myself in the elements, meditating, reflecting on the interconnection between clouds, the landscape and weather.”

As a boy growing up in southeast Nepal, Sah always knew drawing was in his blood. His refusal to give up his passion – much to his parents’ frustration – earned him the nickname “Azad” (or “Freedom”), and by the age of 15 he had made his way to Delhi, where he found work as a billboard painter, before returning home and enrolling at art school at Nepal’s Tribhuvan University. Daily sessions painting outdoors at dawn allowed him to experience the splendor of the sun rising over the majestic Himalayas, while his experience as a sign painter gave him the confidence to go big.

With exhibitions in countries from London and Krakow to Kathmandu, he has ample opportunity to travel and draw inspiration from the awe-inspiring scale of nature. What he sees there often goes beyond the physical. By painting clouds as repeated drops of water and light, he says he has come to understand “why the cloud is the visual symbol of spirituality in nature, that we can see transcendence against gravity”.

While his main palette is paint, it is not his only medium.

The master also often adds sculptural interventions in the form of burnt holes in the canvas or small tears, as well as physical objects such as hair and pearls. He also sometimes paints with smoke, the blackened charred strokes creating a sense of delicacy, as if the marks were made from air itself.

Next, he hopes to create even bigger, oversized paintings that are contained yet burst forth from the frame. “Who knows?” he says. “I let art take me where it wants to go.”

Govinda Sah “Azad”’s work will be exhibited by the October Gallery at Abu Dhabi Art 2017. Your address: The St. Regis Abu Dhabi; The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi

Reflection, 2016 “In my early works, there was a sense of 3D and of illusion; you had to come up close, almost to touch it.

I like this idea of touch, like connecting your eternal self to the universe. I’m still playing with the relationship between 2D and 3D, trying to see how we understand the notion of ‘infinity’ by connecting with the night sky.”

Art

In Between, 2015 (above), and Wondering in Dark, 2013 (opposite) “Painting can often be limited to oil, water or acrylic paints. But I use different materials, too, as I want to create freshness. I use clay, sand, smoke, burnt holes or other objects. Take In Between (above, left), for example. Here I’m trying to capture the essence of the universe and infinity, combining the physical and metaphysical. In Wondering in Dark (above, right), you can see the influence of the great British painter Turner, who I came across in my early studies. I love his paintings of seas, water and storms; they really move me. I love his use of light, how he creates reflections of light and color. I want to capture that energy in my own work, that energy of nature.”

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Govinda Sah “Azad”

Mystic Matter, 2015, and Tactile Universe, 2016 (both overleaf) “Light and the reflection of light is important to me; I look for materials that don’t lose that reflection.

Mixed-media materials need to reflect the passage of time, of daylight on the canvas – as seen in Mystic Matter (overleaf, left). Every single touch or brush stroke, bits of color, textured materials and layers of color are interconnected. I use a special breathing technique while painting. That might come from my Eastern culture: making art and painting is like a meditation in everyday life. I’m trying to make the emotion I feel visible, tangible in the painting. Tactile Universe (overleaf, right) is a good example of that. The closer you go to it, the more you want to touch it – to make emotion tactile.”

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Images courtesy of October Gallery, London

Art

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Govinda Sah “Azad”

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Style

JEWELS IN THE CROWN 82

Indian Jewelry

THE CARVED GEMS, FINE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND EASTERN AESTHETICS THAT HAVE CHARACTERIZED INDIAN JEWELRY FOR CENTURIES ARE NOW INSPIRING EXQUISITE NEW RANGES IN THE WEST

Words by Jessica Diamond

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covered the chest morphed into the fashionable sautoirs of the 1920s, while engraved emeralds (carved in Jaipur and often the centerpiece of ceremonial jewels) became a staple of the art-deco style running concurrent at the time.

Cartier incorporated these stones into a genre that’s still firmly part of their house style: Tutti-Frutti has carved, unfaceted emeralds, rubies and sapphires in leaf and fruit motifs set against the sparkle of white diamonds – a combination considered daring and avantgarde at the time. (Cartier has never stopped making Tutti-Frutti pieces; last year the house showed the largest piece in this style it had ever made: the aptly named Rajasthan, featuring a central carved emerald of 136.97 carats.)

Boucheron’s love affair with the Subcontinent started in much the same way.

Its recent Bleu de Jodhpur high jewelry collection is a riff on the “Blue city”, mixing Indian motifs and materials (such as marble from the same quarry used for the Taj Mahal) with Indian jewelry styles, underlined with the ever-present sharp execution of a Place Vendôme jeweler. East meets West in a mix of ancient custom and contemporary savvy.

While Surat in Gujarat is famed for diamond cutting and the mines of Golkonda have produced some of the world’s most legendary diamonds, it is Jaipur in Rajasthan where the cutting of colored stones and the centuries-old techniques of enameling are still practiced. Western jewelers

rom the slums of Mumbai to the palaces of Rajasthan; from the technology hubs of Bangalore to the spiritual mecca of Varanasi, one common thread weaves its way through India: an enduring love of jewelry. No one subcontinent’s cultural, geological and historical makeup is so entwined in the sourcing, manufacturing and self-adorning as this great land mass – from the excesses of Mughal royalty to the traditional nose-rings, hand jewelry and stacked gold bracelets worn by millions.

Characterized by yellow gold, strings of beads, carved emeralds and bold color-combinations, its influence in varying degrees has crept into Western jewelry design, a process that can be traced back to the early 20th century.

As the great jewelry houses of Paris – Cartier, Van Cleef and Boucheron – made stone-buying trips to India in the early 1900s, their paths inevitably crossed with the maharajas of the time who, seeking a more Western, refined aesthetic, commissioned the maisons to re-make their jewels, replacing the traditional yellow gold with finer, less visible, platinum settings. One of Cartier’s biggest ever commissions occurred in 1925, when the Maharaja of Patiala handed over his crown jewels for total re-modeling, a job that took several years to complete and proved key to an East/West cross-pollination of styles. The Indian tradition of long, beaded necklaces that

Romancing the stone Haut diamantaire Nirav Modi (niravmodi.com) blends Indian and Western influences to create exquisite pieces like his “Emerald Maharani” necklace (left) and his “Flamingo Embrace” bangle (above)

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Style

As the great jewelry houses of Paris made stone-buying trips to India in the early 1900s, their paths inevitably crossed with the maharajas of the time

such as Bulgari source many of their signature candy-bright gems from the ancient city, with creative director Lucia Silvestri making frequent trips to oversee the process. She concedes that these visits have informed the house’s rainbow palette. “I love the colors of the saris the women wear in Jaipur,” she says, “and how they clash orange and pink, blue and red, in unexpected combinations. It gives me fresh ideas for designs.”

Less mainstream jewelers are also harnessing the centuries-old expertise of Indian workmen.

Alice Cicolini, for instance, uses their enamel workshops to create exquisite hand-painted rings, and cult jeweler Noor Fares created her Navratna collection after a trip to Varanasi.

Hanut Singh, great-grandson of the Maharaja of Kapurthala, who was a famous patron of Cartier, has spent ten years honing his signature fusion of old and new. Singh shows at private trunk shows and attracts a cult following from the likes of Madonna, Beyoncé and Diane Von Furstenberg.

Although India’s influence has always been present in the West, one development from a

particular jeweler marks a significant change.

Nirav Modi is the first Indian jeweler to combine Eastern motifs and themes in a thoroughly Western way. Unlike Indian brands like Amrapali, whose core designs are dominated by yellow gold and large colored stones that resonate with its Indian clientele, Modi has expanded his modern designs, attracting high-profile fans like Kate Winslet and Naomi Watts. Although his designs are Western, his Indian inspiration is still there.

His Mughal range features diamonds cut to mimic petals, the shape inspired by 18th-century paintings of Mughal gardens. And his Maharani necklace with strings of emerald beads owes everything to its ancestral roots yet looks entirely at home in the window of his New York store.

Progression is everything; from an aesthetic that originated in the coffers of the maharajas to a style now gently disseminated throughout Western jewelry, India’s influence continues to dazzle, a century on.

Your address: The St. Regis Mumbai

Fit for a Maharaja Above, left to right: “Gothikas” earrings and “Ebony Triangles”, both by Hanut Singh (hanutsingh.com); Indian-made enameled pieces from Alice Cicolini (alicecicolini.com)

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croll through your social media feed and you’re bound to see it: an envyinducing photo of a friend soaking up the sun on a giant swan-shaped pool lilo, cocktail in hand. Or a heart-pounding video of a daredevil with feet strapped to a hoverboard, performing tricks over the water.

From the extravagant to the futuristic, water toys are not what they used to be, with innovations ranging from motorcycles that morph into jet skis to electric wakeboards that don’t even require a boat for you to catch air.

John Courtney of FunAir, which has inflatable slides, floating islands with climbing walls and James Bond-worthy jet-packs among its offerings, says the water-toy industry is a fast-expanding one. “People are always looking for a new experience,” he says, “whether it’s at a resort, yacht or their home.”

One of the first serious jetsetter toys was the JetLev personal flying machine: a contraption that straps on your back, siphoning a jet ski’s power through a hose to send you 50ft into the air at 47mph. Another was Zapata’s Racing’s Flyboard, which uses similar technology, but with a board strapped to your feet, allowing you to soar 40ft into the air and do flips.

Today, almost as cool are electric-powered surfboards and wakeboards, which negate the need for a boat, or even waves: the Onean electric surfboard, for instance, which cuts

through the water using jet-propulsion at speeds of up to 32mph, and the Radinn Wakejet Cruise, which gives boarders the freedom more commonly found in surfing – except controlled by a wireless remote.

According to Jessica Engelmann of Northrop & Johnson charter broker, having an ample toy chest is the key to a successful boating holiday.

“A good toy chest has at least two waverunners, a tender, towable rafts, paddleboards and wakeboards,” she says, “and a really great toy chest might have something like a drone, and a waterslide and flyboard.” The company’s 39m Revelry, for instance, comes with an inflatable blob launcher, a hoverboard and a waterslide.

A key trend, says Sam Powell, director of Superyacht Toy Shop, is toys that are easy to transport and easy to use, like the latest Live Paddle Board, which is hard to fall off, and the new Hobie Mirage Eclipse Stand Up Pedalboard, which combines a paddleboard and bicycle.

Dual-purpose tenders have also become popular in recent years. Although they’re not a new concept (in 1961 the first Germanbuilt Amphicar made a splash at the New York Auto Show, and one even crossed the English Channel in 1968), today’s land-towater vehicles are substantially faster. Today’s Gibbs Biski motorcycle can travel at a speedy 80mph on the highway and continue into the water at a respectable 37mph.

The shape of boats has also transformed substantially. The futuristic-looking Kormaran, for instance, can morph from a monohull tender to a catamaran or a trimaran, and by unleashing hydrofoils can fly more than 3ft above the sea.

The 13m Wider 42 can be transformed from a high-performance, narrow carbon hull to a vessel 18ft wider in anchorage, at the flick of a button, “so you can not just get there before your friends,” says Jeremy Roche of Wider Yachts, “but be relaxing on a spacious deck, with your champagne open, as they arrive.”

And while it’s pleasurable to have a yacht, it’s not essential in order to enjoy water toys.

There are plenty to have fun on for landlubbers, says Engelmann, ranging from “fun floats in your pool, like the swan lilos and Seabobs that are easily transported, to GoPros and drones, which keep getting more sophisticated.”

Not all the drones she recommends are airborne. The Orak Hydrofoil Drone from

by Parrot, for instance, works much like a vamped-up boat, controlled by your smartphone, which can do stunts and take photos as it glides at 6mph: all ideal fuel for Instagram.

And once people have seen something on social media, Courtney adds, and imagined themselves taking part, “it’s a small step to wanting a water toy themselves.”

Your address: The St. Regis Mauritius

SPLASHING OUT Words by Risa Merl Illustration by Jun Cen

ONCE, THE ONLY TOY YOU’D FIND ON A YACHT WAS A TENDER. NOW, NO LUXURY VESSEL IS COMPLETE WITHOUT A TRANCHE OF EXTRAVAGANT PLAYTHINGS, FROM HI-TECH GADGETS AND MINI-SUBMARINES TO LAVISH LILOS

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Kitchen Confidential

Words by Mel Bradman

OSCAR PORTAL, THE SPANISH CHEF REVOLUTIONIZING MEXICO’S CULINARY SCENE, ON HIS WEAKNESS FOR FAST FOOD, THE MOST MEMORABLE MEAL OF HIS LIFE, AND LEARNING TO COOK IN HIS GRANDMOTHER’S KITCHEN Which dish are you most proud of? Smoked eel salad with tomato gel, watermelon and prunes. It’s molecular cuisine; I created it at Pinera in Madrid and it’s as beautiful as it is tasty.

Oscar Portal is the innovative head chef at The St. Regis Mexico City, where he oversees six restaurants, from the King Cole Bar to private dining. Prior to moving to Mexico, he was pivotal in transforming the gastronomy scene in Madrid, while one of his first projects at St. Regis was creating a refined fish-and-chips pop-up called Krug & Chips.

The most delicious thing to eat in Mexico City? Taco al pastor. You can find it in local taquerias, but it’s best bought as street food. You should buy it the minute you arrive. For simple, tasty food, there’s nothing better. I particularly like the corn tortillas filled with marinated pork, curry sauce, onion, pineapple and coriander.

What do you eat when you’re home alone? Because I cook so much at work, when I’m at home I often eat takeaways: pepperoni pizza, cheeseburgers, sushi, and Chinese dishes like vegetable spring rolls, rice soup and dumplings. If I cook, it’s only because my two-and-ahalf-year-old son has to eat well. What I eat is not good for my health!

Which meal would you have again, if you could? One I had with my wife when she was pregnant with our first son. We’d been apart – I was working in Mexico while she was at home in Madrid – and we reunited in San Sebastian during Holy Week at [our friend] Martin Berasategui’s restaurant. We ate lobster salad, hake in green sauce and chocolate mousse. It was one of the best meals of my life.

What would you order from your own menu? Clarified chicken broth or fish broth, then short-rib glaze [roasted short ribs] followed by Parmesan ice cream.

What is your favorite dish to cook? Anything with fish or seafood. These dishes are a real challenge to cook, because their taste – particularly turbot – is so delicate.

The secret to running a restaurant? There’s no magic formula, but you do need to make sacrifices: you work long hours and you give up holidays.

If you don’t love it, there’s no future.

Any local food that particularly inspires you? There’s a really spicy dish I love from the coast of Mexico called aguachile – thinly sliced shrimps, lime and vegetables, which can be cooked in different sauces. I also like mole, an ancient Mexican sauce that’s really complicated to make; some recipes use over 100 ingredients.

What was your favorite food as a child? A soup my mother used to cook, cocido madrileño, and my grandmother’s meatballs. I could eat these foods every week and never get tired of them.

What reminds you of home? Every Saturday, my whole family gathers around my mother’s table. I go home twice a year and we still do it.

Sitting around that table makes me feel like a boy again, and brings back memories of helping my grandmother in the kitchen when I was little.

The proudest moment in your career? The first was when I was working in a restaurant called Pinera in Madrid and the newspaper El Mundo voted us Restaurant of the Year in 2010. Considering how many restaurants there are in Madrid, this was a huge achievement. The second was moving to Mexico City and becoming executive chef at St. Regis.

Your address: The St. Regis Mexico City

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ous vide – the culinary technique that sees vacuum-packed items submerged in a water bath at precisely controlled temperatures – helped define the food of the Noughties. Many of the world’s leading chefs, from Heston Blumenthal to Thomas Keller, employed it behind the scenes. Alongside the much-vaunted rise of “molecular gastronomy”, it allowed science to play a more prominent role in high-end cuisine, guaranteeing accuracy, consistency and even perfection.

But it’s not exactly mouth-wateringly sexy, is it? So just as every movement prompts a counter-insurgency, the past few years have witnessed the more populist re-emergence of cooking and smoking over fire and charcoal. From London to Singapore, the Maldives to Mauritius, barbecue is back. What’s more, the dishes emerging from the parillas and kilns of today’s kitchens and outdoor cooking stations feed not only our appetites, but our raw primal instincts.

At his Singapore restaurant Burnt Ends, chef Dave Pynt smokes pretty much everything. “Pineapple, leeks, quail’s eggs, fish – you name it, we can get smoke into it,” he says. Pynt, originally from Perth in Western Australia, opened a pop-up in East London in 2013 under the title Burnt Enz. It proved such a roaring success that the chef was whisked off to Singapore with his four-ton dual-cavity oven to open the fully fledged version (replacing the questionable “z” with a respectable “ds” in the process).

While the restaurant is built around a big beast of an oven, with counter seating and three customized charcoal grills, the sophistication of the cooking and depth of flavor drawn from simple ingredients is astounding. There is superb, succulent meat on offer – harissa lamb, pulled pork, Jacob’s Ladder short rib, even Hida wagyu from Japan – but there are also surprising delights, such as charred fennel imbued with almond-wood smoke and served with orange and burrata.

Such has been the big-bearded Aussie’s success in tuning into the food zeitgeist in restaurant-mad Singapore that Burnt Ends is now ranked in the top ten of the well-respected Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Pynt’s inspiration and mentor, however, is a man frequently cited as the current king of “grill cooking”: the hermit-like Spaniard, Victor Arguinzoniz.

Arguinzoniz grew up and still works in the remote countryside south of Spain’s Basque Country. Over the past two decades, his restaurant Asador Etxebarri (asador being Spanish for barbecue) has built its reputation to the point where intrepid diners and international chefs will make the pilgrimage from all corners of the world to experience his food.

What’s so special as to draw such discerning crowds, as well as critical plaudits? Well, every element on the substantial menu is cooked on hand-crafted, adjustable-height grills: juicy Palamós prawns, anchovies on toast, fresh buffalo mozzarella (from the chef’s own herd grazing next door), eel, enormous Tomahawk steaks, even smoked-milk ice cream.

The influence of restaurants such as Etxebarri and Burnt Ends is reflected across the globe. More and more chefs cite Arguinzoniz and the legendary Argentinian chef, author and restaurateur Francis Mallmann as guiding forces. Mallmann wrote the book on the philosophy and craft of cooking over flames and embers – Siete Fuegos: Mi Cocina Argentina (Seven Fires: Grilling the Argentine Way) – following a Damascene conversion after years of preparing haute cuisine in the classic French style.

A maverick and raconteur, he has become a cult figure, in part due to his regular appearances on food shows across American TV networks.

In the States, barbecuing traditions run very deep, especially in the South.

Danny Meyer is the doyen of the New York restaurant scene, with Union Square Café, The Modern and Gramercy Tavern to his name, but he originally hails from St. Louis. He brought southern barbecue into the city in the form of Blue Smoke in Manhattan’s Flatiron district – a format so successful, it has spawned offshoots at ballparks and even at JFK airport.

Head west to The St. Regis Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, and you’ll see a whole hog being spit-roasted every Sunday in the summer on The Mountain Terrace. Chef de cuisine Rachel Wiener sources pigs locally, alongside finest American wagyu from Idaho and seasonal vegetables from local farmers, all of which might find their way on to the Traeger Grill.

In the Maldives, St. Regis guests can take things a step further by enjoying a mobile barbecue station with a bespoke menu anywhere from rooftop to the terrace – and even on the beach itself. Expect to feast on rib-eye steaks and the freshest grilled seafood. The Royal Villa at The St. Regis Mauritius offers a similarly luxe take on this al fresco classic.

Our appetite for this natural form of cooking shows little sign of abating, with built-in charcoal barbecues, wood-fired ovens, and even smoking sheds de rigueur in the homes of fashionable food lovers. This fire is not ready to be put out, so let’s throw another steak on the grill.

THE

HEAT

Your address: The St. Regis Deer Valley; The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort; The St. Regis Mauritius ; The St. Regis Singapore

Words by William Drew

BARBECUING IS BACK – AND OUR APPETITE FOR THE MOST PRIMAL FORM OF COOKING SHOWS NO SIGN OF ABATING AS THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL CHEFS GO FOR THE BURN

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Gallery Stock

IS ON

Flame reaction Chicken char-grilled to perfection. The sophistication of today’s grilling methods means almost any food can be thrown on the griddle... even ice cream

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EAST MEETS BEST

By Rachel Loos

FORGET BAMBOO SCREENS AND LACQUERED POTS. INTERIOR DESIGN IN THE EAST IS AHEAD OF THE CURVE, AS TRADITIONAL FEATURES ARE GIVEN A 21ST-CENTURY TWIST

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Interiors The exhibition features the work of ten designers from across the region, and while the products are wide-ranging. there’s a common theme: the exploration of traditional craftsmanship. However, it’s no longer just about replicating what has been done for thousands of years, but applying these ideas to create objects that are very much of the 21st century. “Traditions are what have informed the here and now, and have shaped the artists and designers working in these regions. But the designers have given them a new twist,” says Nakamuta. For instance, Jo Nagasaka has taken a traditional Japanese idea of repairing broken porcelain but used 3D printing not only to repair the break, but also to give birth to two vessels from one broken one.

Award-winning Filipino designer Kenneth Cobonpue is not featured in alamak!, but he, too, champions this new thinking. The clientele for his elegantly curving pieces of furniture, made mainly from rattan and palm, includes royalty (Queen Sofia of Spain, Queen Rania of Jordan) and celebrity (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie bought Cobonpue’s Voyage Bed for their son Maddox). “Today, designers like myself are using modern forms, traditional craftsmanship and natural materials to reshape and change the definition of Asian design,” he says. While Cobonpue made his name with natural materials – Time magazine called him “rattan’s first virtuoso” – he has begun working with carbon fiber and resins, and these modern materials are coming into play across Asia. “The fusion of natural materials and synthetics, and the fusion of the machine-made and the handmade, is the future,” he says. “Natural materials have issues regarding strength and durability, and these issues can be offset with synthetics.”

t last year’s Salone del Mobile, the highly influential design fair in Milan, one of the star attractions was an exhibition that showcased Asian design. Walking through a series of coolly chic white rooms, the world’s designerati gazed upon some of the most exciting work coming out of Asia today. However, there were no glossy lacquered pots or bamboo screens, no metal teapots or hand-painted wallpaper. Instead, Chinese designer Naihan Li displayed her striking wardrobe made from rosewood and steel, its angular shape resembling two skyscrapers fused together. Gunjan Gupta from New Delhi presented her Gada Cycle Throne, a beautiful armchair with a seat made from bicycle saddles, the back of a series of rolled-up silk mattresses held in place by leather straps. And hanging sculpturally from the ceiling was the work of Filipino designer Gabriel Lichauco, who took oyster shell and scorched it to make a set of pendant lights that are as unusual as they are lovely.

The exhibition, called alamak!, has big ambitions. At a time when Asia is turning itself into an economic powerhouse, alamak!, which after Venice and Berlin can be seen in New York and LA, aims to be a driving force for innovative modern Asian design. “Alamak! is a southeast Asian expression that means ‘Surprise!’, and that underlines the spirit of the exhibition,” says Yoichi Nakamuta, the Japanese-born, Singapore-based co-curator.

“Through the show we hope to change the perception of what design in Asia is, when seen from the West. Its ambition is to be the creative movement from Asia, much like Memphis and post-modernism were creative movements of ’80s Italy, and Droog was of ’90s Holland.”

Lights fantastic Above: Pescador pendant lights, made from oyster shells, by Gabriel Lichauco.

Previous pages: the penthouse at The St. Regis Bangkok contains a stunning mix of old and new styles

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The Oriental touch Coponpue’s change in direction has in part been inspired by his work with some of the West’s most on-trend designers, such as Britain’s Tom Dixon and The Netherlands’ Marcel Wanders. For Wanders, Cobonpue helped produce the Carbon chair, the seat and frame hand-woven using black strands of epoxy-soaked carbon fiber around a mold to create a design that’s both visually and physically light. “When it comes to weaving, we’re second-to-none,” says Coponpue. “We’ve been doing it for a long time, and have experience in weaving almost anything from bamboo to carbon fiber and composite materials.”

Like Coponpue, who studied in New York and worked in Europe before returning to the Philippines, André Fu, one of the region’s most celebrated designers, was born in Hong Kong and schooled in the UK. The pair’s fusion of East and West is another component of contemporary Asian design. Fu’s work is pared back; wood and polished stone are teamed with a palette of quietly rich shades, such as warm gray, green tea and deep purple. “An appreciation of the different cultures remains core to what I do,” he says. “It’s not so much the stylistic adaptation of things that are visually Asian that speaks to my heritage, but of giving a space a sense of balance and calm. Key to this is the sense of relaxed luxury that’s effortless and solid, not superficial and driven by style or a high level of ornateness.”

Fu believes that the surge in hotels in the East – St. Regis will open an additional ten hotels in this part of the world in the next few years – is seeing a commensurate burst of creativity in interior design. “The volume of hotels, combined with increasingly sophisticated global travelers, means designers are doing things differently, experimenting with stronger

personalities to create better and more interesting products,” he says.

Bensley, the Bangkok-based design studio behind the landscape architecture of The St. Regis Bali, certainly took an unusual approach, using the famous Japanese-American designer Isamu Noguchi as their inspiration. “We designed 300-plus original pieces of art, many carved from black marble, while some were cast in bronze,” says founder Bill Bensley. “All the sculpture has one underlying DNA that helps keeps unity among the tropical garden ‘rooms’, and that is. ‘What if Isamu Noguchi had lived in Bali in the 1950s? How would things Bali have influenced him?’ Noguchi has a pared-down, Japanese way of creating modern forms – I thought if I used his way of looking at Balinese forms, we might be able to create a fresh body of work.”

Similarly, the penthouse of The St. Regis Bangkok contains a mix of old and new Thai design. Along with a striking glass wall of beautifully colored traditional Benjarong pottery are a number of modern pieces that include a sculpture of stylized lotus leaves by the artist Mongkol, and, on the balcony with stunning city views, a 5ft elephant, painted with Thai letters and numbers and symbols in an abstract pattern by Manop Suwanpinta. “Modern Thai design is coming out of the box,” says Kathy Heinecke – the wife of William Heinecke, CEO of Minor International, which owns the St. Regis Bangkok – who designed the luxe penthouse interior. “It’s embracing its heritage, but also expanding on it with a fresh aspect.” In Thailand, and across Asia, it makes for exciting times.

Your address: The St. Regis Bangkok; The St. Regis Bali

All in the detail Above, from left: a door handle by André Fu; detail of an ornament in The St. Regis Bangkok penthouse; a Nebbia Interactive wall light, made by nbt.Studio from recycled electronic waste

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A Life In Seven Journeys

Esther Freud

THE NOVELIST – WHOSE CHILDHOOD ADVENTURES WERE MADE INTO THE FILM HIDEOUS KINKY – REFLECTS ON THE INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEYS THAT HAVE SHAPED HER LIFE AND CAREER

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New York, 1979 When I was 16 I went to visit an American friend who lived in New York for Christmas. I couldn’t believe there was a city like it. They were a wonderful arty Jewish family on the Upper East Side; for Christmas morning we went to a diner for pancakes. It seemed so exotic. I took my sister Susie once, when our plane made an emergency landing; we ended up at a place called The Happy Donut. We still talk about it.

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Italy, 1980 I’d just spent a year in London, at 17, getting to know my dad [the painter Lucian Freud], as I’d never lived in the

same city before, and he invited me to go to Italy by train. We spent two weeks together, which was so precious. In Florence, he was wonderfully playful and badly behaved. Then there was the unbelievable beauty of Italy. And I fell in love. So it was a blissful adventure.

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India, 1984 In my early twenties, with tips I’d made from waitressing in a pizza restaurant, I went to India for three months with a friend and her father. We were naive and ill-prepared, so it was terrifying.

My friend’s father was appalled by the rats and beggars; to him we’d entered a Bruegel painting of hell. It got better when we went south to Kerala and Kochi beach, which was paradise, and Jaipur and Rajasthan, where we had a magical time. I’ve been back often; it’s become an important part of my life.

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Suffolk, England, 1985 Because I missed the English countryside, my father suggested I rented an old family cottage by the sea. Often seaside towns are barren, and the countryside overly cute, but Walberswick is so gentle that I immediately felt I belonged. The house was cold and bare, with terribly uncomfortable beds. But my architect

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grandfather lived there after they left Germany, and he renovated many of the houses in the village, so even now it feels like part of who I am.

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South Africa, 1995 Three months after our son was born, my husband [actor David Morrissey] got a job in a tiny town called Upington, several hours from Johannesburg, in the desert, and persuaded me to come with Albie. It was dismal; really lonely and dreadful. But the director’s wife had a small child too, and she and her friends, and now their children, have become my most important of friends.

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Germany, 2000 I knew, for my book The Sea House, that I needed to go back to a house in Hiddensee, off the Baltic coast, where my grandparents had taken my father and his brothers for their summer holidays. It was lovely: a sandy flat island with a lovely cold sea, beautiful old houses and bicycles, but no cars.

A fishing family who remembered my grandfather invited me in, and cooked me eels: oily and pretty disgusting.

Esther Freud’s latest novel, Mr Mac and Me, set in Walberswick, is published by Bloomsbury

Tina Berning

Morocco, 1967 My first big journey was when I was four, to Morocco, where I lived until I was six, and wrote about [in Hideous Kinky]. For the rest of my childhood I felt I had a secret, exotic, colorful Moroccan life inside me that nobody else in gray, rainy England understood.

It affected me in another way: I spoke a muddle of English, French and Arabic, but couldn’t write until I was 10. I thought that stories and tales I’d heard in Morocco were more magical than putting letters in a certain order.

I think they politely called me “vague”.

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1. The St. Regis New York 2. The St. Regis Beijing 3. The St. Regis Rome 4. The St. Regis Houston 5. The St. Regis Washington, D.C. 6. The St. Regis Aspen Resort 7. The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort 8. The St. Regis San Francisco 9. The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort 10. The St. Regis Singapore 11. The St. Regis Bali Resort 12. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort 13. The St. Regis Atlanta 14. The St. Regis Mexico City 15. The St. Regis Princeville Resort 16. The St. Regis Deer Valley 17. The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico 18. The St. Regis Osaka

19. The St. Regis Lhasa Resort 20. The St. Regis Bangkok 21. The St. Regis Florence 22. The St. Regis Tianjin 23. The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort 24. The St. Regis Shenzhen 25. The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi 26. The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort 27. The St. Regis Doha 28. The St. Regis Mauritius Resort 29. The St. Regis Abu Dhabi 30. The St. Regis Chengdu 31. The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya 32. The St. Regis Istanbul 33. The St. Regis Mumbai 34. The St. Regis Dubai 35. The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central 36. The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur

37. The St. Regis Langkawi 38. The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort 39. The St. Regis Cairo 40. The St. Regis Changsha 41. The St. Regis Shanghai Jing’an 42. The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club 43. The St. Regis Astana

COMING SOON 44. The St. Regis Amman December 2017 45. The St. Regis Kanai Resort January 2018 46. The St. Regis Nanjing January 2018 47. The St. Regis Quingshui Bay Resort (Sanya) March 2018 48. The St. Regis Zhuhai April 2018 49. The St. Regis Lijiang Resort June 2018 50. The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm December 2018

ST. REGIS WEDDINGS

The Ultimate Memory, Designed Just for You THE ART OF CELEBRATION #stregiswedding

For further information visit us at www.stregis.com/weddings 2

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ST. REGIS HONEYMOONS

Paradise Found Seductive Sanctuaries, Pinnacle Paradises

Located in the world’s most coveted regions, these idyllic beach destinations are perfectly suited to honeymooners seeking a romantic interlude wrapped in pure paradise.

Indoor-outdoor spaces blend seamlessly with elements of the natural environment, setting a truly intimate backdrop for a resort escape for two.

A SELECTION OF PARADISE FOUND HOTELS AND RESORTS: THE ST. REGIS BAHIA BEACH RESORT, PUERTO RICO; THE ST. REGIS LANGKAWI; THE ST. REGIS PRINCEVILLE RESORT; THE ST. REGIS SANYA YALONG BAY RESORT

For further information visit us at www.stregis.com/honeymoons 5

ST. REGIS HONEYMOONS

Journey’s End Rustic Elegance for the Adventurous Spirit

Nestled in some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes, these rustic yet refined addresses appeal to couples with a shared passion for adventure. From summer pursuits along glittering exotic beaches to thrilling winter sports capped by fireside après-ski, active honeymooners begin their life’s journey with an unforgettable experience.

A SELECTION OF JOURNEY’S END HOTELS AND RESORTS: THE ST. REGIS ASPEN RESORT; THE ST. REGIS DEER VALLEY; THE ST. REGIS MARDAVALL MALLORCA RESORT; THE ST. REGIS SAADIYAT ISLAND RESORT, ABU DHABI; THE ST. REGIS LHASA RESORT

For further information visit us at www.stregis.com/honeymoons 6

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ST. REGIS HONEYMOONS

Glass House Transcend the Traditional

Outfitted for modern romance, these edited yet stylized addresses appeal to couples who seek an escape from the confines of formality and prefer clean lines and bright, geometric spaces instead. These metropolitan addresses offer guests a series of moments that unfold with warm and ease amidst unpretentious, elegant settings.

A SELECTION OF GLASS HOUSE HOTELS AND RESORTS: THE ST. REGIS SHENZHEN; THE ST. REGIS KUALA LUMPUR; THE ST. REGIS TIANJIN; THE ST. REGIS BAL HARBOUR RESORT

For further information visit us at www.stregis.com/honeymoons 9

ST. REGIS HONEYMOONS

Metropolitan Manor Timeless, Modern Retreats

Steal away for a honeymoon experience that appeals to the discerning. These exquisite cosmopolitan addresses harken to a time of timeless grace and elegance, where each moment is tailored, and where the most refined social and cultural pursuits are at your fingertips.

A SELECTION OF METROPOLITAN MANOR HOTELS AND RESORTS: THE ST. REGIS ATLANTA; THE ST. REGIS ROME; THE ST. REGIS MACAO; THE ST. REGIS SINGAPORE

For further information visit us at www.stregis.com/honeymoons 10

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The Aficionado’s Guide An introduction to St. Regis hotels and resorts around the world, in alphabetical order by region

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AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

The St. Regis Abu Dhabi

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The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi 16 The St. Regis Cairo

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The St. Regis Doha

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The St. Regis Dubai

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The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club

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The St. Regis Mauritius Resort

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The St. Regis Aspen Resort

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The St. Regis Atlanta

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The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico

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The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort

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The St. Regis Deer Valley

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The St. Regis Houston

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The St. Regis Mexico City

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The St. Regis New York

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The St. Regis Princeville Resort

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The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort

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The St. Regis San Francisco

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The St. Regis Washington, D.C.

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THE AMERICAS

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ASIA PACIFIC The St. Regis Bali Resort

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The St. Regis Bangkok

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The St. Regis Beijing

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The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort

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The St. Regis Changsha

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The St. Regis Chengdu

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The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur

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The St. Regis Langkawi

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The St. Regis Lhasa Resort

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The St. Regis Macao

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The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

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The St. Regis Mumbai

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The St. Regis Osaka

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The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort

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The St. Regis Shanghai Jing’an

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The St. Regis Shenzhen

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The St. Regis Singapore

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The St. Regis Tianjin

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The St. Regis Astana

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The St. Regis Florence

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The St. Regis Istanbul

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The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort

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The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya

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The St. Regis Rome

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EUROPE

Discover the upcoming St. Regis Hotels & Resorts on page 57 of this Aficionado’s Guide 14

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

The St. Regis Abu Dhabi ASK US ABOUT Brunch in the Clouds. A brunch journey where each diner is free to explore the 150,000-dirhams-pernight suite and discover culinary delights in each room, including a cinema full of candy, a cheese-anddessert room, a caviar ice bar, and a private bar equipped by the hotel’s top mixologists. For a break between tasting, have a shoulder massage in one of the private spas.

A trip to the Falcon Hospital.

With more than 75,000 falcons admitted in its first 14 years, this is the world’s largest falcon hospital.

Discover the significant role these birds play in the UAE’s heritage.

The guest room of the Al Hosen Suite; the Nation Riviera Beach Club

It’s easy to understand the appeal of The St. Regis Abu Dhabi. The capital of the United Arab Emirates is fast developing a major arts and cultural scene, turning the city into an ever more sophisticated metropolis blessed with cutting-edge architecture and world-class sports. Part of the prestigious Nation Towers complex on the Corniche, a five-mile stretch adjacent to the Arabian Gulf where you’ll find walking and cycling paths and children’s play areas, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi is the ideal home-away-from-home. Don’t miss the Luxury Nation Galleria Vox Cinemas directly connected to The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, with 11 cinemas including four Gold Class. Relax and soak up the sun with a refreshing cocktail on the private beachfront at the exclusive Nation Riviera Beach Club, home to Asia de Cuba, a lounge, restaurant and beach deck complete with outdoor bar, and Catch Restaurant and Lounge Abu Dhabi, where an open kitchen allows guests to interact with the chefs and watch as ingredients are transformed into delectable dishes.

Helipad Sunset Supper, taking place at the highest active helipad in the Middle East, at a height of 255 meters. A brigade of chefs, butlers and mixologists await you, serving premium caviar, fresh oysters and canapés. As well as a sensational view, guests are treated to a saxophone performance and the signature St. Regis Champagne sabering ritual.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Yas Waterworld on Yas Island, where funseekers pour in from far and wide looking for thrills all day long at this state-ofthe-art theme park. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

BEST FACIAL IN THE MIDDLE EAST, ELEMIS MIDDLE EAST AWARDS 2016 VILLA TOSCANA – BEST ITALIAN CUISINE IN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, WORLD LUXURY SPA & RESTAURANT AWARDS 2016

Nation Towers, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates T. (971) (2) 694 4444 info.abudhabi@stregis.com stregis.com/abudhabi 283 guest rooms and suites; 7 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym; private beach; children’s club 15

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi ASK US ABOUT Our new hammam. The Iridium Hammam experience draws on ancient bathing and cleansing rituals from different oriental cultures, providing the benefits of a traditional Hammam in a contemporary setting.

The Abu Dhabi Pearl Journey.

Sail on a traditional dhow among the mangrove trees of the Arabian Gulf for a demonstration of the ancient art of pearl diving.

Playing a round at the championship Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Three saltwater lakes, dunes and the beach itself are challenges along the way of this par-72 course.

Lessons can be arranged.

A visit to Yas Mall. Our staff can arrange transportation to this glittering new shopping destination, Abu Dhabi’s biggest mall, just 10 minutes from the hotel.

Exterior view of the hotel from the beach; a premium sea view room

Saadiyat is an island of only ten square miles, but it packs a lot into that space.

Just 15 minutes’ drive from the center of Abu Dhabi, it has a white sand beach, a designer golf course and, very soon, offshoots of both the Louvre and Guggenheim museums. It’s a relaxing and chic retreat from the bustle of the city. The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort’s architecture and interior design are stunning, showcasing the bold design principles of the award-winning architecture firm Woods Bagot and Johannesburg-based Northpoint Architects. Each room has panoramic vistas of the Gulf or golf course and interiors that meld Spanish and Arabian elements with a contemporary edge. In addition to business facilities, the resort has an Iridium spa offering products from luxury skincare brand ESPA, four swimming pools, a dedicated children’s club and the state-of-the-art St. Regis Athletic Club.

Dolphins frolic in the blue waters, while nearby Saadiyat Beach is a nesting site for hawksbill turtles.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Ferrari Fun. Explore the world’s first and largest indoor theme park, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. It has over 20 unique rides and attractions, including the world’s fastest rollercoaster, dedicated entertainment, themed stores and restaurants. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 8pm.

Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

ABU DHABI’S LEADING BEACH RESORT – WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS 2016. BEST GOLF RESORT IN THE WORLD; BEST GOLF RESORT IN THE MIDDLE EAST; BEST GOLF RESORT IN THE UAE; BEST GOLF RESORT IN ABU DHABI – ALL WORLD GOLF AWARDS 2016

Saadiyat Island, P.O. Box 54345, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates T. (971) (2) 4988888 saadiyat@stregis.com stregis.com/saadiyatisland 377 guest rooms and suites; 6 restaurants and bars; Iridium spa; pool; gym; beach; golf; children’s club 16

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

The St. Regis Cairo ASK US ABOUT The Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which contains the world’s most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. The original collection of Pharaonic antiquities was established in the late 19th century and transferred in 1902 to its current home in Tahrir Square. Expert guides can be booked to lead you through the galleries of this iconic building.

Private dining on the Nile Deck.

Watch the stars while you luxuriate in our perfected gourmet flavors just for you, elegantly laid out throughout the evening. Ideal for a romantic celebration or an intimate dinner for up to 8 guests.

The hotel’s impressive exterior at night; a guest bedroom with a spectacular Nile view

The St. Regis Cairo rises tall, overlooking the ancient River Nile and the Egyptian capital. Drawing inspiration from the refinement and elegance of The St. Regis New York, this new addition to the St. Regis portfolio is a unique expression of modern Egyptian grandeur. The 39-story hotel and residential complex is located in the heart of this vibrant metropolis close to fine dining, high-end shopping and historic sights, including the Pyramids. Featuring 366 exclusive rooms, suites and luxury apartments, St. Regis Signature Butler Service, an Iridium Spa and The St. Regis Athletic Club, the hotel is poised to become Cairo’s most coveted address. Thoughtfully crafted taste-making is offered at eight culinary destinations, including a J&G Steakhouse; La Zisa, a flavorful Sicilian experience; Tianma, a Singaporean cuisine restaurant and Envy, an urban chic lounge on the Nile. With its grand staircase and a Swarovski crystal chandelier masterpiece, the 966 sq m Astor Grand Ballroom is ideally suited for upscale events and celebrations.

An Experiential Cooking Class.

Discover and cook gourmet Italian dishes with Executive Chef Giuseppe Mandaradoni. Indulge in a truly immersive St. Regis ritual as we round off your experience with our dramatic art of champagne sabering.

A visit to Khan el-Khalili. Our staff can arrange transportation to this famous souk, one of the world’s oldest covered markets. Founded in 1382, it was where the great camel caravans used to arrive after their long journeys. Today it is a bustling retail center where you can buy local and international goods. But be prepared to haggle.

DEBUTS JUNE 2017

1189 Nile Corniche, Cairo, Egypt info.cairo@stregis.com stregis.com/cairo 366 guest rooms, suites and apartments; 8 restaurants, bars and lounges; Iridium Spa; indoor and outdoor pools; athletic club 17

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

The St. Regis Doha ASK US ABOUT The St. Regis Grand Brunch.

Take Fridays to a new level with this lavish family celebration offering 16 food stations, live entertainment and activities for children.

“A Retrospective (From 1963 Until Tomorrow)” – this fascinating art exhibition, hosted by the Iraqi artist Mr Dia Al Azzawi, showcases more than 500 works spanning 50 years.

Visit Shahaniya, less than an hour away, where you can experience the famous camel races and the stunning Islamic art of the Sheikh Faisal Museum.

A traditional dhow cruise. Cruise on a traditional wooden dhow and stop off near the island of Saflia for watersports. Arabian BBQ lunch or dinner is served.

The hotel’s Arabian exterior is bold and welcoming; enjoy the cool ambience of the Sarab Lounge Terrace

Doha has transformed itself in an incredibly short time. Now the media and arts capital of its region, a major player in the aviation stakes and the host of the 2022 World Cup, it’s an ultra-cosmopolitan capital. Victorian travelers needed to visit Florence, Paris and Vienna, but any 21st-century Grand Tour would definitely take in this city. The St. Regis Doha, with its postmodern Arabian architecture and panoramic views of the Persian Gulf, is a fitting address for a stay. The Rooftop lounge brings to Doha the urban chic of New York, Beirut and London. Guests ascend from the private entrance in the lower floor of the hotel and step out onto a breathtaking, stylish and spacious terrace. The newly opened Raw Bar boasts a range of caviars, carpaccio, ceviche, sushi and sashimi to savor with the finest wines and exclusive gastronomic signature cocktails, including mango and jalapeño mojito. Five miles from the main diplomatic and financial districts, it makes business sense to base yourself at The St. Regis Doha.

Explore Dukhan and the west coast.

Set off among the oil wells and visit the Zekreet peninsula, Umbrella Rock and the replica ancient Arabian village of Film City.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Desert safari. In the south of Qatar, this family trip is a thrilling ride into the dunes. Enjoy a picnic lunch, sand boarding, camel riding and desert quad biking. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS: MIDDLE EAST’S LEADING LUXURY BUSINESS HOTEL 2016 FOOD AND TRAVEL GCC AWARDS: GORDON RAMSAY, BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT

Doha West Bay, Doha 14435, Qatar T. (974) 44460000 doha.butler@stregis.com stregis.com/doha 336 guest rooms and suites; 11 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym; tennis; private beach 18

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

The St. Regis Dubai ASK US ABOUT A heritage falconry and wildlife safari, with a tour through Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve in search of gazelles and oryx.

VIP helicopter tour. A personal aerial tour, taking in all the historic sites and the glistening beaches of Dubai.

An overnight safari and sunrise balloon flight. Ride through Dubai’s Desert Conservation Reserve in a vintage Land Rover, enjoy a four-course feast under the stars, sleep in Arabic tents and start the next day with a hot-air balloon ride over the desert.

Dubai Water Canal. Several water-taxi stations are walking distance from the St. Regis Dubai allowing you to explore this fascinating waterway.

The hotel’s impressive exterior; an Empire Suite Living Room

Inviting guests to experience John Jacob Astor IV’s vision of the finest hotel in the world, The St. Regis Dubai takes you back to the 18th century with its beauxarts-inspired design with bespoke elements. Located on the arterial Sheikh Zayed Road, the hotel is part of Al Habtoor City, which includes a Las Vegasstyle theatre, La Perle, and is a short drive from The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and Dubai’s financial district. Its Iridium Spa boasts six treatment rooms (three male, three female) and two Hammams. Other facilities include two rooftop pools and a 24-hour fitness center. The hotel’s eight culinary destinations include J&G Steakhouse; Brasserie Quartier, a modern French brasserie; and Le Patio, serving traditional Arabic cuisine with a delicious range of Middle Eastern dishes and refreshing beverages. Inspired by the original address in New York while embracing the world’s new hotspot, Dubai, The St. Regis Dubai pays homage to two iconic cities, emerging as The New World Address.

Year-round tennis academy with air-conditioned courts, open to guests of all ages.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: A seaplane tour. Marvel at spectacular views of Dubai and Abu Dhabi on a seaplane flight along the Arabian Gulf. Soar over the Burj Khalifa and fly to Yas Marina for an afternoon at the Ferrari World. All family guests receive a personalized family welcome ritual. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

WORLD’S LEADING NEW HOTEL 2016 – WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS DUBAI’S LEADING HOTEL SUITE 2016 (IN RECOGNITION OF THE SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL SUITE) – WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

Al Habtoor City, P.O. Box 26666, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates T. (971) 4 435 5555 Dubai.Butler@stregis.com stregis.com/dubai 234 guest rooms and suites; 8 restaurants and bars; spa; 2 rooftop pools; helipad 19

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: MIDDLE EAST

The St.Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club ASK US ABOUT Overnight Safari and Sunrise Balloon Flight. Day 1 starts in an open-top vintage Land Rover, which will take you into the desert.

Spot Arabian gazelles and oryx en route, and enjoy a four-course feast under the stars. Day 2 starts at sunrise with a hot-air-balloon flight across the desert and ends with a complimentary drink and personalized flight certificate.

The Riding School. Situated on the resort’s grounds, this features a cross-country course and yearround riding track. Evening rides with camp fire can be organized.

The Grand Salon; a Deluxe guest room

Feted as the first equestrian-inspired St. Regis globally, with its roots firmly embedded in the sport of kings, The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club debuted in February 2017. Located at the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, the resort has been designed around three polo fields and styled around an Andalusian heritage. In the Equine Library, guests can unwind among the anthology of books and prized artifacts, while The St. Regis Polo Bar creates a sporty, club-lounge atmosphere. The Andalucia restaurant is open throughout the day, serving Mediterranean cuisine. There is also a steakhouse – The Grill Pit – which combines a theater-style kitchen and cellar, and a tapas restaurant with a central, open kitchen. The Iridium Spa, with its hacienda-style architecture, offers bespoke treatments. Another pièce de résistance is the Ballroom, spanning more than 5,000 sq feet and crowned by a prancing horse and crystal chandelier.

As befits its standing, the resort features premium stabling for top-quality horses.

La Perle. A new show boasting 45o performances a year in a state-ofthe-art aqua theatre. Filled with 2.5 million liters of water, the theatre – which seats an intimate 1,300 – can change from a dry platform to an aquatic stage. A cast of 65 world-class artists will perform breathtaking aqua and aerial feats.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: A seaplane tour, with spectacular views of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, on a dramatic flight along the Persian Gulf. Soar over the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, and fly to Yas Marina to spend the afternoon at Ferrari World Amusement Park. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

DEBUTED FEBRUARY 2017

Wadi Al Safa 5, Emirates Road 611, Dubai, United Arab Emirates T. (971) 4 435 4400 stregis/alhabtoorpoloresortandclub.com 126 rooms and suites; 25 guest villas; 6 restaurants and bars; Iridium spa; pool; horse-riding school; polo academy; 4 polo fields 20

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

The St. Regis Mauritius Resort ASK US ABOUT The St. Regis Diamond Brunch.

Celebrate each last Sunday of the month in a stylish atmosphere curated by legendary jazz artists at The Boathouse Bar & Grill. Enjoy exclusive beverages and epicurean delights from around the globe.

Discover La Rhumerie de Chamarel with a personal guide who will teach you how to make exquisite rum. Then make your own cocktail to savor. Enjoy lunch at L’Alchimiste Restaurant.

Le Morne Brabant Hiking. Walk through one of island’s wildest and best-preserved mountains, once a sanctuary for runaway slaves. From the top, take in breathtaking views over the lagoons and beyond.

Aerial view of Le Morne peninsula; a St. Regis Grand Suite Bedroom, just steps away from the beach and lagoon

The Indian Ocean is famed for many things: blissful beaches, indigo seas, sublime diving and a vibrant culture that melds Asian and African traditions. Mauritius brings these together, then adds a few more. Sheltered from the open sea by the world’s third largest coral reef, the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” also harbors some of the planet’s most beautiful mountain scenery: waterfalls, lush forests and wildlife that you won’t find anywhere else, such as the Mauritian flying fox. The St. Regis Mauritius Resort has a beachfront setting at Le Morne, a peninsula at the south-western tip of the island, and will indulge you with fine food and wine. The hotel welcomes the arrival of executive chef Nicolas De Visch, who has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world. There are also spa experiences, world-class kite surfing, activities and excursions to excite the senses. The peninsula has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008, and is less than 60 minutes’ drive from the capital and 20 minutes’ drive from the famed Black River Gorges National Park.

Cycle back in time on a cultural tour, zipping through sugar cane fields to a Hindu temple with its colorful carvings of deities.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Explore the coves and lagoons of the south-west coastline and snorkel in crystal-clear waters.

Then sail on to the famous Bénitiers Island where you will relax and enjoy a mouth-watering. seafood barbecue. Later, watch a stunning sunset while kite-flying at Le Morne Beach. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT, BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT AND HOTEL OF THE YEAR AT THE FOOD AND TRAVEL GCC AWARDS 2016

Doha West Bay, Doha 14435, Qatar T. (974) 44460000 doha.butler@stregis.com stregis.com/doha 336 guest rooms and suites; 11 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym; tennis; private beach 21

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: THE AMERICAS

The St. Regis Aspen Resort ASK US ABOUT Studio Eminence photography.

Enjoy a complimentary tour of the resort while Studio Eminence captures stunning images of you and your loved ones in breathtaking mountain settings.

Guests receive a complimentary 8x10 print to take home.

Tour of Farmers’ Market, with chef.

A chance to buy Colorado-grown produce (just picked by local farmers) and crafts. Enjoy live music while you peruse.

The Remède Spa Lemon Lavender Pedicure – includes filing and cuticle treatment, with a soothing foot and leg massage, hot stones application to the feet and legs, and polish application.

The hotel viewed from the base of Aspen Mountain; a Deluxe Double Fireplace Guestroom

Aspen is a special place where people can lose themselves in nature, yet find great pleasure in the many sports available. Yoga, fly fishing, clay shooting, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, sleigh rides… the menu of sporting experiences rivals the food and drink you’ll enjoy here. There is also an arts scene and great spa-based activities. The Remède Spa boasts warm, elegant, earthy tones and was voted Best Spa in the World, 2014 by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine.

Redesigned by acclaimed architect Lauren Rottet, and now with a renovated Red Mountain building – with new-look Loft Suites and One Bedroom Fireplace Suites – The St. Regis Aspen Resort is in downtown Aspen, walking distance from Aspen’s shops, restaurants and entertainment. The celebrated Chefs Club by FOOD & WINE adds America’s most innovative cuisine to your resort experience, while the refreshed wine list includes our new sommelier Ericka Briscoe’s recommendations.

Aspen Radiance package, enjoy unlimited daily access, at special prices, to the Shakti Shala yoga studio.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: The summer polo tournament. A unique activity for fathers and sons to bond through a mutual passion for horses and polo, competing in a four-chukker game. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

VIRTUOSO, BEST OF THE BEST HOTEL AWARDS 2016 SMART MEETINGS, BEST MOUNTAIN AND SKI RESORT 2016

315 East Dean Street, Aspen, Colorado 81611, United States T. (970) 920 3300 aspen.reservations@stregis.com stregis.com/aspen 179 guest rooms and suites; 3 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym; golf; ski 22

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: THE AMERICAS

The St. Regis Atlanta ASK US ABOUT SkyView Atlanta. Experience breathtaking panoramic views of downtown Atlanta and surrounding areas from nearly 20 stories above Centennial Park. For an enhanced experience, enjoy the VIP gondola, featuring Ferrari-style seats, glass floors, and a longer trip time.

Comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Ron White will both perform in Atlanta in April and our concierge will be delighted to help organize tickets.

Broadway touring shows. These include The Bodyguard, Matilda, Riverdance, Finding Neverland and Mamma Mia!

The hotel entrance; the dining room of the Empire Suite

Atlanta is known for its breezy, Southern, uncomplicated approach to life, business, culture… and just about everything else. It’s a perfect city for getting things done and for enjoying some great boutique shopping, cuisine, art, jazz and sports: major league baseball, basketball and football teams are based here. The King Center, the CNN headquarters (which is open for tours), the Atlanta Ballet and Symphony Orchestra are all a short drive from The St. Regis Atlanta. Dinner-only restaurant Atlas features a seasonally inspired American menu accented with European influences and decorated with masterpieces from the Lewis Collection by Picasso, Van Gogh and Chagall, among others. If you’re in the mood for a bourbon, try The St. Regis Atlanta Woodford Reserve, hand selected by our team in Kentucky’s legendary Woodford Reserve Distillery.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Opera and Atlanta Ballet.

After an intimate dinner at Astor Court, attend one of these outstanding cultural experiences, then go behind scenes to tour the theater and visit the company. In support of the fine arts, 20% of your total hotel bill will be donated to the Opera, Orchestra or Ballet.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: The Cacao Atlanta factory.

Take a private guided tour and create your own bespoke bean-tobar chocolate. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

AWARDED AAA FIVE DIAMOND, 2016 FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE 2016 AWARD WINNER

Eighty-Eight West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, United States T. (404) 563 7900 stregisatlanta@stregis.com stregis.com/atlanta 151 guest rooms and suites; 4 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym 23

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: THE AMERICAS

The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico ASK US ABOUT Romantic beach dinners.

In a private beachside cabana, a personal butler will cater to your every need. Our chef will customize a menu and wine pairing for you. Music and exotic flowers can also be arranged.

A private yacht tour with water sports. Puerto Rico’s warm tropical waters are perfect for sea-kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing and fishing.

Practice speaking Spanish and learn the art of salsa dancing at our family-friendly sessions.

A private tour of the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, home to art from the 17th century to the present day, with museum director Juan Carlos López.

The Plantation House entrance; two miles of pristine beach

Puerto Rico is where American and Latin American cultures meld and clash and get up to dance. A key center of the salsa music revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, it is still the home of many star performers. The island is a much-loved beach destination, but it is also known for its distinctive cuisine, culture and Caribbean vibe. Located on a former coconut plantation, The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is the first Five-Diamond resort on Puerto Rico. The expansive 483-acre property boasts views of El Yunque National Forest (with trails galore through the forest) and the Atlantic Ocean, and its low-rise plantation-style buildings have been designed with the natural surroundings in mind. There’s a two-mile secluded beach, sanctuaries, a Remède spa and a golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Experience casual barefoot dining at The Spot Beach Bar Club, or try the new Sugar Beach Club, which offers a relaxed atmosphere and a menu of light dishes and drinks.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: A day of enchantment at Toro Verde Adventure Park in the city of Orocovis – and experience The Monster, the world’s tallest and longest zipline. A Saturday PJ party, with movies, educational activities and playtime. Learn about the area’s flora and wildlife in The Nature Sanctuary River Tour sponsored by Alma de Bahia, a nonprofit organization that raises money to help stray dogs and cats.

Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

AWARDED AAA FIVE DIAMONDS, 2016 TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE 2016

State Road 187 kilometer 4.2, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico 00745, United States T. (787) 809 8000 reservations.bahiabeach@stregis.com stregis.com/bahiabeach 139 guest rooms and suites; 6 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym; tennis; beach; children’s club, nature trails, aquatic park 24

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: THE AMERICAS

The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort ASK US ABOUT An art-access program offering complimentary access to all of Miami’s top art institutions. Cards are available at the concierge desk.

A private tour of Wynwood Art District – one of the world’s largest open-air art installations.

A private in-boutique consultation with the Graff diamond house. Learn about what inspires Laurence Graff, discover the latest collection of gemstones and watches and receive a special gift from Graff.

Hiring a private guide to show you the coolest film locations. Miami has been a movie set for celluloid classics, such as Goldfinger, Scarface and There’s Something about Mary.

The resort’s oceanside pool; the Atlantikós restaurant

Miami never loses its buzz. Art Basel, South Beach’s effervescent social whirl, the rediscovery of Art Deco: all these have kept the focus on one of the cities that will define America’s future. Exclusive Bal Harbour, on Miami Beach, has a rich history as a hotspot attracting jazz musicians, including Rat Pack legends. It’s also one of South Florida’s premier retail and restaurant arenas. The hotel’s latest culinary offering, Atlantikós, with white-and-blue decor inspired by the Greek Isles, offers Greek fare with a Miami twist. Each night begins with a traditional Greek platesmashing ritual. The afternoon-tea experience in the lobby has been revitalized, with gourmet desserts from one of America’s top pastry chefs. Elsewhere, the BH Burger Bar offers a customizable menu featuring build-your-own burgers, gourmet franks, signature sides and shakes paired with local craft beer. From the decadent Signature Burger and Wagyu Beef Dog to the Salted Caramel Milkshake, it sets a new standard for casual yet elevated fare.

Old Miami: rent a vintage car (open-top, of course) and drive around the Art Deco district.

Afterwards, head out to the Keys.

A craft brewery tour of Wynwood.

Miami’s craft beer scene is booming, with a host of new breweries, many in Wynwood.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Our Sea Turtle Club has doubled in size and offers full- and half-day programing for our younger guests. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

FORBES, FIVE STARS, 2016; AWARDED AAA FIVE DIAMOND 2016 CONDE NAST TRAVELER READER’S CHOICE AWARD – #2 HOTEL ON FLORIDA’S ATLANTIC COAST

9703 Collins Avenue, Bal Harbour, Miami Beach, Florida 33154, United States T. (305) 993 3300 info.balharbour@stregis.com stregis.com/balharbour 227 guest rooms and suites; 5 restaurants and bars; spa; gym; children’s club 25

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: THE AMERICAS

The St. Regis Deer Valley ASK US ABOUT Bobsledding at Utah Olympic Park. Experience the thrill of a lifetime in a Comet Bobsled, with a professional pilot taking three passengers on a ride down the 2002 Olympic track.

The custom adventure of a lifetime. The St. Regis Deer Valley has teamed up with Elevated Adventure Company to bring guests customized “out of the ordinary” day trips to breathtaking natural wonders by land, air and water.

Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater at Deer Valley Resort. Worldfamous artists and local bands perform several times a week.

The pool at The St. Regis Deer Valley; a guest bedroom with a spectacular view

Hit the slopes or relax in the spa, go on a backcountry excursion or explore historic Main Street… The St. Regis Deer Valley is surrounded by the majestic Wasatch Mountains, an all-season playground for both the adventure and relaxation seeker.

The two buildings of The St. Regis Deer Valley are connected by a funicular rail line, the only one of its kind in the U.S., which makes for easy, and unique, access from the base of the mountain to the resorts. Once settled in, try our Remède Spa where a reflecting pool flows from outside the resort into the spa’s first-floor lobby and a grand spiral staircase leads to 11 peaceful treatment rooms in the 14,000-squarefoot spa. Or dine in our award-winning Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant, J&G Grill, featuring farm-to-table elegance. With all of St. Regis Deer Valley year-round family traditions and recreational activities, unique and memorable experiences are waiting at every turn.

High West Distillery. Enjoy a tour of the first legal distillery to open in Utah since the end of Prohibition.

Go behind the scenes and learn about Rocky Mountain whiskeys and other mountain-crafted spirits.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: The St. Regis Deer Valley has partnered with Park City’s Kimball Arts Center to provide families and kids with classes at different locations in the resort, as well as surrounded by nature on the Astor terrace. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

AAA FIVE DIAMOND AWARD GOLD LIST 2014, CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER

2300 Deer Valley Drive East, Park City, Utah 84060, United States T. (435) 940 5700 deervalley.reservations@stregis.com stregis.com/deervalley 181 guest rooms and suites; 3 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym; ski 26

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: THE AMERICAS

The St. Regis Houston ASK US ABOUT A tour of the Saint Arnold Brewery.

Take a trip round this fascinating Houston landmark, which is the oldest craft brewery in Texas.

The Adios Utopia exhibition, which looks at how Cuba’s revolutionary aspirations for social utopia shaped 65 years of Cuban art and brings together the work of more than 50 Cuban artists and designers.

Independence Plaza at Space Center Houston is a new international landmark, offering an experience like nothing else in the world. Enter the shuttle replica Independence, mounted on top of the original NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft, and then explore the giant plane.

The destination swimming pool; the master bedroom of the Presidential Suite

Energy and power, Texan pride and individuality, open space and outer space, Houston is the big-muscled business capital of the Lone Star State. If the city has a reputation for getting things done and no messing around, The St. Regis Houston, in the tranquil, residential neighborhood of Post Oak Park and River Oaks, is the perfect complement. It is gracious, opulent and discreet. It’s also conveniently located only half a mile from the Galleria retail area and six miles from Houston’s central business district. Celebrated design firm ForrestPerkins has created a warm and welcoming Tea Lounge with a library so guests can punctuate their outings with morning coffee, afternoon tea or pre-dinner cocktails. The spectacular outdoor pool and sundeck, located on the mezzanine level and adjacent to the spa and fitness room, draw guests back time after time. It is open from 5am until 11pm daily, for guests who love to work hard and play hard as well.

A tour of Bayou Bend Collection, the MFAH house museum of decorative arts and paintings. Set amid 14 acres of gardens, the former home of philanthropist Ima Hogg showcases superb American furnishings, silverware and ceramics.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: George Ranch Historical Park is the essence of Texas, a living-history museum tracing the Texas story, with exhibits including a prairie home, a mansion and a ranch complex with cattle demonstrations. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

AWARDED AAA FIVE DIAMOND, 2015 GOLD MEDAL WINNER VOTED BY GLOBAL BUSINESS TRAVEL ASSOCIATION

1919 Briar Oaks Lane, Houston, Texas 77027-3408, United States T. (713) 840 7600 res247.stregishouston@stregis.com stregis.com/houston 232 guest rooms and suites; 2 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; exercise room 27

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: THE AMERICAS

The St. Regis Mexico City ASK US ABOUT Mexico City Culinary Experience.

A full-day’s activity, with a personalized tour of the San Juan market, led by J&G Grill sous chef Daniel Silva, who will showcase seasonal and exotic ingredients, followed by a cooking class.

An indulgent spa ritual. Enjoy a curated moon ritual spa which will eliminate toxins by using natural ingredients and oils.

Sky Yoga. Book a private yoga session at the resort’s helipad, during which you can enjoy panoramic views of the Mexico City skyline.

The sleek hotel dominates the Mexico City skyline; one of the suites’ living rooms

The St. Regis Mexico City, an idyllic urban resort, is the main resident of the Torre Libertad, an architectural masterpiece built by César Pelli. It sits on Mexico City’s Paseo de la Reforma, a grand thoroughfare modeled on the Old World’s iconic boulevards, and a bridge between the city center and the Imperial Palace in the Chapultepec Forest. In the heart of the metropolis, you can, from the helipad, take in views of the most mind-boggling urban sprawl. Don’t miss the new Mercado del Carmen, a new trendy food market filled with artisanal products, spirits, and craft beers, as well as chic boutiques. The hotel’s La Table Krug is the only place in Mexico where the limited edition Champagne Krug Millesime 2000 can be savored. La Table seats only 12 guests and has no menu, but is guided by the creativity of chef Oscar Portal Huget, who creates an 11-course menu from the freshest produce in the market.

The resort’s Remède Spa recently unveiled a new addition: its sumptuous Sol & Luna Spa Suite, which uses luxurious Elemis products.

Ballooning to ancient Teotihuacan.

This complex of temples and pyramids is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A particularly magical way to view this extraordinary site is with a guided hot-air balloon adventure from Mexico City.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: The St. Regis Mexico City has introduced Tesla Model S one-seater cars for guests aged 3-8.

The cars include working headlights and can reach a speed of 6mph. We also offer mini Bentley cars, a complimentary amenity for toddlers to enjoy when staying at the urban resort. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

BEST MEXICO CITY HOTEL, FOOD AND TRAVEL READER AWARDS BEST CITY HOTEL IN MEXICO, TRAVEL + LEISURE WORLD’S BEST AWARDS 2016

Paseo de la Reforma 439, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, Mexico City, Federal District 06500, Mexico T. (52)(55) 5228 1818 mexico.city@stregis.com stregis.com/mexicocity 189 guest rooms and suites; 6 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym; tennis; children’s club 28

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: THE AMERICAS

The St. Regis New York ASK US ABOUT An insider’s tour of Grand Central Station. Spend a morning or afternoon behind the scenes, explore the Campbell Apartment and its massive still-sealed vault, the Whispering Gallery and the starry ceiling. To conclude the tour, enjoy guided oyster tasting at the famous Grand Central Oyster Bar. Metropolitan Opera (new season), and the Cirque du Soleil, at the Barclays Center.

Motown the Musical. The hit musical recounting the tale of Motown boss Berry Gordy – who launched the careers of Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and more – returns to Broadway.

Not-to-be-missed entertainment with a host of unbeatable songs.

The hotel’s famous entrance; the living room of the Bentley Suite

New York City is a collection of exceptional experiences, from the natural beauty of Central Park to the bustle of Broadway, from contemporary art at MoMA to the cobblestone streets of the Meatpacking District. In the heart of it all is The St. Regis New York, the ultimate Manhattan hotel, which completed a stunning renovation in September 2013 – and has seen the opening of The St. Regis Athletic Club on the 19th floor, plus newly redesigned meeting spaces on the second floor and lower lobby – infusing contemporary style with great heritage. Since opening in 1904, the hotel, founded by John Jacob Astor IV has been synonymous with bespoke service, innovation and luxury. The St. Regis New York celebrates a rich history that includes famous residents (Salvador Dalí, Marlene Dietrich) and the invention of the “Red Snapper” – more commonly known as the Bloody Mary – by legendary barman Fernand Petiot in 1934. The classic cocktail can still be enjoyed today in front of the same Maxfield Parrish mural at the hotel’s King Cole Bar.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Central Park Escape.

Discover the largest park in Manhattan with our family fun expert guides. They will show you the best of the park’s culture, public art and gardens before you relax and enjoy a picnic lunch prepared by the hotel’s chef. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

AWARDED AAA FIVE DIAMOND, 2016 BEST HOTEL IN NEW YORK, LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR AWARDS, 2016

2 East 55th Street at Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10022, United States T. (212) 753 4500 stregisny.res@stregis.com stregis.com/newyork 238 guest rooms and suites; 1 restaurant and bar; gym 29

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: THE AMERICAS

The St. Regis Princeville Resort ASK US ABOUT Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Offering unsurpassed views of the Pacific, and unique opportunities to see seabirds in their natural habitat and to visit the historic Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Lighthouse.

Princeville Ranch Adventures.

Experience the Kauai zipline on the pristine private lands of Princeville Ranch. The course combines nine ziplines and a suspension bridge spanning a waterfall.

Princeville night market. A monthly festival, held every second Sunday, with live music and local artisans.

An aerial tour of Kauai. See the magnitude of the Napali Coast, hover over the Waimea Canyon, and view the Manawaiopuna Falls – as seen in Jurassic Park.

The stylish dining area of the Royal Suite; the view over the magical Hanalei Bay

The first thing you’ll notice on arrival on the Hawaiian island of Kauai is the remarkable collage of natural beauty wherever you look. Lush tropical foliage is set against a deep blue ocean with a backdrop of majestic mountain peaks. The St. Regis Princeville Resort’s clean, modern exterior is unfussy yet sophisticated, and the lobby is dominated by a cascading chandelier of more than 4,000 pieces of Murano glass, representing the waterfall on Na Molokama mountain. Among the many relaxing treatments on offer at the Halele’a Spa, which utilizes the healing properties of indigenous plants, why not try a Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage to nurture the body and experience perfect relaxation? Four restaurants serve locally farmed and produced ingredients, and the hotel’s infinity pool overlooks the wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Enjoy the award-winning Makai Golf Course. Each paying adult may bring one free junior golfer (aged 6-15). A junior golf clinic is offered on Sundays from 2-3pm. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

HALELE’S SPA, BEST IN HAWAII 2016, WORLD LUXURY SPA AWARDS READERS’ CHOICE: TOP 30 RESORTS IN HAWAII, 2016 CONDE NAST TRAVELER

5520 Ka Haku Road, Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii 96722, United States T. (808) 826 9644 travelspecialist@stregis.com stregis.com/princeville 251 guest rooms and suites; 5 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; beach; gym; tennis; golf; children’s club 30

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: THE AMERICAS

The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort ASK US ABOUT Whale-watching expeditions. Enjoy amazing encounters with humpback whales with highly experienced naturalist guides. Witness nature’s wonders; see a 50-tonne mammal rise above water and hear it sing.

Adventurous bicycle outings into the mountains and jungles of Punta Mita, and to its surrounding beaches and towns.

Encounter the natural wonders of the Marietas Islands. Be part of the conservation efforts at the San Pancho Bird Observatory, and look out for humpback whales, dolphins, and sea turtles en route.

A gourmet cruise through Banderas Bay aboard a luxury yacht with specialty cocktails and exquisite food prepared by the hotel chef.

The living room of the Presidential Suite; beach life with a touch of luxury

On the same latitude as Hawaii, and blessed with year-round balmy sun and ocean breezes, Punta Mita on Mexico’s Pacific Coast is where Mexico City’s high society comes for its beachside retreats. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort is in the Riviera Nayarit, and boasts 120 luxurious guest rooms and suites, looking out on to a flawless white sand beach and surrounded by luxuriant tropical flora. In early 2017 the hotel

unveiled their newest culinary offering: the Champagne and Oyster Bar, this chic and intimate bar offers a seductive menu of oysters paired with Moët Ice champagne. The resort boasts two Jack Nicklaus golf courses, five full-service

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Teenagers can enjoy fun and games at Marietas garden, including sumo. From next February: in-suite glamping, where little guests can take outdoor fun indoors by sleeping in their very own tepee. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

restaurants, villa residences, a Beach Club and the luxe Remède Spa. The spa recently introduced a mindfulness menu and flotation therapy. But this is no gated island experience: nearby seaside villages are kept vibrant by fishing and agriculture and by the indigenous Huichol, who maintain their artisanal traditions.

VOTED NO. 1 IN THE WORLD GOLF AWARDS 2016 TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE, 2016

Lote H-4, Carretera Federal 200, KM 19.5, Punta Mita, Nayarit 63734, Mexico T. (52)(329) 291 5800 puntamita.butler@stregis.com stregis.com/puntamita 120 guest rooms and suites; 6 restaurants and bars; 3 pools; beach; spa; golf; diving; tennis; gym; children’s club 31

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: THE AMERICAS

The St. Regis San Francisco ASK US ABOUT The City and Sonoma: Treat yourself to the best of both worlds in Northern California with The St. Regis San Francisco’s exclusive partnership with Farmhouse Inn. Experience in style these two world-class locations.

Festival Napa Valley, July 14-23.

More than 200 artists, wineries, resorts, theaters, restaurants and vintners participate each year.

Monet: The Early Years. The first leading US exhibition celebrating the first phase of the artist’s career.

A culinary tour of San Francisco, with Emmy Award-winning radio and TV personality Liam Mayclem, better known as “The Foodie Chap”.

The magnificent mural in the lobby lounge; a view across the city from the Astor Suite

The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, cable cars, beaches, beautiful city vistas, the breezes… it’s little wonder San Francisco tops many people’s lists of must-see cities.

The St. Regis San Francisco is on the corner of Third and Mission, a short walk from the financial district. When you have downtime, the city is a great playground for cultural days and nights on the town. On your doorstep you’ll find the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of the African Diaspora, world-class shopping in Union Square, and the Yerba Buena Gardens. Take a trip out of town to enjoy Napa and Sonoma Valleys, the coastal towns of Carmel, Pebble Beach and Monterey, or the redwood trees in Muir Woods. Enjoy a delicious meal at our new Grill at The St. Regis restaurant. Relax in the Remède Spa, with its recently updated menu of treatments, or simply unwind and enjoy our extraordinary property, starting with the stunning city views from the infinity pool.

Graff diamond consultation. The legendary diamond house would like to invite guests to a private in-boutique consultation with Graff San Francisco’s Salon Director. All guests will receive a special gift from Graff.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Try our new Master Blender activity, where kids try their hand at blending their own grape juice concoction, or visit the Bay Area Discovery Museum, the California Academy of Sciences or the Exploratorium. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

FIVE-STAR AWARD, FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE #1 HOTEL IN SAN FRANCISCO, U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

125 3rd Street, San Francisco, California 94103, United States T. (415) 284 4000 sanfrancisco@stregis.com stregis.com/sanfrancisco 260 guest rooms and suites; 2 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym 32

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: THE AMERICAS

The St. Regis Washington, D.C. ASK US ABOUT The National Museum of African American History and Culture. The only national museum of its kind, established by Act of Congress in 2003 following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans.

Private customized boat tour for six guests along the Potomac River.

You can choose your destination or leave it up to the Captain.

The Newseum. Located on historic Pennsylvania Avenue, the Newseum is dedicated to free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment: religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. Its seven levels of interactive exhibits include 15 galleries and theaters.

The hotel exterior at night on K Street; the elegant St. Regis lobby

In the city of powerful addresses, the grand, gracious St. Regis Washington, D.C., two blocks north of the White House, remains the powerbrokers’ hotel of choice. It was opened by President Coolidge in 1926; Ronald Reagan used to drop in to see his barber, Milton Pitts; and Jacqueline Onassis, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor were loyal guests. Over the years, redesigns by Henry Wardman and Sills Huniford have enhanced the legendary status of this, one of America’s most iconic hotels. Business and politics are right on the doorstep, but the hotel is also close to the cultural heart of D.C., a short stroll from the splendors of the Smithsonian and the Kennedy Center. Eat at the hotel’s signature restaurant, where our executive chef prepares the freshest seasonal local ingredients, influenced by Spanish cuisine, in a D.C. landmark restaurant.

A private tour of the Renwick Gallery. A branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Renwick focuses on American craft and decorative arts from the 19th to the 21st century.

A gourmet cruise through Banderas Bay aboard a luxury yacht with specialty cocktails and exquisite food prepared by the hotel chef.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Discover A private tour with our biking concierge using our Shinola bikes: a great way to visit the city.

FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE, FOUR-STAR AWARD THE SILVER PLUME AWARD FOR THE MOST SUPPORTIVE GENERAL MANAGER, WHERE MAGAZINE AND WASHINGTON CONCIERGE ASSOCIATION

923 16th and K Streets, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia, 20006 United States T (202) 638 2626 reservations@stregis.com stregis.com/washingtondc 172 guest rooms and suites; 2 restaurants and bars; gym 33

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Bali Resort ASK US ABOUT The best of Bali uncovered, including an exploration of some of our more secluded beaches, a personalized surfing or paddleboarding lesson and a short hike to a spectacular set of waterfalls.

Inside Bali. A full-day private immersion tour in local culture, with Agus Cahyadi, a Bali native, who will ensure you experience the best of Bali’s unique culture and entertainment.

Tour the coastline on a superyacht.

Begin your journey with a massage at the Remède spa where a special sunscreen formula will be prepared to protect your skin aboard one of Asia Pacific’s most exclusive super yachts, the Lady R, and a trip along the coastline. Suitable for the entire family.

The private sandy beach at the southernmost tip of Bali; the exterior of Strand Villa

Bali is the best known of several thousand Indonesian islands and has been inhabited since 2000 BC. Its natural wonders are the main draw: beautiful beaches, colorful coral reefs, a central mountain range and dense tropical rainforest harboring many species of flora and fauna, including orchids, butterflies, ferns, birds and monkeys. The St. Regis Bali Resort is in Nusa Dua, on the southernmost tip of the island overlooking the Indian Ocean, with a private sandy beach, a saltwater swimmable lagoon and the sublime Remède Spa with its hydrotherapy pool. It’s the perfect base for a Bali break. From your journey around the island, take back souvenirs of local crafts, such as woodcarving, weaving, and colorful batik textiles, which make wonderful gifts. In the evening, dine in style at Kayuputi or enjoy the traditional live gamelan music along with Indonesian specialties at Dulang. For the ultimate in luxury, take the newly refurbished Strand Villa.

Mount Batur volcano sunrise trekking. Experience sunrise at 1,717 meters on Mount Batur, one of the tallest mountains in Bali, with a two-hour guided hike.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: The Children’s Learning Center, in its own tropical park, has intelligent, fun-filled activities for younger guests. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

CONDÈ NAST TRAVELER GOLD LIST 2016, FAVORITE BEACH RESORT IN THE WORLD REST & RELAX INDONESIA HOSPITALITY AWARD 2016, BEST BEACH RESORT AND & BEST KIDS CLUB (CHILDREN LEARNING CENTER)

Kawasan Pariwisata, Lot S6, PO Box 44, Nusa Dua, Bali 80363, Indonesia T. (62) (361) 8478 111 stregis.bali@stregis.com stregis.com/bali 123 guest rooms and suites; 6 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; beach; gym; children’s club 34

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Bangkok ASK US ABOUT A cookery class at our sumptuous VIU restaurant, which offers an à la carte menu of international cuisine.

Located on the 12th floor.

The new Jamie Oliver restaurant that recently opened in Bangkok A private tour of the city’s treasures.

Landmark sights include the Bangkok Noi, Rattanakosin Island and Bang Luang Canals, the flower markets and the National Museum.

Bangkok’s International Festival of Dance and Music 2017. From September to October, performers from around the world bring a dazzling array of opera, drama, dance and music to the city.

The St. Regis Bangkok overlooks the Royal Bangkok Sports Club; the living room in the John Jacob Astor Suite

Tuk-tuks, trucks, riverboats, bicycles, boats and buses... the Thai capital is a whirling mass of energy that will surprise returning visitors as much as first-timers.

But Bangkok is a warm and friendly place, thanks to its people, and you can always follow up that sweltering morning’s outing, business meeting or hike around the spectacular 18th-century Grand Palace with a slow meal of the most fragrant cuisine on earth. Your oasis of calm in this vibrant city, The St. Regis Bangkok’s soothing décor immerses guests in luxury from the moment they arrive. It might be in the fast-beating heart of central Bangkok, but it is also just moments from the peaceful Lumpini Park, with its lawns, trees and boating lake. The hotel recently unveiled the new Decanter, featuring Thailand’s first-ever Johnnie Walker Blue Label Room, together with a transformed wine lounge and dining room, on level 12. And for starting your evening, what could be better than cocktails in The Sky Lounge, watching the sun set on another eventful day?

Exploring Bangkok’s art institutions, including Whitespace and the Jim Thompson House for a tour of the antiquities collection of the man who “rediscovered” Thai silk.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Enjoy a hands-on kitchen experience with a cooking class hosted by our executive chef. Have fun in the kitchen as our chef shares culinary secrets and prepares a special lunch for you to savor together, which may be anything from pizzas to sushi, with childfriendly desserts like cupcakes or tiramisu. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE, 2016 VOTED AMONG THE TOP 10 HOTELS IN BANGKOK BY READERS OF CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER

159 Rajadamri Road Bangkok, 10330 Thailand T. (66) (2) 207 7777 stregis.bangkok@stregis.com stregis.com/bangkok 227 guest rooms and suites; 6 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym 35

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Beijing ASK US ABOUT A guided tour of Beijing’s contemporary art centers, via the Red Gate Gallery and China’s largest art community to learn about the 60-year history of this vast former weapons factory.

A Fine Balance. A new three-day wellbeing package for Ayurveda fans, including tailored holistic treatments and a diet plan for restoring a balanced metabolism.

Entertainment at Laoshe Tea House.

Everything from acrobatics to puppetry, kung fu and opera.

The Chinese Philharmonic Orchestra’s Symphonic Concert on May 13. This takes place at the Forbidden City Concert Hall – a wonderfully romantic venue located on the eastern side of Zhōngshān Park.

The porte-cochère at night, just a short walk from the Silk Market; a Diplomat Deluxe Room

Beijing is the capital of a great power once more, and The St. Regis Beijing is ideally positioned close to the diplomatic quarter, business district and the Forbidden City, as well as being surrounded by some of the city’s finest restaurants and bars. The signature St. Regis Butler Service, private-dining suites and mansion ambiance reflect the values of old China, preparing you for your next foray into local business or culture and the dizzying experience of Chinese cuisine, including the highly-esteemed Celestial Court restaurant, serving authentic southern Chinese cuisine in a traditional setting. Or try the new Salami Room in Dianeli’s restaurant, and enjoy Beijing’s largest selection of Italian wine.

Afterwards, take time to unwind in the hotel’s Iridium Spa, one of Beijing’s most luxurious, and one that has its own natural hot spring water for soaking in. On the spa menu you will find as many as 40 Western and Chinese therapies, a comprehensive list that is sure to soothe the spirits and rejuvenate the senses.

The Broadway musical Wicked.

This dazzling show can be seen at Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, the only venue in Beijing designed for musical theater.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Try the great new food and beverage turndown amenities for children aged up to 17. Four menus have been created, for four different age groups. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

THE BEST OUTDOORS WEDDING VENUE, BY HOTEL WEDDING 2016 THE BEST SPA, BY VOYAGE 2016

21 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Beijing 100020, China T. (86) (10) 6460 6688 stregis.beijing@stregis.com stregis.com/beijing 258 guest rooms and suites; 5 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym 36

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort ASK US ABOUT A jet-ski tour. Discover the beauty of the island from the aquamarine waters of the South Pacific. Enjoy stunning vistas of the ancient volcano Mount Otemanu as well as sandy beaches and coconut trees of the surrounding motus.

Outdoor Candlelight Massage.

Candles are lit at sunset at the Spa Beach to create an idyllic haven close to the soothing flow of the Resort’s Lagoonarium. Couples unwind with a medium-pressure massage.

Heiva Festival. A celebration of Polynesian culture in June and July.

Sporting competitions include canoe races and the colorful fruit-and-vegetable carrying race.

Tahitian dances take place under the stars.

One of the over water villas facing Mt Otemanu; a Master Bedroom overlooking the lagoon

Bora Bora, discovered by Captain Cook in 1769, is a 16-square-mile tropical island surrounded by coral reef and lagoons. This much-mythologized South Pacific island is some 5,000 miles west of Lima and almost 4,000 miles northeast of Sydney, its remoteness matched by its year-round warm climate and outstanding beauty. A step away from the picture-perfect beaches are rugged volcanic mountains covered with lush tropical vegetation. At the secluded 44-acre St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, all rooms have private dining areas, daybeds and state-of-theart entertainment systems, and are elegantly decorated with Polynesian arts and crafts. Rooms either have direct access to the beach or are thatched villas built over water; views are of the extinct volcanoes, the lagoon or the reef. For the utmost privacy, the three-bedroom Royal Estate has four bathrooms, its own beach, a pool and an area with sauna, jacuzzi and hammam. If you are in search of perfect pampering, go to the resort’s Miri Miri Spa by Clarins, a place of deep relaxation on its own private islet.

A private wine class in the lagoon.

The sommelier will set up a selection of wines and guests can learn how to distinguish the best grapes as they dip into the crystal-clear lagoon.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Lagoonarium Fish Park.

Just a few minutes by boat from the resort, families will enjoy meeting turtles, fish of all kinds and color, blacktip sharks and rays, all in a safe atmosphere for children. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

THIRD BEST RESORT IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC, TRAVEL + LEISURE’S BEST IN THE WORLD, 2016 WINNER, TOP 25 HOTELS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC, TRIPADVISOR’S TRAVELER’S CHOICE, 2013

Motu Ome’e BP 506, Bora Bora 98730, French Polynesia T. (689) 40 607888 reservations@stregisborabora.com stregis.com/borabora 90 guest rooms and suites; 6 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; beach; gym; tennis; children’s club 37

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Changsha ASK US ABOUT Dufu Riverside Pavilion.

Located at the east side of Xiang River, the pavilion, long corridor, and tea rooms together form Dufu Riverside Pavilion. The setting provides tourists with a great view of both Mount Yuelu and the commercial district.

The Yuelu Academy. Founded in the year 976, this Academy of Classical Learning is oldest continually operating institute of learning in China, and has produced some of the country’s great poets, philosophers and political leaders, including renowned Confucian scholars Zhu Xi and Zhang Shi. A wonderfully atmospheric place to visit for a few hours, with amazing traditional architecture to admire and serene gardens to stroll around.

The hotel exterior; a Deluxe guest room

As the capital of Hunan province and one of China’s most important ancient cities, Changsha is a prime destination for business and leisure. With its central location in Yunda International New Town, The St. Regis Changsha lies at the heart of the city’s dynamic shopping and business districts, within easy reach of museums, theaters and historical sites of interest. The hotel’s 188 rooms and suites offer a level of elegance and refinement unmatched elsewhere in Changsha, while the signature St. Regis Butler Service is provided for every guest. The array of facilities include a rooftop helicopter pad, sky-high indoor swimming pool and 24-hour fitness center.

Changsha is famed for its cuisine, and our accomplished chefs present a wide range of dining experiences. Our Yan Ting signature Chinese restaurant serves authentic dishes evoking the spirit of Chinese cuisine, while Un Japanese restaurant offers extensive Japanese fare and Teppanyaki. The Tea Lounge features eight elegant tearooms, five of which feature outdoor garden areas.

Juzi Island. This narrow strip of land in the center of the Xiangjiang River is a popular tourist attraction.

It has gardens and orchards with thousands of fruit trees, frequent firework displays in the evening, and an enormous bust of Mao Zedong. The island is particularly attractive in October and November when the orange trees bear fruit.

DEBUTED JANUARY 2017

Yunda Central Plaza, No. 289 Sha Wan Road, Yuhua District, Changsha 410129 Hunan Province stregis.changsha@stregis.com st.regis.com/changsha 188 rooms and suites; 6 restaurants and bars, ballroom; rooftop lap pool; fitness center 38

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Chengdu ASK US ABOUT Jinli Ancient Street. See a traditional road dating from the Qin Dynasty (221 to 206 BC), which is famous for its buildings and folk culture. Sample Sichuan food, from hotpots to dumplings, and admire the Wuhou temple and rich culture of the Three Kingdoms period (220 to 280AD).

Sichuan Opera. A perfect blend of local dialect with historic culture, folk music and dances from various regions. The best place to see it is at Chengdu Culture Park on Qingtai Road. The stage is inside the Green- Ram Abbey, a famous Taoist temple.

The Sichuan Cuisine Museum of Chengdu. Situated in an ancient town in Pixian County, this has fascinating exhibits of Sichuan wine, tea, food, architecture and gardens.

The indoor pool features colored lights and holograms; a Grand Deluxe Room

The capital city of Sichuan province is flourishing as a business hub, in part because of the excellent links to the rest of the province. But this is nothing new for Chengdu. It was one of the first places in the world to issue paper currency and the starting point for part of the Southern Silk Route, from where merchants would take the region’s renowned wares to the wider world. Yet for all its importance, this ancient metropolis, founded in 316 BC, retains a remarkably relaxed atmosphere.

You’ll find delicious Sichuan food being served at the hotel’s signature restaurant Yan Ting, numerous tea houses and, for downtime, parks and temples to explore.

Thanks to its location, The St. Regis Chengdu is perfectly placed for business meetings, yet within easy reach of prestige boutiques and cultural highlights, including temples, museums and parks. Later, enjoy our signature Chuan Mary cocktail at the Vantage XXVII outdoor sky bar on the 27th floor, open from April to October, with in-house DJ, skyline views and a statement bronze bar.

Visit the Leshan Buddha. The world’s largest Buddha sculpture overlooks the Min River, about two hours by road south of Chengdu. It’s a humbling experience standing next to this 233-foot colossus, carved into red sandstone cliffs during the ninth century.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

Closely observe giant pandas in fernleaf hedge bamboo. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

TARGET TASTE 2016 RECOMMENDED CHINESE RESTAURANT: YAN TING BEST NEW ULTRA LUXURY HOTEL, LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

88 Taisheng Road South, Qingyang District, Chengdu 610017, Sichuan, Chinaa T. (86) (266) 287 6666a stregis.chengdu@stregis.coma stregis.com/chengdu 279 guest rooms and suites; 6 restaurants and bars; spa; athletic club; indoor & outdoor pools 39

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur ASK US ABOUT Forest bathing. Guests can be transported to the forest for a short escape from the hustle and bustle of the busy city, and experience relaxation in the most natural way.

Batik painting. Express yourself in the Malaysian art of batik-making.

Private lessons take place at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur.

The Colors of Malaysia Festival.

Known locally as Citrawarna, this is a lavish celebration of the country’s cultural heritage, with parades, dance, food and music.

City tour, taking in the beauty and charm of old and new Kuala Lumpur, which developed from a tin-mining settlement into a vibrant modern city.

The Mark Evans mural in the lobby; the Astor Lounge Astor Bar

The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur is located in KL Sentral, one of the most prestigious and romantic neighborhoods, a stone’s throw from the city’s Lake Gardens and heritage landmarks such as the National Museum and House of Parliament. The hotel is infused with luxurious design details, such as breathtaking Austrian crystals and hand-made Italian gold tiles. Inspired by Polo, the “Sport of Kings”, subtle details include horsehair leather panels, saddle stitch and stirrup motifs. Guests can take advantage of a refreshing dip in the outdoor swimming pool, or relax and rejuvenate the senses at the 1,100 square meter Iridium Spa. The Japanese Restaurant features the three-star Michelin Saito-san in his first and only venture outside of Tokyo, Taka by Sushi Saito, serving his signature sushi, including his famous Anago Sushi. Guests will also enjoy tempura from Tokyo’s Ginza Tenkuni, which has been serving Edo-style tempura since 1885. With six distinct dining venues, guests seeking incomparable cuisine will be spoiled for choice at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Discover the art of pewter making at Royal Selangor, a world-famous gift brand founded in 1885. Visitors can enjoy hands-on workshops of 30 or 60 minutes and create their own pewter souvenir. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

6, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia stregis.kualalumpur@stregis.com stregis.com/kualalumpur 208 guest rooms and suites; 6 restaurants and bars; fitness center; spa 40

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Langkawi ASK US ABOUT The cable car and suspension Bridge at Gunung Mat Cincang.

The second highest mountain on the island is famous for offering spectacular views of Langkawi.

The Seven Wells Waterfall is a picturesque spot where visitors can swim in the cool, clear waters or soak in one of the seven linked natural pools.

Langkawi’s night markets are great for trying authentic local food prepared by street vendors at relatively low prices. Our St. Regis Concierge will be pleased to arrange transportation.

The living area of the Presidential Suite; the Main Pool

The St. Regis Langkawi nestles on the southern tip of Langkawi, the first UNESCO Global Geopark in Southeast Asia. The first new luxury resort on the island for 11 years, our discreet address overlooks a sparkling white-sand beach, swaying palm trees, and the glistening turquoise Andaman Sea. Our intimate resort offers the ideal departure point for exploring the Jewel of Kedah. On the archipelago’s largest island, picturesque villages, paddy fields, majestic mountain peaks and lush tropical jungles filled with remarkable caves and waterfalls contribute to Langkawi’s dramatic natural beauty. The translucent waters also invite guests to enjoy endless ocean activities, including fishing, snorkeling, diving, sunset cruises and more.

Settle into the sophisticated comforts and flawless services afforded to each of our 85 suites and four over-water villas, including one with four bedrooms. As the only resort nearby offering over-water villas, each highlights signature design elements that bring the traditions of the brand to life.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: A customized Geo-Forest Safari. Visit geological wonders that date back to over half a million years; spot macaques, dusky leaf monkeys and exotic lizards; take a serene river cruise; and witness the spectacular marine life in the Andaman Sea. Visit a Virgin Coconut Oil Farm, which takes you into undiscovered Langkawi. Enjoy the bucolic tapestry of Malay kampong houses, paddy fields and rubber plantations.

Visitors can learn how to cold-press coconut oil and then take home a jar of the oil. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER 2017 ‘BEST FOR FAMILIES’ AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE BEST NEW ULTRA LUXURY HOTEL, LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Jalan Pantai Beringin, Pulau Langkawi, 07000 Malaysia newhotels.asiapacific@starwoodhotels.com stregis.com/langkawi 89 suites and villas; 4 restaurants and bars; spa; pool 41

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Lhasa Resort ASK US ABOUT The Potala Palace. One of the most famous architectural works in the world and a symbol of the Tibetan people, just 15 minutes from the resort. See it after hours, in an atmosphere of peace and sanctity.

Sabrage. St. Regis hotels have a history of embracing this famous ritual: the sabering of a champagne bottle with a sword. The St. Regis Lhasa has added Vajrayana Buddhist elements to this memorable ceremony.

Visiting the celestial lake on the Tibetan Plateau. There are hundreds of high-altitude lakes; among the most popular is Yandro Yumtso Lake, 80 miles from Lhasa.

The magnificent Potala Palace overlooking Lhasa; the Khailash Suite’s living room

Set 12,000 ft above sea level, Lhasa is surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, with air as clean as you’ll find anywhere in the world. This extreme location will most likely take your breath away in more ways than one – you may need time to adjust to the altitude. For centuries, Lhasa has been the spiritual and political home of Buddhism, and the city is booming as tourists and pilgrims alike search for enlightenment and peace in the Place of the Gods, the name given to the city by the ancients. The St. Regis Lhasa Resort is a luxury five-star property in the city’s bustling old quarter where the Jokhang Temple, frequented by Buddhist pilgrims, is found. The resort’s spectacular Iridium spa offers specialist Tibetan treatments, or you might find healthy inspiration at the hotel’s cooking school. Join us also at our bar, Tubo by Decanter, which boasts stunning views of the Potala Palace and Lhasa’s finest selection of wines, cigars, and liquors.

Touring the Jokhang Temple (Balang North Street, Chengguan).

This seventh-century temple is Tibet’s holiest site. Go in the morning when Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims arrive, and stay until the afternoon, when the interior is opened to non-Buddhists.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: With captivating activities and thoughtful, welcoming attention tailored for younger guests and their families, the St. Regis Lhasa is a destination that celebrates the art of play. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

BEST NEW LUXURY HOTEL IN LHASA, HURUN REPORT 2016 BEST NEW ULTRA LUXURY HOTEL, LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 2015

No. 22, Jiangsu Road, Lhasa, Tibet (Xizang) 850000 China u T. (86) (891) 680 8888 reservation.lhasa@stregis.com stregis.com/lhasa 162 guest rooms and suites; 5 restaurants and bars; spa; pool 42

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central ASK US ABOUT The Valentino Aficionad0 experience. Indulge in this rare appointment with fashion, as the Italian sartorial masters curate a private shopping experience bespoke to your requirements.

The Taipa Houses Museum.

Comprising five houses with typical green Macanese architecture, this is one of the key cultural heritage sites.

A-Ma Temple. Macao’s oldest temple is dedicated to China’s patron goddess of seafarers, who indirectly gave the city its name.

The hotel exterior at night; the view from an Empire Suite

Macao is a city of historic ruins, spiritual temples, and imposing fortresses, which illustrate the evolution of Western and Chinese civilizations over more than four centuries. And The St. Regis Macao is the most elegant, sophisticated address from which to explore the very best the city affords, perfectly situated within a prime center of dining, shopping and entertainment. Guests enjoy the finest restaurants, such as The Manor, which focuses on imported prime-meat cuts and seafood, as well as amenities typified by the incomparable St. Regis Butler Service. To further enhance your stay, our hotel offers convenient access to more than 850 designer boutiques and several premier shopping centers. Refined comforts and elegantly appointed furnishings await in each of The St. Regis Macao’s 400 guestrooms and suites, where state-of-the-art amenities combine with traditional Chinese architectural elements and spectacular views of the Cotai Strip.

Macao Tower. This elegant construction offers panoramic views over Macao and much of the Pearl River Delta from its observation deck and revolving restaurant, 223 meters up.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Take a Macao photo tour with a personal tour guide and chauffeured vehicle. You will be presented with a Polaroid camera and a photo album so your children can capture and keep all your favorite moments of the tour, as well as inscribe notes to create a personalized memento. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

LUXURY HOTEL AND SPA OF THE YEAR 2016 – LUXURY TRAVEL GUIDE BEST LUXURY HOTEL 2016 – WORLD TRAVELLER AWARDS

Estrada do Istmo. S/N, Cotai, Macao T. (853) 2882 8898 stregis.macao@stregis.com stregis.com/macao 400 guestrooms and suites; 3 restaurants and bars; outdoor pool 43

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort ASK US ABOUT Our on-site International PADI Dive Centre features Scubapro diving equipment, and offers nitrox diving courses to allow guests to experience the world-class waters.

Charter a yacht and make a personal voyage of discovery to one of the Maldives’ uninhabited islands.

Sample the fresh seafood for which the islands are renowned.

Maldivian dishes are often spicy and flavored with coconut. Don’t miss the traditional fihunu mas (barbecued fish basted with chili).

Cargo pop-up restaurant. By day, an unassuming shipping container in a heavily landscaped area; by night, a pop-up restaurant serving delicious Middle Eastern food.

Aerial view of the St. Regis Vommuli Resort; view of the Indian Ocean from an Over-Water Villa

Ideally poised on its own exclusive island, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is surrounded by pristine landscapes, thick tropical vegetation, a fine white-sand beach and the glistening turquoise Indian Ocean. This intimate retreat of 77 luxuriously appointed private villas and an Iridium Spa offers the perfect gateway for embracing the dramatic natural beauty of this enchanting island nation, whose 26 atolls comprise 1,192 islands, of which only 200 are inhabited. Enjoy complimentary snorkeling equipment and take in the magnificent underwater world teeming with marine life on our world-renowned private house reef. Immerse yourself in sailing, windsurfing, surfing, parasailing, sea kayaking, jet skiing, water skiing and stand-up paddling. Ocean excursions range from deep-sea fishing to dolphin and sunset cruises. Six dining venues offer distinctive cuisines, from Italian to East Asian, while a beachfront eatery specializes in custom pizzas, fresh juices and homemade ice-cream.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: A four-hour family fishing trip to a secluded Maldivian sandbank in a dhoni, the traditional island sailboat. Learn bottom-linefishing from a local expert. After the excursion, enjoy a splendid barbecue lunch on the sandbank, or on the boat, prepared by the St. Regis Butler and chef. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

Vommuli Island, Dhaalu Atoll, Republic of Maldives stregis.maldivesvommuli@stregis.com stregis.com/maldives 77 guest villas; 6 restaurants and bars; pool; library; children’s club; spa; diving center 44

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Mumbai ASK US ABOUT Sail with Rajesh Dullaji. Set sail from Mumbai Harbor with one of India’s leading sailors, sipping champagne while taking in the unique sights of Prong’s Lighthouse and the coastal batteries of Oyster Rock.

A curator-led tour of the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum. Opened in 1872, Mumbai’s oldest museum is a microcosm of the extraordinary talents of Indian master craftsmen and Early Modern artists.

The Elephanta Caves. This ancient shrine hewn from solid basalt on an island in Mumbai harbor is easily accessible by boat tour from the iconic Gateway of India. The sculptures date back to at least the eighth century and still bear traces of original decorative paintwork.

The infinity pool; a Grand Deluxe room

India’s largest city, Mumbai is a spectacular metropolis full of architectural treasures that bear witness to its periods under colonial rule. The St. Regis Mumbai is a luxury oasis in the heart of the city, the striking interiors of the grand lobby welcoming guests with their old-world charm accentuated by Rajasthani Tikri artwork. As the tallest luxury hotel in India, it would be close to impossible to find more panoramic vistas elsewhere. The hotel is ideally located for leisure and business travelers owing to its prox­imity to the city’s entertainment and commercial districts. After a long day of meetings, head to the dedicated Wellness Floor for a massage at the Iridium Spa, known for its award-winning therapists and signature treatments. Relax in the infinity pool overlooking the city before enjoying a finely crafted infusion-themed cocktail at the new high-energy bar Luna Nudo, followed by wining and dining at Luna Gusta, the latest addition to our portfolio of gourmet restaurants, where delectable dishes are created with exotic ingredients accentuating European flavors.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

Only 90 minutes from bustling Mumbai lie 40 square miles of protected tropical forest, home to everything from spotted deer to mynah birds, not to mention 150 different species of butterfly.

You might even glimpse a wild leopard amid the dense foliage.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Cook with your kids. A culinary class with a focus on fun, this is cooking made easy for kids and parents to bond over.

FAVORITE NEW BUSINESS HOTEL IN INDIA,CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER’S READERS’ TRAVEL AWARDS, 2016 EAZYDINER FOODIE AWARDS THE SAHIB ROOM AND KIPLING BAR FOR THE ‘BEST INDIAN IN A HOTEL 2016’

462 Senapti Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai 400013, India T. (91) (22) 6162 8000 stregis.mumbai@stregis.com stregis.com/mumbai 395 guest rooms and suites; 9 restaurants and bars; spa; athletic club, pool 45

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Osaka ASK US ABOUT Discover Amazing Osaka. This great package includes a one-day train pass, enabling you to visit the city’s leading attractions, such as the Sky Building Observatory, Tennoji Zoo, the Ferris Wheel by the Bay, a river cruise and much more.

The very first Morning Glass Cafe in Japan, a few blocks from the hotel. The popular cafe chain from Hawaii is co-owned by Eric Rose, a start-up member of Starbucks.

A local fish market. Experience a lively atmosphere and enjoy fresh sashimi and sushi.

Minion Park, the world’s largest Despicable Me-themed land, set to include a ride, a toy store, a sweets factory and a hotel. Opening this spring at Universal Studios Japan The St. Regis Osaka Zen Garden; the master bedroom of the Royal Suite

For many travelers, Osaka has all the urban energy and lively vibe of Tokyo with the heritage and historical riches of Kyoto. On Midosuji Avenue, where The St. Regis Osaka is located, you will find examples of the city’s long history, in the form of architectural masterpieces dating from the Taisho Era (1912-1926) and the following Showa period. The avenue has been dubbed the Champs Elysées of the Orient. The St. Regis Osaka is within a 27-story building, the tallest in the urban renewal zone. It provides striking views over the city and is perfectly positioned for you to explore Osaka’s multi-Michelin-starred restaurant scene, cultural life and Buddhist shrines. The hotel’s garden terrace is lush with plants and has a stone garden around which to take a stroll, or you can sit and take time out from the streetscape below. Don’t miss the creations of new chef Mauro Zanusso at our La Veduta restuarant.

Yamamoto Noh Theater. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the home of Japanese musical drama, with its collection of masks and costumes, and experience what it feels like to take the stage.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: My Cup Noodle Factory makes for a fascinating excursion.

Learn about ramen noodles, create a custom noodle soup, design your own cup and explore the museum.

Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

THE ONLY HOTEL IN OSAKA TO BE AWARDED 5 RED PAVILIONS BY THE MICHELIN GUIDE 2017 (TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS) WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS 2015, ASIA’S LEADING BUSINESS HOTEL

3-6-12 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0053, Japan T. (81) (6) 6258 3333 stregis.osaka@stregis.com stregis.com/osaka 160 guest rooms and suites; 3 restaurants and bars; spa; exercise room 46

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort ASK US ABOUT A luxury yacht sailing experience: Guests can enjoy the opportunity to charter fully-staffed Sanya Yalong Bay Yacht Club vessels for private parties, fishing excursions, sunset cruises, corporate events and overnight cruises. Guests arriving by yacht will have private butler service and access to limousine services as needed.

The Binglanggu Hainan Li & Miao Ethnic Minority Cultural Heritage Park is a mysterious rainforest where guests can embrace the culture of the Li ethnic group and sample tropical fruits and snacks.

Visiting Nanshan Temple. The Buddhist temple at the foot of Nanshan mountain, 25 miles from Sanya, was completed only in 1998 (2,000 years after the arrival of Buddhism in China).

A luxurious villa; the hotel’s marina

The tropical island of Hainan, China’s smallest province, has clean air, tropical vegetation, pristine beaches and offers the perfect escape from the bustle of the mainland cities. Located in the exclusive Yalong Bay on the south coast of Hainan Island in South China, The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort is the perfect choice for guests looking for a deluxe, relaxing vacation. Its heated swimming pool boasts views of tropical gardens, coconut palms, and the deep blue ocean. The hotel has access to more than half a mile of coastline on Yalong Bay (also called Asian Dragon Bay), where guests can stroll, swim or enjoy a seafood barbecue at the new beachfront bar. Our team can arrange a sailing trip to the hidden treasures of Baifu Bay, a stunning cove that offers a soft sand beach, clear turquoise waters and a secluded coral reef.

Afternoon Tea Art Time. Live music accompanies a delicate high tea in the lobby of The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort while invited artists showcase their masterpieces.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: The Kayak Adventure: a guided trip taking you to nearby mangrove forests by kayak, a ride that lasts for up to three hours, where you can see cormorants, egrets and flamingos. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

THE BEST BUSINESS HOTEL IN SANYA AWARD BY BUSINESS TRAVELER 2016 THE BEST HOTEL AWARD BY TRAVEL AND LEISURE 2016

Yalong Bay National Resort District, Sanya Yalong Bay, Hainan 572016, China T. (86) (898) 8855 5555 reservations.sanya@stregis.com stregis.com/sanyayalongbay 396 guest rooms and suites; 6 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym; private beach; water sports; tennis; children’s club 47

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Shanghai Jing’an ASK US ABOUT The Bund. Shanghai’s standout landmark is a grandiose curve of colonial-era buildings, studded with museums and fenced in by skyscrapers. The historic architecture also houses exclusive restaurants, bars and hotels.

The Drawing Room / lobby lounge

The hotel’s exterior; the drawing room

From 59 floors above the city, The St. Regis Shanghai Jing’an invites you to the best address in Shanghai for business and leisure. It’s a short walk from Jing’an district’s most treasured sites and historic landmarks, including: the Jing’an Temple, the overwater Yu Garden, the 1920s-style architecture of the Bund, People’s Square and People’s Park, and the ancient Chinese relics in the Shanghai Museum. Chic, luxury shopping centers, including Westgate Mall, Shanghai Center and Plaza 66, are within walking distance. For added convenience, the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is just a 35-minute drive away. The hotel has 433 exquisitely appointed guest rooms and suites with peerless views of the city and Pudong. There are four gourmet restaurants to choose from, a rejuvenating spa to relax in, and an indoor swimming pool. We also hope guests will enjoy the services offered by the signature St. Regis Butler Service.

Jade Buddha Temple. Built between 1918 and 1928 to replace the temple that was destroyed during the revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty, this beautiful building houses two ancient Jade Buddha statues which were bought from Burma by a monk called Huigen.

Ancient paintings and scriptures line the halls.

A ride on The Maglev. An exhilarating 431-kilometer-perhour ride on the Maglev from Pudong airport to the city center.

Also visit the Maglev Museum to understand the history of this amazing engineering feat.

Shanghai Circus World. Enjoy a variety of performances, including dance, music competitions, acrobatics and sea-lion shows.

China’s modern achievements, such as the first manned space-mission, are also exhibited.

DEBUTED JANUARY 2017

Jiangning Road and Beijing West Road, Shanghai, China T. (86) 21 5253 9983 stregisshanghaijingan.com 433 guest rooms and suites; 4 restaurant and bars; pool; spa; fitness center 48

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Shenzhen ASK US ABOUT Overseas Chinese Town East Resort. Sixteen miles from the hotel, OCT East is an ecological resort with three theme parks, Knight Valley, Tea Stream Valley and Wind Valley – all of which express the harmony between man and nature.

A private visit to KK Mall, one of the biggest malls in Shenzhen and located in same building of the hotel.

The butler can tailor-make the tour based on customers’ needs.

Lychee Park. A modern park in downtown Shenzhen, well known for its abundance of lychee trees.

The Window of the World, a theme park with models of sights from around the world, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Angkor Wat of Cambodia.

Malt, new oysters, sushi, sashimi and teppanyaki bar on the 100th floor; the Iridium spa pool

Shenzhen, a commercial hub in southern China just to the north of Hong Kong, is one of the country’s most dynamic supercities. The hotel, which opened in 2011, was designed by the renowned architect Sir Terry Farrell, and occupies the top 28 floors of the landmark glass-and-steel 100-story Kingkey 100 tower in the heart of the Luohu financial district. Take advantage of the height at The Drawing Room on the 96th floor, which serves a delicious afternoon tea and has stunning panoramic views of Shenzhen city. Business travelers like to unwind with a treatment in The St. Regis Shenzhen’s Iridium Spa, or meet colleagues in Decanter wine bar or in Malt, now a new sushi and oyster bar. Guests can enjoy a selection of prime oysters from all over the world, Japanese sushi and sashimi, lobster and Wagyu beef – as well as a carefully curated selection of rare malt whiskies, champagnes and wine to enjoy as you take in the stunning views over the city. Alternatively, head off to explore the city’s local theme parks, gardens and historical attractions.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: For guests with children, as part of the signature St. Regis Butler Service, Butlers will be delighted to present the Children’s Booklist and recommend books according to needs. Shenzhen Bay Park occupies a 13-kilometer-long stretch along the southern coast.

Your family can enjoy a relaxing cycling trip, or fun excursions at mangroves, and seeing numerous endangered bird species. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

RECOMMENDED JAPANESE RESTAURANT FOR MALT OYSTER AND SUSHI BAR, 2016, TARGET ROMANTIC DINING OF THE YEAR FOR ELBA, THAT’S PRD FOOD & DRINK AWARDS 2016

No.5016 Shennan Road East, Luoh District Shenzhen, Guangdong 518001 China T. (86)(755) 8308 8888 stregis.shenzhen@stregis.com stregis.com/shenzhen 290 guest rooms and suites; 5 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym 49

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Singapore ASK US ABOUT Shanghai Tang personal shopping.

A VIP team will guide you through the luxury brand’s latest collections of fashion, jewelry, leather goods and iconic home range. A reduction is given on regular-priced items and you will receive a special Shanghai Tang gift to take home.

A gentleman’s day of pampering at Truefitt & Hill Singapore.

This signature experience provides grooming solutions for the modern man. Guests will experience a royal haircut, traditional hot-towel wet shave, manicure and pedicure.

Personal whisky tasting at the Astor Bar. Our bartender will guide you through a range of over 200 whiskies from around the world.

A Specialty Suite; the Astor bar

Situated at the heart of the city’s premier shopping district, with the world-class shopping of Orchard Road and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Singapore Botanic Gardens on your doorstep, The St. Regis Singapore is the ideal residence for the discerning luxury traveler. The hotel’s partner restaurant, Shinji by Kanesaka, renowned for its omakase, was recently awarded a Michelin star. The hotel is close to the financial district, the famous shopping on Orchard Road, and Dempsey Hill, a revitalized colonial neighborhood with restaurants, clubs, bars, boutiques, antiques stores and art galleries. The nearby National Gallery Singapore is finally open to the public after ten years in the making, as is the offshore Coney Island Park with its exotic flora and fauna. And if you have more of a thirst for art, The St. Regis Singapore is home to one of the finest private art collections in Asia, with works by Miró, Chagall and Fernando Botero.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: The Singapore Botanic Gardens offers an exciting array of attractions. Children will be delighted by the Tree House and Waterplay Area. This experience includes a two-hour tour, roundtrip transportation and a picnic lunch. Guests also have the chance to capture the special moments of their time in the city, by being joined by a personal photographer.

In the morning, they can discuss their preferred locations for the shoot. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

DESTINASIAN READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS TOP FIVE BEST SINGAPORE HOTELS 2016 THE SINGAPORE TOURISM AWARDS FOR BEST HOTEL EXPERIENCE 2016

29 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247911 T. (65) 6506 6888 stregis.singapore@stregis.com stregis.com/singapore 299 guest rooms and suites; 4 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym; tennis 50

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: ASIA PACIFIC

The St. Regis Tianjin ASK US ABOUT A private men’s shopping experience at shoemaker Berluti. Learn which shoe styles and shapes are best for you from a dedicated Berluti expert, and master Berluti’s glaçage polishing technique while enjoying a glass of champagne.

The Tianjin Eye is a spectacular observation wheel dramatically situated on the Yongle Bridge.

Enjoy views of the city from a height of up to 394 feet.

Tianjin’s Food Street is the biggest food emporium in China, where you can savor dishes with the flavors of eight Chinese cuisines.

The hotel’s spectacular exterior – part of the city’s march skywards; a Grand Deluxe Room with a river view

China’s fourth-largest city, the coastal metropolis of Tianjin has a fascinating history as the entry point for foreigners visiting and trading with Beijing and the rest of northern China. The European-style houses of the French and German concessions add a dash of grandeur to the metropolis, and original turn-of-thecentury architecture can still be seen in the Wudadao district. The hotel is opposite the glittering Riverside 66 shopping mall, home to 400 renowned international brands. Many rooms have stunning river views, but if it’s a special trip, book the Presidential Suite, which has Chinese antiques, its own dining room and whirlpool bath. Also try the Xi He Ya Yuan Peking Duck restaurant on the second floor of The St. Regis Tianjin, which continues to build upon our unique Modern Chinese culinary concept, while introducing more Chinese creations, such as our classical interpretation of Peking Duck.

Xiang Sheng translates as “crosstalk” and is a dialogue between two comedians. It is one of China’s most popular performing arts, typically spoken in the Tianjin dialect. A booking service is available through your butler.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Taste of China tour.

Experience the flavors and heritage of Tianjin as locals guide you along the famed Nanshi Food Street, home to over one hundred restaurants.

Sample a variety of dishes and visit a famous snack shop where you and your children can help the chefs make Goubuli meat stuffed buns.

Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

BEST DESIGNED HOTEL, SPLENDEUR TOP HOTEL AWARDS, 2016-17 BEST BUSINESS HOTEL IN TIANJIN, BUSINESS TRAVELER CHINA AWARDS, 2016

158 Zhangzizhong Road, Heping District Tianjin, Tianjin 300041, China T. (86) (22) 5830 9999 stregis.tianjin@stregis.com stregis.com/tianjin 274 guest rooms and suites; 3 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; gym 51

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: EUROPE

The St. Regis Astana ASK US ABOUT The Presidential Cultural Center.

See outstanding collections of Kazakh jewelry; the art of goldmaking; replicas from Scythian burial mounds at Berel and the Issyk burial mound, replicas of the “Golden Man” and the “second Golden Man”; and a bejeweled replica of a horse from the Berel tomb.

Atameken. Located a few steps from The St. Regis Astana, you can take a fascinating 200m-long walk around a country map with models of major buildings.

The hotel exterior; the Presidential Suite

Introducing a new level of glamour to Kazakhstan, The St. Regis Astana can be found close to Bayterek Tower, at the most prestigious address in the capital, Central Park. Just 15km from the airport, the hotel echoes the refined Kazakh elegance with a bespoke service. It is close to the Presidential Cultural Center, where you can see outstanding collections of Kazakh jewelry, and the Issyk burial mound (where the Golden Man was found in 1969). In the hotel, a sumptuous Presidential Suite includes a drawing room, library, wine vault, a spectacular outdoor terrace with Jacuzzi and dining table for eight. The Grand Staircase harks back to the glamour of the private mansion of the hotel’s founding family, the Astors. The hotel embraces an epicurean world of celebrated local and international cuisine, with a signature restaurant, an all-day restaurant and The St. Regis Bar. The Iridium Spa, which includes an indoor swimming pool, offers guests a refuge to refresh the senses throughout their stay.

Bayterek Monument. Nurzhul Bulvar’s centerpiece is the 97m-high monument – a latticed tower crowned by a glass orb. This embodies a Kazakh legend in which the mythical bird Samruk lays a golden egg containing the secrets of human happiness in a poplar tree, beyond human reach. A lift glides visitors up inside the egg, where you can enjoy expansive views and place your hand in a print of President Nazarbayev’s palm.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: a children’s playground, art classes, chess-playing, painting and reading in the six-hectare park.

Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

DEBUTS SUMMER 2017

1 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue, Astana, Kazakhstan T. (7) 7172 790 888 stregis.astana@stregis.com stregis.com/astana 120 guest rooms and suites; 3 restaurants and bars; indoor pool; Iridium spa; gym; children’s club 52

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: EUROPE

The St. Regis Florence ASK US ABOUT A private visit to the laboratory and shop of renowned parfumier Aquaflor, including an opportunity to create a unique fragrance.

Ferrari driving experience in Tuscany. A wonderful driving tour through the Chianti hills.

Uffizi Gallery Museum. A must-see for anyone visiting Florence, the Uffizi hosts works of art by great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Giotto, Cimabue, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello.

Old Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella. Said to be the oldest extant pharmacy in the world. Established in 1221 by the Dominicans, it is still dispensing prescriptions today.

The Duomo and the rooftops of Florence; the Presidential Suite

A palazzo designed in 1432 by Filippo Brunelleschi, the architect of the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, The St. Regis Florence was converted into a hotel in the mid-1800s. When Queen Victoria took a Grand Tour, she stayed here. Now there’s a designer suite by Italian luxury fashion house Bottega Veneta, and the hotel spa is collaborating with luxury cosmetics brand My Blend by Clarins. The Michelinstarred Winter Garden by Caino restaurant has a 19th-century illuminated colored-glass ceiling; and in keeping with the Tuscan capital’s Renaissance heritage, there are classic frescoes and antiques throughout the building. Florence is a compact and, in the right season, relaxing city. After you’ve seen the world-class Uffizi Gallery and Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia, make the most of the hotel’s location on the Piazza Ognissanti in the city’s historical heart: order an aperitivo, and sit back and watch as dusk falls over the city’s churches, hills and belltowers.

St. Regis Spa My Blend by Clarins offers an individual treatment for your skin. Our researchers select the highest-performing active ingredients to offer the best of nature and science combined.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Renaissance Discovery.

Unearth history with an interactive, immersive tour of the Palazzo Vecchio. Allow us to transport you there by horse-drawn carriage, just as the Medicis did so many years ago. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

SECOND PLACE IN THE CITY’S ‘CHICEST CITY HOTEL’. READERS’ TRAVEL AWARD 2016 GOLD RANKING, US NEWS & WORLD REPORT

Piazza Ognissanti 1, Florence 50123, Italy T. 0039 055 27161 stregisflorence@stregis.com stregis.com/florence 99 guest rooms and suites; 1 restaurant and bar; spa; gym 53

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: EUROPE

The St. Regis Istanbul ASK US ABOUT A shopping trip to Harvey Nichols.

Enjoy a trip to the world-famous fashion store’s Istanbul outpost, with VIP transfers and personal styling service from the store’s personal shopping experts.

Your discount at luxury boutiques.

The St. Regis Istanbul guest benefits from 10 per cent discount on purchases at leading stores such as Tom Ford, Alexander McQueen, and Salvatore Ferragamo.

Visit gentleman’s tailor Civan and make your own bow tie with owner Bahar Gozkun. Following this, you will enjoy a visit to A La Turca House to view their collection of antiques and Kilim rugs.

Two views of the luxurious Cosmopolitan Suite

Istanbul has long been the place where Europe and Asia met and exchanged goods, philosophies, cultures and credos. In the past decade, it has become a confident, modern city and has witnessed booms in the art scene, in the quality and range of its nightlife, and in business. Ancient meets modern with confidence in this metropolis, and at The St. Regis Istanbul. Once you’ve ticked off traditional landmarks including Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar, explore modern must-sees such as contemporary art at Istanbul Modern and Galerie Nev, hip fashion boutiques in Cihangir or nightlife in Ortakoy or Beyoglu. The St. Regis Istanbul’s neighborhood of Sisli is a quiet one adjoining bustling Beyoglu, so you get the best of both worlds. For the highest luxury, our custom one-bedroom Bentley Suite surrounds you with walls of curved veneer and sumptuous leather fittings, inspired by the seductive interior of the Bentley Continental.

A private curator-led tour through the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art’s exquisite permanent and current collections. Learn firsthand about the social, cultural, economic and political dynamics of the various works of art.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: A private city tour led by local writer Özgür Gezer, ending with a boat tour on Haliç Creek and great views of the Old City. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER, BEST NEW HOTELS IN THE WORLD: HOT LIST 2016 ROBB REPORT BEST OF THE BEST 2015

Mim Kemal Oke Cad. N° 35, Nisantasi, Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey T. (90)(212) 368 0000 stregis.istanbul@stregis.com stregis.com/istanbul 118 guest rooms and suites; 3 restaurants and bars; spa; gym 54

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: EUROPE

The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort ASK US ABOUT The Superyacht Cup Palma, June 21-24. A four-day event, mixing good times with racing on the Bay of Palma. This is the second-biggest event on the superyacht sailing calendar and the longest-running regatta of its kind in Europe.

Cooking classes at The St. Regis Mardavall and guided gourmet tours in Palma. These provide culinary inspiration and tastes of local gastronomy.

Deià International Music Festival.

A summer-long season of classical concerts in the Tramuntana Mountains, overlooking the rugged northwestern coastline.

The living room of an Ocean One Suite; the magnificent pool

All the pleasures and treasures of the Western Mediterranean are found in Mallorca, the main island of the Balearics. The beaches get a lot of attention and some are pretty stunning, but inland are olive groves and vineyards, mountains and rural mansions, cozy old restaurants and tourist-free towns and villages. In the island’s southwestern corner on the Costa d’en Blanes, there are turquoise waters and a sense of being apart from the hubbub. This is also you’ll find The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort, whose guest rooms were designed by Claudio Carbone.

It is a lovely hideaway and a perfect base for exploring the best of the island. The main restaurant Aqua has been renovated throughout and The Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine has been extended; the spa’s product lines now include NIANCE and Maria Galland. Continue your stay with a session on the wooden yoga platform, which has a tranquil sea view. And at the end of the day, don’t miss a relaxing dinner at the Michelin-starred Es Fum restaurant.

The 7th Culinary Safari at the St. Regis Mardavall, July 7. A top gastronomic event, where seven elite chefs take the evening’s guests on a culinary voyage of discovery around their country, with a look behind the scenes extending across various stations in the hotel and main kitchen.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: The Tramuntana Mountains, close to the hotel, are one of Mallorca’s greatest natural assets and UNESCO-listed as a World Heritage Site. Walks and treks to suit all take place in this exquisite landscape. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

RESTAURANT ES FUM AWARDED ONE MICHELIN STAR, 2015

Carretera Palma – Andratx 19, Costa d’en Blanes, Mallorca 07181, Spain T. (34)(971) 629629 info.mardavall@stregis.com stregis.com/mallorca 125 guest rooms and suites; 4 restaurants and bars; spa; pool; beach; gym; private jetty; children’s club 55

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: EUROPE

The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya ASK US ABOUT A unique signature treatment created by Thalgo exclusively for the Iridium Spa: an exceptional radiance age-prevention ritual including a St. Regis afternoon tea ceremony.

Travel in style in a Bentley Flying Spur. The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya is delighted to offer its guests the chance to discover Moscow in the impeccable surroundings of a Bentley Flying Spur, which can also be provided for airport/railway transfers.

Moscow Cinema. First opened in 1936, this is a true cultural icon for Muscovites. Any suite guest at The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya, is invited to attend a performance at this upscale and luxurious cinema with their family.

The Orlov Lobby Lounge; the Rooftop Hall and terrace

One of the world’s greatest cities, Moscow is a powerhouse of business, culture and tourism. Situated in the historic center of the Russian capital, within easy walking distance of the celebrated Bolshoi Theater and the Kremlin, you’ll find The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya. A stone’s throw also from major business centers and the Duma – Russia’s parliament – the hotel’s well-equipped business center provides outstanding conference facilities and responsive service for business travelers. For leisure travelers, the hotel promises a heady mix of high culture and world-class retail in the boutiques of Nikolskaya Plaza, the city’s new luxury shopping destination. When it comes to dining, guests can choose between the Orlov Lobby Bar and Lounge and Osteria A Tavola, a delightful contemporary Italian restaurant. For wellbeing they can enjoy the newly opened Iridium Spa, where our hair salon, Iridium Spa Image Studio, offers guest an opportunity to relax in the safe hands of our expert stylists.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Painting for kids. In keeping with our mission to celebrate the art of play, children of guests are given a traditional wooden Russian Matreshka doll to paint. Brushes and paints are provided. Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

#1 BUSINESS HOTEL, CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER HOT LIST, 2015

Nikolskaya Street 12, Moscow, 109012, Russian Federation T. (7)(495) 967 7776 moscow@stregis.com stregis.com/moscow 210 guest rooms and suites; 5 restaurants and bars; pool; spa; fitness center 56

THE AFICIONADO’S GUIDE TO ST. REGIS: EUROPE

The St. Regis Rome ASK US ABOUT Pizza making. This workshop, in a traditional Roman pizzeria, gives the opportunity to learn how to make fresh home-made pizza using authentic Italian utensils.

La Grande Bellezza. Paolo Sorrentino’s homage to the Eternal City, translated as The Great Beauty, won the 2014 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Take a tour of the timeless landmarks photographed in the movie.

Behind Palatial Doors. This tour provides an intimate peek into Rome’s past, inviting guests into amazing palaces that are closed to the public. See masterpieces by artists such as Bronzino, Ghirlandaio and Tintoretto.

The hotel’s façade, next to the historic Fountain of Moses; the living room of the Couture Suite

For history, beauty, style, culture and romance, Rome has few rivals as the world’s most compelling metropolis. Here ancient palaces, temples, churches and monuments sit alongside all the contemporary attractions of a modern European capital. Such a city deserves a hotel of classical proportions, and The St. Regis Rome, built right beside the ruins of the Baths of Diocletian, more than lives up to those expectations. Rome’s first grand hotel, this palazzo was opened by celebrated hotelier César Ritz in 1894, and it retains its majesty and prominence in the life of this great city to this day. The hotel, with its luxurious interiors, beautiful ballroom, chandeliers and hand-painted frescoes, makes for a majestic base from which to explore the Eternal City. Don’t miss the Piazza della Repubblica’s latest opening: Eataly, the largest Italian marketplace in the world, full of restaurants, food and beverage counters, a bakery, retailers, and a cooking school.

Make authentic gelato. Enjoy a half-day workshop with Maria Agnese Spagnuolo of Gelateria Fatamorgana, who will share her secret recipes for creating the most enticing gelato in the city.

Family Traditions at St. Regis program: Myths and Heroes.

Discover the richness of Greek and Roman mythology with a fun-filled journey through the collections of the Capitoline Museums, led by a guide who will retell these classic stories that never cease to delight.

Learn more at stregis.com/familytraditions

TRIP ADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE 2016 CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER READERS’ CHOICE AWARD, 2016

Via Vittorio E. Orlando 3, Rome 00185, Italy T. (39)(06) 47091 stregisgrandrome@stregis.com stregis.com/rome 161 guest rooms and suites; 2 restaurants and bars; spa 57

Discover the Upcoming St. Regis Hotels & Resorts AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

The St. Regis Amman

Opening December 2017

The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm

Opening December 2018

ASIA PACIFIC The St. Regis Kanai Resort

Opening January 2018

The St. Regis Nanjing

Opening January 2018

The St. Regis Quingshui Bay Resort (Sanya) The St. Regis Zhuhai

Opening April 2018

The St. Regis Lijiang Resort

Opening June 2018

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Opening March 2018

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THE ST. REGIS ATLAS The St. Regis story around the globe, from the first hotel opening in Manhattan in 1904 to the latest in Astana

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