May 15th, 2024
This summer, all eyes are on Paris as the city prepares to host the Olympic Games. But you don’t need to be a sports enthusiast to justify a getaway to the City of Lights or further afield to the French Riviera, Champagne, Bordeaux, and beyond. Here’s what not to miss if you’re planning a trip—from summer wellness retreats and ritzy beach clubs to private sailings through the vast, marshy wetland of the Camargue.
Newly Starred Dining Experiences
The 2024 Michelin guide conferred new stars to 62 restaurants across France. Among the fine dining establishments with new sparkle: La Gabriel at La Réserve Paris, now with its third Michelin star—making it one of just 10 restaurants in the capital with this distinction. While the restaurant has a strong sense of place, the menus take inspiration from all corners of the world, including Japan and Turkey, where Brittany-born chef Jérôme Banctel learned the art of cooking with limestone—a technique he has now made his own. “These high-caliber menus conjure up a vast range of sensations and flavors … and [Banctel’s] talent as a cosmopolitan alchemist enables him to draw everything together harmoniously,” reads the Michelin review. Elsewhere in town, the Art Deco-inflected Monsieur George hotel is home to the newly crowned Michelin-starred restaurant Galanga, helmed by 32-year-old chef Thomas Damingo, who uses techniques like fermentation to add depth and creativity to his plant-forward plates. “[Damingo] conjures up delicate, aromatic dishes, whose elegance and technically flawless craftsmanship pamper the taste buds,” reads the review. Santé to the new star-holders!
Pilgrimage-Worthy Spas
In Paris, you don’t need an Olympic-sized pool to make a splash. In fact, some of the city’s insider’s-favorite wellness refuges are petite in size but mighty in every other respect. Take the newly opened Hotel Hana, designed by Laura Gonzalez (who is behind the restoration of the Cartier Mansion in New York) and Olivier Leone (the cofounder and art director of Nodaleto shoe brand). The property’s design takes inspiration from its location in Little Tokyo, as does the spa menu, which offers holistic treatments and Japanese rituals, including reiki, kobido, and reflexology using green tea and yuzu scented oils. After a treatment, relax by the indoor pool to really set the Zen mood.
Across town, the subterranean Nescens Spa at La Réserve Paris is hosting specialty workouts (open to guests and locals!) leading up to the Olympics. On May 22, Laure Dary, professional dancer/yoga instructor and founder of Maison Of(f) Wellness, will teach her signature ‘Shapes in Motion’ method inspired by yoga poses and also incorporating dance and barre. And those looking to get their heart rate up can catch Justine Rojat, who is bringing her boxing bootcamp class from Punch Boxing to the hotel on June 12.
In the South of France, the Spa Nescens at La Réserve Ramatuelle just launched a series of Women’s Better Aging retreats for summer 2024 season, aimed at helping women of all ages with mental and physical re-energization as well as self-reflection. The 3- and 5-day retreats include activities such as nature walks, yoga, and Pilates classes alongside holistic facial treatments and relaxing body rituals such as a signature Nescens Better Aging Facial and Massage. Two-Michelin Starred chef Eric Canino will also work hand-in-hand with Clinique Nescens’ nutritionist to create tailored menus adapted to the objectives of each guest during their program.
The Côte d’Azur’s Most Exclusive Beaches
The South of France conjures shimmering waters, powdery sands, and the most glamorous beach clubs in the world. For a front-row seat to the Cote d’Azur’s legendary beach culture, look no further than Cap D’Antibes Beach Hotel, a 1950s-era icon that underwent a complete revamp in 2023 led by Belgian architect Bernard Dubois. Perched atop a rocky promontory between Cannes and Nice that was used as a backdrop in both Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief and Jacques Deray’s La Piscine, the 35-room hotel is spread across a private beach with pastel pink loungers and parasols lined up along water’s edge. Fun fact: it’s one of a handful of hotels on the Cote d’Azur where guests don’t need to cross the road to get to the beach.
Near St Tropez, the seaside beach club La Réserve à La Plage opened on the buzzy Pampelonne Beach in 2019. Designed by Philipe Starck, it’s coastal boho-chic at its best, with the staff dressed in white-and-blue Breton stripes and a restaurant overseen by the La Réserve Ramatuelle’s Michelin-starred chef Eric Canino and chef Nicolas Cantrel. The beach club hosts live concerts, DJ sets, and photo exhibitions — all against the shimmering backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea. You’re also hanging out in the exact place where beach club culture in France was born: in 1956, French superstar Brigitte Bardot made Pampelonne Beach a summer icon while filming And God Created Woman.
Family-Friendly Escapes
Paris with kids? Bien sûr. Especially if you’re staying at La Réserve Paris Apartments, a collection of 10 multi-bedroom apartments in the quiet 16th arrondissement. The flats feature large kitchens, fully stocked pantries and wine cellars, large balconies ideal for dinner parties prepared by a private chef, home gyms, and direct Eiffel Tower views. The building has its own private street entrance, and guests who buy out the 4,000-square-foot top floor receive a key for private elevator access. Younger guests might enjoy a pastry workshop with the hotel’s chef in the apartment kitchen or visit the Paris Aquarium, just across from the apartments. Guests also have access to all hotel amenities, including 24/7 butler service and meals at the three-starred Michelin restaurant Le Gabriel.
Having been family owned for nearly 70 years, Hotel La Ponche in St Tropez knows a thing or two about multi-generational travel and has many memories to share about the glamourous history of the French Riviera. Families often enjoy the most famous accommodations of the hotel, two Prestige Tropezian suites that were once the favorites of famous French actress, Brigitte Bardot, and French painter and sculptor, Bernard Buffet. Both feature a large, private terrace overlooking the sea and the 17th-century citadel. There are also three apartments, ideal for longer stays, which accommodate between four and six guests and come with a separate living room, fully-equipped kitchen, and of course, fantastic sea views. Here, family-friendly experiences include beach picnics, private boat rides, and exclusive access to the area’s best museums.
Splurge-Worthy Buyouts
Sail France’s waterways in superlative style — and utmost privacy — on a private boating experience with Belmond. In April, Belmond launched Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat, Champagne after a top-to-bottom refit, with three spacious cabins with ensuite facilities, an indoor salon with a champagne bar, and an extensive outdoor deck. Available for private charter only, Coquelicot will take up to six guests on a cinematic journey of Champagne in partnership with Maison Ruinart, offering exclusive access to the first established House of Champagne. Guests can disembark the boat for unrivaled access to Taissy vineyard, which has been referenced as early as 1733 in the Maison’s archives, for a guided tour through the grounds followed by a technical tasting of iconic Maison Ruinart cuvées led by a Maison Ambassador.
Belmond is now also sailing in the Camargue region from Avignon to Sete (or vice versa) on the
four-cabin Pivoine, A Belmond Boat, Camargue – marking a new destination for Belmond’s fleet in France. As one of Europe’s largest natural reserves and the largest wetland in France, this new itinerary in Camargue, also launched in April, spotlights the vast wilderness of the region with a private visit to the salt marshes to see the pink flamingo’s nesting grounds, bird watching, tours through the lavender fields, and a special experience with famous horse whisperer, Jean Francois Pignon (who worked with Stella McCartney on her campaign starring the white horses of Camargue).
In Bordeaux, La Maison d’Estournel just reopened in mid-April for the season. Located next to the famed Château Cos d’Estournel winery, the property has just 14 rooms with vineyard views, complimentary e-bikes for pedaling through the rolling hills, and cozy-chic interiors that feel like staying at a friend’s country residence. It’s a dream wedding destination, with room for up to 200 people on the great lawn. In between wedding festivities, guests can go grand cru wine tasting, fishing, oyster farming, or take a boat out on Arcachon Bay.
May 14th, 2024
For many travelers, Greece is synonymous with sun, sea, and island-hopping. But there’s so much more to discover—world-class art collections, pilgrimage-worthy wellness programs, locally-owned hotels with a deep sense of place—giving frequent travelers new reasons to visit.
New Spa this year
Kalesma Mykonos, an architecturally striking and minimalist-cool boutique hotel inspired by the owners’ love affair with the island, reopened for the season with a brand new, sanctuary-like spa with Dr. Barbara Sturm treatments (the only spa on the island to carry these products/treatments, including the Sturmglow Facial and the Revitalizing Scalp Massage, and for the body, an Anti-Aging Body Treatment). Other highlights include Rick Owens-designed furniture in the lobby (the only hotel in the world to boast this), sunrise and sunset views, an on-site, Greek Orthodox chapel with Byzantine-inspired wall art, and a 50+ bottles-deep Greek wine list.
Images of the Spa: https://we.tl/t-HuWSwEQu5V (Courtesy of Kalesma Mykonos)
Artsy Athens
Most people start off in Athens, and the best way to get in step with city’s cultural pulse is a visit to NEW Hotel. Owned by Cyprus-born industrialist Dakis Joannou (ranked as one of the world’s leading collectors of contemporary art) and designed by powerhouse Brazilian duo Fernando and Humberto Campana, the property lets guests immerse themselves into the arts by borrowing from their library of over 2,000 artbooks at the rooftop restaurant. Artworks by heavyweights such as Jenny Holzer and Barbara Kruger appear alongside the Campana Brothers’ iconic furniture designs (including their famed Favela chair), making New Hotel an essential stop on any art lover’s itinerary.
Images courtesy of NEW Hotel Athens: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/w3y8pzz5le1s2u3bb11vg/h?rlkey=17cw827rfm0g3pq0kiuf110gi&dl=0
A high-speed ferry to Santorini…
Brings one to NOŪS, Santorini’s largest resort, located in the village of Mesaria – away from the heavy traffic of the caldera. Inspired by the island’s Cycladic architecture and designed to resemble a whitewashed village, the 119-room property is filled with paintings, photographs, sculptural objects and even AR (augmented reality) works created exclusively for NOŪS by 15 Greek artists, along with light fixtures fashioned out of volcanic stone and design motifs themed after the island’s famous Akrotiri mural. Most rooms have their own private pools and large private gardens for relaxing; there’s also a sprawling spa with Greek-made Korres treatments.
Images courtesy of NOŪS Santorini: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/e07vqje4nbbk38bwczlnp/h?rlkey=ymhenbaen7v1xe2244auvh4vk&dl=0
Where wellness meets history
For more of a wellness-focused holiday, Euphoria Retreat, located on Greece’s lesser-known Peloponnese peninsula, blends cutting-edge science and ancient wisdom, with treatments and programs that draw on Greek philosophy, Hippocratic healing, Taoist philosophy, and traditional Chinese medicine. The location itself is magical (also for non-spa-goers): situated in the foothills of soaring Mount Taygetus, Euphoria overlooks the village of Mystras. Ancient Mystras (up the hillside) was the last significant stronghold of the Byzantine Empire and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. New this year is the Holistic Leadership retreat, offering a new take on leadership, is running June 12-16 and October 9-13, while existing favorites such as the fitness-centric Spartan Spirit of Adventure retreat or the five-day Odysseus Journey combining meditation, group discussion, and energy movement.
Images courtesy of Euhporia Retreat: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ifdaf7fqy1ucdefx6v2kc/h?rlkey=79tqeqyhfo6iombpm6tqpl312&dl=0
By sea
For those wanting to embrace the ancient Greek seafaring tradition, The Cyclades, in the Wake of Le Ponant sailing on Le Ponant (the first Relais & Châteaux sailing yacht) is a week-long sailing that goes from Lavrio, through the cyclades, to the tip of the Peloponnese and back (hitting Tinos, the uninhabited Polyaigos, Serifos, Monemvasia, Kythnos, and Spetses). The ship sets sail June 16, 23, 30 and July 7, 14, and 21, starting at $12,200 per person.
Images courtesy of Le Ponant: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rp2ovtdmhz5y4e3/AAD5k8sGsbe-apG_m0Oowwkva?dl=0
May 13th, 2024
Timed to The 100th Anniversary of the Author’s Death
This June marks 100 years since the death of Franz Kafka. To celebrate the life and work of the literary heavyweight—one of Prague’s most celebrated sons—the Almanac X Alcron Prague has launched a speciality package primed for bookish travelers.
Available from June 1 until August 31, 2024, the “Step Into the World of Kafka” package includes a two-night stay, a welcome drink and thematic ceramic mug, a city-wide Kafka scavenger hunt using a map and social media to explore the writer’s life through Prague, and two tickets to the KAFKAesuqe exhibition at the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, which will bring together works by international acclaimed artists as well as literary readings, film projections, concerts, and more. Guests will also enjoy a signature Metamorphosis cocktail made using Frederic Kafka gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup at the property’s iconic Alcron Bar, which pours specialty liquors crafted by the Frederic Kafka Distillery, founded by the novelist’s great uncle in 1870. Rates start at $636 USD for the two-night package.
Located steps away from Kafka’s birthplace in Old Town, Almanac X Alcron Prague is an ideal base for exploring the Czech city during the centenary celebrations, which will include events, exhibitions, and a renovation of David Černý’s famous Kafka rotating head sculpture outside City Hall. Housed in the former Alcron Hotel – Prague’s first luxury hotel dating to the First Republic - the Almanac X Alcron Prague is steeped in the glamor of yesteryear, with stunning original details like marble pillars, wood paneling, and onyx fireplace. Guests can admire the property’s collection of local art (with the opportunity to visit their studios throughout the city), enjoy creative plant-forward spins on classic Czech cuisine at the Alcron restaurant, and experience the city’s legendary café culture at the property’s third-wave coffee shop.
To book or for more information, please visit https://www.almanachotels.com/praguex/special-offers/world-of-kafka.
May 13th, 2024
It’s not always easy to prioritize wellness in our daily lives. Sometimes, getting away is the best way to get back on track with our wellbeing goals. If you’re planning a health holiday, look no further than these pilgrimage-worthy new spas, amenities, and wellness programs— from a confidence-boosting lunar retreat in Costa Rica to a female-centric “holistic leadership” in Greece and an insomnia-busting stay in a Namibian dark sky preserve. Plus, we round up our favorite urban wellness destinations in Paris, London, Tokyo, and beyond.
Almanac | Aqua Expeditions | andBeyond | Beaumont | Belmond | Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel | Chapitre Six | Doyle Collection | Dromoland Castle Hotel | Euphoria Retreat | Fife Arms | Gili Lankanfushi Maldives | Hotel Hana | Hôtel La Ponche | Island Outpost | Kalesma Mykonos | Michel Reybier Hospitality | Monsieur George Hôtel & Spa| Nayara Resorts | New Hotel Athens | Nous Santorini | Park Hyatt Japan | The Parker | Ponant | Potlatch Club | The Roundtree | Royal Mansour Collection | Shou Sugi Ban House | Tenuta di Murlo | Thyme | UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa | Virtuoso | Visit Napa Valley | White Elephant Resorts
New Spas Around the World
The best new spas dig deep into their destinations’ healing traditions. Take the just-opened 30,000-square-foot Spa by Guerlain at Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, where Mayan-inspired healing rituals are front and center. Experiences include a constellation massage aligned with the cosmos; harvesting your own herbs from a traditional Kaánaché; and a unique sonic meditation powered by the buzzing of the sacred Melipona bee, revered by the Mayans for more than 3,000 years. Then in June, Cap Juluca Spa by Guerlain will debut on the white sands of Anguilla’s crescent-shaped Maundays Bay with exclusive new treatments and wellness programming inspired by the indigenous Arawak tribe. Meanwhile, the new spa at Kalesma taps into Mykonos’s mythological side: in ancient times, the island was considered the spiritual center of the Mediterranean due to its proximity to the pilgrimage of Delos. This history is reflected in the new sanctuary-like space, which invites guests to disconnect from the modern world and enjoy pampering treatments by Dr. Barbara Sturm plus a hammam, sauna, and cold plunge in a nod to the ancient Greeks’ love of hydrotherapy.
Summer and Fall Retreats to Book Now
From October 16-20, guests of Nayara Tented Camp will be able to partake in a unique wellness retreat timed to the “Full Hunter’s Moon,” a celestial spectacle characterized by a moon that appears larger and more orange than usual. Historically, these early evening moonrises signaled optimal times for harvesting and hunting, but the hunter’s moon can also illuminate a spiritual path toward growth and enlightenment. During the four-night retreat, guests will harness this radiant lunar energy to cultivate greater self-esteem and awareness.
Rethink traditional male-oriented leadership patterns during a four-day Holistic Leadership program at Greece’s Euphoria Retreat from June 12-16. As part of the program, participants will explore the power of yin (feminine) energy and learn about the role of intuition, cooperation, and compassion in decision making. The deeply personalized program—which is open to guests of all genders—has been designed by Euphoria founder Marina Efraimoglou, whose personal story of transformation informs the property’s globe-spanning healing philosophy.
In the South of France, La Réserve Ramatuelle has unveiled a new program designed to support women at various stages in their lives. Participants of the three- or six-day Women’s Better-Aging Journey will learn how to breathe and move better, how to alleviate stress and build resiliency through good eating habits, and how to relieve injuries and discomforts. Daily activities include invigorating walks along the coast and the pine-forested hills, yoga and Pilates, Nescens facial and body care rituals, and bespoke plant-forward meals at the two-starred Michelin restaurant La Voile.
Almanac Palais Vienna has launched new monthly Art Therapy Workshops in partnership with certified holistic art therapist and Create Art Therapy founder Petra Krassnitzer. The four-hour sessions promote the flow of energy in the body and stimulate sensory perceptions through a mixture of meditation and various creative exercises, such as kneading clay, painting on a canvas, or writing. These acts of self-expression aim to silence the inner voice and allow access to their emotional self – relieving stress and pent-up frustration and healing repressed past experiences. Upcoming sessions are available on September 29, October 27, November 17, and December 11, 2024 for up to 15 participants.
Treatments with a Sense of Place
New moon abundance ritual at Shou Sugi Ban House in the Hamptons — As part of the New Moon Sound Ritual, guests will enjoy a seasonal meal around a communal table, followed by a Sacred Sound Journey featuring Himalayan singing bowls, gongs, and crystal singing bowls. Available June 8, July 6, August 4.
Byzantine hammam at Euphoria Retreat Greece — During this hot and steamy hammam experience, guests are massaged, oiled, and scrubbed down using crushed local olives, which are renowned for their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
Ocean-plant-powered facial at Dromoland Castle — The newly opened Castle Spa features a range of treatments exclusive to the hotel, including the SEABODY Beauty and Wellness Spa Experience, which leverages the power of marine-based nutraceuticals harvested from Ireland’s Atlantic Coastline to optimize the skin’s health and vitality. Try the Seabody Touch Facial, which uses marine bio actives and Gua Sha facial massage techniques to boost circulation and support the lymphatic system.
Almescar Oil Massage at UXUA in Brazil — Pure Almescar oil, or breu branco, is revered by Brazil’s Indigenous Pataxó people for its restorative qualities, musky scent, and its ability to ward off insects and bad spirits. At UXUA, the oil is used during tension-melting massages, brightening facials, and in homemade soaps.
Other treatments with a sense of place: Facials and massages at NOŪS Santorini incorporate Greek yogurt to strengthen the immune system. In Morocco’s Royal Mansour Marrakech, the bespoke hammam experience uses antioxidant-rich saffron from the nearby mountain village of Taliouine, on the edge of the Argan forest. At Nayara Resorts in Costa Rica, all scrubs and wraps for massages are made from organic coffee from a local farm. There is also a chocolate massage featuring local cacao beans.
Catch some Zzzs with these creative sleep programs and slumber-ready stays:
- Located deep in the Namib, the world’s oldest living desert, andBeyond Sossusvlei borders Africa’s only International Dark Sky Reserve. With the nearest town 140 kilometers away from the lodge, there’s no light or noise pollution, setting the stage for dreamy nights in the property’s airy suites, all of which feature retractable skylights for in-bed stargazing.
- Gili Lankanfushi’s “Mindful Dream” experience promotes a better night’s sleep through Bhramari Pranayama (Bee Breathing technique), sound healing, aromatherapy, massage, and Good Night amenities like an eye mask, earplugs, hot water bottle, and scented pillows specifically for jet lag recovery.
- The spa at Meadowood in Napa Valley offers sound therapy via a zero-gravity Therabody Lounger. The technology induces deep relaxation through full-body sound and vibrational waves, bringing guests to a meditative state for a better night’s sleep.
- Shou Sugi Ban House offers Vibroacoustic Sound Therapy, a research-backed treatment that transmits low-range frequencies (between 30 and 120 hertz/ pulses per second) via a massage-style treatment table. This healthy vibration results in a beneficial cellular-level response that has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, insomnia, acute pain and discomfort from physical injuries.
City Hotels with Wellness in Mind
Despite its central location just three miles from downtown Geneva, La Réserve Genève feels worlds away from the hustle thanks to its prime address within a 10-acre park on the lake’s right bank, with views to the Jura mountains. The hotel’s privileged, nest-like location and 20,000-square-foot Nescens Spa (the city’s largest) makes it a popular wellness destination among travelers and medical practitioners alike.
Wellness Facilities: 17 treatment rooms, plus a solarium, a fitness center with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, two tennis courts, an indoor and outdoor pool.
Wow Factor: Nescens was developed by Professor Jacques Proust, a pioneer in anti-aging medicine. Guests who participate in the signature Better Aging Programs receive a thorough medical evaluation on their first day. With the help of a team of professionals, guests gain a better understanding of their genetic, medical, dietary and psychological profile, which informs a personalized 4- or 7-day itinerary.
Good to Know: Guests can receive personal training specific to sport, like aqua-biking, swimming, Pilates, cardio dance, yoga, tennis and running. There is also a comprehensive list of group fitness classes offered daily.
A Parisian sojourn isn’t always conducive to wellness (croissants, anyone?). But at La Réserve Paris, guests can easily keep up with their wellness routines at the Belle Époque-inspired spa and wellness facilities. The area is open 24/7, making it easy to squeeze in a couple laps at the pool before carrying on your day. It can also be bought out for the ultimate in privacy and relaxation.
Wellness Facilities: A 52-foot indoor pool, hammam, and a small fitness center
Wow Factor: The anti-aging treatments using Nescens products, which were developed at Switzerland’s Clinique de Genolier by Professor Jacques Proust, a pioneer in anti-aging medicine
Good to know: The hotel offers wellness experiences such as aqua yoga, shiatsu massages and private fitness training. And in-room amenities include hand weights and Pilates stretch bands.
Casablanca’s first luxury hotel has been reborn as the Royal Mansour Casablanca, the second property in the Royal Mansour Collection. Located in the heart of the city near the Old Medina and Art Deco district, the 149-room hotel features the largest suites in town plus private butler service, five restaurants and bars, insider experiences ranging from street art tours to a high-soaring flight above the cityscape and the city’s largest spa.
Wellness Facilities: The two-story, 25,000-foot wellness oasis includes treatment rooms, a fitness area, hammam, hair salon and a swimming pool set under an immense glass roof. Up on the 20th floor, there is also a Barber salon devoted to male beauty, with hair services conceived by hairdresser-barber Sarah Hamizi of La Barbière de Paris salons, the first female barber in Paris.
Wow Factor: Similar to its sister property in Marrakech, the spa will offer a traditional Moroccan hammam, which is sculpted from white marble and comprises three rooms differing in temperature and function. The hammam experience can be complemented with a variety of traditional therapies such as body wraps made with natural clay from the Atlas Mountains, saffron from the Taliouine region, or rose water from Kalaat M’Gouna. High-performance treatments range from HydraFacials and non-invasive cold plasma resurfacing to Indiba body contouring.
Good to know: The spa is the city’s largest and most comprehensive wellbeing sanctuary, combining traditional healing therapies, pampering body care remedies, and cutting-edge treatments. The spa carries five distinctive product lines, including the anti-aging-focused Bellefontaine Switzerland; the Ayurvedic-powered Subtle Energies; the pioneering marocMaroc brand, inspired by the beauty traditions of Moroccan women; the French haircare brand Leonor Greyl; and the plant-powered Proverb, which uses natural products and specialized massage techniques and body stretching to boost performance.
In Mayfair, a neighborhood known for grand hotels, The Beaumont stands out with its intimate size (just 102 rooms and suites) and first-name service. It’s an insider’s kind of place — and the beautiful Art Deco spa (dubbed by Harper’s Bazaar as “the best London spa for unwinding in style”) is no exception.
Wellness Facilities: The spa features just two treatment rooms, but a ton of indulgent extras like a cold plunge pool, a hammam with dry heat, and steam and therapy rooms. Treatments include massages, body scrubs and wraps, and facials using Oskia London and Sultane de Saba products.
Good to Know: The hotel’s commitment to sustainable food sourcing and green cuisine: innovative vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menus are served (including a revamped traditional afternoon tea), and bee hives on the hotel roof produce enough honey to serve at breakfast all year.
A down-to-earth classic in one of London’s most fashionable neighborhoods, The Marylebone proves that you can have style and substance. While the rooms have spa-like comforts such as marble-clad bathrooms with underfloor heating, you’ll want to hit the on-site wellness club to really reap the benefits of a stay.
Wellness Facilities: Guests enjoy complimentary access to on-site Third Space, one of London’s premium members-only health clubs, with the latest equipment, expert fitness professionals and trainers, plus saunas and a steam room.
Wow Factor: The on-site 60-foot swimming pool is a rarity for a hotel in central London.
Good to Know: The long list of complimentary classes for all levels and interests include Pilates, yoga, cycling, dance and strength/conditioning. It’s the perfect spot to try something new.
May 1st, 2024
ANDBEYOND EXPANDS LODGE AND IMPACT FOOTPRINT IN KENYA’S LAIKIPIA REGION WITH EXCLUSIVE TOURISM CONCESSION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GLOBAL CONSERVATION CHARITY SPACE FOR GIANTS
Luxury experiential and conservation company andBeyond has extended its lodge circuit in Kenya with the announcement of an Exclusive Tourism Concession over the 44,000-acre Suyian Conservancy in Kenya in partnership with global conservation charity Space for Giants. The multi-decade long-term lease and partnership gives andBeyond exclusive access to over 44,000 acres of prime wilderness land on Suyian Conservancy in north-western Laikipia. As the sole luxury lodge and tented camp operator on the conservancy, the lease enables andBeyond to use its extensive lodge operating experience to build and develop, over time, the finest lodge, tented camp, sky beds and mobile camping experience in Kenya on this pristine and private wildlife conservancy.
“Our expansion into Laikipia is the culmination of a long-held desire to increase our impact and lodge operating footprint in Kenya. Laikipia is a prime wilderness area that is home to a greater population of wildlife than anywhere else in Kenya outside of the Masai Mara. This includes a large number of globally threatened mammals that make it particularly important from a conservation perspective. Representing a critical piece of the Kenyan circuit, it not only offers a world-class game experience but also aligns with many of our ambitious impact objectives in terms of securing and protecting endangered wildlife and habitat ecosystems, as well as enabling conservation through empowered communities,” explains Joss Kent, andBeyond CEO and Executive Chairman.
“In Suyian Conservancy and Space for Giants we have found the perfect partnership through which to bring our dream to reality. We are totally aligned in our goals to create one of the finest conservancy and lodge operations in Kenya and, indeed, Africa.”
Space for Giants was founded by Dr Max Graham ten years ago, off the back of research into the conflict between people and elephants in Laikipia, home to the second largest population of elephants in Kenya and one of the largest free-roaming populations on the continent. A key lesson from this research, the importance of removing the cost of wildlife to local people and replacing it with benefits, has driven a strategy of transforming private ranches into wildlife conservancies owned by not-for-profit trusts, attracting investment into enterprises that can ensure the region is valued, not just because it protects critically important biodiversity, but also because it generates employment and builds the local and national economy.
“Space for Giants has grown immensely in the last ten years and now operates across eleven countries in Africa,” explains Dr Graham. “If Laikipia is the heart of the organization, Suyian is its soul. Last year, through the generosity of the former owners of Suyian and a transformational gift by American philanthropist Louis Bacon, we were able to support the transition of ownership of the 44,000 acres to the Suyian Conservancy Trust, a Kenyan not-for-profit. This will ensure Suyian and its wildlife are protected in perpetuity for the benefit of Kenyans and, indeed, the world.”
The partnership between andBeyond and Suyian Conservancy represents an important milestone in the property becoming a leading financially self-sufficient model for Protected Area Management in Africa.
“In andBeyond we have a company that shares our values and has the capacity to ensure this magical natural ecosystem is not only protected but thrives,” concludes Dr Graham. “We could not have dreamed of a better partnership as a start to Suyian’s exciting journey.”
Forming part of a vital wildlife movement corridor and home to a huge diversity of wildlife, including a significant number of endangered species, Suyian boasts a variety of compelling landscapes that include grassland, savanna, rocky outcrops or kopjes, dense vechellia woodland and more than 10 miles of river frontage alongside the Ewaso Narok River. A thriving wildlife population includes rarities such as the melanistic, or black, leopard and African wild dog, as well as northern Kenyan species like Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, desert warthog and more. Elephant and buffalo are present in healthy numbers, as are lion, leopard and cheetah, in addition to both striped and spotted hyena. General game includes dik dik, giraffe, Laikipia hartebeest, Beisa oryx and lesser kudu.
With its remarkable wildlife and varying landscapes, Suyian is the ideal destination not only for an exclusive safari experience but also less commonly found activities such as walking safaris, camel safaris and horse-riding safaris on a neighboring conservancy. The diversity of flora lends itself to engaging botany walks and the rich cultural history includes evidence of cave paintings and artefacts from as far back as the Stone Age. Guests will also be able to interact with local pastoral tribes such as the Samburu and Pokot, as well as participate in conservation and research activities.
Easily accessed by air or road from Nairobi, Suyian is also a gateway to more remote adventures, such as helicopter safaris and visits to the Northern Frontier region of Kenya, including Samburu, the Matthews Range and the Endoto Range, Lake Turkana and the fabled Suguta Valley. The conservancy not only offers magnificent views of Mount Kenya but can also be used as a base for scenic flights or even fishing trips to this majestic and beautiful mountain.
Transformed from pure cattle ranching to land managed for conservation with a limited number of cattle, Suyian combines rapidly evolving conservation practices with the opportunity for community development. The conservancy utilizes a unique model of limited cattle ranching that uses rotational grazing to improve soil health and biodiversity. In combination with wildlife conservation and tourism, this not only contributes towards the economic development of neighboring communities but also ensures a more diversified income stream.
“As a partner of Suyian Conservancy, our intention is to make an impactful contribution towards the development of conservation and community projects in the fragile Laikipia ecosystem,” says Kent. “Over the past thirty years, we have learned a lot of impact lessons across our 29 lodges and 1 million acres of primary conservation land under management in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is our hope that we can share some of these learnings to support and assist in the various projects at Suyian.”
The andBeyond ethos of Care of the Land, Wildlife and People is directly aligned with the existing aims of Suyian Conservancy, which include land stewardship, wildlife protection and security, as well as community support for schools, health programs and education. Being contiguous with other nature conservancies such as Loisaba and Sosian provides the opportunity to work on shared conservation projects, as well as the possibility of creating a larger ‘super conservancy’ at some time in the future. Suyian also shares borders with the research conservancy of Mpala, which is run by Princeton University and offers the option for andBeyond guests to learn about and become involved in a multitude of conservation topics.
“Suyian offers the perfect potential for andBeyond to make a contribution to community and conservation efforts in Kenya while creating an exceptional experience for our guests,” concludes Kent. “It’s untouched nature and wild spaces, combined with our strict conservation ethics, will make this the ideal exclusive wildlife viewing destination, far from the large tourist numbers that can often be found in other parts of East Africa.”
andBeyond Suyian Lodge is expected to open July 1st, 2025. Log on to andBeyond.com or follow andBeyond on social media for further updates.
ABOUT SUYIAN CONSERVANCY
Suyian Conservancy is a spectacular and critical unfenced wildlife habitat that is part of the wider Laikipia-Ewaso ecosystem, which holds the highest diversity of large mammal species of any ecosystem of its size in the world. Suyian has been managed for decades as a working cattle ranch and as a sanctuary for wildlife, as well as providing critical support for local communities. It is home to 55 mammal species, including elephants, wild dogs, reticulate giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, lion, leopard, cheetah and over 260 bird species. The conservancy forms part of a critical wildlife movement corridor between Laikipia and the northern conservancies, allowing elephants and other species to move with the rains. Suyian forms part of over 200 000 acres of privately managed land with conservation as the primary aim. www.suyian.org
ABOUT andBEYOND
Established in 1991, andBeyond strives to leave our world a better place through the delivery of extraordinary travel experiences and our care of the land, wildlife and people. We are a bespoke tour operator for sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, South America and Antarctica. We also own and manage 29 lodges and camps across 3 continents, as well as a luxury expedition yacht. Together with our long-standing community and conservation development partner, Africa Foundation, we positively impact 75 communities and directly conserve our footprint of 1 million acres. Our 2030 vision is to scale our impact through partnerships to support the conservation of an associated 40 million acres of key biospheres and to double our 2020 impact investment, while offering discerning travelers a rare and authentic experience of the world as it should be. www.andbeyond.com
ABOUT SPACE FOR GIANTS
Space for Giants is an international conservation organization based in Africa and founded in 2011. Our mission is to protect the natural ecosystems on which Africa’s large wild animals depend, ensuring they are valued by local people.
We currently work in 11 countries across Central, East and Southern Africa, focusing on some of the most pressing challenges facing the conservation of megafauna today. We are headquartered in Kenya and are registered as a charity in the UK and a non-profit, 501c3 in the US. Learn more at www.spaceforgiants.org