January 2025

The evolution of luxury travel has reached a fascinating inflection point. While previous years saw properties competing to out-opulent each other, 2025’s most anticipated new hotel openings share a different ambition: creating genuine connections to their locations. This shift comes as several Observer-noted destinations for 2025—including Thailand and Japan—gain properties that could redefine their luxury

For the past few weeks, Florence’s Palazzo Strozzi has showcased the unique creative energy and uncompromising vision of painter Helen Frankenthaler, an American whose work left an indelible mark on the global art world. This extensive exhibition, organized in collaboration with the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation and curated by Douglas Dreishpoon, director of the Helen Frankenthaler

There is no lack of hotel rooms in London, a city that is home to hundreds of hotels, from sleek and sprawling luxury properties to small, neighborhood boutiques, to historic establishments that have hosted royalty. But that doesn’t stop hoteliers from debuting new properties every year, often renovating existing-but-tired buildings around town. While recent additions