I grew up in Tennessee but have now lived in Boston just long enough to tip the scales in favor of my New England years. Still, I juggle two very different concepts of summer. Here in the Northeast, we’re only a few weeks into the season, while back in my hometown, kids are already heading back to school. Personally, I’ll call it summer for as long as I can sneak in a beach day with a book, my husband, and Pimm, our Australian Shepherd. Grill weather, in my opinion, is entirely up to the person wielding the spatula.
CONTENT DIRECTOR, TRAVEL GROUP
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(Luxury Travel Advisor)
While the definition of summer may be debatable, a few things in luxury travel remain timeless. Chief among them: heritage brands. They’ve always had staying power, but right now, they’re hotter than ever. The Waldorf Astoria in New York has finally reopened after years of very costly renovation, and it’s an epic return to glory. Raffles recently expanded its presence in its Singapore hometown to now include a buzzworthy perch on Sentosa, an island just a short hop from the original hotel. And if you’ve managed to snag a reservation at Blind Duck, the speakeasy inside Raffles Boston, tell me your secret; it’s nearly impossible to get in (not too shabby for a hotel tied to a brand that’s over 140 years old).
A few weeks ago, I flew down to New York City and sat down with Raffles and Fairmont CEO Omer Acar to talk about the secret sauce behind growing some of travel’s most iconic brands while meeting the demands of today’s luxury traveler. I hope you’ll check out our lively chat to learn more about the future of two of travel’s best-known brands.
There’s also plenty making waves at sea: Susan J. Young brings us the latest in multigenerational cruising and explores the Galapagos in style. Erica Silverstein uncovers the lesser-known side of river cruising. Trust me, it’s not just the Danube.
Meanwhile, contributor Scott Mayerowitz dives into a rising (and slightly shocking) trend: resorts pulling back on weddings unless you’re ready to buy out the whole place. Dobrina Zhekova showcases swoon-worthy new suites in Europe’s most — and least — expected destinations. And Emily Goldfischer has us positively swooning over Belmond’s dreamy new luxury train experience through the English countryside.
Settle in with a calendar and start planning your next great escape. If you ask me, summer’s only just getting started.
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