Discover the most exciting hotel openings and exclusive luxury travel opportunities, shortlisted by the editors at Robb Report Monaco & Côte d’Azur.
HOSPITALITY GROUP: MONTE-CARLO SOCIÉTÉ DES BAINS DE MER
For the category of leading hospitality group, there was no competition. As the proprietor of many of the best establishments in Monaco, including Hôtel de Paris and Hôtel Hermitage, Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) has been fundamental in driving the luxury hospitality industry in the Principality. Year-on-year, the group continues to enhance and elevate its offering, from new restaurants and hotels to events throughout Monaco.
In the first half of 2024 alone, SBM lifted the curtain on Amazónico Monte-Carlo, COYA Monte-Carlo, and Blue Bay at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort. And there’s more to come with the summer launch of L’Abysse Monte-Carlo, a restaurant by chef Yannick Alléno in collaboration with Yasunari Okazaki, which is predicted to become the “it” place of the season.
SKI CHALET: ULTIMA COURCHEVEL BELVÉDÈRE
Come winter, Courchevel is the place to be. With many chalets available across the ski resort, it takes something truly special to stand out, but this is exactly what Ultima Courchevel Belvédère does. The all-chalet hotel comprises 13 beautiful four- to five-bed residences, set on the edge of the forest-fringed Belvédère slopes, which are said to be the sunniest in the resort.
The chalets, which are all ski in-ski out, strike an inviting balance between traditional and contemporary, with luxurious wooden panelling brightened by modern artworks and furnishings. There’s a private spa with indoor and outdoor pools as well as a lounge and a ski room where guests can store their kit. Each lodging also comes with a chauffeur, butler service and a private chef on request. A next-level alpine experience.
LOCAL CHARM: VIOLINO D’ORO VENICE
Think of this 32-room hotel, which opened in November, as a contrast to the bombastic names that dominate the hotel scene here—one powered by a generosity that only family-run properties can offer. (The jars of candy in the lobby are, dangerously, regularly refilled.) Owner Sara Maestrelli painstakingly restored a trio of buildings minutes from Piazza San Marco, and the gem-like result acts as a tribute to traditional Italian crafts. There’s glass everywhere, from elaborate Murano-blown chandeliers to the keepsake-like key fobs; the headboards are upholstered in custom fabrics by local textile house Rubelli. Even the gold-leather menu holders are made-to-order by Consani e Giannini.
Rooms 21 and 22 don’t connect, but they do share a discreet private staircase, so they’re perfect if you’re travelling in a small group. Or you can dispense with superstition and book room 13, Maestrelli’s favourite, which sits at the heart of the hotel, with its own private terrace hidden from the hubbub below. And yes, there is a golden violin, though it’s easy to overlook, in a glass vitrine right by the entrance.
LAKE PROPERTY: MANDARIN ORIENTAL, LAGO DI COMO
An oasis of tranquillity on the shores of Lake Como, Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como is one of the most revered waterfront hotels in Italy for good reason. Set in the 19th-century Villa Roccabruna and surrounded by historic botanical gardens, the property has been painstakingly renovated to epitomise modern Italian elegance—with a subtle Oriental twist.
The hotel offers 75 rooms, suites and villas that balance style and comfort, and restaurants with uninterrupted lake views. The spa, with its zen garden and holistic hot and cold-water-experience area, is another highlight. Savour the best vistas from the pool that appears to float over the iconic lake.
SEAFRONT HOTEL: HOTEL DU CAP-EDEN-ROC, CAP D’ANTIBES
On the côte d’azur, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc needs no introduction. Year after year, it continues to dominate top travel lists and attract the most discerning travellers, from celebrities and royals to artists and politicians, all of whom revel in the property’s promise of absolute discretion and exceptional hospitality. When it comes to sea views, the hotel’s panoramas are incomparable. Perched on the top of a cliff at the tip of Cap d’Antibes peninsula, and surrounded by lush, landscaped gardens, it’s the ideal place for a weekend of relaxation and rejuvenation.
The dining offering is excellent too; Eden-Roc Restaurant is one of the most coveted spots in the region, especially at sunset, but hotel guests can side-step the waitlist.
HISTORIC CONVERSION: LA RÉSERVE PARIS HOTEL AND SPA
Paris is filled with grand palace hotels offering opulent stays, but insiders looking for something more intimate should make a beeline for La Réserve Paris Hotel and Spa. Set in an historic mansion that was owned by the Duc of Morny’s family until 1888, the property gives visitors the rare chance to live like nobility from times past. Now under the guardianship of Michel Reybier, the hotel offers refined hospitality that reflects the “quintessence of 19th-century Parisian chic”. With just 25 suites and 15 rooms, La Réserve Paris feels exclusive and looks elegant thanks to decor by interior designer Jacques Garcia, who sprinkled rich fabrics, antique furniture and marble fireplaces throughout.
The experience is topped off with a three-Michelin-star restaurant (Le Gabriel) and a contemporary eatery (La Pagode de Cos), a Spa Nescens with a 16 m indoor pool, suites with their own wine cellars and views of the city’s leading attractions. C’est magnifique.
CITY HOTEL: THE PENINSULA LONDON
London’s five-star hotel scene is currently experiencing a boom. Among the new openings is The Peninsula London, which has leap-frogged its way up the rankings of the city’s most luxurious—and expensive—hotels. Rooms start at around €1,500 per night and yet it’s already one of the more popular addresses. First and foremost, the location is exceptional. Set on the corner of Hyde Park by Wellington Arch, it’s on the doorstep of Knightsbridge and a short stroll from the city’s major attractions, including Buckingham Palace. Despite being a new build, the property harmonises with the surrounding Belgravia facades, while inside, architect Peter Marino has created interiors that ooze decadence.
Guests can choose from 190 guest rooms and 25 residences, and enjoy facilities including a rooftop restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred Claude Bosi (Brooklands), an Oriental-themed cocktail bar, and a spa and wellness centre with an indoor pool —a rarity in the British capital.
RIVER CRUISE: LES BATEAUX BELMOND
The most luxurious river cruise ever created, Les Bateaux Belmond invites oenophiles to discover the essence of France on a journey through the country’s most picturesque wine regions, Burgundy and Champagne. On board luxury boat Coquelicot, guests can indulge in fine dining—and even finer wines and Champagne—as they embark on curated itineraries that feature exclusive experiences such as behind-the-scenes tours of the renowned Maison Ruinart. Guests travelling in Burgundy will enjoy beautiful bucolic views as they’re treated to exceptional wine tastings, ranging from Village to Premier Cru and Grand Cru selections from the Chambertin-Clos de Bèze vineyards.
Trips on board Belmond’s “luxury floating villas” range from three to six nights and include a variety of on- and off-board wellness, fitness and gastronomic activities such as a five-course lunch prepared by Ruinart’s head chef Valerie Radou or a special invitation to dine in the private cellars of Domaine Drouhin-Laroze. It’s a unique opportunity to explore another side of France in style and soak up the joys of slow travel, accompanied by the esteemed hospitality that Belmond is famous for.
ADVENTURE TRAVEL COMPANY: EYOS EXPEDITIONS
As modern travellers become increasingly adventurous, the notion of what constitutes an opulent experience is changing. For many, luxury is about having one-of-a-kind experiences in rarely visited places, but such trips aren’t possible without a little help. EYOS Expeditions has carved out a niche organising bespoke expeditions to some of the most remote—yet most remarkable—places on the planet, from Antarctica to Papua New Guinea. Each trip is unique and tailored to the interests of the guests, who are accompanied by experts in their fields.
Far more than a holiday, EYOS offers expeditions that push boundaries and start conversations. Want to go heli-skiing on the Antarctic Peninsula? Easy. Want to do a deep dive in the Mariana Trench? Sorted. Previous jaunts have even set world records and uncovered new species. If you’re seeking an eye-opening adventure that will go down in history, this company is for you.
CRUISING EXPERIENCE: RITZ-CARLTON YACHT COLLECTION
When the Ritz-Carlton company was considering the future of travel, it looked at the hobbies and aspirations of its clients and noticed a growing interest in yachting. This learning gave way to the advent of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, and a new class for the travel industry was born. Evrima was the first of three vessels to launch in 2023 and instantly made waves with its offering of Ritz-Carlton-standard hospitality and amenities at sea. The brand is now gearing up for its second launch, Ilma, which will make her maiden voyage in September with a promise to build on Evrima’s legacy with enhanced facilities including a larger pool, additional restaurants and more top-tier suites.
For those new to cruising, a journey with Ritz-Carlton could be an excellent introduction, while those accustomed to private yacht chartering can delight in a social sailing experience with like-minded people.
NEW DESTINATION: SINDALAH, SAUDI ARABIA
One of the most highly anticipated openings of 2024 is not a hotel but a destination. Sindalah is an island in the Red Sea that’s set to become a major hub for the luxury travel and superyacht industries in the Middle East. Spread over 840,000 m², it’s the first development to launch from Saudi Arabia’s ambitious NEOM megaproject, which aims to revolutionise the tourism industry in the Kingdom.
A veritable billionaire’s playground, the escape will have plenty to entertain guests, including a yacht club and marina, luxury hotels, golf courses, high-end restaurants and a beach club. It’s Saudi Arabia like never seen before.
