Aperture

🚢 Victory Cruise Lines, after halting operations in February, was acquired by John Waggoner for $1.9 million. The 190-passenger vessels, previously named Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator, are now Victory I and Victory II, set to sail in Spring 2025 from Toronto on April 27 and from Chicago's Navy Pier on May 12, respectively. Bookings are open for 9 to 15-night itineraries on the Great Lakes from Chicago to Toronto or Montreal.

🏕 Explora 2, the luxury twin of MSC's Explora Journies brand, will launch in under 60 days, offering another 900 spots on a 248-meter yacht with 461 sea-view suites ranging from 35 to 280 square meters. Roberto de Blasi, sales manager, revealed a 3.5 billion euro investment for 6 ships. The fleet will sail the Caribbean in winter and the Mediterranean, including Greece, Turkey, Spain, and Morocco, in summer. By winter 2025/26, Explora 1 will return to the Caribbean while Explora 2 heads to Dubai.

🏡 Preferred Hotels & Resorts expanded its portfolio with 30 new properties between April 1 and June 30, 2024. Included are diverse accommodations like adults-only all-inclusive resorts and historic villas. Italy featured with Boutique Hotel Stresa, Preidlhof Luxury Dolce Vita Resort in Naturno (Bolzano), and Hotel Excelsior Spa & Lido in Pesaro, all part of the L.V.X or Lifestyle Collections. The expansion highlights destinations such as Saudi Arabia (6 new properties), the United States (5), and Africa (4).

🏖️ Princess Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of two new luxury resorts in Jamaica, Princess Senses The Mangrove and Princess Grand Jamaica, set for September 15. Princess Senses The Mangrove, an adults-only all-inclusive beachfront property at Green Island, features 401 ocean-view suites and 14 overwater villas, each with an infinity pool. The Princess Grand Jamaica offers family-oriented all-inclusive amenities, including a water park, kids club, and nanny service.

🏡 La Roqqa, recentemente inaugurato, è la rinascita di un hotel anni '80 a cura di Erqole (parte di Qarlbo AB, fondata da Conni Jonsson). Palomba Serafini Associati ha trasformato l'edificio, mantenendone lo spirito toscano in chiave moderna, senza alterare il numero delle camere. La Roqqa offre viste sul porto, Forte Filippo, spiaggia della Feniglia e le colline dell'Argentario. Gli interni sono arricchiti da materiali locali e il design incorpora la tradizione artigianale maremmana. Tra i servizi, il ristorante Scirocco, il Rooftop Lounge Bar, il bistrot Mezzanino e l'Isolotto Beach Club. L'hotel dispone di parcheggi per circa 450 veicoli e offre navette elettriche per esplorare la zona. Le camere e suite, alcune con terrazza fino a 70 mq, sono progettate per essere rifugi rilassanti, la più grande essendo la Roqqa Penthouse Suite con oltre 300 mq.

🏡 Gruppo UNA, Italy's largest hotel chain, celebrates the addition of the Grand Hotel di Parma to its exclusive collection, now named Grand Hotel di Parma | UNA Esperienze, marking its debut in the city. The hotel increases the chain's portfolio to 54 properties, reinforcing its presence in the strategic Emilia-Romagna region. Housed in the 1913 Palazzo Vighi, the 5-star hotel maintains its historical charm and features 59 rooms and suites with views of a 10,000 sqm garden, high-quality dining experiences, and spaces for meetings and events.

🏡 Standard International launches luxury brand "The Manner" opening its first hotel in New York's Soho district in September. The hotel features 97 art-filled rooms without TVs and four dining concepts led by Chef Alex Stupak, including The Otter seafood restaurant and Sloane’s cocktail bar. The Manner joins Standard International's portfolio alongside The Standard, Bunkhouse, and The Peri Hotel brands.

🏨 Meliá Hotels International expands in Southeast Asia with two new hotels in Thailand. Meliá Pattaya City, opening in December, will have 234 rooms on the coast, catering to families and MICE. Paradisus Jomtien Resort, launching in 2028, will feature 698 rooms in a 43-story tower, including 44 rooms with an outdoor terrace pool.

📍 easyJet expands its British network with four new routes, totaling 41 new options for the winter season from the UK to Europe and North Africa. Flights to Luxor, Egypt commence on November 11 from London Gatwick, flying twice a week. From February 14, twice-weekly flights to Sharm el Sheikh will be available from Liverpool. Oslo routes open from Manchester and Liverpool on November 15 and 29, respectively, also twice a week. Other destinations include Strasbourg, France; Tromso, Norway; and City of Derry Airport, Northern Ireland.

🏡 Numa Group makes its UK debut with Numa London Bloomsbury, located between Covent Garden and the British Museum. The facility offers six categories of rooms across 87 rooms and apartments. Nearby, visitors can explore Covent Garden Market, Neal's Yard, and the Bloomsbury district, as well as a vibrant local food scene featuring restaurants like Rules, Mildred’s, Mortimer House Kitchen, and cafes such as Italian Beach Chocolate and WatchHouse Covent Garden.