Aperture

🚢 In 2026, Avalon Waterways will expand its Christmas market river cruises due to rising demand, offering 40 departures across 19 itineraries. The program includes seven new cruises and a 15% capacity increase. Destinations include Europe's major rivers—Danube, Rhine, and Main—with stops at iconic markets in Vienna, Cologne, Strasbourg, and Nuremberg. Guests will enjoy local traditions, crafts, onboard activities like cooking classes, and live music, enhancing the strategic importance of holiday river cruises.

🏨 In 2029, Marbella, Costa del Sol, will welcome Spain's first Waldorf Astoria. This luxury hotel, a Hilton and Higuerón Developments project, will feature 120 rooms and suites, plus 120 exclusive residences. Waldorf Astoria's global luxury portfolio includes over 550 hotels. The Marbella resort will offer indoor and outdoor pools, a 750-square-meter spa, a fitness center, and extensive meeting spaces, enhancing the brand's esteemed luxury reputation.

🏨 Verrà inaugurata nel 2029 a Marbella, Spagna, la prima struttura Waldorf Astoria del Paese, segnando il debutto del brand di lusso Hilton in collaborazione con Higuerón Developments. L'hotel offrirà 120 camere e suite, oltre a 120 residenze. Dotazioni includeranno piscine interne ed esterne, una spa di 750 m², quattro sale trattamenti, un centro fitness e spazi per eventi. Waldorf Astoria si espande, con ora oltre 550 hotel nel mondo.

🌍 2025, South Africa: 8,561,687 global arrivals, +18.4% from 2024. European arrivals at 1,093,348, a +11.7% rise. Italy sees 26,081 visitors from Jan-Jul, +8.4%, ranking as the 5th European market at 4.5%. New hotels include The Cole in Cape Town and GweGwe Beach Lodge in Eastern Cape. Limpopo features Few & Far Luvhondo and Toro River Lodges with eco-friendly and conservation-focused initiatives.

🏨 Hotel Garda in Affi, Italy, joins BWH Hotels Italy and South-East Europe, marking BWH's third acquisition near Lake Garda, with two this past month. The hotel is 30 km from Verona, ideal for exploring Lake Garda and Valpolicella. A full renovation of 72 rooms is set for spring 2026. New amenities include a lounge bar, meeting rooms for 120, a gym, and a pool. Gest Hotel srl, led by Luca Andriani and Renzo Bertol, oversees the project.

🏖 Merlin Entertainments and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences are set to create the world's first Lego Harry Potter area and hotel at Legoland in Günzburg, Bavaria, Germany. While the official opening date is unannounced, it is informally slated for 2026. This marks Merlin's largest single investment in an existing facility. CEO Fiona Eastwood emphasized the strategic growth potential of this new venture, aiming for world-class standards at Legoland Resort.

📅 Marriott International plans 35 luxury openings by 2026 across 74 countries. Key debuts include The Lake Como Edition in March 2026, St. Regis in London with 195 rooms, and The St. Regis Costa Mujeres Resort in Cancún. St. Regis will also debut in Budapest. In 2027, St. Regis Estates will launch ultra-luxury properties. JW Marriott expands in Indonesia and Costa Rica. Ritz-Carlton plans openings in Wuhan and Puerto Rico, while The Luxury Collection adds locations in Rhodes, Frankfurt, and Japan.

🛳️ Msc Magnifica has been renovated at Palumbo Malta Shipyard and is ready for its winter season in the Mediterranean, followed by a World Cruise in January 2026. The ship features two new themed restaurants, a redesigned spa, and an enhanced fitness center. In summer 2026, the Msc Yacht Club will offer 63 suites. In February 2026, sister ship Msc Poesia will undergo similar upgrades and debut in Alaska by May 2026.

🛳 Dal 2027, Orient Express Sailing Yachts introduce nuovi itinerari. Con le navi gemelle Orient Express Corinthian (2026) e Olympian, le rotte includono il Mediterraneo, Grecia, Turchia, Regno Unito e Nord Europa. Da Pireo a Istanbul, si attraverserà l'Egeo; da La Valletta al Pireo, si navigherà nel Mar Ionio. Nel Nord Europa, viaggi da Londra a Honfleur e da Londra a Copenaghen. Altra rotta da Copenaghen a Londra.

🏨 LVG Collection reaches 15 properties with the addition of Hotel Riz in Pavia, Italy. The hotel offers 112 rooms and a meeting room, targeting business and leisure travelers. LVG aims to enhance connections with the local enogastronomic offerings of Pavia and Oltrepò Pavese. CEO Claudio Lavagna emphasizes the strategic importance of Lombardy, with plans to expand further by 2028. The Belfiore in Mantova is set to open in 2026.