Adrian Messerli Named Four Seasons EMEA President

Brandon Townsley. (Photo Credit: Celestyal)

When it was first announced last year, the Four Seasons Yacht generated a lot of excitement among cruisers and loyal fans of the hotel brand alike. But few details on what would be aboard the 14-deck luxury yacht, which is slated to launch at the end of 2025, have been available—until now.

Tourists descended on an ancient town in Thailand this week after UNESCO named it a world heritage site, prompting officials to consider banning visitors from climbing the 1,500-year-old ruins.

As a government shutdown becomes increasingly inevitable this weekend, flyers may soon see longer security lines and passport wait times.

Experience unparalleled luxury at the Four Seasons Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River—an opulent urban resort nestled in the vibrant heart of Bangkok. Officially unveiled in December 2020, this exquisite five-star gem is one of Southeast Asia's premier luxury destinations and a standout addition to the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel collection. The hotel is a tranquil sanctuary amidst the bustling metropolis, where nearly eleven million residents call home.

Marriott International on Wednesday debuted Four Points Express by Sheraton, a midscale hotel brand aimed at Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The One&Only Mandarina was recently named the number-one hotel in North America by the new global ranking of The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2023. The list was announced at an awards ceremony in London and includes hotels across six continents worldwide. This list marks 50 Best’s first ranking in the travel space.

With 19 brands, IHG Hotels & Resorts is one of the power players in hospitality with more than 6,000 properties across the globe. Traditionally, it has offered plenty of room inventory in the mid-scale, or what it calls “essentials” category like Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, as well as a growing focus on all-suite brands (including Atwell Suites and Staybridge Suites).

Luxury hospitality brand Inspirato has appointed a new CEO: Eric Grosse, a current board member, will take over from Brent Handler, Inspirato’s founder and its CEO for the past 13 years, the company announced Monday.  

United Airlines said on Friday it had promoted company insider Michael Leskinen to chief financial officer, nearly four months after Gerry Laderman announced plans to retire in 2024.

An unusual nigiri will soon be on offer at Bar Miller, a new omakase restaurant in New York City’s East Village: the humble bluefish, sourced from the New York-New Jersey coast, served raw. “Bluefish has this reputation as being a lesser tier, like a poor man’s fish. But if you treat it with care, it’s incredible,” says Jeff Miller, the executive chef. “When it’s in season, it’s rich, fatty and buttery, with a little bit of subtle tuna iron quality.” Featuring bluefish on a sushi menu is surprising when the city is awash with omakase that, like those in Tokyo, offer prestigious (but unsustainable, according to Seafood Watch) fish like bluefin tuna, Japanese yellowtail and Japanese eel. “Sometimes I think my life would be so much easier If I’d gone that route,” Miller says in reference to the classic omakase menu for which there are standard suppliers. Instead, through trial and error, he built a menu entirely from domestic fish. Bar Miller, which is set to open on Sept. 27, serves San Franciscan anchovies, Hudson Valley eel head trout, and Long Island porgy. (The latter, Miller says, tastes sweet and “super subtle [with] a deep oceanic flavor.”) Miller’s attention to local delicacies extends beyond marine life: The restaurant’s sushi rice is farmed in the Hudson Valley; its sushi vinegar is fermented in Pennsylvania; its soy sauce comes from Connecticut. Even its sake is hyperlocal, fermented in Sunset Park and Bushwick. For Miller, sourcing locally is about expanding on his lifelong appreciation of Japanese cuisine; sustainability is an attendant benefit.

Quito’s viewpoints provide the perfect spot to take in exhilarating views of the city. Cruz Loma, Guápulo, the Basilica of the National Vow and El Panecillo hill are just a few of the spots that highlight the city’s architectural richness and the beauty of the natural spaces that surround it.