Friday newsletters always feature travel contests, tips, or news.
Today: November 2025 luxury travel news
Every last Friday of the month, you can read my news round-up of what’s happening in the world of luxury travel and aviation. In this issue:
- Explora will open two new luxury lodges in Patagonia, South America
- Mandarin Oriental will bring a new level of luxury hospitality to Saudi Arabia
- Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai is now open
- One&Only Moonlight Basin, USA, welcomes its first guests
- Four Seasons opens a new luxury resort in Southwest Florida, USA
- Aman’s Janu brand open hotel in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
- Singapore Airlines opens a new First Class Lounge in Changi
- LATAM introduces a redesigned Business Class experience
- Emirates set to operate the world’s largest Starlink-enabled aircraft fleet
- Delta Air Lines introduces new cabin crew uniform
One& only Moonlight Basin, USA, is now open1. Explora will open two new luxury lodges in Patagonia
South America’s leader in luxury hotels and explorations, is expanding its Patagonian network with two new lodges—Explora El Calafate in Argentina and Explora Torres del Paine Conservation Reserve in Chile—creating a seamless circuit across one of the world’s most spectacular regions. Opening in December 2026, these additions will bring Explora’s Patagonian portfolio to five lodges plus its Tierra del Fuego Expedition, enabling travelers to experience Patagonia as a single, uninterrupted territory. The 20-room Explora El Calafate will offers sweeping views of Perito Moreno Glacier and access to over 30 guided experiences, while the intimate ten-room Torres del Paine Conservation Reserve lodge will provide quiet immersion in a private wilderness near the national park. Together, the lodges aim to offer personalized guidance, refined comfort, and effortless cross-border travel, inviting guests to explore diverse ecosystems, cultures, and remote landscapes across Chile and Argentina.
2. Mandarin Oriental will open a hotel in Saudi Arabia
Mandarin Oriental Jeddah – set to open in 2030 – will introduce a new benchmark of luxury hospitality in Saudi Arabia, anchoring the heart of the Jeddah Central waterfront with a low-rise, sustainably designed urban sanctuary overlooking the Red Sea. Developed in partnership with Jeddah Central Development Company and designed by KPF, the project will include a 140-key hotel, 115 long-stay apartments, and 187 branded residences, each offering exclusive amenities such as private lounges, entertainment spaces, wellness facilities, and Mandarin Oriental’s signature service. The property will feature five distinctive dining venues, extensive event spaces, a world-class spa, and dedicated children’s facilities, making it a premier destination for business, leisure, and cultural engagement. Situated within a visionary district featuring a marina, cultural landmarks, and vibrant retail and dining areas, Mandarin Oriental, Jeddah is poised to become a landmark lifestyle hub that reflects the city’s heritage and rising appeal as a global destination.
3. Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai is now open
Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai has opened within the striking Wasl Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road, becoming the Group’s second hotel in the city and introducing a contemporary blend of Asian heritage and local character to Downtown Dubai. The property features 259 refined guestrooms and suites, 224 private residences, and 10 dining venues, all enhanced by the tower’s sustainable, ceramic-clad architecture and crowned with a rooftop helipad for discreet VIP access. Interiors by G.A Group showcase warm palettes, custom furnishings, and curated art inspired by the desert landscape, while standout dining concepts include modern Chinese venues Yù & Mì, Italian restaurant Chitarra, and Mediterranean-inspired Noia by the Pool, with additional global culinary partners set to join soon. The hotel also offers a two-floor wellness sanctuary with treatment suites, thermal experiences, advanced fitness facilities, and multiple pools, alongside more than 2,000 square metres of event space and a dedicated Kids’ Club. Celebrated with a bespoke fan artwork by Emirati artist Zeinab Alhashemi, the opening marks a new benchmark for luxury, culture, and vertical living in the heart of Dubai.
4. One&Only Moonlight Basin, USA, is now open
One&Only Moonlight Basin, the brand’s first resort in the United States, has opened in Big Sky, Montana, offering a world-class alpine escape set on 240 acres of secluded wilderness. Designed by architect Tom Kundig, the resort blends seamlessly into its mountainous surroundings with low-rise structures and thoughtfully crafted accommodations ranging from guest rooms and suites to standalone cabins and luxury private homes. Guests can enjoy an exceptional culinary program that highlights Montana’s natural flavors, with dining venues including alpine-inspired comfort food, ranch-to-table cuisine, modern Japanese dishes, and intimate cocktail lounges. With direct gondola access to Big Sky Resort, extensive on-property trails, seasonal outdoor adventures, and family programming, the destination is built for year-round exploration. Complementing the experience, the expansive One&Only Spa offers restorative treatments, steam and sauna facilities, an oxygen bar, and indoor-outdoor wellness spaces, creating a sanctuary of relaxation in the heart of the mountains.
5. Four Seasons opens a new luxury resort in Florida
Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort, has opened on 125 acres of prime Gulf Coast shoreline, introducing an unprecedented level of luxury, design, and hospitality to Southwest Florida. Set along 1,000 feet (300 meters) of white-sand beach, the resort features 220 elegantly crafted accommodations, five distinctive dining concepts, a full-service spa, racquet facilities, extensive event venues, and Naples’ newest golf experience. Created through a partnership among BDT & MSD, The Athens Group, and Four Seasons, the property blends Old Naples charm with refined contemporary design, offering light-filled interiors, ocean-view terraces, and a residential sense of comfort. The destination also includes 153 luxury residences and a Tom Fazio–designed golf course opening in 2026. With vibrant social spaces, engaging coastal activities, curated wellness experiences, and personalized service, the resort redefines Gulf Coast living and sets a new benchmark for elevated escapes for guests and homeowners alike.
6. Aman’s Janu brand will open hotel in Ras Al Khaimah
Aman, the world’s most exclusive hotel brand, has unveiled its next step for the rapidly expanding Janu brand with Janu Al Marjan Island, a new hotel and residential development in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Set on a cluster of islands in the Arabian Gulf, the resort will offer a modern, community-driven approach to coastal living, centered around a 132-key hotel focused on views, amenities, and wellbeing. Guests will enjoy an extensive wellness center – including a yoga studio, gym, banya, and hammam – alongside vibrant social spaces such as a Mixology Bar, two restaurants, a nightlife venue, and a Kids’ Club. A private beach, Beach Club, and pool complete the relaxed seaside experience. Adjacent to the hotel, an exclusive residential tower will feature one- to five-bedroom homes and standalone villas, with full access to all resort facilities. Following Janu Tokyo’s 2024 debut, this new opening continues the brand’s global expansion, with additional properties underway in Dubai, Turks and Caicos, and Saudi Arabia.
7. Singapore Airlines opens a new First Class Lounge
Singapore Airlines has unveiled its newly renovated First Class SilverKris Lounge in Changi Airport’s Terminal 2 featuring an 11% larger footprint of 1,050 square meters (about 11,300 square feet) as part of a S$45 million investment. Officially opened on November 7, 2025, the lounge introduces enhanced à la minute dining, a new bar with specialty cocktails, soundproof nap pods, upgraded shower suites stocked with Lalique amenities, individual productivity pods, private meeting rooms with video conferencing, and dedicated phone booths. A children’s playroom with a PlayStation 5 adds family appeal, while high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows create a refined, spacious design consistent with Singapore Airlines’ Terminal 3 lounges. Access is reserved for First Class and Suites passengers, Solitaire PPS Club members, and First Class travelers on Star Alliance partner airlines.
8. LATAM introduces a new Business Class experience
LATAM is continuing its major transformation with a renewed focus on delivering a cohesive, sophisticated, and authentically Latin American travel experience, highlighted by a redesigned Premium Business service launching next month. The refreshed onboard offering features a new color palette inspired by the Pacific, Amazon, desert, and Andes, along with enhanced hospitality protocols, upgraded coffee service, redesigned cocktails, and refined three-course meals. Every design element—from cabin aesthetics to serviceware—has been reimagined to evoke warmth, elegance, and regional identity, while new amenity kits featuring Costa Brazil products emphasize conscious luxury rooted in nature. This evolution builds on LATAM’s long-term commitment to elevating its service, which has earned the airline multiple top accolades in 2025, including APEX’s Five-Star Global Airline rating, Skytrax’s Best Airline in South America, and four Pax International awards.
9. Emirates will install Starlink Wi-Fi
Emirates will roll out complimentary ultra-fast Starlink Wi-Fi across its entire in-service fleet, providing ground-level internet quality for streaming, gaming, calls, and browsing on both seatback screens and personal devices. The airline plans to equip all 232 aircraft beginning February 2026, installing two antennae on each 777 and an industry-first three antennae on each A380 to ensure maximum capacity and coverage. The service will be free for all passengers with simple one-click access, and Live TV will be introduced via Starlink from late 2025. Emirates President Sir Tim Clark calls the partnership a key part of the airline’s major fleet-wide transformation, launched alongside its extensive cabin refurbishment program that includes new Premium Economy, upgraded Business and First Class cabins, and enhanced entertainment systems. Starlink’s addition further strengthens Emirates’ reputation for industry-leading inflight experience, complementing upgrades to its nearly 220-aircraft retrofit effort, of which 76 have already reentered service.
10. Delta Air Lines introduces new uniforms
U.S. carrier Delta has unveiled Distinctly Delta, a fully redesigned uniform collection for its above- and below-wing employees, marking a major milestone as the airline enters its next century of flight. Developed with input from 65,000 frontline staff and produced by Lands’ End, the collection blends premium design, performance, and safety—meeting OEKO-TEX standards—while honoring Delta’s heritage through signature colors like Navigator Navy, Boarding Burgundy, Runway Red, and a revived wrap dress. Crafted for real-world conditions across terminals, tarmacs, and global climates, the new uniforms emphasize comfort, durability, and brand identity, with premium touches including an Elite Collection for top service roles and refined Missoni-designed accessories. Delta also partnered with Bombas for custom socks, reinforcing comfort from the ground up. Representing pride, purpose, and the airline’s evolving premium vision, Distinctly Delta enters wear testing in summer 2026 and will be fully rolled out to employees in 2027.
