Travel News: This Month (August 2026) in Luxury Travel

Friday newsletters always feature travel contests, tips, or news.

Today: August 2026 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:

Rosewood unveils its first coastal resort in Saudi Arabia
Hilton expands LXR Hotels & Resorts in Costa Rica
Ritz-Carlton Reserve launches the brand’s first urban retreat
Park Hyatt will make its Portuguese debut in Comporta in 2029
Banyan Tree opens a nature retreat in China’s Sichuan Province
Qantas unveils its next generation Business Class seats
United Airlines announces its biggest international expansion
Qatar Airways reaches milestone of 150 Starlink-equipped aircraft
Starlux Airlines launches its first European destination
The world’s largest flying canvas takes flight

Rosewood unveils its first coastal resort in Saudi Arabia

Rosewood AMAALA has opened in Triple Bay on Saudi Arabia’s northwestern Red Sea coast, introducing Rosewood to a spectacular destination where the Tabuk Mountains meet one of the world’s richest marine environments. Spread across 40 hectares, the resort features 110 private pool villas, all designed for seamless indoor-outdoor living, with many offering kitchens, barbecue areas and dedicated butler service. At its heart is the 2,100-square-meter Asaya wellness center, combining Saudi healing traditions, treatments, movement and restorative experiences. Eight restaurants and lounges celebrate Saudi cuisine and the cultural influences that have shaped the Red Sea, while signature experiences such as Sukūn Hour, the Arabian Apothecary and private dining deepen the sense of place. Sustainability is central to the resort, which is powered by renewable energy, uses electric vehicles and supports coral conservation through the nearby Corallium Marine Life Institute. Rosewood AMAALA ultimately offers a luxurious and deeply restorative gateway to a previously little-explored stretch of the Red Sea.

Hilton expands LXR Hotels & Resorts in Costa Rica

Maravé Manuel Antonio, LXR Hotels & Resorts is set to open in 2029, marking LXR’s debut in Costa Rica and bringing a new level of luxury to one of the country’s most coveted coastal destinations. Located on a nearly 40-acre titled beachfront estate descending from rainforest ridge to 650 feet of Pacific shoreline, the resort will offer 173 accommodations, including 42 ocean-view guest rooms, 15 private bungalows with plunge pools and 116 fully furnished branded residences. Designed by Costa Rican firm Carazo Arquitectura and interiors by Curioso, the property will blend seamlessly into the rainforest while maximizing views of the Pacific. Minutes from Manuel Antonio National Park, it will feature a beachfront Beach Club, multiple pools, chef-led restaurants, a speakeasy, spa and wellness sanctuary, fitness center and family programming. Sustainability is central to the design, including what is expected to be Costa Rica’s largest mass-timber structure.

Ritz-Carlton Reserve launches the brand’s first urban retreat

Marriott International has announced plans to bring the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve to Shanghai, marking the debut of the brand’s new urban concept. Scheduled to open in 2030, the property aims to reinterpret the privacy, personalization, wellbeing and sense of place associated with a Ritz-Carlton Reserve for a major global city. Located on Shanghai’s North Bund, the hotel will form part of a landmark 480-meter, 103-story mixed-use development featuring residences, offices, retail and an observatory. The Ritz-Carlton Reserve is expected to offer 110 rooms and suites, many overlooking the Bund and Huangpu River, alongside a Presidential Suite. Dining and wellness will be central to the experience, with a specialty restaurant, Chinese dining, bespoke bar, lobby lounge, spa, fitness center and indoor pool. Upon opening, Shanghai is expected to become the only city worldwide home to all eight of Marriott International’s luxury brands.

Park Hyatt will make its Portuguese debut in Comporta in 2029

Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Portuguese developer Coporgest have announced plans for Park Hyatt Comporta and Park Hyatt Comporta Residences, scheduled to open in 2029 and marking the Park Hyatt brand’s debut in Portugal. Set in Comporta, a laid-back coastal enclave in the Alentejo region known for its unspoiled beaches, protected nature and understated luxury, the development will be located within an hour of Lisbon Airport and adjacent to the renowned Troia Golf Course. The hotel is planned to feature 58 guestrooms and suites, six private two-bedroom villas and 22 fully serviced residences, alongside swimming pools, a wellness and fitness center, padel court, kids’ club and several restaurants. The residences will combine private living with access to Park Hyatt’s personalized service and amenities. Reflecting Comporta’s natural setting, the project aims to blend residential design, relaxed beach living and refined hospitality, offering a tranquil luxury retreat within easy reach of Lisbon.

Banyan Tree opens a nature retreat in China’s Sichuan Province

Banyan Tree Mount Emei has opened in the foothills of Mount Emei in Sichuan Province, offering a tranquil gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mount Emei Scenic Area, one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains. Inspired by traditional western Sichuan courtyard homes, the resort blends contemporary architecture with its forested setting, preserving century-old camphor trees and weaving pathways through bamboo groves. The 130 rooms and villas, spread across six categories, each feature a private outdoor hot spring pool, while the 320-square-meter Presidential Villa offers exceptional privacy and forest views. Wellness is central, with Banyan Tree Spa, hydrothermal facilities, yoga and a mountain-view pool, complemented by cultural experiences including martial arts, tie-dyeing and bamboo weaving. Dining spans Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine, international fare and immersive Destination Dining in settings ranging from a bamboo forest to a traditional boat.

Qantas unveils its next generation Business Class seats

Qantas has unveiled the next generation of its Business Class seats, introducing lie-flat Business Suites to its upcoming Airbus A321XLR fleet for the first time on a Qantas single-aisle aircraft. The 16 A321XLRs, with the first expected to arrive in 2028, will feature six Business Suites in a 1-1 angled herringbone layout, each offering a lie-flat bed, sliding privacy door, 19-inch entertainment screen, wireless and USB-C charging, fast free Wi-Fi and generous storage. With a range of up to 8,700 km, the aircraft will serve longer domestic routes, including transcontinental services to Perth, as well as short- and medium-haul international routes. Qantas is also upgrading its Boeing 787-9 Business Class, adding privacy doors to all 42 Suites and introducing wider 80-inch lie-flat beds with an enlarged footwell. The refreshed design combines enhanced comfort, privacy and functionality with Australian-inspired styling, reflecting growing demand for premium travel across Qantas’ network.

United Airlines announces its biggest international expansion ever

United Airlines has announced the largest international expansion in its history for 2027, adding 10 new cities across Europe and Asia, eight of which will have no nonstop service from any other U.S. airline. New destinations include Okinawa, Toulouse, Luxembourg City, Marseille, Ibiza, Valencia, Terceira, Ljubljana, Olbia in Sardinia and Catania in Sicily, with services beginning between March and June 2027. The expansion also includes new routes from Los Angeles to Osaka, Washington D.C. to Milan and Denver to Paris, plus the planned return of San Francisco–Tel Aviv service. Supporting the growth is United’s new Airbus A321XLR, which will debut internationally with lie-flat United Polaris suites featuring privacy doors, 4K OLED screens, Bluetooth connectivity and free Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members. The aircraft will also introduce Economy Plus seats with extra elbow room and a shared table across an open middle seat. United has added 58 international destinations since 2017 and now serves more than 160 international destinations worldwide.

Qatar Airways reaches milestone of 150 Starlink-equipped aircraft

Qatar Airways has reached another milestone in its Starlink rollout, becoming the first airline in the world to operate Starlink-equipped Boeing 787-9 aircraft and completing installation across its entire Boeing 787-8 sub-fleet in just seven months. The carrier now has 150 widebody aircraft equipped with Starlink, including its Boeing 777, Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 fleets, and expects to complete the rollout across all 787s by the end of 2026. More than 23 million passengers have already used Starlink onboard Qatar Airways since the service launched in October 2024, connecting across more than 86,000 flights. Offering free, gate-to-gate Wi-Fi with speeds of up to 500 Mbps, Starlink allows passengers to work, stream, browse and stay connected throughout their journey. The overall installation program is now more than 83% complete, with up to 323 Starlink-equipped flights operating daily across Qatar Airways’ global network, reinforcing the airline’s position at the forefront of onboard connectivity.

Starlux Airlines launches its first European destination

Starlux Airlines has officially launched its first-ever European route, connecting Prague and Taipei with a new nonstop service. The route initially operates three times weekly with an Airbus A350-900, increasing to four weekly flights from October. From September 1, the aircraft will be upgraded to the larger A350-1000, featuring 350 seats across four cabin classes, including First Class. Prague will also welcome Starlux’s distinctive AIRSORAYAMA Silver and Gold aircraft, created in collaboration with renowned Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama, making it one of only three destinations worldwide to receive the special-livery jets regularly. From October, passengers can enjoy exclusive AIRSORAYAMA-themed amenities. The route strengthens business and leisure links between Central Europe and Asia, particularly as semiconductor industries expand around Prague. Flights from Prague will also use a 2% Sustainable Aviation Fuel blend under the EU’s ReFuelEU Aviation initiative, supporting STARLUX’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

The world’s largest flying canvas takes flight

Starlux Airlines has taken delivery of starlux air sorayama silver, its first-ever special-livery aircraft and the result of a landmark collaboration with visionary Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama. Described as the world’s largest flying canvas, the Airbus A350-1000 features Sorayama’s signature liquid-metal aesthetic, with a silver fuselage accented by gold and air sorayama branding. Chairman K.W. Chang and CEO Glenn Chai joined Airbus and Rolls-Royce executives in Toulouse for the unveiling, staged as an immersive art experience. Chang will personally pilot the aircraft on its maiden flight to Taiwan. Bringing the design to life required three years of preparation and a specialized multi-coating process developed with Airbus and coatings specialist Mankiewicz to achieve the reflective, fluid appearance while meeting strict aviation requirements. The project also resulted in two bespoke metallic shades, air sorayama silver and air sorayama gold, developed with Pantone and officially added to the Pantone Color System—the first proprietary metallic colors created specifically for commercial aviation.