Travel news: this month (January 2026) in luxury travel

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

Today: January 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:

Mandarin Oriental Mallorca, Spain, is now accepting reservations
Laucala Island in Fiji leaves the COMO Hotel Group
Six Senses will open a desert resort in Utah, USA
Armani will expand his hotel portfolio
Enduata Camps opens its first safari lodge in Serengeti, Tanzania
Four Seasons Cartagena, Colombia, is now accepting reservations
Edelweiss unveils a new Business Class cabin on its Airbus A350
Aman-i-Khas, India, reopens with new pavilions
Emirates shifts focus toward vegan cuisine to meet passenger demand
Corinthia Hotels will open a luxury resort on Lake Como in 2028

1. Mandarin Oriental Mallorca is now accepting reservations

Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra, Mallorca is set to open in spring 2026 as an intimate Mediterranean retreat in Calvià, near Puerto Portals, offering sweeping sea views framed by Aleppo pines and dramatic coastline. The contemporary resort will feature 131 rooms and suites, including casitas, plunge-pool accommodations and rooftop suites with private pools, all designed with natural materials, hand-placed stonework and curated art that reflect Mallorcan heritage. Guests will enjoy exclusive access to two secluded coves, fragrant gardens, extensive leisure facilities and a signature wellness sanctuary blending local healing traditions with Oriental wellbeing philosophies. Dining will position the resort as a major culinary destination, with standout concepts including Nobu Matsuhisa’s Matsuhisa, Leña by Dani García, Jacinta, Leppoc, Sobretaula and the relaxed poolside Aubara, celebrating global influences and locally sourced ingredients. With its focus on privacy, refined design, exceptional gastronomy and authentic island living, Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra promises a new benchmark for understated luxury in Mallorca.

2. Laucala Island in Fiji leaves the COMO Hotel Group

Laucala Island, the ultra-luxurious private island in Fiji, has entered a new chapter after departing from the COMO Hotels and Resorts brand and returning to independent operation. While COMO largely provided branding and global visibility rather than defining day-to-day operations, Laucala has always functioned as a highly individual destination with its own vision. Now independent again, the island can fully express that identity without the constraints of an external luxury framework. This move echoes a broader trend at the pinnacle of hospitality, exemplified by North Island in the Seychelles, which also chose to leave Marriott’s The Luxury Collection to operate on its own terms. For properties of this caliber, independence offers greater creative freedom, deeper cultural authenticity, and sharper focus on bespoke guest experiences. Adding to the excitement, Laucala is set to close for the majority of 2026, using the time to refresh and reimagine the island ahead of a festive-season reopening. The pause aims to reinforce Laucala’s position as not just a resort, but a singular destination defined by discretion, craftsmanship, and a powerful sense of place.

3. Six Senses will open a desert resort in Utah, USA

IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of Six Senses Camp Korongo, a 480-acre ultra-luxury desert resort and residential community near Kanab, in the heart of southern Utah, with an anticipated opening in 2029. Set amid sculpted red rock formations, juniper forests and vast desert skies, the retreat will feature 41 luxury tented pavilions and 12 branded residences designed to harmonize with the surrounding landscape through nature-led architecture and sustainable principles. Anchored by sweeping canyon views and deep respect for the area’s cultural history, the experience will be guided by natural rhythms, offering hiking along ancient trails, canyoneering, stargazing under some of the darkest skies in the region and access to iconic national parks including Zion, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon and Arches. At its core, Six Senses Spa will provide immersive wellness journeys rooted in restoration and self-discovery. Developed with Canyon Global Partners and designed by Luxury Frontiers, the project reflects Six Senses’ thoughtful expansion in the Americas, delivering regenerative hospitality that fosters meaningful connection to nature while setting a new benchmark for experiential desert luxury.

4. Armani will expand his hotel portfolio

The Giorgio Armani Group and Symphony Global LLC, Mohamed Alabbar’s private investment firm, have entered a new phase of collaboration with the creation of a joint venture to develop a global portfolio of Armani Hotels & Resorts. Building on the success of Armani Hotel Dubai in the Burj Khalifa and Armani Hotel Milan on Via Manzoni, the agreement grants worldwide exclusivity for future developments and establishes Milan and Dubai as the creative, strategic and operational hubs of the partnership. The joint venture will pursue a highly selective growth strategy over an initial 20-year term, focusing on exceptional locations, refined design and high-value hospitality. Two distinct hotel concepts will be developed: the established ultra-luxury Armani Hotel model, and a new, lifestyle-driven interpretation aimed at younger, design-conscious travelers in emerging markets. Each project will be conceived as a complete lifestyle environment, with Giorgio Armani personally involved in architecture, interiors, furnishings and service standards. The expansion reflects Armani’s enduring design philosophy and Alabbar’s global development expertise, reinforcing the brand’s ambition to redefine contemporary luxury hospitality worldwide.

5. Enduata Camps opens its first safari lodge in Tanzania

Operating year-round, Wild Wakati Camp marks the debut of Enduata Camps with an intimate, low-impact safari experience set deep in Tanzania’s Serengeti, directly along a prime route of the Great Migration. Designed to blend understated comfort with deep immersion in nature, the camp features just 10 handcrafted canvas tents, including family options, offering front-row access to one of Africa’s most wildlife-rich landscapes. Founded by Matt Wilkey and experienced Tanzanian guide Michael Shayo, Enduata Camps is rooted in conservation, community partnership and a strong sense of place, prioritising minimal environmental impact and meaningful cultural connection. Guests enjoy fully inclusive stays with guided game drives, gourmet dining, sundowners, family-focused activities and opportunities for cultural discovery with the Maasai community. Experiences range from witnessing vast herds of wildebeest and predators to walking safaris, hot-air balloon flights and rare rhino-viewing excursions in protected zones. With responsible sourcing, local employment and direct conservation contributions at its core, Wild Wakati Camp introduces a thoughtful new voice in Serengeti safari travel.

6. Four Seasons Cartagena, Colombia, is now accepting reservations

Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Cartagena is now accepting reservations ahead of its highly anticipated spring opening, introducing a refined new landmark in the vibrant Getsemaní neighbourhood, steps from the historic Walled City. Set across an extraordinary collection of restored heritage buildings—from a 16th-century cloister and temple to theatres and the iconic 1920s Club Cartagena—the intimate hotel blends centuries of history with contemporary luxury. Designed by the late François Catroux, in one of his final and rare hospitality projects, the property pairs Old World elegance with modern comforts across 131 rooms and suites, including colonial-style courtyard accommodations and expansive rooftop residences. Guests will enjoy eight distinctive dining and bar concepts, including collaborations with Major Food Group, two rooftop pool decks with panoramic city and Caribbean views, and the holistic UMARI Spa. Deeply connected to its surroundings, the hotel serves as a gateway to discovering Getsemaní’s cultural heartbeat and Cartagena’s rich past, offering bespoke experiences from street art tours and yacht excursions to nature explorations beyond the city.

7. Edelweiss unveils a new Business Class cabin on its Airbus A350

With the introduction of the Airbus A350, Swiss leisure airline Edelweiss is redefining its long-haul Business Class with a new premium travel experience centered on space, comfort and calm. The new Edelweiss Business cabin features a full 1-2-1 layout, ensuring direct aisle access for every passenger, with approximately half the seats configured as double seats ideal for couples. Seats convert into fully flat beds for restorative rest, complemented by dark blue tones, refined woven upholstery and carefully selected wood surfaces that create a serene, contemporary Swiss aesthetic. For travelers seeking maximum privacy, the new Edelweiss Business Suite elevates the experience further, offering closable doors, a generous open footwell, additional storage and a large 32-inch 4K screen for an immersive inflight experience. Thoughtful sleep enhancements include a memory foam pillow and mattress topper. Across Business Class, guests benefit from free high-speed Starlink internet, Bluetooth-enabled entertainment, human-centric lighting, wireless charging, high-power USB-C and USB-A ports and additional power outlets. Entering service from December 2026, the new A350 Business Class positions Edelweiss firmly in the premium leisure segment.

8. Aman-i-Khas, India, reopens with new pavilions

Aman-i-Khas, poised on the edge of India’s Ranthambore National Park, has unveiled three new suites, bringing the total number of tented pavilions at the camp to 13. The expansion introduces two expansive Grand Tented Pool Pavilions and one Tented Pool Pavilion, each thoughtfully designed with a private swimming pool to deepen the sense of seclusion and immersion in nature. The Grand Tented Pool Pavilions, among the largest accommodations at the camp, span an impressive 2,755 sq ft and feature temperature-controlled outdoor pools paired with generous open-air sun decks. Interiors reinterpret safari-style ‘glamping’ through Aman’s refined lens, with soaring canopy ceilings, a contemporary king-bedroom, a sunken central living space and a dedicated dining area. The more intimate Tented Pool Pavilion offers 1,770 sq ft of space, complete with a dining area and a private sundeck with plunge pool. Designed in Aman’s hallmark minimalist aesthetic, the camp sits at the gateway to the reserve, offering effortless access to Ranthambore’s diverse landscapes. Guests can venture out on daily safaris in search of Bengal tigers, explore ancient forts and rural villages, and experience the quiet drama of one of India’s most celebrated wilderness regions.

9. Emirates shifts focus toward vegan cuisine

Emirates is reinforcing its commitment to plant-based cuisine with new vegan concepts set to launch onboard in 2027, emphasizing whole, minimally processed ingredients rather than engineered meat substitutes. Focusing on legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and seasonal vegetables, the airline’s culinary philosophy celebrates authentic, culturally rich plant-forward dishes inspired by Mediterranean mezze, Levantine salads, Asian noodle bowls, and African stews. Emirates currently offers 488 vegan recipes across 140 destinations—a 60% increase from 2024—serving half a million vegan meals annually, with top-demand destinations including London, Sydney, Bangkok, and Mumbai. Vegan options are available in all travel classes, from Economy to First, as well as in lounges, and incorporate fresh, farm-to-fork produce from Bustanica, the world’s largest hydroponic vertical farm. Signature dishes span pumpkin frittata, spinach cannelloni, kimchi fried rice, braised five-spice mushrooms, pumpkin and barley risotto, and indulgent desserts like coconut panna cotta, chocolate tofu cheesecake, and sticky date pudding.

10. Corinthia Hotels will open a luxury resort on Lake Como

Corinthia Hotels has announced a landmark partnership with RoundShield and Kervis SGR to develop Corinthia Lake Como, a 58-key luxury resort in Menaggio, adjacent to Italy’s second-oldest golf course. Nestled in the Pre-Alps foothills, the resort will feature a lakefront beach club, three branded residences, and guest accommodations harmoniously integrated into the landscape, blending restored heritage architecture with contemporary outdoor living. Public spaces, including the lobby, lounge, and golf club, will occupy three villas oriented toward the mountains and lake, while spa, wellness, and fine dining experiences will reflect the region’s elegance. Owned by the Putter Fund and developed by Kervis SGR with RoundShield backing, the property embodies a commitment to heritage, sustainability, and thoughtful luxury, with construction slated to begin after approvals and operations targeted for late 2028. Corinthia’s philosophy of timeless, personally guided hospitality ensures the resort will celebrate Lake Como’s splendor, providing a distinctive, integrated destination that uplifts guests, staff, partners, and the local community.