Hotel d’Inghilterra Rome – Starhotels Collezione has been accepted into Virtuoso’s portfolio of luxury travel partners, comprising 2,500 preferred suppliers in 100 countries.

Set steps from Piazza di Spagna and Via Condotti in Rome’s fashion district, Hotel d’Inghilterra blends historic charm with contemporary Italian style, a favourite of the international élite since the 19th century for its superb location, eclectic interiors, and innate elegance.

Following an extensive refurbishment, the hotel restored its historic façade, rooms, suites, and common areas to original splendoir, enhanced by Italian master craftsmen as part of Starhotels’ “La Grande Bellezza – The Dream Factory” patronage project.​ 

“Following a conservative restoration, our historic palazzo once again embodies Roman elegance and livedin authenticity,” said Massimo Colli, General Manager of Hotel d’Inghilterra. “Partnering with Virtuoso allows us to share that sense of place with a global community of luxury travel advisors and guests, pairing our celebrated service and Italian hospitality with privileged access to experiences that feel genuinely of Rome.” 

Rooms and suites are uniquely styled like a private residence, blending antique pieces with contemporary craftsmanship. Highlights include Executive Suites, Balcony Suites overlooking Roman rooftops, and the Penthouse Suite with a 70 square-metre terrace framing views from Villa Medici to the Vittoriano. The new SPA Suite, which debuted in July 2025, offers an intimate wellness sanctuary with treatment areas and signature rituals.​ 

Dining includes Café Romano, an elegant Italian salotto with a refined dehors on Via Borgognona, where seasonality-driven menus inspired by Roman tradition are served. Café Romano Lounge Bar serves timeless cocktails, while the recently inaugurated Terrazza Romana rooftop cocktail bar introduces signature drinks in a Mediterranean urban garden, with views of Rome’s domes.​ 

A storied guest list spans Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, Hans Christian Andersen, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor; today, the property continues to attract a refined international clientele for authenticity and Italian hospitality at the heart of Rome.

Hotel d’Inghilterra joins Virtuoso’s collection of the finest luxury hotels, resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour operators and other travel entities worldwide. Hotel d’Inghilterra’s acceptance into Virtuoso gives it direct relationships with the world’s leading leisure travel agencies in North and Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.  

As a Virtuoso preferred partner, the hotel now offers exclusive benefits to Virtuoso clients, including daily breakfast for two, a €100 food and beverage credit, welcome amenities, and preferred upgrades as well as early check-in and late check-out, both subject to availability.

View the property online here.

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New images have been shared of A&K Sanctuary’s 22-passenger riverboat Pure Amazon which set sail on the waters of Peru’s vast Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve earlier this year.

The vessel offers “intimate wildlife encounters across 21,000 square kilometres of protected Amazonian wilderness.”

Designed by Milan-based architect Adriana Granato, A&K Travel Group’s Artistic Director and Director of Studio Ibsen, Pure Amazon features “site-specific commissioned pieces” from Peruvian artists.

Granato describes the vessel as “a mysterious presence, its façade softly lit with spots that mimic firelight,” reflecting Pure Amazon’s commitment to elegance, sustainability, and reverence for the rainforest.

At the heart of the dining room hangs “Manto de Escamas de Paiche,” a striking installation by Venice Biennale artist Silvana Pestana. The piece features hand-crafted bronze and clay elements” put together to conjure the Amazon’s giant fish scales. Pestana’s works across the vessel explore environmental themes, particularly illegal gold mining’s impact, using materials like gold leaf and traditional textiles.

Every suite features authentic kené textiles by Shipibo-Konibo master artist Deysi Ramírez, whose intricate patterns represent cosmological maps. The BENEAI Collective also contributed exclusive hand-embroidered cushions with “20 unique compositions,” supporting Indigenous women artists and preserving their ancestral craft.

Sailing through the reserve, guests can witness pink river dolphins and three-toed sloths. Guided by expert naturalists, travellers might also spot giant river otters, piranhas and scarlet macaws.

Meanwhile, the Iquitos-based culinary team has created a nightly five-course tasting menu paired with Latin American wines. The bar celebrates Peruvian heritage with pisco cocktails infused with “coca leaf and dragon’s blood resin.”

Through A&K Philanthropy, Pure Amazon extends its luxury ethos to conservation and community engagement. Partnerships with Nueva Arica and Amanatari foster sustainable bio-businesses such as aguaje fibre and honey production. Guests also visit FORMABIAP which empowers Indigenous youth—especially women—through education and cultural preservation.

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Scenic Group has introduced new early season departures on its European river program, catering for travellers wanting to explore the Continent in cooler weather. The Australian founded company has also added more Christmas departures in its extended season on the Main, Moselle, Rhine and Danube rivers.

The new capacity comes as demand for off-peak travel in Europe soars. New early season departures have been introduced in Portugal on the Douro by the Group.

“As Europe now tends to be experiencing quite a very warm July, August, we’ve seen the shift from seven or eight years ago, when that was the peak period, to shoulder periods now being the peak season,” says Anthony Laver, Scenic Group GM Sales & Marketing APAC.

“We’re now seeing an elongation of the whole season,” Laver told LATTE in Hong Kong last week at Luxury Travel Collections’ Global Owner Managers Harbour Soirée.

The shift is already seeing what has traditionally been the ‘peak summer season’ becoming a new shoulder season, and appealing to different markets.

“We’re seeing a younger cohert coming onboard, as mature travellers don’t want to go in July and August when it is too hot,” he said – carefully noting that he isn’t intending to stereotype any particular demographic.

“A different audience is saying, that’s actually when I want to go.”

“We have this dichotomy of people saying that’s a great time and they can get great deals, but if you want to travel in May, June or the beginning of July, we’ve noticed that the cost of flights have gone up because there is more demand.”

Laver said that in the past, the Group needed to run special promotions and pricing to assist with filling its ships in the shoulder season. And while that activity is still relevant, with earlybird and super earlybird offers to kick off each new season, the extent of the yield management has changed year to year, adjusting to customer demand and shifting trends.

“Our primary objective still remains. To sell all the capacity,” Laver emphasised.

Scenic’s low season for European river cruising remains in January and Februrary, however that too “will change depending on what we put together as product offerings and the season starting earlier,” he suggested.

Scenic Group, which owns and operates rivers ships for both Scenic and Emerald Cruises brands, will add further new metal in Europe in the coming years.

Emerald Astra will join the Emerald Cruises fleet of eight ‘Star-Ships’ in Europe in early May next year. The 180-guest ship will inherit design hallmarks from the brand’s superyachts, featuring enhanced interiors with a sleek and contemporary design. Those tweaks were carried out across the rest of the Emerald river fleet in Europe during the 2025 season.

“We’re on a big growth capacity,” Laver said, revealing to LATTE that further ships, “probably two or three more” will also be announced in 2026.

While unable to confirm specifically which brand and ships the new vessels were destined for, Laver said “we want to make sure that our core product, which we are well-known for river, is also growing in tandem with our ocean product.”

On the ocean, Scenic Ikon is the latest addition confirmed in the superyacht space for the ultra-luxury Scenic brand, joining Scenic Eclipse I and Scenic Eclipse II in the Scenic Discovery Yacht fleet. Meanwhile, Emerald Cruises has two superyachts in service, Emerald Azzurra (build in 2022) and Emerald Sakara (2023), with Emerald Kaia launching next year. Two further superyachts, Emerald Raiya and Emerald Xara will further bolster the Emerald Cruises superyacht fleet to five by 2027.

Notably, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours operates 12 of its ‘Space-Ships’ in Europe – Scenic Sapphire (built in 2008), Scenic Diamond (2009),Scenic Ruby (2009), Scenic Pearl (2011), Scenic Crystal (2012), Scenic Jewel (2013), Scenic Jade (2014), Scenic Gem (2014), Scenic Jasper (2015), Scenic Opal (2016), Scenic Azure (2016), and Scenic Amber, the most recent addition which also launched in 2016.

Meaning, Scenic is well overdue for new metal in its European ‘Space-Ship’ fleet, so perhaps a next-generation ‘Space Ship’ design is in the pipeline?

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The inaugural Luxury Cruise Showcase, a collaboration by The Cruise Centre by Travelcall and Main Beach Travel, part of the Goldman Travel Group, took place last week at the Emporium Hotel South Bank, Brisbane.

The event hosted more than 150 cruise travellers and 11 partner cruise lines. Delivered in two sessions, the event offered attendees the chance to explore “a wide variety of luxury cruise experiences and discover their next voyage.”

“Luxury cruise is evolving, and our goal is to connect clients with experiences that truly inspire them. The event highlighted the diversity of today’s cruise experiences, from intimate river voyages to extraordinary polar explorations,” Anthony Goldman, Joint Managing Director at Goldman Travel Group said.

“We are incredibly grateful to our cruise partners for their support – their expertise and presence made this inaugural event an outstanding. It was also wonderful to integrate our newest member of the Group, Main Beach Travel, into this showcase.”

The first session, themed Find Your Perfect Cruise Match, welcomed 100 clients and new-to-cruise prospects. It featured showcases and presentations from AmaWaterways, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal, Oceania Cruises, Ponant Explorations, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Tauck, and Viking.

Guests “engaged directly with cruise specialists, explored exciting itineraries and learned about exclusive offers, with cruise presentations that highlighted stand-out destinations.”

The second session, presented in partnership with The Luxury Network, explored luxury travel more broadly with 50 clients. Highlights included a travel trends presentation by Goldman, followed by a fireside chat with Elizabeth Clarke, Director of Cruise at Goldman Travel Group, and Mandy Dwyer, Director at Main Beach Travel. The discussion explored “what it means to be a modern luxury cruise traveller and sharing insights into the latest destinations and experiences shaping the industry.”

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An innovative way for guests to engage with art at sea will launch aboard Oceania Allura when it sets sail on 13 November 2025, featuring nearly 30 celebrated artworks from 14 artists representing seven countries.

The digital Art Experience aboard Oceania Cruises‘ newest ship promises to “redefine the onboard enrichment” on offer.

“The Art Experience is a testament to our commitment to create beauty and wonder in every dimension of our travel experience,” said Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises. “This experience transforms Oceania Allura’s spaces into a journey of discovery and reflection, allowing our guests to not only explore the wonders at sea, but also within the ship itself.”

Highlights include Roberto Matta, renowned for his abstract expressionism, and award-winning Judy Pfaff, celebrated for her spatial paintings and abstract installations. Other contributing artists, such as Bobbie Burgers and Eduardo Arranz-Bravo, bring a variety of mediums, spanning refined fine art to expressive sculpture.

Guests can explore the Art Experience through a custom-designed website accessible on their mobile devices, exclusively on Oceania Allura, spanning Decks 5 and 6. QR codes discreetly positioned around the ship invite travelers to engage with intimate, emotional films directed and produced by design agency CONDUCTR. These films provide “a personal perspective on the artist’s process, inspirations and philosophies,” offering a behind-the-scenes look at the creative minds behind the works.

“The Art Experience is one of the most meaningful projects we’ve had the privilege to deliver, created from the ground up by our team, in collaboration with Oceania Cruises. It reflects the care and detail that define the cruise line’s approach to hospitality,” Jos van der Steen, co-founder of CONDUCTR, added.

The collection is centered around the Grand Lounge and the iconic Martinis bar, with guests encouraged to chart their own course through the experience. A suggested route available via the digital platform for those seeking a more structured exploration. In addition, Oceania Cruises offers select artworks as exclusive prints available for purchase on board.

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The all-inclusive model introduced by HX Expeditions has “proved itself very well” over the past year, according to CEO Gebhard Rainer, as growing global demand for expedition cruising continues to reshape the market.

Speaking to LATTE during a visit to Sydney this week, Rainer confirmed that the all-inclusive concept had been “really well accepted by our customers.” “One of the things that they wanted to have is a simplification in terms of planning for their own vacations,” he explained.

Rainer, who joined HX from all-inclusive hospitality brand Sandals, added that the approach has also helped to redefine perceptions of the term “all-inclusive”. “It had this stigma attached that once it’s all-inclusive, it must be cheap, it must be cheerful, it must be not good quality – but none of that really applies anymore,” he pointed out.

“You can still have it, but there is differentiation and with us over this last year now, your inclusive concept really proved very well. Our customers are very happy with and operationally, it works very well as well.”

While he “absolutely” sees HX as an all-inclusive pioneer within the expedition cruise sector, the spread of the all-inclusive model from hospitality into other segments in recent years has made HX’s own transition an easier concept for both consumers and the trade to grasp, according to Rainer.

“All inclusive has really spread from hospitality into other segments as well. It’s not the norm yet, but it’s become the new desire of many areas to come up with the simplicity of pricing an experience, without having to nickel and dime the consumer along that journey,” he said.

That simplicity has resonated strongly amid what Rainer described as “very healthy growth” in global demand for expedition travel. “The market since 2019 pre-pandemic has grown over 70% in expedition, in terms of demand – consumer demand and consumer purchase,” he said. “The US market has seen year over year growth of over 50%. The Australia, New Zealand market has seen close to 30% growth year over year.”

With greater demand comes greater competition, but Rainer is adamant this is good news for HX. “Competition is healthy. It helps expedition to be more exposed and be more seen,” he said.

But he expects the landscape to shift further over the coming years. “I think there’s going to be a natural selection or natural cleansing,” he predicted. “Because within the field of companies that are there now, there’s too many onesies and twosies. “There [are] small ones that would have difficulty surviving. We’ve seen the beginning of that already with Exploris in France that just declared bankruptcy. And I think there’s going to be others that will emerge and and collapse into larger organisations.”

Amid these competitive shifts, Rainer sees HX’s future as certain thanks to its clear point of difference around science and sustainability. “The advantage that we have, or the advantage that we have built, is the fact that we are the only ones at the moment that are clearly focused on sustainability, science and education,” he said.

“We work with over 30 different scientific institutes around the world. We have constantly scientists on board that work on projects. Every one of our ships has professional science lab as well. All of our customers can participate as science citizen scientists.”

He referred to HX’s recent expansion of its partnership with UTAS as case in point, with the free educational series extended to cover Arctic destinations.

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Japanese cruise newcomer Mitsui Ocean Cruises has confirmed its newest vessel Mitsui Ocean Sakura, formerly Seabourn Sojourn, will enter service on 19 September 2026, sailing a debut season of 29 voyages.

The ship, purchased from Seabourn in March 2025, will be delivered to Mitsui after completing its final Seabourn voyage in May 2026. Following a comprehensive refurbishment, the Mitsui Ocean Sakura will enter service under the Japanese flag in September 2026. It will join Mitsui Ocean Fiji, which launched in December 2024, in the fleet.

The inaugural season will feature several short voyages of one to three nights, over a three-month period through December 2026. Itineraries will be centered on Japan with the vessel’s compact size enabling it to call at “ports in various regions, from remote islands in Okinawa and Hokkaido … to ports located within walking distance of urban areas.” Reservations for these debut cruises will open on Monday 19 January 2026.

The ship will blend tradition with innovation, reflecting the company’s signature hospitality and design philosophy. “While preserving the ‘Omotenashi’ cultivated through previous cruise ships … the new cruise ship will offer guests a new kind of cruise experience with our sense of Japanese beauty unique to MOL Cruises,” the company said.

Among the ship’s new features are the Shiosai Sushi Bar and a Grand Pool with Foot Bath.

Mitsui Ocean also announced the appointment of Captain Satoshi Ninomiya, former master of the Nippon Maru, as one of the ship’s inaugural captains, and Executive Chef Katsutoshi Nakayama, also a Nippon Maru veteran, as the ship’s Head of Culinary Operations.

Mitsui Ocean Sakura’s itineraries will include short and medium-length cruises, along with themed voyages celebrating “festivals, fireworks, music and food.” The company will also continue to offer one-night cruises, which have proven especially popular among domestic travellers.

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The flavours of the Arctic’s Indigenous Sámi people are now being rolled out across the Hurtigruten fleet, as the cruise line unveiled a new menu by its latest Culinary Ambassador, Máret Rávdná Buljo.

Blending Sámi traditions with contemporary Norwegian gastronomy, the menu aims to introduce international travellers to the heritage-rich ingredients and techniques of the Sámi people, native to Arctic Europe. The new dishes form part of the company’s award-winning Norway’s Coastal Kitchen concept, which highlights “the freshest and most sustainable produce” from more than 70 local Norwegian partners.

“This is a big step for Sámi cuisine, as it has not always been traditionally acknowledged in Norway,” said Buljo. “Hurtigruten is opening the door for Sámi food to be more widespread. It was important for me when creating the dishes… to tell our history and traditions through the various dishes. I hope international visitors will feel a connection with the Sámi traditions when they visit Norway.”

Buljo, who was recently recognised as one of three nominees for Norway’s Matprisen 2025 sustainability award, has curated five signature dishes for Hurtigruten’s Árran restaurant, found aboard the MS Trollfjord and MS Finnmarken. Highlights include salmon with ember bread, cloudberries, and truffle seaweed, a broth with dried reindeer meat, and warm coffee cheese served with redcurrant sorbet and caramel sauce. Several vegetarian options are also available, underscoring her sustainable approach to Arctic cuisine.

The MS Midnatsol – set to join the Signature Voyage fleet in 2026 – will adopt Buljo’s menu next, while guests aboard the Original Coastal Express ships can sample her dishes at Torget, Kysten, and Brygga Bistro.

Øistein Nilsen, Hurtigruten’s Culinary Director, described the new partnership as “a natural evolution” of the company’s long-standing commitment to local and sustainable flavours. “This honours the Sámi knowledge and craftsmanship that’s been handed down through generations,” he said. “By bringing Sámi cuisine to international visitors, indigenous traditions meet innovation… while still keeping and respecting their heritage.”

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Regent Seven Seas Cruises will welcome a third Prestige Class ultra-luxury ship to its fleet in 2033, today confirming a newbuild order with the Fincantieri shipyard.

Following the debut of the highly anticipated Seven Seas Prestige in 2026 and a second Prestige Class ship in 2030, the third vessel will build upon the hallmark design and elevated guest experience that has defined the brand’s legacy in all-inclusive, unrivalled cruising.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH), the parent company of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, said the new ship continues the “expansion of the company’s growth strategy in the luxury segment.”

“This newbuild order continues our measured, strategic expansion within the luxury space, providing guests with yet another way to experience the unrivaled aboard The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet,” said Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

“It reflects our confidence in the growing demand for Regent’s best-in-class offering and reaffirms our long-standing partnership with Fincantieri, one rooted in craftsmanship and shared pursuit of perfection.”

“Our long-term strategic expansion with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., established over the past years through multiple successful orders, continues to strengthen our collaboration, especially within the ultra-luxury segment represented by Regent Seven Seas Cruises”, commented Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri.

Regent’s Prestige-Class ships begin a new legacy in ultra-luxury travel, marking Regent’s first new ship class in 10 years, following the success of the line’s Explorer-Class vessels.

Seven Seas Prestige will be 40 percent larger than previous Regent ships yet accommodates only 10 percent more guests, delivering truly Unrivalled Space at Sea.

At 77,000 tons and carrying just 822 guests with 630 dedicated crew members, the vessel offers one of the highest space-to-guest and crew-to-guest ratios in the cruise industry.

The class will offer 12 distinctive accommodation categories, including four all-new suite types, and the largest all-inclusive, ultra-luxury cruise ship suite in history: the Skyview Regent Suite, and two-level Skyview and Grand Loft Suites.

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This week, LATTE chats exclusively with Sandrine Camia, the Deputy Director Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority. Sandrine has had a spectacular career in luxury hospitality, with roles at ultra-luxury properties including Hotel Lutetia in Paris and Hotel Martinez in Cannes, both properties of the Taittinger Family.

She is the former Director of Sales, Marketing and Communication for Hotel Royal Riviera in Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat and Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, before taking over as Director of Monaco Convention Bureau.

A savvy luxury marketer, Sandrine is familiar with Virtuoso and many advisors know her face from decades of attending Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, along with all the other major MICE & leisure shows around the globe.

We start our conversation with Sandrine, discussing the importance of the cruise sector for Monaco.

Sandrine, can you tell us how significant cruising is to Monaco? How many cruise visitors arrive to the Municipality by sea annually?

Cruising is a selective and high-value segment for Monaco. The Principality has implemented strict regulations governing the size of vessels, total number of passengers and crew, and environmental performance, to protect its coastline and urban environment. As a result, Monaco primarily welcomes smaller, upscale ships rather than mass-market liners.

Each year, Monaco welcomes around 200,000 cruise passengers — a relatively modest figure, but one that generates a significant economic impact for the destination, particularly for restaurants, shops, and local businesses, especially those in the Old Town and main visitor districts. There is also a growing number of pre- and post-cruise stays, as Monaco’s strategy focuses on attracting cruises that begin or end in the Principality, encouraging longer stays and deeper engagement with the destination.

What is it about the French Riviera and Monaco that lures cruise lines and passengers to your part of the world?

The Mediterranean is already a dream destination for cruise travellers — admired for its diversity of landscapes, art of living, gastronomy, and culture — and the French Riviera embodies all of that in one glamorous coastline. Within it, Monaco stands out as an unmissable stop, offering unique experiences and accessibility.

The Principality’s unmatched quality of service, particularly through its world-class hotels, its rich cultural and gastronomic scene, and the history of the Princely Family, which has reigned for more than 700 years, give Monaco an identity like no other port in the Mediterranean.

Nestled between the French and Italian Rivieras, Monaco’s compact size allows visitors to explore its many attractions entirely on foot from the harbour, discovering monuments, museums, gardens, shopping, and fine dining within minutes (even if a day is enough to experience all of Monaco’s facets).

With your stellar hospitality career to date, what do you think about ultra-luxury hotel brands entering the superyacht space (Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Orient Express, Aman)? And what new opportunities do these brands present for Monaco?

Thank you very much for the kind words.

I see it as natural convergence: iconic hotel brands bringing their signature service and lifestyle from land to sea. It’s a perfect fit for Monaco, where excellence, and tailor-made experiences are already part of the destination’s DNA.

We already see Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection turnarounds and calls scheduled for Monte-Carlo, and Four Seasons Yachts featuring Monaco in its inaugural Mediterranean programming. These products are completely aligned with Monaco’s positioning.

How is the destination evolving its cruise offering to cater for guests arriving by sea?

Three priorities:

1. Selective sizing & quality: Monaco targets ships under 250 meters and carrying less than 1,250 guests and crew combined, favoring premium and ultra-luxury lines that match the Principality’s positioning and offering

2. Sustainability: Monaco continues to advance its sustainability agenda, with shore power installation at the cruise pier set to be completed soon, allowing ships to connect to electricity and significantly reduce emissions.

3. Guest experience: Simple, easy city access; Curated tours beyond the clichés, alongside visits to Monaco’s must-see landmarks and coordinated calendars so guests step into Monaco’s year-round cultural and sport events.

Have you personally cruised, and if so, where and with which brands? And what was your most recent voyage?

I haven’t taken many cruises personally, but my most recent one was with Crystal last May, during the Virtuoso Overseas Symposium, which sailed from Barcelona to Monaco. Beyond its beautiful itinerary, that ship holds special meaning for a representative of the Monaco destination — it features several iconic Monaco brands on board, including the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Beefbar.

Beyond cruising, how is Monaco evolving to overcome overtourism and to appeal to day visitors, overnight stayers and villa guests?

In Monaco, we do not view tourism as a problem of “overtourism” in the usual sense, because welcoming visitors is at our core : Monaco was created for tourism in 1863, and we have been a land of hospitality for more than 160 years.

Our approach is holistic: the offer is tailored for day-visitors and overnight guests and the local community and residents are comfortable with the rhythm because it is managed, high-quality and respectful of the destination. We don’t aim for mass volumes; our focus is on experience, balance and value.

For business tourism, we already host over 300 major events annually, which smooths seasonality, supports mid/low season stays, and underlines that Monaco is a destination year-round, not just at peak holiday times.

Do Monaco’s famed hotels provide enough high-end rooms in peak season? Is there room for more luxury inventory or new ultra-luxury brands?

We’re not in a situation of saturation. Monaco’s hotels undergo regular, thoughtful renovations to maintain the highest standards, with projects often focused on larger rooms and more suites rather than simply increasing capacity.

These ongoing enhancements reflect Monaco’s constant pursuit of excellence and consider the needs of both high- and ultra-high-contribution individual guests and the business and group segment, which remains essential to the destination’s year-round appeal.

Here are a few examples of recent renovations:

The Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo was entirely revamped in 2019, a complete transformation that reaffirmed its position as one of the world’s leading palace hotels.

Other major projects are ongoing or recently completed: the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, Monte-Carlo Beach, and Fairmont Monte-Carlo, each enhancing their offering through extensive renovations or new suite collections.

Given Monaco’s hotel mix — already composed of over 80% four- and five-star properties — future developments will continue to prioritise quality over quantity. There is still room for new openings, particularly in neighbouring municipalities, where several lifestyle-oriented four-star projects are planned. These will complement the Principality’s offer, catering both to the leisure segment and, importantly, to the meeting & convention market, especially following the 6,000 m² expansion of the Grimaldi Forum.

Is Monaco’s culinary scene keeping up with visitor demand? Latest dining venues and “out-of-towner” experiences?

Monaco is, without a doubt, a gourmet destination. It offers an extraordinary variety of dining options — from Mediterranean to Italian, French, Belgium, English and Asian influences — with a strong commitment to fresh, locally sourced produce and a genuine “farm-to-plate” philosophy.

It boasts the highest concentration of MICHELIN-starred restaurants per square kilometer in the world — 13 stars spread across 8 restaurants — an exceptional figure that perfectly reflects the destination’s passion for gastronomy.

In recent years, Monaco’s culinary landscape has also become increasingly vibrant and festive, with the arrival of international lifestyle dining concepts that add a new dimension to its gourmet appeal.

Here are some of the most recent openings — and truly, not a single season goes by without a new restaurant or bar opening in Monaco:

· Amazónico Monte-Carlo : a lively, jungle-inspired concept blending dining, music and late-night energy.

· Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac at the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, already two MICHELIN stars, offering refined Mediterranean cuisine with contemporary flair.

· Pavyllon Monte-Carlo, a restaurant by Yannick Alléno, showcasing the chef’s signature modern French cuisine and relaxed refinement.

· L’Abysse Monte-Carlo, a gourmet Japanese restaurant by master chef Yoshinori Shibuya, newly opened in 2025 at the Hôtel Hermitage, offering an exceptional omakase-style experience that has already earned two MICHELIN stars.

· Blue Bay – Marcel Ravin, Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort: two MICHELIN stars, reopened in 2024 after a stunning redesign and now offering exclusive chef’s table formats.

· The Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, completely reimagined, remains the beating heart of Place du Casino.

· Marlow, a new English dining concept bringing a modern, cosmopolitan energy

· Jondal Monte-Carlo, which launched its first Monaco season this summer at the Monte-Carlo Beach, will reopen for the 2026 summer season, continuing its relaxed yet elegant Mediterranean spirit.

Coya Monte-Carlo and Nikki Beach Monte-Carlo, both established for several years, have become essential fixtures in Monaco’s festive dining scene — Coya with its vibrant contemporary Peruvian cuisine and lively atmosphere, and Nikki Beach with its rooftop setting at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo, overlooking both the Grand Prix hairpin and the Mediterranean Sea.

For out-of-towners, Monaco offers an exceptional range of seasonal and immersive experiences — from beach clubs, including the new Monte-Carlo Beach by Jacquemus concept, to exclusive wine tastings following the reopening of the legendary Hôtel de Paris wine cellar, one of the largest private hotel cellars in the world, housing over 350,000 bottles. All of this, of course, within walking distance of their hotel or the pier.

Monaco is once again playing host to the Forbes Travel Guide Summit in 2026. How important are events like ‘The Summit’ and other hospitality conferences to Monaco?

Events like the Forbes Travel Guide Summit are extremely important for Monaco — they perfectly align with the Principality’s core values of excellence, hospitality, and innovation. Monaco was the first destination outside the United States to host the Summit earlier this year, and we are very proud to welcome it back in February 2026. It brings together some of the world’s most influential leaders in luxury travel and service, which resonates deeply with Monaco’s positioning.

More broadly, business tourism is one of the pillars of Monaco’s year-round activity, representing nearly 30% of all hotel room nights sold in the Principality. Every year, we host more than 300 professional events, including major international congresses that have been established here for over a decade. The recent 6,000 m² expansion of the Grimaldi Forum further strengthens our capacity to welcome large-scale, high-quality gatherings.

In 2026, Monaco will also host the MICHELIN Guide ceremony and continue to welcome prestigious global events such as the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year. All of these reinforce Monaco’s role as a true hub for international business events.

Your role must see you travel the globe frequently. How many days are you on the road? Carry-on or checked?

I’m on the road about once a month for must-attend forums such as Virtuoso Symposium, ILTM shows, and others. My role also involves regular international roadshows organised by our overseas promotion offices (we have one in Australia and six others across three continents).

I’m not a light packer — I’m a girl who loves her outfits and likes to have options, so I always end up taking a bit more than necessary. But I do keep a spare outfit in my cabin bag, just in case my suitcase decides to travel on a different itinerary!

Besides Monaco (Nice, more specifically), what is your favourite city to fly into, and why? When were you last there?

I’ve been travelling since I was a child — my father worked for Air France, so travel has always been part of my life. My favourite city to fly into is New York, the first city I ever discovered with my father. I’ve been back more than 50 times, both for work and for pleasure. I just love the city’s energy and rhythm — everything feels a little larger than life, and it still manages to surprise me every single time I go back.

I also have many friends in New York, people I’ve known for years, most of them travel industry professionals. That’s one of the things I love most about my job — it allows me to meet incredible people from all over the world and to connect with different cultures and perspectives.

As for my most recent long-haul trip, it was to Australia two months ago — and I promise I’m not saying that just because this is an Australian publication! It was a truly unforgettable family journey exploring Sydney, Uluru, and the Great Barrier Reef — one of the most remarkable travel experiences I’ve had in recent years.

Finally—this is ‘LATTE’ afterall—what’s your favourite coffee beverage?

I don’t like my coffee too strong — even though in Monaco, as in nearby Italy, people usually drink it ristretto. I prefer a smooth, balanced espresso, That might also be because I’ve learned to appreciate American coffee, which is much lighter — and a bit more forgiving first thing in the morning!

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