Explorer’s Passage Antarctica Cruise with Sir Robert Swan

The Explorer’s Passage is offering a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Antarctica with Sir Robert Swan. The British explorer was the first person to walk to both poles, and the February 27 sailing departs one month after Swan and his son are scheduled to return from the South Pole Energy Challenge, a 600-mile walk to the South Pole powered solely by renewable energy.

The 14-day Climate Force itinerary, created in partnership with 2041, Swan’s foundation dedicated to the preservation of Antarctica, includes 12 days at sea and a visit to the renowned Vernadsky Research Base. On board, guests will participate in workshops that blend leadership development, climate change training, and sustainability education. Experts on glaciology, geography, and wildlife will conduct lectures, and Swan and his son will share stories from their recent expedition.

Four Seasons Hotel Megève Opens

Four Seasons Hotel Megève opens its doors December 15, in time for the 2017-2018 ski season. The brand’s first mountain destination in Europe is conceived as a modern interpretation of the traditional alpine mountain resort. Located directly on the Mont d’Arbois ski slopes, the Four Seasons is the only Megève hotel with its own in-house ski concierge and ski valet service.

With just 55 spacious accommodations, including 14 suites, most with a fireplace and balcony, the hotel offers a highly personalized ski escape. After a day on the slopes, guests can unwind in one of the largest spas in the French Alps and dine at two-Michelin star restaurant Le 1920.

One & Only Cape Town Introduces Private MOCAA Tours

Guests of One&Only Cape Town now have a unique opportunity to experience the new Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) with a privately curated tour with Joao Ferreria, one of South Africa’s leading gallerists for contemporary artists and art collectors.

The Artfully Luxurious package includes two tickets to Zeitz MOCAA and privately curated half-day tour, a cocktail master class and a half-day excursion to the Lalela project to see the transformative power of art education in South Africa. Guests will also be treated to a five-course, wine-paired dinner at Nobu Cape Town. Rooms will be outfitted with an easel and acrylics so if guests feel inspired during their stay, they can take brush to canvas.

Vacheron Constantin Opens The Ginza Boutique

Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest Haute Horlogerie manufacture with almost 260 years of uninterrupted history, celebrated the grand opening of its first boutique in Japan on the prestigious main street of Chuo-dori, situated in Tokyo’s Ginza district.

This magnificent two-floor boutique is dedicated to technical and aesthetical Haute Horlogerie and decorated with a luxurious interior design in harmony with the brand codes, the entire range of the Vacheron Constantin collection including the three exclusive Ginza Boutique limited-edition timepieces was showcased. With more than 140 square meters, the two floors are filled with passion for watchmaking and its exquisite timepieces in elegant showcases welcomes watch enthusiasts and collectors, with the ground floor housing the boutique itself and the upper floor reserved for VIP. The sophisticated expressive and elegant interior design creates a warm, cozy atmosphere and aesthetic perfection. The classical beauty and contemporary feel represent the spirits of the brand.

The party suite at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong comes complete

Brought to life by award-winning, Hong Kong–based architect and designer Joyce Wang, the palatial suite welcomed its first jet-setters in late July. Creating the perfect backdrop to glittering parties and extravagant dinners, Wang chose a refined color palette of gunmetal grays, jade greens, and earthy tans for the décor, letting the well-heeled guests take center stage. In the suite’s living room, guests will find a serious upgrade to the traditional minibar—an entire wall devoted to a “Cabinet of Delights,” stocked with everything from fine Cuban cigars, sweet and savory snacks created by the property’s Michelin-star chef, boutique and rare wines, and a mixologist booth.

For parties that require more than light bites, the hotel’s chefs can be employed to prepare private dinners in the suite’s state-of-the art kitchen for guests to enjoy at the glam 10-seat dining table. Afterward, diners can dance the night away to sets spun by the city’s top deejays. If guests prefer mellower evenings, they can put on a vinyl record on the reconditioned 1930s-era American jukebox, or screen the latest movies on the living room’s concealed 160-inch screen.

Once the party winds down, they can crash in the tranquil master bedroom. Luxe details like embossed leather walls, hand-tufted silk rugs, and a deep soaking tub made from a single piece of marble (and complete with its own custom-designed Champagne caddy), ensure that guests have everything they need to catch up on much-needed R&R—and to feel fresh enough to revel the next night away.

The Long-Awaited Louvre Abu Dhabi is Finally Opening

Culture vultures have been waiting with baited breath for the arrival of the Louvre Abu Dhabi for years. The Middle Eastern offshoot of Paris’s beloved art institution was first rumored to open its doors in 2012. But the year came and went, as did the four years that followed, and by early 2017, it seemed the Jean Nouvel–designed structure might never see the light of day.

At long last, however, the Louvre Abu Dhabi has announced its grand opening: On November 11, the soaring silver dome on Saadiyat Island’s seaside promenade will make its long-awaited debut, giving travelers the perfect excuse for a winter sojourn to the Gulf.

The Louvre is just the beginning for Abu Dhabi’s ambitious Saadiyat Island, an estimated $27 billion isle that will eventually be home to Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Norman Foster’s Zayed National Museum, and the late Zaha Hadid’s Performing Arts Centre. The booming cultural district is already home to a pair of luxury hotels, the Rosewood Abu Dhabi and Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, both of which showcase extensive private art collections of their own.

One&Only opens Nature Resorts

Known for extravagance and stunning seaside location, One&Only Resorts is adding a whole new concept to its portfolio – the nature oriented accommodations.

The first two One&Only Nature Resorts are opening in Rwanda at the end of 2017. The One&Only Nyungwe House is set on the grounds of a working tea plantation in Gisakura, on the edge of the vast, protected Nyungwe National Park.

The park incorporates one of the oldest forests in Africa and provides a habitat for over 13 different species of primates and 75 species of mammals. One&Only Gorilla’s Nest is nestled in the foothills of the breathtaking Virunga volcano range. The resort will provide a luxurious home base for mountain gorilla treks.