What’s new worldwide? In Dubai, the ever-creative Tony Costa, President of CAESARS PALACE BLUEWATERS, above, has turned his somewhat-imposing lobby, with long static check-in and concierge desks, into a fabulous all-day lounge, Caesars. Dominated by a snake-shaped long sick-yellow velvet couch and a Sistine-type ceiling overhead, this venue is understandably popular with Russians and Ukrainians who happen to be staying in the hotel. It’s an ideal pop-to place for breakfast with Ruinart
In Israel, SIX SENSES SHAHARUT, in the Negev Desert, will have a city sibling. Tidhar Group entrepreneurs Gil Geva and Mobileye tycoon Arye Bachar are developing SIX SENSES TEL AVIV in 115-year Ahuzat Bayit heritage buildings and the forthcoming 41-floor Rothschild 10 Tower. Ten floors of the tower will hold the 140-key hotels plus 55 serviced residences. Interiors are by Orly Shrem. Opening 2025, the tower will dominate Tel Aviv’s White City area, which in 2003, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed a World Cultural Heritage site as “an outstanding example of new town planning and architecture in the early 20th century”. The hotel will of course have a magnificent spa, plus a Holistic Anti-Aging Center. Expect also Six Senses Place, a new kind of social and wellness community with dedicated space for reflection, growth, and reconnection. A sky pool on the 17th floor will house a cocktail lounge with a panoramic view of the Gush Dan area.
It’s amazing to Girlahead that neither Dubai nor Israel are included by Wendy Perrin in her list of the ten most-booked countries by US travellers who use her WOW system. For 2023. The booking list to date is headed by Italy. No surprise. Thereafter the list runs, two to ten in this order: United Kingdom, Australia, France, Japan, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, Ecuador (incl. the Galapagos Islands) – and Egypt. Now that, so old, country is surely new in such a list.
In each case, there are hotel visionaries. In UK, think Kit and Tim Kemp (hear her, below), through to the Sawiris brothers in Egypt. Vive those visionaries!
