First things first – Happy Holidays. We hope that no matter what you celebrate, you’re spending time with loved ones. Because when all the chatter fades, this is all that matters. As for the year of 2025, there were the highs, and there were the lows. (Here’s looking at you, 50 Best Hotels). Of course, we’re open to debate, but one thing is certain: this was a bang-up year for the luxury hotels. Period. Here’s your rundown of the highs and lows of travel in 2025.
Orient Express La Minerva, Rome
A Little High-Brow, and a Little Deliciously Low
In perpetual motion, luxury travel delivered dazzling highs and some inevitable lows in 2025. One moment brought stunning new retreats and architectural marvels, while the next delivered challenges and debates to remind us that travel is an ever-evolving landscape. Here’s how the pendulum swung.
Luminara, Ritz-Carlton’s Latest Yacht
The Highlights
1. Ultra-Luxury Hotels
New high-profile hotels opened to set a new standard of luxury. The benchmark (six-star, anyone?) moves higher with Orient Express La Minerva (Rome), Cheval Blanc Seychelles, and One&Only Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, Montana.
2. Hotel-Branded Superyachts
Exclusive brands announced the expansion of their immaculate know-how to travel at sea. A slew of vessels are about to launch: Four Seasons Yachts (2026), Orient Express Sailing Yachts (2026), and Amangati (2027) will join the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (2022) as luxury hotels that set sail.
3. Saudi Throws Down the Gauntlet on Luxury Travel
Saudi showed us that they are serious about overtaking Dubai as the luxury hotel capital of the world. Some of the most stunning hotel openings, from the Six Senses AlUla to Habitas AlUla speak for themselves. Meanwhile, Sheybarah Island, once a remote stretch of the Red Sea, is being transformed into a large‑scale regenerative tourism destination.
4. New Museums
Overlooking Cairo’s Giza Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum (the world’s largest dedicated to a single civilization) is drawing crowds to catch a glimpse of King Tut’s treasures. On Saadiyat Island, Zayed National Museum and Natural History Museum round out a wave of cultural landmarks, beside the much-anticipated Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (opening 2026).
5. Set-Jetting and Live Event Tourism
From Jane Austen’s 250th birthday to The White Lotus phenomenon, location and screen tourism are having a moment, inspired by books, television, and films. An economic boost to local tourism known as “the Taylor Swift effect” continues: Bad Bunny, Formula One, FIFA World Cup 26, America 250, and the Route 66 Centennial.
Our Habitas AlUla, Saudi Arabia
The Lowlights
1. Tariff Wipeout
Canadians stayed away, and overseas inbound tourism to the US took a sharp dive as well. The damage was an estimated $12.5 billion, making a big impact on the nation’s businesses, jobs, tax revenues, and reputation.
2. Pay-to-Play Landscape
Restaurant goers may have another kind of reservation. US tourism boards are now providing hefty payouts to have their dining scene covered by the Michelin Guide. Some critics say the ranking system used by the “50 Best Hotels” has produced some “head scratcher” results.
3. Conservation Matters
A new safari camp (which shall remain unnamed here, but is a quick Google search away) has raised concerns that its location on the Sand River may compromise the Great Migration path. In Hawaii, the new “green fee” due to be levied on cruise lines is facing a legal challenge supported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
4. Wine Consumption Down
The knock-on effect of changing consumer preferences, rising costs, and Mother Nature means reduced visitation to Northern California wine country, as well as France and other wine tourism destinations.
5. Climate Change and Weather
Escalated by warmer seas, the intensity and destructive power of Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica hard. The result is a disruption to tourism – a major economic driver.
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FAQs
Q: Is the Orient Express La Minerva already open?
A: Yes, the Orient Express La Minerva is open and running as of April 2025.
Q: When did the Six Senses AlUla open?
A: Six Senses AlUla has not opened yet — it is scheduled to welcome guests in 2027. This year, Six Senses signed a management agreement with the AlUla Development Company, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Q: When did Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica?
A: Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025, as a Category 5 storm.
