Relais & Châteaux adds new members around the globe

In many parts of the world Relais & Châteaux is the "go to" guide for elegant accommodation.

The hospitality collection has just expanded its global portfolio with the addition of 10 new hotels, restaurants and a traditional Japanese ryokan in destinations across Europe, North America and Asia.

It says the latest members "reflect the association’s continued focus on exceptional hospitality, regional gastronomy and cultural heritage".The new additions span Portugal, France, Italy, Switzerland, the UK, Japan, Mexico and the US, news hub Travel Mole reports.

“Our association is committed to helping build a more respectful and sustainable world through hospitality and gastronomy,” said Laurent Gardinier, president of Relais & Châteaux. “It is an honour to welcome these new members, who share our values and passion for excellence.“

Among the newcomers is Verride Palácio de Santa Catarina (top image), in Lisbon, an 18-room boutique hotel housed in a restored 18th-century palace overlooking the Tagus River in the centre of the lovely Portuguese capital.

France gains two new members. La Maison des Cimes in Malbuisson is to open next month. It features eight guestrooms overlooking Lake Saint-Point with chef Matthias Marc returning to his native Jura region.

Megève Bois, meanwhile, offers an intimate alpine retreat with 13 rooms and suites, two restaurants, an extensive wine cellar and a mountain-inspired wellness spa.

Italy welcomes two additions. Masseria Aura Terrae in Puglia occupies an 18th-century estate surrounded by vineyards and olive groves overlooking the Adriatic Sea, while in Abruzzo, Relais Villa Corallo combines an 11-room country house with the Michelin-starred Zunica 1880 restaurant.

In Mexico City, the Quintonil Restaurant joins the collection while Japan’s historic Hiiragiya ryokan in Kyoto also becomes part of Relais & Châteaux. Family-owned since 1818, the 23-room property offers traditional kaiseki dining, tatami accommodations and authentic Japanese hospitality.

Other new members include Villa Florhof in Zurich, a restored 15th-century boutique hotel operated under the Lalique brand; Wilderness Reserve in Suffolk, England, offering luxury countryside villas, and The Nell New York, a 134-room luxury hotel scheduled to open in autumn 2027 at Rockefeller Plaza.

* Founded in 1954 in France, Relais & Chateaux is an international collection of independently owned luxury hotels and restaurants that now represents close to 600 properties across over 50 countries.

Vietnam gets set to open new international airport

Anyone flying into Ho Chi Minh City from December 1 might find themselves landing at a brand new airport.

Vietnamese authorities are preparing to open Long Thanh International Airport on December 1. 

This will set the stage for a gradual transfer of most international flights from Ho Chi Minh City’s overloaded Tan Son Nhat Airport, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The US$12.8 billion project is the largest and most expensive airport development in Vietnam’s history.

Located some 40km east of Ho Chi Minh City CBD in Dong Nai Province, Long Thanh is expected to become the country’s primary international gateway. 

State-owned Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), which is developing the airport, aims to establish Long Thanh as a regional transit hub capable of attracting long-haul connecting traffic that currently flows through airports such as Singapore Changi, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Kuala Lumpur International.

The airport will accommodate 25 million passengers annually during its first phase, with future expansions eventually increasing capacity to 100 million passengers per year. 

The first phase is primarily intended to relieve congestion at Tan Son Nhat Airport, which has operated beyond its designed capacity for years.

ACV has proposed a three-stage transition plan that would move more than 90% of Ho Chi Minh City’s international passenger traffic to Long Thanh in 2027.

From December, the airport will handle all long-haul international services, cargo operations, newly launched international routes and additional frequencies. 

Domestic operations will continue primarily from Tan Son Nhat. 

Arriva to deliver more options for European rail journeys

Train lovers will soon have more options in the Netherlands, Belgium and France with the imminent arrival of new services from continental heavyweight Arriva. 

The company is pressing ahead with plans to expand international rail services, unveiling proposals for new direct routes between the Netherlands, Belgium and Paris that could launch from February, 2028.

Arriva has businesses in 11 countries across Europe, including operating businesses in 10 countries and a rolling stock leasing company in Romania.

The operator has formally notified the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) of its intention to operate two additional international services linking The Hague and Amersfoort with Paris, news service Travel Mole reports. 

The filing is a required step before launching new open-access passenger rail services in the Netherlands.

If approved, the new routes would complement Arriva’s previously announced Groningen-Paris service, creating three direct rail links between the Netherlands and Paris.

The proposed The Hague-Paris service would operate three daily round trips. In the Netherlands, trains would call at Rotterdam and Roosendaal before crossing into Belgium. 

Stops would then include Antwerp, Brussels Airport, Brussels-South and Mons, before continuing to Paris.

A second route from Amersfoort would run twice daily via Utrecht, ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Breda. After entering Belgium, it would follow the same international corridor through Antwerp, Brussels Airport, Brussels-South and Mons before reaching Paris.

The services are planned to begin as soon as operational approvals, train paths and infrastructure access are secured.

The expansion is part of Arriva’s wider strategy to challenge incumbent international rail operators by offering more direct cross-border services. The company is positioning itself as an alternative to existing high-speed operators on one of Europe’s busiest international rail corridors.

Arriva is the largest competitor to Dutch state-owned rail operator NS in the regional rail market and has steadily expanded its international ambitions. 

The company already operates the Three Countries Train, linking Liège, Maastricht and Aachen, providing cross-border passenger services between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

New Dalat hotel takes its cues from history

Dalat is different to the rest of Vietnam. Cooler and calmer.

The city is about to get a new hotel that pays tribute to the city's French colonial heritage and the unique character of Vietnam's Central Highlands. 

Grand Mercure Dalat Resort is being promoted by Grand Mercure Hotels & Resorts as a place "where  where modern flair meets enduring traditions". 

Located close to historic Dalat Railway Station and the city's former French Quarter, Grand Mercure Dalat Resort aims to reflect the charm of 1920s French colonial residences. 

Set among pine trees and landscaped gardens, the resort comprises 12 French colonial-inspired villa-style buildings arranged around courtyards, with interiors inspired by the impressionist art of Claude Monet.

The resort features 131 rooms and suites with windows or balconies overlooking the surrounding pine forests and gardens. Room categories range from superior rooms and family premium rooms to the Presidential Suite. 

Dining options at Grand Mercure Dalat Resort will include Deux Amants Restaurant, showcases farm-to-table cuisine crafted with seasonal local ingredients, while BAO Asian Cuisine celebrates the culinary traditions of Guangdong and Sichuan. 

The 1929 Lobby Bar will offer afternoon teas, while Fleurie Café serves locally sourced coffee with freshly baked French pastries. As day turns to evening, Moon Lounge offers cocktails inspired by regional ingredients. 

There is an outdoor swimming pool and La Maison Wellness Spa for relaxing. 

Grand Mercure Dalat Resort aims to capture weddings, social gatherings, meetings and events. 

Garth Simmons from Accor Asia said: “Travel should foster a meaningful connection with the destination, allowing guests to discover its culture and way of life through engaging experiences. 

"We are proud to bring Grand Mercure to Dalat, a city whose French colonial heritage continues to shape its identity today." 

For more info see https://www.grandmercuredalat.com/ 

Westin to debut on the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is to gain another luxury hotel.

Marriott International has signed an agreement with Australian-based M Property for The Westin Gold Coast at Surfers Paradise, which will mark the brand's entry to the region. 

Expected to feature 138 keys, the new-build hotel is slated to open in late 2029.

Marriott already currently operates two resorts on the Gold Coast and has a further four properties in the pipeline. 

"The Westin Gold Coast represents a natural fit between brand and location, and we already see strong performance across our existing Westin portfolio, both in key domestic and international source markets for the Gold Coast," said Tristan Cooper, Marriott International's Director of Hotel Development, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific.

"We are excited to welcome Westin to the Gold Coast and introduce a genuine point of difference to the market." 

The hotel is expected to occupy levels one to 15 of the new-build mixed-use development, with 115 premium guest rooms and 23 suites offering views of the Pacific Ocean or Gold Coast hinterland. 

The hotel is expected to feature a signature restaurant and bar, conference and meeting facilities, an infinity pool and pool bar, a fitness studio and the brand’s signature Heavenly Spa by Westin. 

Discover Shanghai's new cultural landmark

Shanghai is preparing to unveil one of the world’s most ambitious new cultural landmarks with the Shanghai Grand Opera House to officially opens its doors on October 17, 2026.

Designed by Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta in partnership with the East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI), the striking waterfront venue is expected to become a centerpiece of Shanghai’s cultural tourism offering and a new architectural icon along the Huangpu River, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The opening marks the culmination of a decade-long project that began when Snøhetta won an international design competition in 2016.

The opera house has been conceived as much more than a performance venue. It combines world-class performing arts facilities with expansive public spaces, creating a civic destination that welcomes visitors throughout the year, whether or not they are attending a show.

At the heart of the building are three state-of-the-art auditoriums designed to accommodate productions of varying sizes and genres. 

The main auditorium seats 2,000 guests and is equipped to host grand opera, ballet, musicals and symphony concerts. It is complemented by a flexible 1,200-seat theatre and a 1,000-seat venue for experimental performances, chamber music and community events.

One of the building’s defining features is its dramatic spiral roof, which rises from the surrounding park to create a publicly accessible promenade. It will be open 24 hours a day year-round, so visitors can walk to the rooftop for sweeping views of the Huangpu River. 

A diverse program is expected to showcase opera, ballet, orchestral music, theatre and contemporary performing arts, with additional details to be announced closer to opening.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see this remarkable project approaching its opening,” said Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, founding partner of Snøhetta.

“Watching such an ambitious vision become reality has been special. Soon, the building will belong to the people of Shanghai and its visitors, whether they come to experience a performance or simply enjoy the building and its surrounding park. I hope it will become a place that inspires, brings people together, and stands as a new landmark for the city.“