Italy

More than ever, travelers desire immersive experiences. To satisfy that craving, hotels are curating cultural environments, with art as a significant ingredient. Many local artists, galleries and museums now partner with hotels as a way to create a dialogue between destination and traveler. Whether it’s waking up to a celebrity portrait by the legendary Andy Gotts or a conversation with an artist-in-residence, guests depart with a resounding connection to place that goes beyond the traditional hotel experience.

In a career that spans almost 60 years, Japanese-Brazilian architect Ruy Ohtake has played a pivotal role in shaping the cityscape of his native Sao Paulo, counting more than 300 projects in the city alone. When Ohtake was handed the brief for Hotel Unique he faced one of his career’s greatest challenges: craft a design that will become a landmark.

At Kiwi Collection, Italy perennially places near the top of our most popular destination list. It doesn’t take an anthropologist to unpack the reasons, as it’s hard to beat the blend of culture, climate and cuisine that permeates its every corner.

With spring in the Northern Hemisphere air, it’s the perfect opportunity to take a look at some of Italy’s finest hotels, starting with a deep dive on the Eternal City. Read on, as we daydream of La Bella Vita in this week’s blog.

Millennials have earned scorn for their impact on a number of institutions. They’re killing soap, they’re disinterested in The Olympics, and they’re even guilty for declining fabric softener sales. While these accusations may or may not be true, this generation has also been earning plaudits for their love of experiential travel, a trend reflected in their eschewing of the stereotypical hard-drinking Spring Break vacation.

Instead, this week-long rite of passage is undergoing a renaissance, bolstered by the desire for more substantial vacations in more culturally rewarding locales. We’re all for this development, and this week on the blog we’re taking a look at seven destinations for a cultural Spring Break getaway.

Over the next four weeks, the world’s elite fashion houses occupy New York, London, Paris, and Milan to exhibit their designs for the coming year. For attendees, looking the part is a must, and Bo Derek had the right idea when she remarked, “Whoever said money can’t buy happiness, simply didn’t know where to go shopping.” In this week’s blog, we take her words to heart as we look at where the locals shop in each of the Fashion Week destinations, alongside some hotel inspiration.

Whether you’ve steadfastly maintained those resolutions or they’ve been consigned to the scrap heap, 2017 can still be the year to affect positive change. One of the most effective ways to kick start this process is a wellness vacation. Once considered niche, this industry has boomed over the last decade to encompass holistic spas, hiking getaways, weight management programs and even spiritual retreats. We take a look at 10 hotels that help guests cleanse and renew to work toward a new ending.

January has arrived with its associated resolutions. Right now, the only trip most of us are considering is a guilt trip directly to the nearest gym. However, a new year also provides an opportunity to reassess and improve one’s quality of life. One such avenue to explore is embarking on a slower pace of life—not unlike the takeaway from children’s story The Tortoise and the Hare. We take a look at seven hotels where a slower pace isn’t just encouraged, it’s impossible to avoid.