Every industry has had to chart a new course post-COVID19 to maintain relevance in today’s world of rapidly changing trends and high uncertainty. The luxury industry may have perhaps been hit harder than any other industry, but it is definitely not going down without a fight, or even going down at all.
Eager to make up for revenue in the post-pandemic world, top-tier hotels and resorts are adopting creative ways to attract customers. Here are 5 properties who are not only promising style and luxurious comfort, but are also offering guests the option of private transportation to their facilities.
This eight-suite hotel and alpine club in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, reopened on June 25 with a new package that allows guests unprecedented access to the beautiful, remote surroundings.
Caldera House partnered with Indagare to create a four-night experience that showcases some of the American West’s most stunning landscapes and animals, all with socially distanced luxury.
The package starts with round-trip private charter flights to the hotel, which is located in charming Teton Village. Once guests arrive at the resort, they can choose from either a two- or four-bedroom suite. Regardless of size, the kitchen can be fully stocked upon arrival.
Daily activities include spending a morning in Grand Teton National Park to scout for wildlife, a tour of Jackson Hole’s geological history, and horseback riding at Diamond Cross Ranch, where views encompass incredible vistas of the Teton Range.
The oversized suites are a welcome — and private — respite at the end of the day. Amenities include soaking tubs, patios with fire pits, dining rooms and even home theatres. Spa services, like a 90-minute deep tissue massage, can even be arranged en-suite.
Four Seasons Resort, Lanai, Hawaii
For travellers comfortable with a potential quarantine in the tropical paradise (Hawaii’s mandatory 14-day quarantine for arriving passengers is to remain in place until September 1), a stay at the tony Four Seasons Lanai may be one of the best options around.
The resort, located on one of the most unspoiled Hawaiian Islands, is currently including private air transfers on Lanai Air from Honolulu to the hotel for all bookings made by August 31 (for arrival by January 4). In addition, the hotel is also partnering with luxury travel agencies like Protravel International to secure private jets for their clients arriving to Honolulu, making the entire journey both seamless and secure.
As soon as guests land, they’ll be greeted by a hotel representative, who will ferry them by Tesla or Mercedes to the resort.
Once there, relaxation is paramount: Guests can choose to relax in the sun next to the lagoon-style pools, wander through the colourful botanical gardens, or get a pineapple-scented Lanai Tai scrub at the on-site Hawanawana spa.
For the more adventurous, however, there’s a Jack Nicklaus-signature golf course built around natural gorges, two tennis courts, and an archery and shooting range.
But it would also be quite tempting just to listen to the waves from your bedroom. For the ultimate in privacy, book the Alii Royal Suite. At nearly 4,000 square feet, it’s bigger than most houses and includes a media room, a library, and three oversized balconies that look out over the ocean.
The Ocean Club, A Four Season Resort, Bahamas
There are many definitions of luxury, but one of them is certainly letting someone else do all the work. That’s exactly the goal of this Bahamian resort’s Jet to Villa package, where those lucky enough to experience it pretty much only need to pack their bags.
The journey begins when a town car picks up guests at their home and delivers them to a NetJets private plane. Upon touchdown at the Nassau airport, another waiting car delivers them to the hotel, where their private butler is waiting to escort them to their beachfront villa residence.
For a true home-away-from-home experience, guests can book a three- or four-bedroom villa, which includes a private infinity-edge pool, outdoor lounges and a full kitchen.
But don’t worry, there’s no obligation to cook: the package also includes catering from the on-site DUNE restaurant, from famed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
Visitors should note, however, that to enter the Bahamas, they must present proof of a negative Covid-19 test from no more than 10 days prior. As of July 13, the country is in Phase 3, which allowed for the reopening of attractions, excursions and tours to visitors.
Opening on July 22nd, the hotel can help arrange private jets (either shared with other guests or fully private) on their most-used international routes – London, Paris, Moscow, and New York and then upon arrival, a waiting car will transport travellers to the cliffs of the Mediterranean Sea where the property is located.
Once there, wellness visits can be as short as four days, or as long as 14, but the overall goal is to “recover general well-being and disconnect in an ideal environment.”
The team of on-site professionals works with guests to do everything from creating a personalized meal plan to consulting on Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments.
And, of course, the spa services here are unparalleled: During their stay, guests might experience underwater massage, cryotherapy sessions, enzyme facial treatments, and an entire hydrotherapy circuit of different baths. You might need two weeks just to test them all out.
Currently, travel to Spain is restricted from the USA, but Europeans and citizens from approved countries are allowed entry.
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, Mexico
This hotel, located at the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, is already incredibly remote: the only way to access it is through the privately owned Dos Mares tunnel.
But their new package, in partnership with Schubach Aviation, makes arriving there an even safer affair. The Private Passport to Pedregal includes round-trip private transfers from anywhere in the US to Cabo San Lucas’s International Airport, as well as private terminal and customs clearance upon arrival.
The seven-night package also includes a stay in a two-bedroom ocean-view suite, which features a private plunge pool, a personal concierge, butler service, and – most fun – chips, guacamole and Mexican beer delivered to your room daily.
The hotel can also arrange for nearby off-site activities like a sunrise standup paddleboard session at the famed Land’s End, 4×4 excursions into the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, and swimming with 40-foot-long whale sharks.
Baja California reopened to travellers on June 15, but note that a temperature check and completing a health screening questionnaire are required upon airport arrival. Cases of COVID-19 are also on the rise, even though the country remains open to visitors; exercise caution and follow safety procedures if you plan to travel there.
Source: CNN Travel