The resort report: what's new in the hotel world
ANN RUPPENSTEIN
Checking out the latest hotel and resort news from fresh renovations to brand new or upcoming properties to inspire your clients’ travel plans.
The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara in Zambia has revealed new Livingstone Junior Suites spanning 560 square feet. The classically furnished suites, which are accentuated with local designs, offer views of the Zambezi River. Set amid the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, the hotel offers clients unlimited access to Victoria Falls and is surrounded by savannah.
Nayara Gardens in Costa Rica has completed a major transformation. The renovations at the first property by Nayara Resorts saw all accommodations levelled and rebuilt as Arenal Casitas with individual decks and plunge pools surrounded by rainforest. Also new is the resort pool and adjacent restaurant, a boutique selling artisan goods, the spa and an on-site family education centre. Notably, the property is a sloth sanctuary.
Guests at Nayara Gardens have full access to sister properties Nayara Springs and Nayara Tented Camp with their additional restaurants, bars, pools, hot springs, yoga pavilions. Since Nayara Springs is adults only, children must stay at Nayara Gardens and Nayara Tented Camp.
Club Med Cancún is set to undergo significant renovations to its wellness and family spaces to create a premium offering. The improvements will see the addition of a sports & wellness island with a yoga palapa plus facilities for archery, bocce ball, mini golf, multi-sport courts, and the Circus School by Club Med, set to be completed by April.
Meanwhile, a dedicated Family Oasis and Children’s Clubs will be located next to the pickleball courts and Aguamarina family section, which features family suites, a dedicated pool and kids bar, is set to be completed by December. The Kids Club with new play facilities like a themed splash park, water park, mini pool & playground is relocating next to the family section to minimize travel distance from family accommodations. Club Med Cancún will remain open throughout the renovations.
The St. Regis Red Sea Resort in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is now open. The property Ummahat Island in the Al Wajh Lagoon is the first private island to open in The Red Sea.
Accessed by chartered boat or seaplane from the newly opened Red Sea International Airport, The St. Regis Red Sea Resort features a collection of 90 beachfront and overwater villas, offering one-to-four-bedroom accommodation, each with a private pool, sundeck and outdoor shower.
The luxury resort has five distinct culinary venues each offering alfresco beachside dining and serving produce sourced from local farms and fishermen. Restaurants include Gishiki 45, features an enticing Japanese-inspired menu, and Tilina, an overwater grill serving prime cuts infused with local spices and ingredients.
The resort offers a variety of fitness and wellness activities including a fully equipped gym, an outdoor lap pool and vitality pool, paddle and tennis courts, sunrise and sunset yoga, personal training sessions and nutritional consultations.
Six Senses Wadi Safar is set to open in 2026 with a location 25 miles from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and 15 minutes northwest of the city. The property will feature 80 guest rooms spread across five clusters on top of a hill with panoramic views over the surrounding valley.
This latest Six Senses project forms part of a 23-square-mile gated Wadi Safar community, a secluded, discreet, and peerless lifestyle destination for Saudi society and international visitors. Guest accommodations at Six Senses Wadi Safar will extend across 49 acres and the Six Senses Spa will feature treatment rooms, a hammam, a salon, a gym and studio, and a separate yoga studio. From yoga programs, signature massages, and biohacking tools to multi-day retreats and brand standards such as Sleep With Six Senses and Eat With Six Senses, there will be a variety of offerings available to suit different interests.
