20Views 0Comments
Take a look inside Condé Nast Traveller’s Points of View 2025 summit
For the second year in a row, Condé Nast Traveller released its list of the UK’s top travel specialists – the people we trust most when it comes to advising us on travel plans, booking our trips and making certain we get insider access, those impossible restaurant reservations and the ultimate immersive experiences we will remember for years to come. These top specialists gathered at the all-new Chancery Rosewood in London for our second annual Points of View summit – a day of fascinating debate and discussion with some of the most exciting minds working in travel and hospitality today. What trends are shaping travel in 2026 and beyond? How can luxury brands stand out among growing competition? How will AI influence the way we book, experience and think about travel? These were just a few of the invigorating topics touched on during the day.
On Friday 7 November 2025, select guests were invited to a pre-summit private breakfast with Divia Thani, CN Traveller’s global editorial director, and Stefan Leser of Adeera Hospitality, which has plans to launch several hotel brands across Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
Over delicious eggs and ful mudammas (fava beans cooked with olive oil, cumin and topped with lemon juice, parsley and tomatoes), our specialists were given a sneak peek into Adeera’s ambitious plans to create a homegrown hospitality brand built on highlighting the local community and culture. By 10am, the Chancery Rosewood’s beautiful Pavilion was full of travel insiders, and the summit kicked off.
The trends shaping travel in 2026
First up was a conversation about what will shape our travels in the coming year. Condé Nast Traveller’s digital director Sarah Allard led a panel of experts in identifying the key destinations, focuses and motives for high-end travellers in 2026. Jules Maury, head of Scott Dunn Private; Jenny Southan, founder of Globetrender; James Wallman, CEO of World Experience Organisation, and Reema Almokhtar, tourism communications and industry partnership senior director at Red Sea Global, discussed how off-season travel is becoming increasingly popular, with people also considering the potential impact of hot weather on your experiences. Southan mentioned cool-cations to Scandinavia; Asturias in northern Spain instead of Barcelona, etc. See our guide to off-season Italy.
They also discussed how the sustained impact of film, television and music on those choosing destinations, and a shift in traveller’s mindsets from sightseeing to storytelling. People world over are seeking more intentional travel, paired with contributing to society and participating in cultural events. Maury spoke of sustained travel to Japan and to the US, especially with the country celebrating 250 years in 2026, and Route 66 celebrating 100 years. Wallman spoke of the danger of over-designing a trip: “When we make it too easy, we design out the fun. Friction is important.” Almokhtar emphasised how resorts at the Red Sea are all designed for multigenerational trips, allowing for people to come together at moments but also have separate experiences during their stays that cater to different ages and interests.
How to create a hospitality brand people will return to
Next up, CNT’s features editor Olivia Squire sat down with Martin Kuczmarski, former chief operating officer at Soho House Group and now the restaurateur behind Mayfair’s hotspot, The Dover. They touched on everything from the importance of face-to-face interaction with customers and consumers, the need for creative spaces for communities to congregate, and how independence and individuality is more key than ever. “It’s not about just writing a new chapter, but writing a new book,” Martin told Olivia about his hopes for his new career, which was driven by wanting to return to an older, elegant take on hospitality. “I asked myself, ‘Why are there no tablecloths [at restaurants] anymore? Why aren’t there candles? Why am I being told I have to leave my table at 8pm? Where is the kind, generous service?’ I wanted to do something classic and simple.” He also talked about how he ended up hiring Milan-based Quincoces-Dragò & Partners to help design the space – expressly because they had never worked on a restaurant or hotel before. “They thought I was crazy – but they agreed to do it!”
Standing out in the luxury world
Finding a way to cut through the noise and stand out is a constant concern for those in the luxury industry. For the third talk of the day, CNT’s global editorial director, Divia Thani, spoke to people who know a lot about what luxury consumers are seeking – and how to satisfy them. James McBride, CEO and co-founder of Nihi, spoke of how some of his top customers from his days running the Carlyle in New York had stumbled on the island of Sumba decades ago. “It was a surfers’ paradise,” he said, “but I had no idea where it was – I had to Google it.” Today, Nihi Sumba, an hour’s flight from Bali in Indonesia, draws everyone from tech barons to Hollywood stars. “We keep evolving,” he said, speaking of new experiences available at the resort, including a spa safari and horse reiki.
Meanwhile, Michael Bonsor, managing director of The Chancery Rosewood, talked about how London’s most talked-about new hotel really delivers on the promise of providing a sense of place. Previously the American embassy building, the hotel now boasts an impressive art collection featuring both British and American artists, and an art concierge who can take guests on tours. Everything from the music curation to the bathroom amenities is meant to highlight the history and culture of London. Helen Brocklebank, CEO of Walpole, concurred: “No matter their age, what we are seeing in luxury consumers is a desire for true luxury – they want to know what the story is behind it, the background, what’s special about it. The authenticity is important, as is the craftsmanship, and a sense of experience and discovery. It’s about selling a dream.”
