Welcome back to The Check-In, your touchpoint for all things travel.
This week, across continents and even into orbit, luxury travel is still pushing boundaries. Six Senses swaps beachside calm for urban living in Milan, Preferred Hotels takes travellers on its first globe-spanning private jet journey, The Savoy demonstrates how heritage hotels can blend design and modern comfort and Kensington ventures into space with ultra-luxury expeditions.
-
Preferred Hotels Unveils Curated Global Escape by Private Jet
Preferred Hotels & Resorts has unveiled Legendary Journeys, the brand's first private jet itinerary, in partnership with Bucketlist Xperiences. The 17-night private jet itinerary will run from October 6-23, 2026, whisking guests between Singapore, India, Rwanda, Kenya, Greece, Morocco and London. The trip accommodates 29 couples and includes curated experiences such as gorilla trekking in Rwanda and sunset sailing in Santorini, with stays at properties within the Legend Collection and bespoke partner lodges. Throughout, a dedicated service team remains on hand to manage logistics, VIP airport access and organize personalized touches.
The launch speaks a growing trend in high-end travel: the fusion of transportation, accommodation and experiences into a seamless, highly curated narrative. The initiative follows Four Seasons’ Private Jet Experiences, which, in a very similar fashion, transports brand loyalists across multiple destinations while pairing exclusive excursions with stays at Four Seasons properties.
While the market is already dominated by established operators such as TCS World Travel and Abercrombie & Kent, whose private jet itineraries also emphasize adventure, wildlife and cultural immersion, it remains to be seen how a hotel-led approach, prioritizing brand alignment and curated luxury, will fare among seasoned operators who have long cultivated devoted clients.
-
Six Senses Expands Urban Collection with Milan Debut
Late 2026 will mark the arrival of Six Senses Milan, bringing the brand’s trademark focus on wellness and sustainability to the Italian city. The hotel will occupy a coveted address on Via Brera, just steps from the Pinacoteca di Brera and within walking distance of the Duomo.
Inside, 69 rooms and 16 suites will be crafted by Tara Bernerd & Partners, who will fuse Milanese craftsmanship with the contemporary Six Senses aesthetic. Expect arabescato marble, antique brass, hand-smoked glass and intricate mosaic details throughout.
Italy’s fast-paced fashion capital will become home to Six Senses’ second urban Italian hotel, following Rome, underscoring the brand’s expansion beyond its resort roots. The collection of city properties is growing quickly: Istanbul is already established, London is set to debut this year and projects are underway in Bangkok, Lisbon and Tel Aviv, all a clear signal of the brand’s push into cultural capitals as travelers increasingly seek restorative, spa-centered city escapes.
In Milan, that ethos will be brought to life through sky and indoor pools, a rooftop bar and a spa offering both high-tech therapies and holistic rituals. And, true to Six Senses' ethos, sustainability will be interwoven at every level, from construction materials and furnishings to an interactive Earth Lab and menus designed around local, seasonal produce.
-
Kensington Launches Kensington Expeditions
Kensington, the private luxury travel operator, has announced Kensington Expeditions, a new series of highly customized journeys spanning land, sea, air and, notably, space, promising to push ultra-luxury travel into adventurous, and literally other-world, territory.
Luxury itineraries span the globe, from a 12-day private superyacht expedition, travelling from Patagonia to Antarctica’s remote wilderness, to a luxury yacht experience through the Great Bear Rainforest looking for Kermode spirit bears, humpback whales and coastal wolves. Each expedition will be designed around immersive experiences with scientists, naturalists and cultural experts, alongside private logistics and 24/7 concierge support.
While luxury itineraries are nothing new, what is turning heads is the operator's space-focused offerings. With little information currently available, Kensington has suggested it will provide access to commercial space stations starting in May 2026, including sub-orbital trips, stays on the International Space Station and longer itineraries on a new station being launched next year, in partnership with a yet-to-be-named space innovator. Few further details have been confirmed, and the company says more information on partners, pricing and trip formats will be shared in due course.
-
The Savoy Reveals Terrace Suite in Ongoing Redesign
The Savoy has unveiled its Terrace Suite, the hotel’s only accommodation with outdoor space. Overlooking the Thames, it offers one of London’s rare riverside balconies, with views stretching across to the city’s glittering skyline. Interiors by G.A Group draw on the hotel’s Edwardian heritage, reinterpreted through a lens of contemporary luxury.
The debut forms part of the property’s wider redesign, which began with the launch of all-day restaurant Gallery and two boutiques, Scoff and The Florist at The Savoy, and will continue through 2027.
The refurbishment brings a much-needed refresh to the landmark, reimagining it for the modern traveler while preserving its historic character. The Savoy’s long-standing blend of Edwardian and Art Deco design is being carefully maintained, with original features such as fireplaces and cornices restored. Alongside these heritage details, modern comforts – from wireless charging and color-changing vanity mirrors to Dyson hairdryers in suites and bespoke yoga mats – ensure the hotel meets the expectations of today’s luxury guest.
