Holiday Inn owner IHG boosts dividend and buyback amid continued growth February 18, 2025 Holiday Inn owner IHG has announced the purchase of its 20th brand and a boost to shareholder returns as it benefits from the revived travel market. IHG has soared as travel has returned after the pandemic, with early estimates for 2024 suggesting the hotel industry has finally surpassed 2019’s revenue. The Windsor-headquartered company told markets [...]
‘The James Bond actor was a disaster on skis’: inside the private life of 007 in the Swiss Alps February 11, 2025 Whenever I go skiing, I hum the James Bond theme tune and imagine I’m being chased down the mountain by baddies. And it is for this reason I sought out a chalet fit for a Bond villain in the Swiss hamlet that Roger Moore called home. Crans-Montana has always been an elite destination for those [...]
7 incredible places for food and wine in South Africa January 30, 2025 A culinary cruise around South Africa, with our restaurant columnist Martin Williams As a restaurateur, January is the perfect time of year to take a holiday; exhausted from the efforts put in to maximise Christmas business. As an entrepreneur with M, and whilst leading Gaucho, it’s a period when, after setting objectives for the months [...]
A ski holiday in Val d’Isere is the hippest way to do the French Alps January 28, 2025 Val d’Isere has always felt hip, but a new design hotel is upping the stakes, finds Adam Bloodworth Think of a ski holiday in the Alps and a certain image springs to mind. That of impossible wealth, of royals and oligarchs resplendent in furs, of Hooray Henrys from the King’s Road necking jeroboams of rosé, [...]
At 1 Hotels, luxury means something different January 18, 2025 As 1 Hotels prepare for their biggest rollout of openings, Adam Bloodworth explores the brand’s intriguing formula Sure, you can have a great dinner, and yep, the spa’s so nice you could easily pop in for an hour but end up spending the whole afternoon. But it isn’t an obvious type of luxury that appeals [...]
I did avalanche training so I could ski more January 13, 2025 What do an ex Royal Marine, a former police inspector and a Network Rail team leader have in common? They all recently passed the Ski Club of Great Britain reps course. I joined this trio and 32 others from all parts of the UK to undertake an intense 12-day programme in Tignes, France to become [...]
Best London hotels: eat in the room that inspired the Titanic January 4, 2025 Fitz’s Russell Square at the Kimpton Fitzroy London hotel was designed by architect Charles Fitzroy Doll as a prelude to the Titanic Out of the 21 five-star hotels in London (I know, there are far less than you’d think) it’s often the same ones that get the attention. Claridge’s, The Ritz, The Dorchester and The Savoy rightly win [...]
The OWO London’s Mauro Colagreco: Raffles chef on the trends that will define 2025 January 2, 2025 Argentinian chef Mauro Colagreco, of Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The OWO, runs the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Mirazur on the French Riviera. He has restaurants in China, Thailand, Argentina and Japan, as well as the flagship restaurant at The Old War Office hotel on Whitehall in London. The Old War Office – known as the OWO [...]
Inside The Berkeley’s rooftop pop-up with Winter Wonderland views December 31, 2024 Winter Wonderland without having to actually go: the rooftop pop-up at The Berkeley has more to offer than moreish Swiss raclette…. The Berkeley hotel overlooking Hyde Park has launched an immersive ‘ski gondola dining experience’ with an après-ski inspired sharing menu, views over Winter Wonderland and decor including actual ski gondolas to transport you to [...]
James Bond film Goldfinger at 60: we take an Aston Martin to the Swiss filming locations December 28, 2024 Goldfinger is the very best Bond film, and there’s no arguing with Adam Bloodworth about it. The lifelong Fleming fan celebrates the film’s 60th by taking an Aston Martin for a spin through Switzerland for City AM The Magazine. Photos by Tobi Stidolph There’s a secret to cracking the reservedness of the Swiss – take [...]