In 2026, the global hotel pipeline appears poised to shift its universal luxury approach and adopt a more local, proper, and obsessive one. Brands are mining their specific patch of earth for stories, pulling up traditions and landscapes that cannot be faked or franchised. Baltic islands where Soviet neglect became accidental preservation. Cycladic cliffs where serious artists finally outnumber the infinity pools. Hotels that understand luxury means being particular, not just offering more.
The map looks different now. Mediterranean properties stopped their Miami Beach impression and remembered—wait—they actually invented this whole hospitality thing. Asian hotels quit the apology dance, pouring kaiseki with one hand and Negronis with the other, both equally correct. Private islands began discussing endemic species more than champagne labels. Even wine country and the Alps—not exactly suffering an identity crisis—figured out how to weave guests into working landscapes, rather than just parking them nearby with binoculars.
Something shifted in how the sophisticated travel the globe. They want hotels that teach them things, introduce them to ceramicists and farmers who aren’t seasonal imports. Properties that grasp the difference between privacy and isolation, between anticipating needs and hovering. Buildings that emerge from their hillside or shoreline like they grew there, not like they were helicoptered in from brand headquarters.
From Burgundy châteaux where you will literally sleep between the vines to Estonian retreats tuned to five-season rhythms, from Maltese palazzos that make you forget cruise ships exist to Patagonian lodges that treat silence as an amenity, the most interesting openings of 2026 are not just places to stay. They translate a very specific corner of the earth into something you can temporarily inhabit. That is the next chapter. Not more stuff. Just more truth.
Even if you don’t know Rita Hazan by name, you know her work. The New York City native has been behind the hair color transformations of some of the biggest pop stars since the late ‘90s, from Mariah Carey’s first foray into lighter locks (and eventual blonde makeover) for her 1997 album, Butterfly, to Jennifer Lopez’s post-Selena honey highlights and Katy Perry’s full range of rainbow colors. And then there’s Beyoncé, who first came to Hazan in 2013 and has been working with her ever since.
But Hazan’s impact in the beauty industry extends far beyond her impressive list of celebrity clients. In the male-dominated field of hair coloring, Hazan carved out her own path: First by developing a coloring technique that defied (and eventually set) trends, then with the opening of her namesake salon and product line. “I didn’t even think about it as a woman; I just really loved doing color,” Hazan tells Observer of what drove her to take risks. After attending beauty school at 17, Hazan immediately went to work at Oribe Canales’ legendary Fifth Avenue salon, where she assisted color director Brad Johns (whose clients famously included Christy Turlington and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy) through much of the ‘90s. “I got promoted, and that’s where I was doing a little bit different hair color. Brad was all about chunky, very golden highlights, and I went the opposite way of that,” Hazan says. “My family background is Egyptian and Jewish, and we like to be blonde, but we don’t like to be goldy,” she adds of what inspired her more seamless approach to blonde color.
By the early 2000s, Hazan’s work with Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Simpson had established her as the go-to colorist for pop It girls and up-and-comers alike. “If you wanted to create an image or change your look, you would come to me,” confirms Hazan. All the while, she was still busy at Oribe with her usual clients, one of whom first planted the idea of opening her own salon. “I was like, ‘Who the hell wants that headache?’” Hazan laughs. “But I told my client I’d think about it, and when I went home and said something to my mom, she said, ‘If you want to, just open your own place.’ So I did, and that was it.”
Rita Hazan Rita Hazan.
After establishing her Fifth Avenue salon as the place for A-listers and those in the know, Hazan developed her own product line, which most famously introduced the world to the first root cover-up spray (inspired by and developed for her clients as an at-home solution for grays in between color appointments). But after 20 years in the industry, Hazan was introduced to her most famous client to date: Beyoncé. “About 12 years ago, [hair stylist] Kim Kimble called me and was like, ‘Beyoncé wants to be blonde but her hair keeps turning orange, and I told her, Rita is the only person that’s going to get you the color that you want. Can you do her hair?’” Hazan recalls of the singer’s first visit to her salon. Hazan delivered, and the two have been working together ever since. The colorist is behind every Beyoncé hair look of the past decade, from her bright blonde at the 2015 Met Gala to her more dimensional, “sunwashed” color during the 2023 Renaissance tour.
“We’ll go back and forth on color ideas, but I’m always making sure it looks good for video and with movement—Beyoncé is flipping her hair and she’s up and down when she’s onstage, so every aspect of her hair has to look beautiful,” Hazan says of their collaboration process. “She also grew up in a hair salon, so she understands what’s possible and what’s not.”
This fall, Hazan is sharing her coloring expertise through open classes at her salon, now located on the Upper East Side. “I really like educating, and everybody is always asking me about going blonde without it getting damaged or brassy, so I’d like to do classes in the salon that are affordable and open to anybody who wants to come in,” she says. In between creating buttery blonde color for her clients (Hazan’s top trending color for fall), Rita Hazan spoke with Observer about her current essentials—from the red lip that’s become part of her everyday uniform to the at-home hair gloss with results so good, she uses it in the salon.
This is a roundup of news and other interesting pieces that I’ve come across over the last few days. I thought they are worth sharing so I hope you enjoy reading them.
Passengers of Alaska Airlines 1282 flight receive letter from FBI identifying them as victims of a possible crime
Passengers of the Alaska Airlines flight that was forced to make an emergency landing when a door panel fell off midair have received a letter from the FBI identifying them as victims of a possible crime. Flight 1282 was on its way from Oregon to California Jan. 5. with 177 people onboard when the incident occurred. The Federal Aviation Administration announced an investigation into Boeing days later. ➡️ Read more
Fontainebleau files counterclaim against Wynn
In a counterclaim against Wynn filed Tuesday in Clark County District Court, Fontainebleau Las Vegas LLC invoked The Eagles’ “New Kid in Town” to describe how it came to hire away at least eight executives. Wynn, on Feb. 29, had filed a lawsuit accusing Fontainebleau of interfering with contractual relations and prospective contractual relations by poaching Wynn employees that had noncompete clauses in their contracts. ➡️ Read more
Both of North America’s 5-star airport terminals are in NY/NJ, Skytrax says
The agency announced Tuesday that Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A was awarded a prestigious five-star rating by Skytrax, the preeminent industry ratings firm, following a detailed audit of its facilities, operations and provision of customer service. ➡️ Read more
Four Seasons Embarcadero Owners Default On Loan
Westbrook Partners, which acquired the property for the Four Seasons San Francisco at the Embarcadero in 2019, was served a notice of default this week that said it had not paid on its monthly loan since December and is currently behind by more than $3 million. ➡️ Read more
Best ways to get to Europe with miles or money
Europe has an undeniable allure for many travelers. Fortunately, it is quite probably the foreign continent with the greatest number of connections from North America, giving you a plethora of possibilities whether looking to use miles or money. It can still be tough to score an award ticket during peak travel periods, but if you have some flexibility in terms of which airline(s) you’ll fly, it should give you at least a few options even during peak times. ➡️ Read more
Airports Authority approves $9B contract for multiple projects at Reagan, Dulles
This week, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board of directors approved a 15-year contract that includes plans for potentially $9 billion worth of projects at the two airports it manages: Ronald Reagan National and Dulles International Airports. ➡️ Read more
Guru’s Wrap-up
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The high-rise home sits in the heart of a desirable Toronto district.
Barry Cohen Homes
A sophisticated blend of historic and au courant, Toronto’s Yorkville district conjures many adjectives: cosmopolitan, vibrant, fashionable.
What better perch to be at the center of the Ontario shopping and dining hub than a luxurious private residence at the Four Seasons? The 55-story glass-clad condominium tower, which opened a decade ago, contains more than 200 owner units―only a scant number of which are available for sale at any one time.
The main living areas open to terrace space.
Barry Cohen Homes
New to the market is a two-bedroom, three-bathroom residence with clean-lined contemporary décor by Jeffrey Douglas Interiors, known for styles that capture modern simplicity and contemporary elegance. Custom built-ins throughout the residence enhance the functionality of the living space.
Beyond the double-door entry is a foyer that opens to a light-filled corner living room. A recessed tray ceiling tops the space, which is lined with floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors that open to a terrace with skyline views.
The chic kitchen exemplifies the unit’s sleek design.
Barry Cohen Homes
The adjoining custom kitchen by Downsview features stainless-steel appliances, a marble backsplash and a center island with bar seating. The dining room sits off the other side of the living room. Light-toned floors unify the living spaces.
The primary bedroom suite is outfitted with a walk-in closet, flush built-in cabinetry and a five-piece bathroom containing an oversized shower, soaking tub and double sink.
The glass-clad tower rises to 55 stories.
Barry Cohen Homes
A gym, swimming pool, hot tub and spa are among the building’s amenities. The residence includes two parking spots.
A mix of stores and high-rise condos characterize Yorkville, an upscale shopping and dining area in … [+] downtown Toronto.
getty
Yorkville is a destination area known for its abundance of galleries, high-end boutiques and chic eateries. A mix of older Victorian homes and gardens add to its upscale charm.
Toronto Pearson International Airport is about 28 kilometers (17 miles) away from the Four Seasons.
Barry Cohen Homes is an exclusive member of Forbes Global Properties, a consumer marketplace and membership network of elite brokerages selling the world’s most luxurious homes.
Julian, CA, April 20, 2017 (Newswire.com)
– Julian, California is a historic gold mining town nestled in the mountains above San Diego, world-renowned for its delicious apple pie. But, this time of year, Julian has even more to offer than its quaint ambiance and delicious fare. It’s spring, and Julian is in bloom.
Like the rest of Southern California, Julian has benefited from this year’s exceptional rainfall and the village is awash in an unusually beautiful wildflower display.
“Anytime is a good time to visit Julian. But, with all our wildflowers in bloom, there is no time better than right now to come spend the weekend, be surrounded by our natural beauty, and take advantage of everything Julian has to offer.”
Ed Glass, President, Julian Chamber of Commerce
Often the first to announce Julian’s wildflower season are the daffodils. Popping up along the roadsides and in open fields throughout the township, Julian’s daffodils can be attributed to Sally Snipes, a local resident of Julian who, in 1990, began planting daffodil bulbs in honor of her father, Jack. Her gesture attracted the attention of other locals who joined her in planting daffodils all over Julian’s rural countryside, resulting in more than three million daffodils bringing “gold” back to Julian every year.
Daffodils are just the beginning of Julian’s wildflower display. Julian is also wrapped in both the fragrance and the color of lilac. The hillsides, valleys and orchards are resplendent in clusters of these light purple flowers made all the more dramatic against the plants’ rich green heart-shaped leaves. The delicate lily-of-the-valley is also a welcomed guest to the Julian wildflower season. Their tall, lanky shoots covered with white, bell-shaped blossoms are, for many, the definition of spring.
Julian’s wildflower display includes red bush monkey flowers, goldenrod, California wild rose, peonies, and any number of the nearly 900 flowering plants native to Julian and its surrounding geography. A celebration of all this beauty is scheduled for May 10-13th when the Julian Woman’s Club sponsors its 90th Julian Wildflower Show at the Julian Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The show is free to the public.
