Restaurants are leaning into plastic plants, luxury brands expand into the transportation sector, and more hotels are offering mental health services. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Luxury hospitality makes moves in the transportation market
A suite in the La Dolce Vita Orient Express, which departs on its first journey next spring; photo by Patrick Locqueneux and courtesy of La Dolce Vita Orient Express
In a groundbreaking move reported by Forbes, Four Seasons is partnering with Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to expand its offerings to sea travel. Scheduled to sail in 2026, the Four Seasons yacht features 95 residential-style suites, 11 dining options, a wellness center, and a pool area in an experience that is designed to feel like a yacht rather than a traditional cruise. Four Seasons Yachts has 10 voyages in the pipeline, offering an opportunity to explore 130 distinct destinations across the globe.
In related transportation news, Travel + Leisure got a sneak peak inside the La Dolce Vita Orient Express, which will soon open its bookings for what may be the world’s most luxurious train journey. Paying tribute to Italy’s 1960s economic boom that gave way to more glamorous lifestyles, the lavish train features 12 deluxe cabins, 18 suites, and its signature La Dolce Vita suite, with a one-night itinerary starting at roughly $3,800 per person. Its first departures are slated for spring 2025.
The most innovative architecture companies of 2024
Architecture firm REX, which spearheaded New York’s Perelman Performing Arts Center, is recognized by Fast Company as one of this year’s most innovative architecture companies; photo by Iwan Baan
Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture list recognizes firms that are creating design and business standards that are changing the game in how the world gets built—from material sourcing and AI utilization to environmental impact and safety. On this year’s list are firms like ZGF for creating a sustainable timber supply chain; NBBJ for using architecture to reframe behavioral healthcare; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill for measuring and reducing the carbon footprint of buildings throughout their lifecycle; and HWKN Architecture for turning AI into an architectural supertool.
Restaurants are filling up with faux flowers
Image courtesy of Adobe Stock
Fake floral arrangements have taken the restaurant scene by storm in recent years, replacing the industry’s past fixation on Mason jars and cordless table lamps with a more maximalist style. The New York Times documents how Carlos Franqui, who started floral business Floratorium in 2014, became a trendsetter during the pandemic, adorning outdoor dining sheds with a signature style that mimics nature rather than a designed arrangement. While the new trend is polarizing—with some staunchly standing behind real plants and others accusing a faux flower restaurant of being purely Instagrammable—it’s an undeniably lucrative trade with Franqui making anywhere between $40,000 and $50,000 per project.
Hotels add psychotherapy to their wellness menus
Image courtesy of Adobe Stock
Vacationing at a luxury hotel typically means escaping your real-world problems, but increasingly, guests want more than a weekend of rest and relaxation—many are looking to check in with themselves and their mental health, according to Robb Report. Therapy is beginning to pop up on the menu of wellness offerings at hotels, with services like mental health retreats, marriage counseling, and even sessions with on-staff psychotherapists. Wellness resort New Life Portugal, for instance, provides treatments for anxiety, depression, grief, and relationships, in addition to traditional wellness experiences such as yoga, massage, and saunas.
Check out the DesignWell Pavilion and Social Hub at HD Expo!
The Hilton-crafted DesignWell Pavilion will host various sessions at this year’s HD Expo in Las Vegas; rendering courtesy of Sonny + Ash
Join us in Las Vegas at HD Expo + Conference (April 30th–May 2nd), where you can attend inspiring sessions at the DesignWell Pavilion and Social Hub, which are free for all registration types without prior signup. Designed by Hilton, the DesignWell Pavilion is an immersive space with soft-edge details and textured materials furnished with potted plants and an ocean-inspired carpet design. In addition to the interesting panel discussions, attendees are invited to relax with a spirit-free cocktail or enjoy a de-stressing hydro massage. Over at the Social Hub, Wimberly Interiors is imagining a space that delves into the fusion of AI and human creativity, emphasizing how harnessing both our physical and digital realities can push the boundaries of design. Register for HD Expo 2024 today!
