At Atlas , we have set a new c ourse fo r exp e di tio n c r uise travel , curate d fo r spiri te d explo re rs , le d by expe r t guides , and enhanc e d by a genuine and c aring crew who share a desire to c onne ct with pe ople, plac es , and our cherishe d natural world Fro m b old ad ve ntures in the A rc tic and A ntarc tic a to Cul tural and E picurean E xp e di tio ns year- round , travele rs retur n to our luxur y yac hts to savo r m o m e nts well - live d amo ng new frie nds in a rela xe d , après exp e di tio n atm osphe re
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final descent
Follow These 14 Steps to Create the Life You Love
Millennials and Gen Zers Seek
The Consequences of Home Ownership Becoming Increasingly Difficult to Attain
OF
Failure to Acknowledge Negative Emotions Can Have Serious Consequences
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52 ONLY BY SEA
Explore Some of the World’s Most Extraordinary Hidden Corners by Private Yacht Charter 56 LIVING FOR GOLF
Communities Around the World That Combine Luxury Real Estate with Top-Tier Courses
62 LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
Brad Pitt continues to set the pace as a Hollywood frontrunner in “F1.”
68 MAKING PRIVATE AVIATION SEAMLESS Bitcoin, Smart Contracts and Blockchain Technologies Streamline the Travel Experience 70 MILAN’S MOMENT
Italy’s Rediscovered Second City is Poised to Host the 2026 Winter Olympics
76 PENTHOUSES THAT STAND APART
How Hotels are Elevating Their Top Accommodations
Summer has arrived — all heat shimmer, jet fumes, and the delicious promise of playful escape. At Jetset, we don’t simply embrace the season, we charter it. This red-hot issue is your first-class ticket to a summer well-lived, with just the right amount of SPF and sizzle.
Let’s start with our cover icon: Brad Pitt. Still impossibly cool at 61, he’s traded the Hollywood hills for Monaco’s hairpin turns. In F1: The Movie, Pitt goes full throttle — one global superstar in a fire suit hitting nearly 200 mph on real Grand Prix tracks. The result? A cinematic adrenaline rush that pushes IMAX immersion to new heights.
Speaking of personal flight paths — ever dreamed of soaring through the sky with the freedom of a hawk and the flair of a Bond villain? In “Addictingly Fun,” we dive into the rise of personal eVTOLs. These aren’t toys — they’re status symbols with propellers. These electric marvels are already making history and giving “commuter lane” a whole new meaning.
Prefer your thrills a little more…grounded, but no less glamorous? In “Living for Golf,” we jet to the world’s most decadent golf destinations where tee times come with a side of real estate envy. From New Zealand’s reimagined The Hills to the tequila-sipping, wave-riding playground of Cabo Real Surf Club, these aren’t just places to play — they’re places to belong.
Our most elegant read this issue? “Milan’s Moment.” Often overlooked in Italy’s glittering family of cities, Milan is stepping into its starring role. With the 2026 Winter Olympics on the horizon, this metropolis is staging a renaissance — one that’s as architectural as it is emotional.
In “Botanical Beverages,” mixology goes green. From Paris to Baja, the world’s top bartenders are crafting drinks that taste like a garden in bloom (with a whisper of gin, naturally).
All of it — from Pitt’s piston-fueled reinvention to the scent of wild mint in a glass — celebrates our central theme this summer: luxury in motion. Whether you’re racing, swinging, sipping, or sailing, this issue is your companion to doing it all beautifully — and barefoot, where possible.
So buckle up, tee off, or simply pour something botanical and bold. Summer, like Brad Pitt at full speed, waits for no one.
With warm regards,
Darrin Austin
CEO/Publisher, Jetset Magazine
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Addictingly FUN
Personal Electric Flying Machines Take to the Air—No Pilot’s License Required
BY JESSE WINTER
Film’s most beloved naval aviator, “Maverick” Peter Mitchell played by the legendary Tom Cruise once said, “I feel the need, the need for speed.” Maverick’s unapologetic love of flying, and flying fast, in the 1986 film Top Gun is the same feeling motivating many first-time pilots. However, flying your own aircraft historically meant getting a private pilot’s license and spending months at flight school and an airfield—a commitment many VIPs do not have time for in their busy lives.
Fortunately, electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) are making it easier than ever to experience the freedom of the open skies. Personal eVTOLs, like Pivotal Aerospace’s Helix and Jetson’s Jetson One, do not require a pilot’s license, given their ultralight classification. The best part is that these aircraft are light, easy to fly and, according to
testimonials and numerous YouTube videos, addictingly fun.
The Helix and Jetson One both hit about 63 mph and fly hundreds of feet in the air. Yet, these aircraft are not really the flying cars promised in science fiction. These nimble, electric flying machines are more akin to a flying WaveRunner or jet ski than a flying car from Star Wars or Blade Runner. They are built for the pure thrill of flying.
In December 2024, Jetson’s sleek, one-seater ultra-light eVTOL showcased its agility in a series of flight demonstrations. The Jetson One bolted around pylon obstacles, simulating what an eVTOL race could very well look like in the future. According to the company, the obstacles were configured to test pilot skill and machine precision. Video showed the aircraft following one another around the course, their blades churning out a sound resembling a cadre of attack helicopters.
The Jetson One is perfectly equipped for this type of recreational flying. Its aluminum frame and the black-and-white color scheme shown on the company’s website can best be described as sleek and aggressive. The large blades attach to the body of the aircraft—what Jetson calls a race car-inspired spaceframe. This aircraft, with its open cockpit, comes with autolanding and hands-free landing systems. And, while the range is limited to twenty minutes, the aircraft is capable of taking on spare batteries instead of waiting for a full charge.
If the Jetson One has the spirit of a race car, then Pivotal’s Helix is its eccentric counterpart. It is an aircraft that can easily be mistaken for a UFO or one of the bulky drones that made headlines flying over the skies of New Jersey back in 2024. The closed canopy and quiet motors offer an intimate flying experience for the pilot; a digital control panel and joystick with fly-by-wire controls make it easy to fly, Pivotal said.
The Helix is designed to fit into a sixteen-foot road trailer where it can be brought to a field or flat surface and flown. Assembly from a trailer, notes Pivotal, will take around thirty minutes. It takes about seventy-five minutes to charge using a high voltage charger used in many EVs. Moreover, according to Pivotal, owners will be able to bring their aircraft back to the company at a future date where they can purchase battery upgrades.
The company provides training that covers everything from ground school, simulator training sessions and supervised flight training to a gradual assumption of full responsibility. The first solo flight will last about ninety seconds, the second one three minutes, and the third further increases training based on the individual’s operational skill as a pilot. According to Pivotal, the company advocates recurrent training to ensure pilots are proficient and knowledgeable of the aircraft. They are even working on a desktop simulator of the aircraft.
“It’s an invitation to experience flight on your own terms,” a Pivotal spokesperson told Jetset
TRAINING, SAFETY
Critically, Pivotal and Jetson will provide the training and technological support to ensure the aircraft is safe and operational. Both the Helix and Jetson One possess flight controls that can be learned with proper training, according to both companies. Best yet, they are built around technology assisting with the flying. Glancing inside these aircraft, the flight controls look more like the mix of a flight simulator and the screen you would find inside a luxury EV compared to the crowded cockpit of an airplane or helicopter.
These aircraft are also built with a range of safety features. This includes ballistic parachutes and design redundancy, meaning that if one motor fails, the other electric motors are capable of safely bringing the aircraft to a safe landing. Inside the Helix, notes Pivotal,
“It’s an invitation to experience flight on your own terms.”
a diagnostic monitor will check the health of the aircraft in real time. Moreover, the Jetson comes equipped with hands-free hover and emergency functions.
However, any new technology inevitably has shortcomings. These eVTOLs have a limited range. In the Helix’s case, a seventy-fiveminute charge will get you forty-five minutes of flight time. The Jetson One boasts a flight time of twenty minutes. Moreover, they are also designed to fly in uncongested airspace in pristine weather. Unless you live on a ranch or own vast acres somewhere remote, these aircraft will have to be transported on a trailer. Pilots will also have to rely on clear skies and low wind speeds of no more than twenty miles per hour.
But, even with their limitations, these eVTOLs represent a new pathway into recreational aviation. Becoming a pilot has always meant undergoing the long process of licensing and flight school—endless hours spent at a small airport flying a small plane or helicopter.
Ultra-light eVTOL aircraft simply require some training and a beautiful day to fly.
Pivotal and Jetson’s aircraft are available to be ordered now. The Helix’s base price starts at $190,000 while the Jetson is priced at $92,000. Both companies have reported strong interest in their aircraft with the delivery time of the Pivotal potentially extending in 2026, according to Pivotal’s website. Jetson’s delivery time of their eVTOL extends into 2027, according to its website.
And, for those who do not aspire to fly their own eVTOL, air taxi services will soon be shuttling passengers. One such company,
Joby Aviation, recently announced air taxi services in the New York and Los Angeles areas. But, for now, eVTOLs are for the aviation enthusiasts and aspiring pilots who wish to channel their inner Maverick—because who needs a new Porsche when there’s a flying machine waiting in the garage?
“It gives you a profound experience of joy,” Jetson co-founder Peter Ternström told CNET in an interview. “It’s fun, so much fun.”
, RefreshedROME
The Eternal City Has Been Transformed for Its Jubilee Celebration
BY LAYNE RANDOLPH
Rome is calling in 2025, and it has never been more captivating. The 2025 Holy Year, known as the Jubilee, is a significant event in the Catholic Church. It marks a time of spiritual renewal and celebration and offers a chance to witness the Eternal City in its most splendid and reimagined form.
Pope Francis has named the 2025 Jubilee “Pilgrims of Hope,” but the city uses “Rome is Transforming” for the extensive years-long renovations that have taken place around the city. In a city that was built out over millennia, significant transformations are rare, but spurred by the Jubilee, new pedestrian areas like Piazza Pia, which can hold 150,000 people, replaced one of the most congested traffic areas into a wide pathway from Castel Sant’Angelo to St. Peter’s Basilica. Landmarks like Trevi Fountain, Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers, the Neptune Fountain and Fontana del Moro have been restored in time to welcome approximately 30 million pilgrims to the Eternal City this year.
To give a sense of the type of history we’re dealing with, Pope Boniface VIII initiated the first Holy Year in 1300, and in 1475, Pope Sixtus IV commissioned Michelangelo to create the Sistine Chapel for that year’s Jubilee. Today’s pilgrims will flock to Rome seeking indulgence and forgiveness through the sacred entrances to the city’s four major papal basilicas: St. Peter’s, San Giovanni in Laterano, Santa Maria Maggiore and San Paolo Fuori le Mura.
While Rome’s monumental past looms large, it now exists alongside a modern city that honors its heritage while investing in its future. From ancient ruins to newfound sustainable beauty, here’s how to experience Rome in high style during the 2025 Jubilee year.
STAY IN STYLE
For a sumptuous home base that will have you feeling like a king or queen, Palazzo Shedir is the epitome of opulence. A former home of the Borghese family, the Palazzo is a five-star experience in the city’s heart that perfectly combines modern extravagance with historical significance. Guests are welcomed into a private noble residence with the grandeur of the Vatican (in fact, a Pope once owned it), with extras like a private butler.
Another standout option is Umiltà 36, an avant-garde boutique hotel that plays on classic Roman themes. It’s set just steps away from iconic landmarks like the Trevi Fountain and Via del Corso. The hotel blends contemporary art with elegant architecture, and its restaurant, Aquamarina, is a seafood haven and one of the top restaurants in the city. It offers sweeping panoramic views of Rome’s skyline from the rooftop terrace.
Then there is Hotel De Russie, just off Piazza del Popolo, the people’s square, where Roman soldiers trained during the Empire. Owned by the Rocco Forte Family, this five-star retreat is known for hosting celebrities and dignitaries. Despite its central location, it gives the feeling of seclusion with ornate tiered gardens enclosing a courtyard behind the hotel where lavish brunches, candlelit dinners and an extensive cocktail bar are ensconced.
THE REGREENING AND REFRESHING OF ROME
As you sip your cappuccino in one of Rome’s many charming piazza cafes, you may notice something unexpected: lush greenery alongside Rome’s stone streets and—if you’re lucky— grapevines. Rome’s relationship with viticulture dates to the Roman Empire, and this symbolic revival celebrates its heritage while promoting sustainability in the modern world.
EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES TO CELEBRATE THE JUBILEE IN STYLE
Shopping in Rome’s Designer Fashion District
No luxurious weekend in Rome would be complete without a shopping spree in the city’s upscale fashion district. Stroll down Via Condotti, where boutiques of Italy’s most famous designers—Gucci, Valentino, Bulgari, and Fendi—line the streets. Book a private session at Fendi’s flagship for the ultimate shopping experience.
Nighttime Vatican Tour
Enjoy the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel after hours, with a private guide and no crowds, offered by City Lights Tours.
Helicopter Tours Over Rome’s Iconic Landmarks
Witness Rome’s majestic landmarks from a unique vantage point with private helicopter tours. HeliFly offers bespoke aerial experiences, allowing you to soar over the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Square and Castel Gandolfo.
Caravaggio 2025
This landmark exhibition in Palazzo Barberini celebrates Michelangelo Merisi, known as the renowned artist Caravaggio (1571–1610), as part of the Jubilee celebrations.
Roman mythology is full of stories surrounding Bacchus, the god of wine, and the vine’s role in Roman culture. One of the standout features of this re-greening initiative is the vineyard at Vigna Barberini on Palatine Hill, which grows the white grape Bellone, a variety dating back to the Roman Empire.
Today, Bellone is more than just the drink of Caesar—it has become a beloved grape that flourishes across Rome’s vineyards. Palatine Hill—the legendary birthplace of Rome, where emperors once walked—now displays rows of grapevines, creating a serene juxtaposition of past and present. This vineyard, planted as part of Parco Archeologico del Colosseo’s green initiative, symbolizes Rome’s deep-rooted connection with wine.
The greenery throughout the city enhances biodiversity, improves air quality and balances the urban landscape with nature. These plantings are part of a broader €4.3 billion effort to revamp Rome over the next decade, including creating 100 new parks, ensuring that Rome’s future will be as green as its illustrious past.
WINE & DINE : DISCOVER THE FLAVORS OF ROME
To truly experience the essence of Rome’s wine past, venture just outside the city to explore wineries offering a wide variety of exquisite wines. From the rolling hills of the Roman countryside to the vineyards of Castelli Romani, local vintners like Jacobini provide exclusive tastings where you can sip the fruits of Roman viticulture.
Travel to the charming hill town of Cori, a location that helped save the Bellone grape from extinction. A cooperative of grape growers continued producing native grapes like Bellone, Cesanese and Nero Buono even when the trend leaned toward international varieties. Today, Cori’s winegrowers, such as Marco Carpineti and Cincinnato, are making excellent Bellone wines, both still and sparkling, and distributing them worldwide.
After a day of vineyard exploration, indulge in a world-class dining experience at La Pergola, Rome’s only three-Michelin-star restaurant. With its panoramic city views, La Pergola offers
the perfect setting to savor Italy’s finest culinary offerings, with dishes thoughtfully paired with Bellone wine for a truly indulgent experience. For a more relaxed but equally delightful evening, dine at Ristorante Aroma near the Colosseum. This Michelin-starred gem pairs its exquisite dishes with local wines.
For a truly unique experience, visit Enoteca La Torre, a two-Michelin-star restaurant with over 1,000 different wines, located in the spectacular Hotel Villa Laetitia. Head chef Domenico Stile blends his Campania roots with Italian influences and even a hint of Asian flavors for an unforgettable dining experience.
Jubilee 2025 offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness the city’s blend of ancient grandeur and modern transformation. Rome is embracing the future while staying deeply connected to its storied past. Whether savoring a glass of Bellone, staying in opulent palaces or shopping for designer treasures, your time in Rome will be a magnificent and meaningful journey through history and evolution, making this Jubilee year unforgettable.
PHANTOM
100 YEARS OF THE ICON OF ICONS
Taste of Elegance The
The Storied History of Jackson Family Wines
BY TAMI AUSTIN
If there’s one thing that makes life a little more delicious, it’s a glass of fine wine. And when we’re talking about elegance in a bottle, the Jackson family knows how to pour it just right. Let’s take a little stroll through their story, shall we?
Founded in 1982 by the visionary Jess Jackson, this family-owned wine empire has never been about cutting corners. From the very beginning, the Jackson family committed to producing world-class wines with character, depth and a little something extra—what the French call je ne sais quoi. Today, led by Barbara Banke, Jess’s wife, and their family, Jackson Family Wines continues to reign as a global icon, with vineyards stretching from California to France, Italy, and beyond.
Behind every masterpiece is an artist, and for the Jackson family’s luxury wines, that man is Chris Carpenter. The winemaker behind legendary
labels like Lokoya and Cardinale, Carpenter is a master of coaxing magic out of mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon. He crafts
wines with depth, elegance and just the right amount of drama—kind of like a good love affair.
Speaking of love affairs, the Cardinale Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is a limitedproduction stunner. This vintage is like a couture gown—crafted to perfection, with a sultry blend of power and grace. Made from Napa Valley’s most esteemed mountain vineyards, it’s dark, velvety and utterly irresistible.
Carpenter himself offers a deeply personal perspective on the vintage. “I have been thinking about family a lot lately. My daughters are out of the house now and forging their own lives. Their heritage stems from a mélange of sources and my future grandchildren will have even more of a blend. That diversity and the unique stories—some known, forgotten or intangible—that make up our genetic, cultural and migratory history is something I find fascinating and take pride in to a great degree.
Cardinale is much like that. Primarily based on a blend of different appellations, it is also a compendium of stories. The 2021 vintage holds many stories and also has its own narrative. Its bright fruit is driven by a core of blueberry, cassis, dark chocolate-covered espresso beans, Asian spice and graphite. It comes together as a great example of a terrific growing season.”
What’s wine without a little adventure? If you find yourself in Napa Valley, be sure to stop by the Cardinale Estate, open Thursday through Monday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. With an extensive renovation and the grand reopening set for April, a personal tasting experience awaits, and believe me, it’s as refined as a diamond necklace at a black-tie affair.
Cheers to glamour, good company and an exquisite glass of wine! Cardinale.com Jacksonfamilywines.com
Botanical BEVERAGES
Bars Are Increasingly Prioritizing Natural Ingredients in Cocktails Over Base Spirits
BY JILLIAN DARA
At a majority of bars around the world, there’s an unwritten standard for drinks to be categorized according to their base spirit. Imbibers’ eyes are often drawn to their preferred spirit—tequila, whiskey, vodka, gin, rum—and while the beverage may feature a unique ingredient, the attention is still on the alcohol or brand, which doesn’t leave much opportunity for a new experience.
At The Ritz Bar in Paris, head bartender Romain de Courcy presents a cocktail menu that challenges tradition, removing the emphasis on the base spirit by building a rotating selection of long drinks, short drinks and non-alcoholic beverages with homemade tinctures, syrups and cordials from seasonal ingredients synced up to the biodynamic calendar.
“For me the spirit is just one of the ingredients—sometimes it is even dispensable,” said de Courcy, who says he only uses a specific kind of spirit if it supports the story he wants to tell and the ingredients he wants
to use, but even then its likely going to be a custom-distilled spirit for the Ritz Bar. Instead, the cocktail menu presents a dozen curated drinks that each focus on a single ingredient of flowers, fruits, leaves or roots. “When we shift focus to the product, it forces us to truly explore its diversity: different varieties, different locations,” explained de Courcy. For their most recent ginger cocktail, for example, the team sourced ginger from Peru, the Ivory Coast, Madagascar and India. “And they all taste different,” said de Courcy.
The Lavender cocktail is another spring creation which can surprise guests—built with Lavender eau de vie, four lavender essences, lavender infusion, lavender honey and topped with bubbles. “I love flowers because they are often at the same time the most delicate and the most powerful ingredients,” said de Courcy, who added that high-quality lavender “can be extremely complex and evoke juicy red fruits, black pepper and herbaceous notes.” Jasmine is another single-ingredient cocktail, which, depending on its varieties, times of
THE RITZ BAR, PARIS
the day and ways of extraction, “can be floral but also fruity, honeyed, even leafy and animalic,” de Courcy furthered.
It’s not surprising to witness a shift toward these more natural libations as it supports the broader movement of better-for-you ingredients that’s proliferated in the culinary world. In Philadelphia, bartender and trained ethnobiologist Danny Childs champions a more holistic bar menu at Almanac by using botanical ingredients that are either foraged from the wild or sourced from his garden or a local farm.
unripe walnuts and enjoyed as a digestif). White pine is infused into their housemade Alpine amaro while homegrown ingredients like red shiso, American persimmon and fig leaf are reserved for infusions and tinctures. Almanac’s house digestivo is created solely from local botanicals, including foraged, indigenous wild grapes, mugwort and juniper as well as purple shiso leaf, bronze fennel and mint.
mountain mint, ranch-foraged elderberry and garden-fresh tomatoes, adding that “each season brings new ideas with a bounty of interesting and inspiring ingredients.”
“It helps the guest to associate a flavor profile with the drink rather than a specific brand or spirit category,” said Childs about the pendulum shift toward prioritizing drink ingredients over base spirits. “To me this is a more culinary approach to menu creation, and one that I find that guests can relate to more.”
Indigenous ingredients like black walnuts are used to make Alamanc’s house nocino (an Italian liqueur typically made from green,
The Tack Room at Cataloochee Ranch in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains also uses its surroundings to inspire its bar program with seasonal ingredients from its 700 acres. “We build the spirit around the ingredient versus the other way around to ensure that the local ingredient is the star,” explained lead bartender, Stephanie Watson. The Mountain Muscadine beverage is a prime example of their philosophy, by using local muscadine grapes that are rendered down with molasses and vanilla then paired with a sweeter bourbon and touch of lemon juice to emulsify the ingredients. Watson has also prioritized wild
Aaron Salgado, head bartender at Villa Santa Cruz in Todos Santos, Mexico emphasized his appreciation for the challenge of crafting drinks according to what produce is in season. “For me, it’s more than a trend, it’s a way to make cocktails that feel truly special and connected to the place they’re served,” said Salgado. The onsite garden at Villa Santa Cruz supplies many of Salgado’s cocktail creations with freshly plucked ingredients like lemongrass, cherry tomatoes, basil, mint, cilantro, lavender, rosemary, sage and edible flowers. “I’m big on infusions, using fresh herbs, flowers and fruits to build deeper, layered flavors,” he said, noting one of his favorite drinks to highlight is the Brisa del Mar, or sea breeze in Spanish, that’s built around lemongrass tea, fresh basil, lemon and honey from their estate beehives. “Tequila is in there, too, but it’s all about complementing the natural flavors rather than stealing the spotlight. The result is a beautifully clear drink that captures the coastal vibe of Baja.”
ALMANAC, PHILADELPHIA
The bar at Acre Resort in Los Cabos is another Baja-based program that relies on using their garden’s ingredients, with a concentrated effort on highlighting native and endemic flavors like mango, fig, guava, kaffir lime and zebra lemon. Each drink is crafted to emphasize the purity of its ingredients as the star of the show. The Fig Collins, for example, prioritizes a base of housemade fig leaf soda while the “Guayabita” cocktail reflects its Spanish name of “little guava” with guava leafinfused mezcal (Acre’s own brand).
As these bars all prioritize the natural ingredients, their cocktail lists come with a subsequent benefit that inherently satiates the lower alcohol movement that’s being felt in the industry. “A third of the drinks on our menu at the Ritz Bar are below 10 percent alcohol,” said de Courcy, noting that another third are non-alcoholic. “And yet they stand up against any stronger drinks in terms of complexity, intensity, texture and length.” He acknowledged that classic cocktails might continue to prove the easiest way to shake up a balanced drink in locations where there’s limited access to fresh ingredients, but they are no longer the only way to create full flavor.
For a taste of what these bars are doing, try experimenting with your own garden-grown ingredients this summer—strawberries make exceptional purées and cordials that each showcase the berry’s distinct flavors of tart and sweetness. Whereas, herbs like basil, mint and lemongrass can be grown yearround in the kitchen for homemade infusions and reductions.
SPECIALIZING IN ELEVATED / ROOFTOP POOL & SPA INSTALLATIONS LIGHTWEIGHT & DURABLE
SOPHISTICATED ARTISTIC SUSTAINABLE
D i a m o n d S p a s P o o l s
Italian ALCHEMY
A Pair of Automotive Bulls Birthed from Fire and Lightning
BY SIMON ROBERTS
If you are looking for an Olympic wrestler in a bespoke Italian suit, or a supermodel who belongs to an underground fight club, look no further than Lamborghini’s latest offerings. Since its inception in 1983, Lamborghini has been one of the premier Italian supercar manufacturers to compete with the already wellestablished Ferrari. What better way to compete with Ferrari than to set up shop just down the road in Sant’Agata Bolognese, in what is now known as the Italian Motor Valley. Its residents include Maserati, Ducati, Pagani and the aforementioned motorheads playing around with engines in workshops. Lamborghini, the literal and metaphorical bull in the valley has separated itself from the other valley residents with its latest two offspring—the mature and understated Urus SE, and its rowdy cousin, the Revuelto. Both fuse the quiet elegance of electric motors and the raw power of naturally aspirated, fire breathing internal combustion engines. The sound and fury of fuel, air and fire now combine with the instantaneous power of lightning. These bulls will stomp on the terra.
The Urus SE (urus, oddly enough, is an extinct species of cow) has some impressive numbers. 800 horsepower (or CV to be accurate), 0-60 in just over three seconds, and an 80 percent reduction in emissions compared to its solely gas-powered predecessor. But those numbers barely scratch the surface of this marriage between a twin turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 and a 192-horsepower electric motor. This
is not merely the addition of electricity on top of internal combustion, but multiplication where inputs create a sum that is exponentially greater. It is not just an academic exercise, but over-the-horizon theoretical mathematics. Initial testing of the Urus SE shows a 37-mile range on the electric motor. 37 miles may seem unimpressive, but keep in mind a 2025 Toyota RAV4 PHEV could only get you a few more miles down the road on its electric motor alone. What this really represents is a significant step forward for Lamborghini, a company that has traditionally prized uncompromising high-powered performance at any cost over efficiency. The folks at Lamborghini are combination of pale science nerds, brawny gas heads and elegant sartorialists. With skinny pedal underfoot is when the alchemy that Lamborghini’s chief technology officer Rouven Mohr’s work comes to life. Lamborghini’s design and technology teams have created a sophisticated PHEV SUV that can quietly slide through the drop-off line at school on the electric motor without frightening the children on the playground, and upon clearing the school zone, mash the loud pedal and wake the slumbering V-8 to feel the exhilaration of thundering hooves. The new Urus SE looks tough, muscular and exceptionally well dressed.
If a muscular SUV is not your cup of tea, then maybe the Urus SE’s cousin is. If the Urus SE is a theoretical math problem, the Revuelto is nothing short of automotive alchemy. The Revuelto (named after a famous Spanish fighting bull) is truly a supermodel that will punch you square in the face and you
will still take it to dinner. The Revuelto is Lamborghini’s entry into the High-Performance Electric Vehicle space (HPEV). This is a machine crafted by placing two electric motors on the front wheels, and a third that is integrated into the eight-speed dual clutch transmission and also assists in powering the rear axle. This science experiment delivers 1001 combined horsepower and 739 lbs-ft of torque in a classic Lamborghini outrageously-styled body. That is tire shredding, push-you-into-your-seat power. This is Frankenstein’s monster in a little black dress. The electric motors are paired with the 6.5 liter V-12 to deliver instantaneous and unwavering power all the way through the power band. The application of supercar power has always been a brutal and sometimes violent experience. The Revuelto has turned the torque curve from a jagged mountain range of peaks and valleys into a nearly linear power arc. While other manufacturers have moved away from snarling big volume V-12s, Lamborghini has declared with magnificent defiance that you can have your cake and eat it, too. As for the styling, Lamborghini has not moved out of its comfort zone. This car looks bold, flat, and fast in park. It’s a Lamborghini. What did you expect?
Lamborghini has birthed two cars for the future. One a usable daily driver that you can take the family to the cabin in, and the other, a Saturday night special meant to be revved and let run. Leave the kids at home. These cars mark a new era for a company that is looking squarely into the future but also upholding its responsibility to the screaming exhausts and snarling engines of generations past. Lamborghini has not merely adopted electrification; it has put electrification on its shoulders and carried it forward. The other supercar offerings see hybrid systems as a path to efficiency and environmental responsibility. Lamborghini has recognized it as a key to unlocking unfathomable realms of performance. The electric age has arrived, and these two vehicles have maintained the sacred big bore V-8 and V-12 engines while augmenting them with electric assistance. These cars preserve the visceral and emotional connections that define Lamborghini. The Lamborghini badge remains alive and well suited for the new era of fire and lightning.
Gems for Generations
Millennials and Gen Zers Seek Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing in Fine Jewelry
BY ANNIE STOPAK
Before 2005, online jewelry didn’t exist. It was a distant dream behind closed doors, evoking curious whispers from white collar execs and bright ideas of what could be. A UK-based fine jeweler, “77 Diamonds,” made an oath to change that, and the brand designed a compelling platform for selling jewelry online. The jeweler led with legend and artistry, appealing to consumers who were in search of “something
more” from fine jewels—even though buyers themselves didn’t yet know what more was.
In 2013, eight years after the brand’s initial launch, the opening of the famed Mayfair showroom in Mayfair, London brought with it a great deal of recognition and a new era was unveiled. “We were no longer the jewelry industry’s best-kept secret,” said Tobias Kormind, co-founder of 77 Diamonds.
What was it about 77 Diamonds that created such a compelling story? It all came down to honesty—a key attribute that may have been lacking from other luxury brands at the time. The company successfully introduced jewelry online and shared the truth about sourcing in a refreshing new way. All of this, along with ethical transparency and genuine care, led the brand to a rich customer base—one that has only grown stronger with time.
Today, the competition is high for luxury jewelry brands like 77 Diamonds, as younger generations are increasingly shifting their buying habits to focus on companies who take an authentic stance in their marketing or uphold some level of transparency around social and economic issues.
Since the early 2000s, the diamond industry has faced remarkable backlash for conflict diamonds
and the environmental impact of mining. As a result, jewelry brands fell under harsh scrutiny. The team at 77 Diamonds believes this societal pressure to be positive. Why? Because it encourages a swift new outlook from suppliers. “We embrace the fact that our customers value the provenance of their jewelry,” Kormind said. “As a company, it’s our responsibility to be a force for change, and, in turn, help and support the industry to change along with us.”
To appeal to the environmentally-conscious millennials and Gen Zers, luxury jewelry brands are moving towards sustainability even more and acting on issues they care about. The goal is to show younger buyers a genuine side that hasn’t always been prevalent in the pretentious air of high-end goods. It involves a level of transparency that isn’t flashy, but rather felt
Research suggests that captivating a customer’s emotions is imperative to win in online luxury jewelry, especially when appealing to this younger crowd. The high-end experience is not about excess and abundance; it entices with an effortless portrayal of a fine lifestyle and requires weaving together genuine storytelling from start to finish. It’s truly an art. This is evident in the “quiet luxury” trend that has captivated the masses in recent years, where logos are less obvious, so a sense of opulence is derived from the customer’s imagination using a minimal aesthetic. Put simply, it’s less about material and more about value.
“Conscious consumerism” takes this a step further. It encourages shoppers to think about the life cycle of a product and consider any consequences of the purchase. This is quite popular among the younger generations right now, as the uncertainty around the origins of diamonds and gemstones continues to stir questions. Naturally, shoppers are becoming more aware of this, so they are focusing less on physical imperfections of the jewelry itself and more on ethical buying practices.
77 Diamonds believes jewelry selection is a deeply personal experience that requires extensive research and commitment before making the final decision, so they put a lot of value into jewelry education, which highlights size guides, metal advice and ring styles prior to purchasing. (All of these resources are filed on their website under the “Education” tab.)
One of the brand’s strongest values is centered around engagements. The name “77 Diamonds” alludes to the year 1477—the year of the first recorded diamond ring proposal in history, when a romance sparked between Archduke Maximilian of Austria and Mary of Burgundy. Sometime after their marriage, Mary had a tragic death. She was only 25 years old. The Archduke was devastated, but his love for her lived on. The story demonstrates the undeniable draw of devotion, but it also brings emotional depth to the 77 Diamonds legacy, paving a way for an even richer narrative to unfold.
Today, the story lives on, and the brand brings unforgettable engagement moments to life between couples. Their aim is to create an intimate shopping experience. To do so, they
place attention on customized designs, bespoke services, virtual consultations and a true lifetime warranty. “We love being part of our customers’ most special moments,” Kormind said. “We take our role as their chosen jeweler incredibly seriously.”
Kormind noted that there’s been a shift to collaboration between couples when it comes to choosing the special ring. Typically, that requires a stand-in ring at the actual proposal. “We recognize it’s a significant financial commitment and our couples are taking time post-proposal to choose something meaningful together,” he continued.
“We know that it can take confidence to commit to a bespoke piece, but we guide and support our customers every step of the way. And the end result is always something incredibly special.”
— TOBIAS KORMIND, MANAGING DIRECTOR, 77 DIAMONDS
crave the intimacy of human connection. “Bespoke creations will be even more valued to really create that unique piece that tells a personal story,” Kormind said.
Although there is reluctance towards more technology, jewelry brands have recognized that AI has plenty of notable benefits. Kormind expressed that it’s a great way to optimize supply chain management, track materials and predict potential risks. Not to mention, he noted that blockchain technology can provide transparency and traceability in the sourcing process.
sustainability across the market,” Kormind said. He added this includes tracking the journey of diamonds and gemstones, which is crucial to promoting transparency and accountability.
The brand has also recognized an increase in colored gemstones and lab-grown diamonds as a cost-efficient alternative to natural diamonds. These options propose a touch of the unexpected as trends transition to artisanal designs in recent years. Although natural diamonds continue to be chosen and have vast appeal, younger generations are recognizing them as a thing of the past. They are viewed as less sustainable, not to mention, mass-produced or even lacking in originality. Colored gemstones are undeniably more obscure and appreciated for their aesthetic, value and uniqueness.
Bespoke purchases have been another popular selection for engaged couples. Instead of customizing a preselected ring, the couple chooses to design it from scratch and have a truly unique style. This could even include pieces from their past. Inclusions like birthstones or hidden gems are popular in this demographic and could enhance the connection to the ring. “We know that it can take confidence to commit to a bespoke piece, but we guide and support our customers every step of the way,” Kormind said. “And the end result is always something incredibly special.”
As jewelry continues to thrive online and brands lean into the benefits of virtual reality and artificial intelligence, specially designed jewelry will increase in value as shoppers
“The industry as a whole is likely to see more companies adopting ethical sourcing standards, such as the Responsible Jewellery Council’s Code of Practices, to ensure delivery of responsible business practices and promote
The jewelry industry has come a long way since the early 2000s. The world wide web was just beginning, leaving room for eager brands to swoop in and infiltrate a fresh new market. Trailblazers like 77 Diamonds paved the way for a new era of jewelry online where ethical standards and quality were high. Today, as customers continue to want more from their fine jewelry, brands are learning a lot about this younger generation of shoppers. Perhaps the “something more” these young buyers seek implies more about the sentiments they hold about the origin of their jewels, and less about the look of the jewel itself. Either way, the draw of the diamond never fades.
ThinKing Differently
Russian Watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin Creates the Thinnest Watch in the World
BY ANNIE STOPAK
Thinking outside the clock has never been an issue for Russian watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin. From light-hearted and animated to powerful, penetrating horology, his collections mirror his own ingenuity and wit. Chaykin leads with his heart as a renowned artist and painter, creating a magical world from the comfort of his studio. But what truly sets Chaykin apart? He has quietly mastered the art of selling time.
Take Lunokhod Prime from the Space Program collection. A celestial tribute to our connection with the cosmos, this timepiece is nothing short of extraordinary. Ornamented in 18K rose gold, a 12mm white South Sea pearl captures the moon’s silvery glow. It’s rare to unearth a natural pearl of this caliber with such a precise spherical shape. It’s a powerful component, lending the watch undeniable magnetism.
In 2023, Chaykin created one of the most complicated watches of all time. He called this prized possession Stargazer, which included an impressive 17 complications. Now, two years later, the brand has successfully persevered through the most difficult and notable achievement in watchmaking—the ultra-thin watch—and it came as a surprise. The market had previously been dominated by Swiss watchmakers, namely household names like Piaget and Richard Mille. Chaykin, an independent watchmaker, had not voiced his interest publicly in participating in such a competitive field.
The debut of the final prototype of ThinKing, a watch of ultrathin engineering, was the most groundbreaking revelation this year. This version made its debut at The Geneva Watch
Auction hosted by Phillips on May 10 and 11 in Geneva, Switzerland. Made of durable nickel alloy, ThinKing is slender, but it’s certainly no afterthought. It was reimagined from the original stainless steel body to enhance corrosion protection and hardness, and the new material did not disappoint. It has been awarded the title of thinnest watch in the world, measuring just 1.65mm thick. Needless to say, this accolade left the Russian brand quite satisfied.
Some of the key highlights of ThinKing include an exceptionally slim winding barrel and a double balance wheel. It features
the brand’s notable PalanKing carrier case which is crafted of high-grade titanium and includes key, manual or automatic winding. Aesthetically, ThinKing exudes the distilled simplicity of minimalism. The jet black strap is crafted from buttery-soft alligator leather and is secured by a stainless steel pin buckle. Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without Chaykin’s joker indication along with hour and minute displays—a subtle nod to his signature twist of whimsy and precision.
At the Geneva auction, a self portrait by Chaykin himself was on display for all to see. It depicted a beautiful painting of the Russian clockmaker working on his masterpiece. He called it ThinKing Of the Time’s Birth. The painting is an ode to the pensive name and serves as a subtle reminder of his artistic background, as he continues to infuse nuances of his art into haute horology.
Located in the historical district of Moscow, Chaykin’s headquarters is placed near the royal landmark Kolomenskoye Museum. This colorful and quaint area is marked by a ringing clocktower and ornate architecture, setting the scene for some of the finest watchmaking in the country. Drawing inspiration from the local area, Chaykin finds solace in his craft as he instills the same enthusiasm of the culture into designing the perfect watch.
Ingenious design has always been a core value for the brand, and this is evident in the spirited watch faces that fill the collection page. Some take on the likeness of minions, minotaurs, clowns, pumpkins and even Harley Quinn. A favorite from the collection is a dainty mouse, inspired by Ernst Goffman’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
Chaykin’s creative spirit is perhaps most affectionately expressed in his table clocks. Moscow Computus is a nod to Russian architecture and highlights the golden domes and white walls of the city’s old capital. It happens to be the most complex clock ever built in Russia, consisting of 2,506 parts with the arrangement of four dials. The Lucomorye table clock is quite enchanting as well, but in a different way. The clock consists of woodland elements and depicts a scene from a magical fairytale and Russian poem. For the final touch, it’s sprinkled with jewels.
While every Chaykin creation has a touch of joy and imagination, ThinKing holds a space of its own. Conceived and crafted personally by Chaykin, its exceptional detail propelled it from an opening bid of CHF 200,000 to a staggering CHF 508,000 (over $600,000 USD) at auction. For some, it may remain a dream. But for one fortunate collector, it is now a rare expression of time.
Luxury Soul for the
A Unique Greek Island Resort
Beckons Guests to Create a Life They Love
BY JOEY SKLADANY
For an outsider looking in, Calilo Resort in Ios, Greece can read as a high-end Home Goods store on an acid trip, yet it remains one of the most Instagrammed properties in the world. Its stacked-stone, mountainside facade, featuring a meticulously curated portfolio of inspirational messages and colorful, Keith Haring-esque art pieces, is a far departure from what anyone would expect from a luxury hotel that caters to wealthy clientele.
And yet, upon closer inspection and an actual visit, this juxtaposition of kooky maximalism
and seamless craftsmanship is part of its allure. The days of muted and neutral color palettes are gone, or at least put on pause, to inspire guests to surrender any preconceived notions and judgments and simply feel the spirit of the resort and its natural surroundings.
“Calilo was born from my personal exploration of life’s fundamental questions—what brings us happiness, what does it mean to live close to the truth of who we are, and how can we use this truth to connect with nature, ourselves and each other?” shares owner Angelos Michalopoulos. He, along with his family,
have made it their mission to not only marry a love for thought-provoking art and five-star hospitality, but also preserve the land and culture where it exists.
“I wanted to create a place that celebrates life, kindness, and the beauty of art and nature, in their truest and most honest forms—a place where the soul can be liberated enough to touch the world around it with its emotions,” he adds, revealing that Calilo follows a “create a life you can fall in love with” mantra that is meant to challenge how guests may approach their daily routines, both mentally and emotionally.
HOOKED ON A FEELING
Emotions do, indeed, run rampant at Calilo. Aside from its towering, awe-inspiring suites with intricate mosaics, gentle waterfalls and heart-shaped infinity pools, the entire hotel is fitted with quirky, almost bizarre installations, including a rotating well of negative thoughts that greets guests in its main lobby. It is here where visitors are asked to dump words like “hypocrisy” and “malice” before starting their vacation with a positive mindset. This one-of-akind, interactive design approach is an extension of Michalopoulos’s personal tastes and philosophy of unbound optimism. The collection also includes many of his own personal works.
“In a world that increasingly seeks to neutralize emotion through standardization, minimalism and emotional impartiality, we deliberately choose to embrace the full spectrum of human feeling and create spaces that resonate deeply with the soul,” he explains. “At Calilo, we hold authenticity and truth as the very foundation of our existence. It is not merely a concept but a lived experience, woven into every facet of our space.”
Instinctively, one may think this approach will lead to sensory overload and that the intentions are gaudy and gimmicky, but every motivational cliché (just shy of “live, laugh, love”) and neon-colored sculpture manages to achieve the impossible by blending seamlessly and authentically into the area’s remote, natural terrain, anchored by a turquoise ocean cove that lets Mother Nature do most of the talking.
The unique artistry, instead, is meant to be interpreted as “luxury for the soul,” but backed by tangible opulence with an award-winning spa with treatment tables on floating islands, a massive open-air gym with cutting-edge
equipment, and rooms that feel more like private king and queen quarters with oversized tubs, slabs of intricate stone and practically every amenity needed to kick your feet up and detach from reality.
Without trying to sound too hyperbolic, there really is no other place like it in the Cyclades and beyond.
BACK TO THE BEGINNING
Perhaps Michalopoulos’s most meaningful project yet is the launch of his non-profit, The Calilo Foundation, with a goal to preserve the property he’s invested in and ensure it’s not overrun by corporate greed.
“For over 12 years, we have been actively involved in a range of philanthropic efforts on the island of Ios, supporting projects in areas such as environmental protection, public health, animal welfare, youth empowerment and cultural contributions,” he says. “With the creation of our Foundation, we aim to build on this commitment, expanding our reach and efforts both locally and globally.”
The most notable commitment is one of sustainability: Michalopoulos and family have pledged to develop only one percent of the land that they own to protect Ios’s natural beauty and guarantee that future generations will be able to enjoy the island’s character and integrity.
“We aim to inspire not just a stay, but a feeling, a transformation, and a deeper connection both to the world around us and to the world within us,” he adds.
ALL EYES ON IOS
While the idea of hopping to more popular Greek islands such as Santorini and Mykonos may be appealing, especially for a Mediterranean first-timer, consider Callio for an experience that effortlessly satisfies a need for swanky R&R while also encouraging an appreciation for art and self-reflection. You may just come away from your holiday as a changed person, ready to see the world through a different lens and with a newfound energy to rethink the role you play as a human in society and as a human in the natural world, which is exactly the resort’s objective.
ONLY
Explore Some of the World’s Most Extraordinary Hidden Corners by Private Yacht Charter
BY MERRILL CHARETTE
Imagine waking up to the soft glow of volcanic eruptions in the Mediterranean, sipping champagne in a turquoise bay in the Grenadines or diving untouched reefs off an exotic island no plane can reach. There are places so extraordinary that the only way to truly experience them is by sea. Chartering a private yacht is the ultimate way to explore these hidden corners—where exclusivity meets adventure and luxury meets authenticity.
by SEA
To inspire the most extraordinary yachting experiences, consider three diverse destinations in three different oceans. Chartering in the Mediterranean delivers a cultural and culinary voyage through historic coastal villages, boutique wineries and refined seaside indulgence. The Caribbean brings relaxed island vibes, turquoise bays and yacht-only anchorages lined with stunning sand beaches. And for those craving the remote, the exotic reaches of Indonesia offer jungle-clad islands, sacred reefs and true off-the-grid wonder. Whatever type of escape you’re craving, these escapes by sea promise the kind of journey that simply can’t be replicated on land.
THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS, SICILY, ITALY
Rising from the Tyrrhenian Sea off Sicily’s northern coast, the Aeolian Islands deliver a rare blend of raw volcanic beauty and refined Italian elegance—a destination where luxury feels both effortless and elemental. By day, stroll the stylish boutiques of Panarea or sip chilled Malvasia wines on a shaded terrace in Salina. By evening, the real show begins—watching Stromboli erupt in the distance, casting natural fireworks across the night sky. It’s a spectacle best experienced from the privacy of your own crewed yacht.
For a bold, ultra-contemporary charter experience, the 217-foot OKTO is a showstopper. With her sleek black hull, infinityedge pool and private cinema, OKTO offers total privacy, stylish design and impeccable service for up to 12 guests. A floating boutique hotel that turns heads in every harbor.
For a more relaxed luxury experience, the 80-foot catamaran Halcyon offers expansive lounging areas and a light-filled interior perfect for discovering the Aeolians. Ideal for small families or close friends, Halcyon sleeps up to eight guests with a dedicated crew that delivers a casually elevated experience—complete with Italian ambiance, fine cuisine and a full suite of water toys.
THE GRENADINES
Tucked between Saint Vincent and Grenada, the Grenadines offer a slice of the Caribbean that still feels undiscovered—a barefoot-luxury escape where nature reigns and time slows. Spend your days snorkeling with sea turtles in the Tobago Cays, paddleboarding in quiet coves or sipping rum punch in Bequia with sand between your toes. The rhythms are gentle, the anchorages serene, and many islands can only be reached by private yacht—making this one of the Caribbean’s last true sanctuaries of exclusivity.
For those who want to explore with presence and style, the 279-foot BOLD is both a floating palace and an adventure platform. She sleeps 12 guests and boasts a massive helideck, outdoor cinema, beach club and full arsenal of toys and tenders—ideal for discovering the Grenadines with unmatched flair and freedom.
THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS, SICILY, ITALY
THE GRENADINES
For a more intimate and relaxed experience, the power catamaran Nauti Nickel offers a wide, open layout and dedicated crew perfect for families or groups seeking a mix of adventure and comfort. Nauti Nickel accommodates eight guests and provides ample space for sunbathing, alfresco dining and embracing the vibes of Caribbean Island life.
RAJA AMPAT, INDONESIA
In the far-flung reaches of Indonesia’s West Papua province lies Raja Ampat—a dreamscape of limestone isles, hidden lagoons and one of the most biodiverse coral reefs in this world. This is a place untouched by time, where village drums echo across the water and manta rays glide silently beneath your paddleboard. With no roads, no resorts and no interruptions, Raja Ampat is accessible only by private yacht—and it redefines what true luxury means: immersion, remoteness and profound natural beauty.
For an authentic voyage rooted in tradition and elegance, the handcrafted phinisi yacht Dunia Baru delivers a teak masterpiece with seven staterooms, five-star dining and a world-class Indonesian crew. Start the day with sunrise yoga on deck and end it with candlelit dinners on a private beach— curated, soulful and deeply personal.
For those seeking a blend of space, wellness and soft adventure, consider Lamima. Designed to merge Indonesian heritage with yachting sophistication, Lamima offers an onboard spa with Balinese masseuses, a full-service dive center and a crew-to-guest ratio that ensures seamless, personalized service. This is not a vacation—it’s a journey into the extraordinary.
THE ULTIMATE LUXURY AWAITS
A private yacht is more than a vessel—it’s a personalized five-star retreat with expert crew,
gourmet chefs, bespoke itineraries, privacy and access to places few will ever see. No crowds. No schedules. Just the luxury of waking up to a new horizon every day.
In the Aeolian Islands, it’s front-row seats to Stromboli’s volcanic fireworks. In the Grenadines, it’s barefoot days drifting over coral gardens. And in Raja Ampat, it’s anchoring in a lagoon so remote, silence is the loudest sound. These places aren’t just beautiful, they’re transformative. And they’re best discovered by sea.
NauticEd Sailing Vacations provides expert guidance in both luxury yacht charters and sailing education—including private instruction and skipper certification for those ready to take the helm themselves. Because true luxury isn’t found where the crowds gather—it’s found where the yachts go.
RAJA AMPAT, INDONESIA
Living for GOLF
Communities Around the World That Combine Luxury Real Estate with Top-Tier Courses
BY SIMON ROBERTS
THE HILLS
If you are like me, you always need to have something rewarding on the horizon like traveling to world-class golf communities and exploring what they have to offer. Thoughts of silky fades or baby draws, rising with power and grace on a tropical fairway can keep the soul-crushing weight of board meetings and stakeholder management at bay. After all, nothing can dull the joy of a nine-iron struck firmly and squarely to a Sunday pin. So there’s no time like the present to start thinking about summer and fall golf travel to some amazing places that will keep your spirits up and your game in shape.
All the destinations on my golf getaways itinerary are in golf communities that have opportunities for you to be an owner, so you can call these beautiful places home. Whether you prefer the rugged appeal of the American West, the tropical allure of Hawaii or Mexico, or even more exotic locations like The Bahamas or New Zealand, this globetrotting adventure will get you there. Your Zen golf community awaits.
Beginning in summer, we head to central Arizona’s Bradshaw mountains where temperatures are mild. Nestled within Prescott, Arizona’s breathtaking terrain, Talking Rock Ranch creates an idyllic retreat. Symmetry Companies, a Scottsdale-based master-planned community developer specializing in luxury residential neighborhoods featuring elite private golf clubs, is unveiling an extensive $10 million renovation at Talking Rock Ranch. It marks the largest renovation in the community’s more than 20-year history with new club cabins, elevated dining experiences, enhanced amenities and more. The
community is surrounded by gentle rolling hills and indigenous vegetation, offering residents a tranquil setting that captures the essence of the American Southwest.
The region’s temperate climate allows for exceptional year-round playability on the 18-hole championship golf course masterfully sighted by renowned designer Jay Morrish. This exceptional layout harmonizes with the natural landscape while providing an engaging challenge for players of all abilities.
Beyond golf, Talking Rock Ranch embodies authentic western charm and fosters a vibrant community spirit. The thoughtfully curated amenities support a fulfilling lifestyle, with experiences designed to enrich daily living. The two new luxurious club cabins span 3,760 square feet each and feature high-end finishes and flexible configurations for visiting guests. Real estate options have expanded with Symmetry Homes’ semicustom residences starting at $1.55 million, ranging from 2,700 to 4,200 square feet and blending ranch aesthetics with modern design.
While the summer continues to heat up the southwest, let’s head north to Idaho and the shadows of the Teton mountain range. Just beyond the bustling slopes of Jackson Hole lies Tributary, the Rocky Mountain West’s best-kept secret. This exclusive 1,500-acre private club community offers adventure seekers a rare combination of natural splendor and refined luxury. Nestled among wildlife-rich landscapes, fly fishing ponds and 500 acres of protected wetlands, Tributary provides an authentic mountain experience without sacrificing sophistication.
TALKING ROCK RANCH
The championship golf course at Tributary stands as a masterpiece of modern course design. Acclaimed architect David McLay-Kidd (Bandon Dunes, St. Andrews Links Castle Course) has harmoniously blended challenging play with environmental stewardship. The course winds through 50 acres of vibrant wetlands that serve as sanctuaries for native wildlife and plant species, creating a playing experience that honors its spectacular setting. As players navigate each hole, they’re treated to breathtaking panoramas of the Big Hole Mountains and the towering Tetons that command attention with every swing. The 16th hole delivers perhaps the most dramatic moment—golfers tee off directly facing the majestic Grand Teton, creating an unforgettable alpine golfing experience. Even during winter months, members can perfect their technique on Tributary’s state-of-the-art indoor simulator, offering virtual access to some of the world’s most celebrated courses.
Residences start at $3 million and feature mountain modern designs with open floor plans that seamlessly connect indoor living with the breathtaking surroundings, showcasing local materials and expert craftsmanship. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the seven fishing ponds, a two-mile elevated boardwalk and seasonal activities ranging from cross-country skiing to archery. Winter adventures continue with a private ski lounge at nearby Grand Targhee Resort, just 25 minutes away, while families can enjoy the kid-friendly snowmobile track and ice-skating rink. Tributary truly represents the last frontier of exclusive mountain living in the American West.
Before the kids head back to school, let’s travel through some time zones and cross the International Date Line. We are headed across the Pacific Ocean to the stunning island nation of New Zealand.
First up, The Hills and the prestigious Hills Golf Club, set within the stunning landscape of Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island, is embarking on a comprehensive redevelopment. Industry leaders Jim Rohrstaff and Ric Kayne—the successful team behind New Zealand’s
acclaimed Te Arai Links (public) and Tara Iti (private)—have partnered with Sir Michael Hill and his daughter Emma Hill to reimagine this exclusive private club. Established in 2007 by prominent New Zealand businessman Sir Michael Hill, The Hills golf course transformed a former deer farm near Arrowtown into a premier golfing destination. Designed by Darby Partners, the property expanded in 2019 with “The Farm,” a nine-hole par three course created by Darius Oliver. The Hills is renowned for its striking sculptures throughout the grounds, which will remain intact during renovations.
THE HILLS
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Known as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown offers everything from fly-fishing to heli-skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and much more. Within a 15-minute drive, there are multiple wineries and farm-to-table dining options. There’s no reason to ever want to leave one of the finest golf clubs and lifestyle communities in the world. There are a limited number of residences and lots available for those who wish to call The Hills their home.
Our next stop is Te Arai Links on North Island which represents a world-class coastal golfing experience located a scenic 75-minute drive from Auckland. This comprehensive resort features two pure links courses—one designed by Tom Doak and another by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw—both achieving impressive rankings on Golf Digest’s 2024 World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses (North Course at No. 36 and South Course at No. 40).
Beyond golf, the property offers luxury accommodations, recreational facilities including pickleball, tennis, and basketball courts, walking trails with beach access, four dining venues and the world’s largest putting green. The property overlooks one of New Zealand’s most beautiful white sand beaches.
For premium real estate options, there are 125 private home sites spread over 2,600 acres. All home sites offer stunning Pacific Ocean views along with access to more than seven miles of pristine white sand beach and one of New Zealand’s top surf breaks.
As we move into fall, it’s time to look for warm tropical climates, so we will head down to The Bahamas. Nestled on Great Abaco Island’s pristine coastline, The Abaco Club offers an exclusive retreat where
championship golf and luxury real estate create the ultimate Bahamian paradise. This 500-acre sanctuary features a Scottish-style tropical links course consistently ranked as The Bahamas’ finest golf destination, challenging players with oceanfront holes set against breathtaking Caribbean vistas. The golf experience is complemented by expansive practice facilities and a new “19th Hole” adults-only member lounge coming in 2025 as part of the Winding Bay Club development—a premier beachfront amenity that will feature an infinity edge pool, fullservice bar and thoughtfully designed clubhouse.
Real estate opportunities shine equally brightly with The Cays, the community’s newest neighborhood designed by acclaimed firm AvroKO. Phase 1 will deliver stunning beachfront villas that blend indoor-outdoor living spaces with waterfront views. Limited residences remain available at $4.4M and $5.7M, with Phase 2 launching summer 2025. Homeowners enjoy an extraordinary lifestyle beyond the greens with tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, plus two miles of powder-soft beaches. Water enthusiasts can access world-class fishing and boating from the private Yacht Club and Marina, pursuing trophy bonefish or deep-sea marlin. This harmonious integration of world-class golf and luxurious island living creates an unparalleled private retreat where paradise comes standard with membership.
While you still have your golf shorts and flip flops packed, let’s jump on the jet and head to Hawaii to the iconic Kona Coast of Hawaii Island (also known as the Big Island), and the unique golf community of Hokuli’a
Hokuli’a offers a residential experience across 1,260 oceanfront acres. This exclusive community has recently completed significant enhancements to its crown jewel—the Jack Nicklaus Signature golf
THE ABACO CLUB
HOKULI’A
course—featuring renovated bunkers and greens that challenge players while showcasing panoramic Pacific views.
What truly sets Hokuli’a apart is its distinctive “agrihood” concept. Unlike traditional resort communities, Hokuli’a occupies cherished agricultural land once favored by Hawaiian royalty for its fertile soil and gentle climate. Homeowners can cultivate fruit trees or coffee on agricultural easements, fostering a community where harvestsharing and chef-prepared dishes featuring home-grown ingredients have become beloved traditions. The community offers both finished homes and custom homesites, including the newly released “Nalu Kai” oceanfront parcels. These 20 premier lots command spectacular views with direct ocean access along three miles of shoreline, priced from $4.5 million to $8 million. Residents enjoy recently upgraded amenities including refined dining facilities, resurfaced tennis courts and new pickleball courts—all while experiencing expansive lots with unobstructed ocean views. The strong market response, including Hokuli’a’s record $8.2 million home sale in 2024, reflects growing interest in this harmonious blend of luxury living, championship golf and sustainable agricultural heritage.
Heading over to Mexico, the pristine coastline of Los Cabos, one of Mexico’s premier resort destinations, is about to witness a revolutionary development that promises to reshape high-end residential communities. Cabo Real Surf Club is nestled within the established 3,000-acre Cabo Real masterplan. This innovative project represents a partnership between U.S.-based Meriwether Companies and the pioneering Sanchez Navarro family. The development has already made waves in the luxury real estate market, securing over $50 million in homesite sales since its founders’ launch in early 2024.
Cabo Real Surf Club includes a Robert Trent Jones II championship golf course that is currently undergoing multi-million-dollar enhancements. The course is scheduled for completion in 2025 when it will become an exclusive private club.
The community’s crown jewel is its private Endless Surf wave basin, making it North America’s first private residential community to offer this cutting-edge technology. It can generate hundreds of customizable waves per hour with waves reaching heights of seven feet.
The Cabo Real Surf Club stretches from the Sea of Cortez through dramatic arroyos to the mountain foothills. For those interested in calling this paradise home, real estate offerings include custom Estate Lots and Villa Homesites with four and five-bedroom plans. The exclusive Boardwalk Homesites, situated along the wave basin, feature pre-designed residences by acclaimed Mexico City architecture firm Sordo Madaleno. Reservations are now open for the Surf Casitas—three-bedroom homes adjacent to the surf basin, starting at $2.5 million.
The amenities read like a luxury lifestyle wish list: a private oceanfront beach club with an infinity pool and one of Los Cabos’ top swimmable beaches, a state-of-the-art golf clubhouse and a comprehensive racquet sports center. Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the extensive network of mountain biking and hiking trails.
This groundbreaking community is on track to welcome its first residents in 2026, marking a new chapter in luxury residential development where technology, sport and high-end living converge to create an unprecedented lifestyle experience.
CABO REAL SURF CLUB
PHOTO
Life in the FAST LANE
Brad Pitt continues to set the pace as a Hollywood frontrunner in F1 .
BY TY FAHLMAN
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARETH CATTERMOLE
“There’s a moment, when you come out of a highspeed turn and hit the throttle, and the rear tires fight for grip, and for half a second, the whole world feels like it might spin out from under you.”
Brad Pitt shows no signs of slowing down. At 61, with more than three decades of stardom behind him, he remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring figures — not because he’s clung to fame, but because he’s continued to evolve with it. The Pitt of today is something altogether different from the mythic sex symbol who once vaulted into popular culture in Thelma & Louise shirtless in a cowboy hat and smiling as if he had nothing to lose. That man was raw charisma. This one is something more weathered and nuanced — a seasoned actor, an award-winning producer, and, in his latest role, an aging Formula 1 driver with something left to prove at speeds of over 200 miles per hour.
The summer blockbuster hit F1: The Movie may be the most daring production of Pitt’s career. While the plot about a retired F1 driver who returns to the track to mentor a younger talent might be familiar, the method is revolutionary. For the first time in cinematic history, actors were inserted into real Formula 1 races and filmed in motion in between actual qualifying sessions and heats, on the very same tracks used by the world’s most elite drivers. No soundstages. No CGI-laden imagery. Just one of the most famous people of all time in full race gear, piloting a car capable of reaching speeds no actor has ever attempted before on camera.
As millions across the world are discovering this summer, the thrill of watching F1: The Movie in theaters is a visceral, one-of-a-kind experience, one that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible — the power of the racing sequences is especially engrossing in IMAX, where the track envelops the screen. The only recent film that captured this kind of oldschool, must-be-seen-in-theaters, word-of-mouth attention was the $1.5 billion global smash, Top Gun: Maverick. It should come as no surprise that, like that film, F1 was co-produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Joseph Kosinski.
When Kosinski first told Pitt he had developed the cuttingedge technology that would finally make filming F1 action up close possible, it was fuel to the actor’s engine. “I’ve been trying to get a racing movie done for 20 years,” he says. “I’ve tried bikes, I’ve tried cars… and for whatever reason, they never came to fruition.”
With the power of Apple Studios and F1 legend Lewis Hamilton behind them, the team was able to go where no film crew had ever gone before, capturing real action, with real actors driving on the most storied courses in the world. “It was Joe Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer, just coming off Maverick, who said, ‘[We] want to make the most realistic racing movie we’ve seen to date,’ and I think that’s what we’ve done,” Pitt says.
To prepare, Pitt and co-star Damson Idris, who gives a starmaking performance as the young driver Pitt’s character mentors, went through a version of the real thing. Long simulator sessions, track days, and high-performance coaching prepared them for scenes that required not just technical control but absolute trust in the vehicle. Ever self-aware, Pitt had no illusions about the danger. “It’s like being strapped to a missile,” he says. But even with the preparation, it’s something you can’t fully anticipate until you’re in it. “There’s a moment,” Pitt says, “when you come out of a high-speed turn and hit the throttle, and the rear tires fight for grip, and for half a second, the whole world feels like it might spin out from under you.”
The most harrowing moments in the film are when the camera sits inches from Pitt’s helmet, capturing the real G-force tugging at his jawline, his eyes scanning the road with terrifying intensity. This is no green-screen illusion. It’s a 61-year-old man doing something very few humans have done: driving a Formula car on a live Grand Prix circuit. Once in motion, the track narrows, focus sharpens, and the scenery begins to blur. Corners don’t approach — they attack. Pitt says what surprised him most is how physical it all is: the neck strain, the rapid reflexes, the sheer force of each downshift. “You feel every inch of it,” he says. “The car becomes part of your nervous system.”
The film was shot over the course of multiple race weekends throughout 2023 and 2024, with the F1: The Movie crew given unprecedented access to the action. At the British Grand Prix, Pitt stood on the grid during the national anthem and suited up beside the likes of Max Verstappen and Hamilton. At Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, he clocked a blistering 197 mph in a 2023 McLaren, drawing reactions from actual F1 drivers who weren’t sure if the new guy in the pit lane was playing a role or becoming one of them. “I was gutted I didn’t hit 200,” Pitt admits. “But I’ll take it.” These aren’t staged shots. These are real, timed laps, captured by cameras bolted to the metal, vibrating with every bump in the terrain.
The respect between Pitt and the racing community is real. Hamilton, whose presence on the film as a producer and technical advisor helped elevate the authenticity level, was impressed by Pitt’s focus and his willingness to fully engage with the culture of the sport. Other drivers have noted that Pitt didn’t just show up to film scenes; he asked questions, walked
PHOTOS
the paddock, watched telemetry screens, and treated the environment with the seriousness it demands. That credibility matters, because F1 isn’t just speed and glamour. It’s a culture of discipline and risk, of data and daring. Dropping a Hollywood production into the middle of it without disrupting the machinery is no small feat. That Pitt can navigate that space, literally and metaphorically, speaks volumes.
But F1: The Movie isn’t a one-off thrill. It’s a continuation of the trajectory Pitt has traced for years now — toward projects that require more than presence. Toward craft. Toward risk. Toward growth. His Oscar-winning role in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a performance of quiet depth and sly humor, anchored by an actor who is not trying to impress, but to disappear. It’s also one that he will be reprising soon in a spinoff film written by Tarantino and directed by Pitt’s old Se7en and Fight Club partner, David Fincher. His producing work through Plan B, the company he co-founded in 2001, has brought some of the most beloved and acclaimed films of the last two decades, including Best Picture winners The Departed, 12 Years a Slave, and Moonlight.
Pitt’s name in the credits, whether in front of or behind the camera, has come to signal a kind of ambition — a willingness to go where others won’t. That doesn’t mean he’s turned away from spectacle. He still headlines major projects. He still leans into action. But even in those films, there’s a subtle shift. Bullet Train is stylish and kinetic, but it’s also laced with a self-deprecating wink. Babylon pushed him into extremes, but with a knowing sadness that comes from a majority of one’s life spent working the camera. There’s clarity in his choices now. Fame is no longer a destination or a detriment. It’s a lens. It’s a tool. He’s spoken openly about aging, sobriety, and fatherhood. He doesn’t dodge the difficult topics. He doesn’t feed the machine, either. He just works — carefully, selectively, and meaningfully.
And yet, that boyish glint remains. The Missouri kid who raced dirt bikes and studied journalism before heading west to follow a dream still lies somewhere behind those blue eyes. That spirit is what still animates him, still serves as his compass. He says yes to a film like F1 not because it’s safe or easy, but because it’s a new frontier. Because it puts something real on the line. He could’ve shot it in a studio. He could’ve let stunt drivers cover the heavy lifting. But he didn’t, because he’s interested in the feeling, the raw, physical truth of it. “You can’t fake this,” he says. “You either do it, or you don’t.”
In many ways, F1: The Movie is the purest expression of the two sides of Pitt’s creative life: the actor chasing immersion, and the producer chasing innovation. With a reported $200-million-plus budget, Apple Studios isn’t just betting on a blockbuster, its investing in a film that might redefine what a sports movie can be. Shot with cameras developed specifically for race conditions, embedded in real-world competition, and driven by a man who could easily have said no — it’s part documentary, part adrenaline opera. The fact that Pitt is in the center of it after all this time tells you everything about the kind of artist and person he’s chosen to become.
He has nothing left to prove. He’s won the awards, survived the scandals, and outlasted the news cycles. But he’s still pushing, still chasing the next feeling, the next story, the next sharp turn taken at 180 mph. Whether that’s behind the wheel of a race car or in front of a camera doesn’t seem to matter. What matters is that he’s fully in it. And if you watch him now — in the suit, visor down, head forward, throttle open — you see it clearly. This isn’t performance. It’s propulsion. It’s purpose. It’s an American icon, still accelerating.
Making Private Aviation Seamless
Bitcoin, Smart Contracts and Blockchain Technologies Streamline the Travel Experience
BY MARINA ACTON
Private aviation has always epitomized convenience, luxury and efficiency, catering to a clientele that values time and comfort above all. As technology advances, private aviation is undergoing a transformative shift driven by Bitcoin, smart contracts and blockchain technologies, which together promise a future of seamless, transparent and ultra-efficient travel. One company, BM Jet, is taking things to the next level with its new platform that combines AI, blockchain and private chartering to offer clients bespoke travel options.
SMART CONTRACTS : REDEFINING BOOKINGS AND OPERATIONS
Smart contracts—self-executing contracts embedded directly into blockchain technology— offer substantial advantages for private aviation. Traditionally, booking a private flight involves multiple intermediaries, extensive paperwork and significant processing delays. Smart contracts eliminate these inefficiencies by automating and streamlining booking processes. When predefined conditions are met, such as payment confirmation, crew scheduling availability and plane positioning, flights can be instantly confirmed, drastically reducing wait times and enhancing customer satisfaction.
Furthermore, smart contracts provide bespoke options for charters. Every step—from preferred FBOs, to meal options, to pilot and crew credentials—is securely logged onto an immutable blockchain ledger. This transparency significantly improves the charter experience by ensuring clients’ preferences are communicated across bookings, regardless of the provider. Feedback can also be recorded to provide a 360 review of the charter experience, making it easier to improve it.
BITCOIN : THE BACKBONE OF SEAMLESS PAYMENTS
Bitcoin and cryptocurrency integration are rapidly becoming the cornerstone of international private aviation payments. Cross-border transactions in traditional banking are notoriously slow, costly and complex due to currency conversions, banking fees and transaction verification delays. Bitcoin provides a universal solution, allowing instantaneous and secure financial transactions across borders without intermediaries.
Private aviation companies adopting Bitcoin gain the capability to streamline payments significantly. Passengers can book flights instantly, from anywhere in the world, without waiting for traditional bank approvals. Bitcoin payments eliminate currency conversion hassles, drastically reducing fees and facilitating quicker, hassle-free international transactions. This efficiency not only benefits passengers, but also improves cash flow for aviation companies, fostering growth and stability.
THE SYNERGY OF BLOCKCHAIN AND PRIVATE AVIATION
The combination of Bitcoin payments and smart contracts on blockchain platforms delivers a uniquely powerful synergy, transforming the entire private aviation
experience. Passengers experience seamless booking, payment, charter preferences and verification processes, while operators enjoy increased efficiency, reduced administrative costs and enhanced operational oversight.
Consider an international business traveler booking a private jet from New York to Geneva. Using a smart contract-enabled blockchain platform, the booking process—from verifying the aircraft’s availability and crew options to finalizing payments with Bitcoin—occurs nearly instantaneously. The traveler receives confirmation within moments and all parties involved in providing the flight have the information they need to take off. The entire transaction is secure, efficient and streamlined.
EMBRACING THE FUTURE
As private aviation increasingly embraces these advanced technologies, the industry is poised for unprecedented growth and enhanced service delivery. Forward-thinking companies already leveraging blockchain, Bitcoin and smart contracts will set new industry standards, attracting discerning clientele seeking convenience, transparency and safety.
BM Jet’s new offering will enable travelers, flight crew and owner/operators a seamless, streamlined, comprehensive experience in private aviation. bm-jet.com
Milan’s MOMENT
Italy’s Rediscovered Second City is Poised to Host the 2026 Winter Olympics
BY
PHOTO
YESMILANO, MARTINA BADIALI
Expo brought with it investment and a global spotlight. Then in 2020, Italy became an early poster child for the devastation wrought by COVID, and Milan was among those hardest hit.
Since then, the city has recovered and emerged more stunning than ever, an upwards trajectory set to continue as the city will host the 2026 Olympics.
Visiting Milan today, you can feel it. The city exudes a distinctly Milanese charisma. Home to high fashion, decadent northern Italian cuisine and this breezy feeling of Lombard refinement, Milan blends old world style with creature comforts. For visitors looking to get a sense of what “Milan’s moment” means, the city boasts no shortage of options to experience its classic and contemporary offerings.
SHOP ITALY’S DESIGNER BRANDS AND VINTAGE BOUTIQUES
BY MICHAEL COLBERT
For decades, Milan got a bad rap. Lacking Rome’s sites of antiquity, Naples’s Eat, Pray, Love-famous pizza, or the picture postcard views of Florence and Venice, Italy’s second biggest city was overlooked by Italians and tourists alike—in spite of blockbuster attractions like Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, La Scala opera house and the iconic Duomo. The de facto capital of northern Italy began to transform, however, in 2015 as the World
“Milan is increasingly becoming the ‘place to be’ in all of Europe,” said the concierge at the Park Hyatt Milan. Located steps from the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the hotel also underwent a post-pandemic resurgence, undergoing a renovation that completed in April 2024. Under the careful direction of designer Flaviano Capriotti, named to the Architectural Digest 100 in Italy last year, every touch in the property is a love letter to Lombardy—from its bathroom counters made of green marble from the Dolomites to the corridors carved in beige, white and rose evoking the Duomo’s blush. In both design and location, the Park Hyatt makes the ideal home base for getting to know the city.
“Milan is now considered a cool destination, and the city has been rediscovered for its cultural scene in addition to its wellestablished reputation for fashion and design,” the concierge added.
Milan has long been revered as Italy’s fashion capital, and the city and region are the birthplace of Prada, Missoni and Armani. Prada opened its first store in the world in 1913 in the Galleria to sell high-end luggage to stylish jetsetters. Shoppers today can peruse selections of fine leather goods at the original Fratelli Prada location, or else hop across the Galleria to their men’s and women’s stores. Find many of the world’s top designers inside the Galleria, including Italian mainstays Armani and Gucci. For eye-catching Lombard knits, Missoni’s flagship store is only a few blocks away. The highest flyers might book a private appointment with an atelier, testing perfumes that princesses wear.
As much as Milan is a fashion house junkie’s dream, it’s also a hub for vintage shopping and independent designers. Venture into the Brera district for secondhand finds at
BRERA
PARK HYATT
PARK HYATT
Cavalli e Nastri. Italian for “horses and ribbons,” the shop emanates a sense of “oldfashion glamour” with its collections of American costume jewelry and vintage Valentino. This once bohemian neighborhood is a designer’s euphoria: find ceramics like confectionery at Ginori 1735, gorgeous stationery at Pettinaroli e Figli, the latest in Japanese design at Time & Style and avant-garde couture and home goods at 10 Corso Como Massimo Alba operates a boutique in the neighborhood, where they sell gorgeous linen pants, leather loafers and cotton button-downs cut for a night out in Italy’s fashion capital.
BRUSH ELBOWS WITH MILANESE BUSINESSPEOPLE AT CLASSIC EATERIES
“Milan is a trailblazing city at heart. In the past few years, it’s become a culinary mecca,” says Stanley Tucci in his HBO series, Searching for Italy.
Northern Italy is famous for cutlets, polenta and saffron risotto, heartier fare for alpine people. El Tombon de San Marc serves up the city’s best in a sumptuous green dining room that seems outfitted by your chic Italian grandparents.
For a caffè macchiato, croissants and candies seemingly dropped out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in a similarly Lombardy green venue, visit Marchesi Since 1824, the patisserie has made signature Milanese sweets. Now under the Prada Group’s management, Marchesi operates multiple locations around the city.
The Park Hyatt concierge also recommends Rigolo, a family-run restaurant that puts a Milanese spin on Tuscan flavors. Il Baretto
is an elegant, traditional eatery—think crisp, white tablecloths and tartan carpets— and Trattoria Lazzati seeks to showcase “the authentic soul” of the city in swanky, ostentatious style. Trattoria del Ciumbia serves the region’s classics in a decidedly cool, midcentury dining room.
By the Duomo, Pellico 3 turns up the heat on Milanese classics. Executive Chef Guido Paternollo has made it his mission to bring his international training to his hometown cuisine. Tortelli filled with smooth sheep ricotta sit like little rubies in a smoky and smooth ‘nduja and pomegranate sauce—it’s food you’re not sure whether to eat or just admire.
BATHE LIKE THE ROMANS — OR THE MILANESE
Roman baths were lauded as gathering points and rejuvenation destinations for a reason. At QC Termemilano, the Roman baths get a
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the District. It’s a movement.
smart, industrial update—the 28 wellness rooms comprising this spa are notched inside of a 19th century tramway company office.
Outdoor bathers can soak inside the courtyard, peering out at skyscrapers sprouting beyond the oasis walls. Underground, the baths continue endlessly: steam rooms, saunas, pools, salt baths and “dream chambers”—water beds floating in a dark room to an instrumental soundtrack. Each room promises its own wellness secrets.
To unwind more privately, Shiseido Spa Milan offers dramatic views from the top of the Excelsior Hotel Gallia. The spa’s sauna, steam room and salt cabin offer a peaceful retreat before one of the spa’s signature treatments, which feature products from the Japanese skincare giant.
DRIVE A FERRARI TO LAKE COMO, EMILIA - ROMAGNA OR SAINT MORITZ
For many visitors, northern Italy is synonymous with luxury cars—both Ferrari and Lamborghini are headquartered in EmiliaRomagna, about two hours southeast of Milan. While visitors are in the area to tour the car brands’ museums, they might also enjoy the factory tour in Modena, where they can sample the city’s famous balsamic vinegar.
Those who prefer a more immersive experience can arrange to take a luxury car for a spin. The Park Hyatt partners with Moveolux to get their guests behind the wheel of a Ferrari, Lamborghini or other sports car. Milan is wellpositioned for exploring the surrounding area, including Italy’s renowned lakes.
Many scenic towns and villages, including Bellagio, Varenna, Tremezzo and Como, ring Lake Como. The best way to view them is from the lake, and private boat tours can be arranged. The area is also home to many famous villas, so well-appointed that George Clooney set up shop in Laglio’s Villa Oleandra.
For a longer journey, St. Moritz, Switzerland sits about three hours northeast of Milan. This year-round resort town is a gem of the Alps. Summertime thrill seekers can go hiking, windsurfing and mountain biking. In the winter, the party continues with skiing, ice skating, curling and polo matches played on the frozen lake. For a gentler day, explore art collections at Hauser & Wirth St. Moritz or recharge at the spas at the Kulm Hotel, Grand Hotel Kronenhof or OVAVERA
These quaint towns are a pleasant detour from the city, but visitors will zip back to the city at Ferrari speed—Milan is waiting.
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KIMPTON GRAND ROATÁN RESORT & SPA BEACHFRONT PENTHOUSE
Penthouses THAT STAND APART
How Hotels are Elevating Their Top Accommodations
BY JILLIAN DARA
Historically, penthouses occupied the top floor of a towering apartment building. The classification dates back to the 1920s in New York City, where one of the first penthouses was designed for American businesswoman Marjorie Merriweather Post. At the time, Post was monikered as the richest woman in America, so it was only natural she designed an abode to match—the resulting 54-room palatial penthouse spanned the top three stories of a 14-floor edifice. Following the success of Post’s penthouse, a new sector of the luxury real estate market emerged, expanding from residential apartments to hotel room categories.
At hotels, penthouses quickly became the top-tier room category and for nearly a century were reserved for the top floors of any chamber. Some properties even created private elevators and entrances for personal access to these exclusive rooms. Recently, however, a handful of luxury hotels have expanded the penthouse room category to include standalone residences for increased seclusion and exclusivity.
“Independent penthouses strike the perfect balance between a traditional resort experience and a private vacation rental, making them perfect for travelers seeking comfort and seclusion while not completely giving up opportunities to immerse yourself in a destination and the amenities of a larger resort,” shared Soraya Castillon, director of sales and marketing at W Punta de Mita, where their superior E-WOW
W PUNTA DE MITA
penthouse is a standalone beach house. “E-WOW guests particularly love the suite’s attention to detail, incorporating local design elements throughout it that create an authentic connection to the destination with its art, textiles and even the house’s building materials, down to using local rocks to pave its out-of-this-world bathrooms.” The two-bedroom, 3,626-square-foot tropical oasis features an open kitchen with white marble walls and countertops, an oceanfront living and dining room, a porch hot tub and a rooftop patio with an infinity-edge plunge pool.
“The desire for privacy, space and personalized experiences is becoming more pronounced, especially among high-end travelers, said Tirawan “Waew” Taechaubol, owner of Cape & Kantary, a luxury, Thai hotel group. At Cape Panwa Hotel in Phuket, Taechaubol explained that their three penthouse-level rooms include the Pool Villa, Panwa Lodge and Cape Absolute Suite which are all detached from the main accommodations. Though these freestanding villas were part of the hotel’s original concept from 1987, Taechaubol said they’ve witnessed a growing interest in this type of accommodation, as it aligns with trends toward more independent, luxurious, and immersive travel experiences.
“This travel style really grew during the pandemic when private space was, for a period, a necessity and the demand has grown steadily since,” said Craig Bradbery, chief operating officer of Baillie Lodges. Bradbery and his team responded to the modern demand by developing a series of freestanding, ultra-premium pavilions across their portfolio of global properties, including the two-bedroom Dune Pavilion at Longitude 131 in Yulara, Australia and the four-bedroom Alex van Heeren Cottage at Huka Lodge in Taupō, New Zealand. “We see guests valuing time spent together with the ones who matter most, and the flexibility to really relax as one would in their own private holiday home,” added Bradbery.
LEFAY RESORT & SPA
CAPE PANWA HOTEL
In 2023, Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti debuted a Penthouse Residence in the form of a three-bedroom cottage in the midst of the Italian Dolomites. The 3,100-square-foot villa stands alone with three bedrooms, three and a half baths, a fully furnished kitchen and bar, electric fireplaces in the living room and master bedroom, a private terrace with a heated jacuzzi and hot tub as well as a bio-sauna.
In Roatán, Honduras Bay Islands, Yule Peixoto, resort manager of Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa says their addition of a twobedroom beachfront penthouse apartment in 2024 was driven by the increasing demand for exclusivity and ultra-luxury experiences. “We wanted to create a private sanctuary for discerning guests—whether honeymooners, VIP travelers or families—who desire the intimacy of a luxury home, with direct beachfront access, spacious interiors and personalized services,” said Peixoto. “Many have described it as ‘the ultimate Roatán escape,’ perfect for a longer, immersive stay in paradise.”
Peixoto credits the shift as a reflection of a new era of luxury hospitality, “where travelers seek curated, personalized stays beyond traditional hotel accommodations.” This shift isn’t just encouraging new builds, but rather fueling renovations. Along Turkey’s Aegean coast, D Maris Bay added an independent townhouse to their inventory during their 2014 renovation. The 3,330-square-foot villa is tucked into its own private gardens with its own hammam, sauna and swimming pool and attended to by a dedicated butler.
D MARIS BAY
D MARIS BAY
At the start of this year, Windjammer Landing Resort & Residences in St. Lucia debuted their new Presidential Manor as part of a resort-wide, three-year $30 million renovation. “The space was reimagined to offer added privacy, upgraded amenities and enhanced design elements, ensuring it stands apart from the resort’s main accommodations,” said Nick Prattas, managing director of the resort. The four-bedroom, Mediterranean-inspired residence is located at the top of the hill with panoramic views of the Caribbean. The prime real estate was revamped to cultivate a private experience that evokes a “home away from home” feeling. “Guests love the spacious accommodations, which offer plenty of areas to gather and spend time together, while still providing the option to retreat to their own room for some quiet relaxation,” said Prattas.
The Ranch at Laguna Beach restored a former private residence into a new Treehouse accommodation, a freestanding 1,600-square-foot suite that COO Kurt Bjorkman said guests praise for its enhanced security and fully equipped chef’s kitchen that’s ideal for entertaining. “It is built on a hill with a gated private entrance, above the resort and has sweeping views of the canyon and resort area,” shared Bjorkman. Highlights include two bedrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, a wrap-around deck with a gas fire pit and access to the adjacent Treehouse Gazebo which is ideal for hosting intimate social gatherings from a dinner party to personal yoga class.
Ojai Valley Inn also converted their onsite private residence, that previously belonged to the hotel’s owner, into their top-tier offering. The 10,147-square-foot villa, or Casa Elar, was built in 2005 but thoughtfully renovated in late 2022 to cater to group travel like family reunions, intimate weddings and celebrity escapes. “A large percentage of guests return to Casa Elar annually, becoming a tradition for them, which may be the best feedback I could possibly ask for,” said Cody Creighton, executive services manager on the success of the Tuscanstyle accommodation thus far.
Hotels are even replacing common spaces to make room for more exclusive room categories. As part of its 2020 renovation, The Marker Key West Harbor Resort swapped out their detached ballroom and office area for its one- and two-bedroom residence suites that top out at 1,400 square feet.
As standalone penthouses are on the rise, don’t be surprised if you have to start booking this room category even further in advance than usual. As Creighton mentioned, these newer, more exclusive accommodations are encouraging repeat visitors, so they’ll be filling up for both short- and long-term visits.
WINDJAMMER LANDING
OJAI VALLEY INN
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THE MANIFESTATION FORMULA
Follow These 14 Steps to Create the Life You Love
BY DR. JOHN DEMARTINI
Are you manifesting what you would truly love to manifest in your life? Are you following a daily formula to assist you in creating the life you would love?
Fifty-two years ago I began compiling the following 14-step manifestation formula to help myself and others manifest what we would love to achieve in life. Since then, I have further researched, written about and taught this formula to millions of people around the world. When followed, this formula can help you more effectively manifest what you’d love in life.
STEP 1. IDENTIFY YOUR UNIQUE PURPOSE / MISSION
You have a unique and evolving set of priorities or hierarchy of values. Your top priorities or values are the intentions or objectives that are
most important in your life. Whatever is highest on your list of values—what is most important and meaningful—will underlie and drive your teleological purpose, mission or calling or that contribution you would love to make in the world.
In this highest value directed area, you’ll tend to excel the most, have the highest achievements and have the greatest, clearest and most inspired intentions.
If you’re uncertain about your highest value, please consider taking advantage of my Free and Private Value Determination process on my website, Dr Demartini.com, to help you identify and clarify what your life demonstrates is most valuable to you. Take the time to do this introspective step with honesty and integrity so you can identify what’s most important to you instead of what you think it “should be,”
“ought to be,” “supposed to be,” “got to be,” “have to be” and “must be.”
Do it once. Then do it again in a week. Then in a month. Then redo it quarterly until you feel certain and you have a tear of gratitude when you reveal what your life already truly demonstrates is important to you and what you’re already committed to and that your life shows you are dedicated to.
If you require motivation from the outside to do what you say is important to you, I am certain that it is not truly as important to you as you may imagine.
Step one of the 14-step manifestation formula is identifying what is truly the chief aim or primary objective that you feel is your purpose, your contribution or your mission in the world.
It may be raising a family, a social cause, a business, building wealth, keeping fit or a spiritual quest or a composite made out of more than one area—whatever your life truly demonstrates is most meaningful to you.
STEP 2. DOMINATE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT
Once you identify your highest value or purpose, you will not be able to avoid thinking about it. It spontaneously emerges from within your mind if it is truly most important. Your innermost dominant thought becomes your outermost tangible reality because what you think about you tend to keep in your awareness, make decisions more efficiently on and take spontaneous action on,
Your dominant thought is an expression of what you value most. So, whatever it is that is most important to you, you will automatically dominate your thoughts on it. You’ll notice and filter your sensory reality according to what you value most. Your highest value will automatically determine what you think about most. Because you dominate your thoughts on your highest value, you increase the probability of having a momentum-building achievement.
STEP 3. VISUALIZE IT IN DETAIL
An old proverb says, “Those with a vision flourish; those without a vision perish.”
If you set a goal aligned with your highest value and you dominate your thoughts on it, you will be more likely see it or visualize it in your mind’s eye. The medial prefrontal cortex of your brain—the executive center—is involved in inspired vision, and it is neurologically linked to your visual associative centers in your occipital cortex. This allows you to more effectively envision and strategically plan out the fulfillment of your mission and how to navigate through any obstacle.
So, when you have a purpose, and you dominate your thoughts on it and see it in your mind’s eye and focus on ever finer detail, you’re most likely to manifest it. If you take the time to create a detailed visual image of what you would love, you increase the probability of achieving it.
STEP 4. AFFIRM IT
When you have that clarity on your purpose or mission and you can clearly visualize it, you can articulate it fluently and affirm it in your mind. An earlier meaning and definition of the term affirmation means “to make FIRM in one’s mind.” The only thing that is likely to be “firm in your mind” is something that you are truly committed to, the objective that wakes up your brain’s executive center so you can visualize it clearly in your mind’s eye.
Certainty does not come from the lower amygdala area of your brain or when you pursue your lower values. Instead, certainty comes from knowing what is truly meaningful to you, thinking about it strategically, seeing it clearly in your mind’s eye, and articulating what you would love to create in detail. Any detail you are unable to articulate fluently is something that is unclear in your mind. So, a sign you have a clear vision and that you are inwardly dominating your thought on it is that you can articulate it fluently. When you can articulate it fluently and clearly, somebody else can also see it as you speak it.
When I was speaking in Australia over a decade ago, I shared an inspired story with the audience about the night I met Paul C. Bragg and had my epiphany. A famous artist named Andrew Tischler came up to me at the end and said, “Dr. Demartini, your story inspired me. I am an artist and painter, and I would love to be able to paint what you just described.” My vision was so clear in my mind that I could articulate it clearly to others, who could then see it in detail.
A sign you have a clear vision, that you are dominating your thoughts on it, and that it is clearly a mission for you, is that you can articulate it fluently in a way that inspires.
STEP 5. EXPERIENCE TRANSCENDENT FEELINGS
Once you have gone through steps 1-4 above, you’ll likely experience a different set of feelings. Instead of the polarized emotional feelings like joy, sorrow, happiness, sadness,
elation, depression, infatuation and resentment, you are likely to have what I call “synthesized feelings” or “transcendent feelings.” These include grace, love, inspiration, enthusiasm, certainty and presence.
These six transcendent feelings are confirmations that you are in a state of authenticity and living congruently with what you value most:
• Your ontological identity revolves around your highest value.
• Your teleological purpose is an expression of your highest value.
• Your epistemological area of expertise is in line with your highest value.
You also automatically absorb, retain and apply information according to what you value most, which is why you tend to have the highest degree of achievement in that area. It is also where you are likely to be the most disciplined, reliable and focused.
If you identify your highest value, dominate your thoughts on it, visualize it, can articulate and affirm it, and feel inspired by it, you are likely to be on track to manifesting it. Transcendent feelings of gratitude, love, inspiration, enthusiasm, certainty and presence are all signs of authenticity and living congruently.
STEPS 6, 7 AND 8. WRITE IT DOWN IN SPACE AND TIME
When you are in this congruent and authentic state, you’re likely to spontaneously want to write what is inspiring you down to capture it.
I often say that people who live by design go farther than people who live by duty.
You have probably had special moments when you have been so inspired by something that you spontaneously wanted to write down what inspired you, so you would not lose the idea.
So steps 6, 7, and 8 are to WRITE it down in SPACE and in TIME.
In other words, write down:
• What inspires you.
• Where would you love to create it?
• When would you love to create it?
When you have clarity around your vision and can fluently articulate it, you tend to create a space and time-oriented achievement strategy in your mind. That is the beauty of your brain’s executive center—it can articulate to you and design for you. So in that way, it is also the design center of the brain.
I often say that people who live by design go farther than people who live by duty.
People who conform and subordinate to other people’s values are not generally the people who are the visionary leaders that go on to do extraordinary things. They are less likely to be great manifestors as they tend to be the ones who wait to see what happens instead of making things happen.
If you are inspired by your vision, can articulate and write it down, and can put down WHERE you want to do it, and WHEN you want to do it, you are more likely to manifest it.
STEP 9. TRACK THE METRICS
When you are truly committed to achieving some objective, you will more likely desire to keep metrics on it and measure your actions and milestones relative to what you are striving for.
If the metrics don’t reveal progress, you would be wise to relook at whether your purpose or
goal is truly in line with your highest value. If it is really important to you, you will be spontaneously inspired from within to act on it without needing external or extrinsic motivation and you will demonstrate progress.
External motivation is a symptom and not a solution for great achievement. Track the metrics to see if they reflect progress towards what you would love to achieve in life.
STEPS 10, 11 AND 12. TAKE ACTION WITH ENERGY ON MATTER ( RESOURCES )
At this point in the manifestation formula, you are likely to want to take spontaneous action. That action is likely to be filled with inspiration and enthusiasm or energy. I learned a long time ago that energy is infinite once you recognize the source, and that your vitality is directly proportionate to the vividness of your vision. If you would love to have more energy, it is wise to:
• Get clear about what you are truly committed to—your highest value-based purpose and mission.
• Focus on the service of making a difference.
• Be observant of the resources around you.
If you do, your energy will most certainly increase due to the clarity of your mission and vision.
When you are truly living in alignment with your highest priority—according to what you truly value most, you tend to be inspired and have incredible energy, focus and discipline. You don’t need to be reminded to do what you truly love to do every day. Conversely, if you are not disciplined or focused, it is because you are unknowingly attempting to do low-priority tasks.
You will spontaneously act and have energy when you are doing something truly inspiring and meaningful to you. When you do, you will also be more observant of the resources you have all around you. There is no lack of resources, but
you are unlikely to notice them if you are not living congruently with your highest value.
Conversely, when you do something low on your list of values, you tend to have a kind of attention deficit disorder, retention deficit disorder, and intention deficit disorder. When you do something high on your list of values, you will have a surplus of attention, retention and intention.
There is synchronicity with people, places, things, ideas, and events that surface in your life that align with what you value most. You will start to be acutely aware of them and act upon them when you live congruently with your highest values.
STEP 13. FEEL DESERVING
Once you live in accordance with your highest value and take actions with energy on your surrounding material resources, your selfworth will rise. You will feel that you deserve to manifest what you would love to achieve in your life. When you are centered and authentic, living by your highest values and objectively pursuing something deeply meaningful, your self-worth will become elevated and your deserve level will automatically emerge and rise and you are likely to feel worthy of having what you dream about.
STEP 14. PRACTICE GRATITUDE
The final step of the manifestation formula is gratitude. I believe in writing down daily what you are grateful for because if you are grateful for what you have, you will experience, receive or have more to be grateful for.
When you are grateful for what you are, do and have, your mind becomes more resilient and adaptable, and you live in a state of authenticity and grace. It is in this state that you are the most profound and powerful you. The magnificence of who you are in this state is more profound than any fantasies you may attempt to impose on yourself.
If you follow this 14-step Manifestation Formula, you will increase the probability of manifesting what you would love to achieve in your life.
Purpose, plus thought, plus vision, plus internal dialogue or affirmation, plus inspired feeling, plus writing objectives down in space and time, plus keeping metrics, plus taking actions with energy on material resources, plus feeling deserving, plus being thankful, increases the probability of bringing about what you would love to manifest in your life.
Dr. John Demartini is a human behavior specialist, polymath, international speaker and best-selling author.
RENTER NATION
The Consequences of Home Ownership Becoming Increasingly Difficult to Attain
BY KEN MCELROY
Homeownership has long been a symbol of financial stability and wealth building. However, the U.S. and many other developed nations are experiencing a decline in homeownership rates, leading to what I call a “renter nation.” Understanding this shift is crucial, affecting economic mobility, housing policies and investment strategies.
HOMEOWNERSHIP TRENDS : THEN VS. NOW
Homeownership rates peaked in the U.S. at 69.2 percent in 2004 before dropping to their lowest point in 2015 at 63.7 percent, a difference of approximately eighteen million people moving from ownership to renting. While the rate rebounded slightly to 64.6 percent in 2019, historically low interest rates in 2020 and 2021 helped push the figure up to 65.7 percent, where it remains steady. However, I predict a gradual decline as the younger generation progresses into a home ownership age and cannot afford the down payment that is required to get into a home.
WHY HOMEOWNERSHIP IS DECLINING
Over the last five years, home prices have surged 40 percent nationally along with an
increase in 11 percent true inflation on daily goods. Alongside this, rents have gone up significantly. Wages have not kept up with this massive inflation, making it more difficult for people to save money for their everyday needs, let alone a home.
On top of home prices increasing, mortgage rates have also increased, doubling since 2021. This combination of price and rate increases has created a serious problem with affordability.
THE LONG - TERM IMPACT OF A RENTER NATION
With these barriers in place, renting has become the default option for many. While rents are rising, they are still often cheaper than homeownership because of the high interest rates and high price tags of homes. The American Dream has always had a firm, rooted base on owning a home. If America turns into a renter nation, there will be long-term implications and policy changes relating to that difference.
To start, homeownership is the primary way in which Americans build wealth. Eliminating homeownership will make it more difficult to retire, as housing is usually 28-33 percent of someone’s budget. Social Security is already
being pressed thin with inflation, but rent added on top of that inflation will make it hard to live on this income for many older adults.
Secondly, there will be more investment in rental units for the U.S. consumer. We are already seeing that with build-to-rent communities and the large level of multifamily investing that has happened over the last few years. Blackstone announced that they are creating an $8 billion dollar fund to invest in commercial real estate, indicating they see growth in this area and it will be a good investment opportunity. The truth is that our population will continue to grow, and if people can’t afford to buy a home, they will have to rent. The large institutions are taking note of this.
If you look at it economically, the government is in a bind. They don’t want to build and manage housing developments, but if they put strict laws on rental income, it will disincentivize building, which we are already seeing in New York, Los Angeles, Portland, etc. If there aren’t enough units in an area, this leads to massive rent growth because there is no supply to help with the increasing demand.
EXPANDING OF SECTION 8
One tool in the government’s toolbelt is to expand the Section 8 program. That is why I think what you will see is the Section 8 program expanded to not just service the lower class, but also the middle class to help them with rent. This will be especially true into retirement.
Currently, 61 percent of boomers in the US own their homes, while 54 percent of that percentage own their home outright with no mortgage attached. That is significant as it means the government doesn’t need to worry about 61 percent of the population in retirement. These figures will be much lower moving forward to future generations. Each generation will be leaning on the government more and more for housing needs. That is why the Section 8 program will likely be expanded beyond the lowincome class that gets those benefits now.
CONCLUSION
Homeownership is becoming increasingly difficult to attain, pushing the U.S. toward a rental-driven housing market similar to Europe. Without policy changes, housing affordability will continue to decline, exacerbating wealth inequality and economic instability. This can be good for real estate investors, but hard on income earners who need to afford housing in retirement.
PITFALLS OF TOXIC POSITIVITY
Failure to Acknowledge Negative
Emotions
Can Have Serious Consequences
BY BARRY LABOV
Toxic positivity is a topic that has been gaining momentum. We are in a world of faux positivity. When we avoid conflict by telling only the part of the story that is most easily digested, it destroys our culture. And feeling the pressure to always be upbeat is exhausting. According to Wikipedia, toxic positivity is dysfunctional emotional management without the full acknowledgment of negative emotions, particularly anger and sadness.
Chip Dodd, PhD, is the author of The Voice of the Heart, a book that changed my life. Chip’s work is focused on helping professionals, including athletes, CEOs, doctors and others, better understand the purpose of their lives. His mantra is: Helping people see what they were made to be, so they can do what they’re made to do. He teaches that rather than “being happy,” our goal should be to lead a full life. A full life means we feel sadness or frustration or elation and hope. For example, losing a beloved grandparent causes feelings of sadness as you miss them and wish they were still with you. But it also brings about memories of the wonderful things they did and said, and perhaps, their sense of humor or excellent culinary skills. That’s a full life.
As leaders, we must live fully and provide that opportunity for our teams. Rather than “being happy” or spreading toxic positivity, we are better off sharing open communication, active listening and constructive advice. One problem with toxic
positivity is that often, the employee knows you are being insincere; they can feel it, and it’s demeaning. On the other hand, and I’ve witnessed this, sometimes the person believes what is said is true and develops a false, unrealistic narrative of their performance. Here’s a true story:
A brand celebrated a new, breakthrough marketing campaign with its team. A person was congratulated for his “amazing creativity” in developing the concept. The problem was, he had not written it; the person showering praise on him had. I later asked her why she did this. She replied, “He was a nightmare to work with on this, and I did all the work. I hoped I’d inspire him to improve next time by puffing him up.” Unfortunately, the opposite happened as the person became convinced that despite his shortcomings, he was invaluable because he was “amazing.” This led to an even lower drop in his performance to the point that coworkers and suppliers demanded he be removed from their team.
Here are some points to consider for combating toxic positivity:
You cannot win a person over or buy your employees’ loyalty through insincere positivity. Most of us have an inner compass that tells us if we are on track. We will usually know if praise or compliments are genuine or not. Leaders will lose credibility and trust when they fall prey to acting like a “white knight,” delivering platitudes instead of open, honest communication.
Differentiate yourself by being sincere, even when it’s inconvenient. If you are known as an honest and caring person who can be counted on, you are likely to deal with difficult situations with compassion—credit to you. Your team will be healthier because of it.
Faux positivity can stifle problem-solving
If you’re looking at everything through rosecolored glasses, it will be harder to spot or acknowledge issues when they arise. Instead, address problems head-on and unleash the creativity of your team to develop solutions that keep you moving in the right direction.
Workplace cultures that are ruled by toxic positivity suppress communication
A team that feels pressured to maintain a positive outlook will be less likely to openly communicate and provide honest input. It erodes trust throughout the organization and can lead to unhappy employees and high turnover.
As Dr. Chip Dodd says, we need to live a full life, not one obscured by false, insincere feel-good statements. Living life on life’s terms means that we will have to struggle with feelings and let them be of benefit. In the latest episode of my podcast, Difference Talks, I talked with Ranaan Meyer, a Grammy and Emmy Award winning musician and founder and artistic director of Honeywell Arts Academy. We discussed embracing your mistakes, not glossing over them with faux positivity, and how they can lead to the greatest creative breakthroughs.
PROUD PARTNER OF
The
Elevation of Everything
Trophy Real Estate Ascends to New Heights
BY SI SI PENALOZA
Thanks to recent innovations in luxury residential real estate, members of the one percent are not only living better, they’re learning how to live longer. We’ll introduce you to three unique retreats in Utah, Idaho and California that are taking trophy real estate to the next level.
VELVÆRE
TURNKEY BIOHACKING IN STYLE
Park City has never been short on luxury, but Velvære isn’t just another high-altitude hideaway for the deep-pocketed and well-moisturized. This is something else entirely—imagine an Amangiri you never have to check out of. Meet 60 acres of recreational real estate where wellness isn’t a spa menu afterthought but the very foundation. Here, home is a retreat, your body a finely tuned machine and your neighborhood a private ski-in, ski-out kingdom. If the world had a wellness Valhalla, this would be it.
Velvære offers longevity science on demand in the form of real estate. With a nod to Scandinavian minimalism, this is where hightech biohacking meets high-touch luxury. Think air purification systems so pristine they rival a surgical suite, water filtered to near-mystical purity, and circadian rhythm lighting designed to sync your body to nature. The goal? To extend prime years well into your seventies, ensuring you can still shred powder and sip biodynamic Pinot without breaking a sweat—or a hip.
Drawing inspiration from biophilic design principles, Velvære offers 115 meticulously crafted residences, from 12 cabins starting at the mid-$4 millions, 68 paired residences beginning at $5 million and 35 estate lots priced from $3 million. Each abode is a sanctuary, thoughtfully designed to foster a deep connection with the surrounding landscape.
Velvære has partnered with Aescape, an AI-powered massage system that maps your body with over a million 3D data points, tailoring every touch to your personal tension points. Imagine it as the self-driving technology of massage therapy—sleek, intuitive, and slightly unnerving in its precision. Experience this futuristic bliss in the community’s 10,000-square-foot Wellness Center or opt in to one in your own residence.
Calling Velvære’s in-home fitness room a gym is like calling a Bugatti “transportation.” It’s a human performance lab calibrated to optimize. Private trainers analyze your VO2 max, AI tweaks
recovery protocols, while biometric feedback ensures you’re training at peak efficiency— because simply “working out” is so last century.
“For us, technology isn’t something we layered onto the home—it’s embedded quietly, designed to disappear so daily life takes center stage,” Dayson Johnson, chief revenue officer & partner at Bonfire Collective, shares with us exclusively on our first look. “Every innovation at Velvære serves a singular purpose: to help people feel more connected, more present. That’s what we mean when we talk human-first innovation. Technology enhances the experience without overpowering it. Precision health screenings through our partnership with Fountain Life are all integrated seamlessly into the home.”
If wellness is the soul of Velvære, alpine recreation is its beating heart. From glorious mountain biking trails to direct ski-in, ski-out to Deer Valley Resort, this is a mountain enthusiast’s dream—minus the lift lines. The Adventure Center functions as your personal outfitter, from heli-skiing to pleasure boating. An adrenaline junkie’s playground, with a five-star feel.
If Yellowstone Club and The Alpina Gstaad had a love child, enter Club Velvære. Exclusive to residents, this is your passport to perpetual rejuvenation. Here, socializing isn’t about power lunches—it’s saunas and ice baths, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and swapping longevity hacks over organic matcha.
Velvære doesn’t just promise a home—it promises a longer, stronger, healthier life wrapped in a package so sublime it may as well be a Scandinavian fever dream.
WHITETAIL CONFIDENTIAL
Think Idaho is all potatoes and plaid? You haven’t met Whitetail Club. Perched in the high-country of McCall on the shores of Payette Lake—where the air smells like pine and the pace of life is dictated by the arc of the sun—this 1,300-acre private community is quietly rewriting the rules of Rocky Mountain luxury. It’s like Ralph Lauren and Jack Nicklaus designed a summer camp for grown-ups who like their wilderness with a side of Wagyu.
The 7,200-yard, par-72 Whitetail Club Golf Course offers 18 holes with magnum opus views
of ponderosa pines and trout ponds. Ranked among Golf Digest’s Top 100 in America, it was designed by renowned architect Roger Packard and U.S. Open champion Andy North.
Whitetail’s real showstopper is Legacy Ranch, its newest crown jewel, recently released. A 365-acre enclave of just 36 sprawling homesites—each five to 20 acres of buildable, big-sky canvas—where you live the land instead of just gazing at it. Perched along the ridge line or in the hush of the meadow, these lots whisper with possibility. Think custom poolscapes,
open-air soaking tubs, outdoor monolith fireplaces made from local stone, the faint whiff of s’mores in the evening breeze.
Beyond the driving range drawing in the big wigs—it’s the barn possibilities. Not the creaky, hay-scented kind. These architectural gems are designed to house your Polaris, pontoon boat, Nighthawk Cigarette racer, vintage G Wagon or your fleet of fishing kayaks. Whitetail is leaning all the way into the toy barn, turning utility into art—the outbuilding as new status symbol.
Whitetail’s brand of luxury isn’t splashy—it’s intentional. Everything, from the full amenities of the neighboring Shore Lodge resort, to the three private clubhouses, to the sublime Cove Spa, feels like it belongs, born organically of the terrain. Generational living isn’t just welcomed but encouraged. You’re as likely to find barefoot grandkids playing cornhole as you are CEOs perfecting their swing.
There’s something undeniably magnetic about Whitetail Club—understated yet unshakably confident. Mountain living where frontier grit meets architectural grace. Indeed, Whitetail is a love letter to the land, sealed with a flyfishing hook.
IDAHO’S BEST - KEPT PROSPECT
FOUR SEASONS RESIDENCES NAPA VALLEY
A VINEYARD TO CALL HOME
If Napa had a VIP lounge, this would be it. Tucked into the vine-draped hills of Calistoga, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley is what happens when five-star luxury decides to go barefoot in the vineyard. It’s not just living near the grapes, it’s living with them—part wine retreat, part wellness sanctuary, part trophy property.
These 20 private residences embody wine country design: modern farmhouse with floor-to-ceiling glass, oversized terraces, openconcept layouts inviting the outside in. Two- to four-bedroom floor plans, all finished with the kind of details that whisper “no expense spared”—with custom woodwork, live-edge headboards, soaking tubs, gourmet kitchens and wine fridges that come standard.
The illustrious Elusa Winery is right there on property—a working winery helmed by famed winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. Residents get their hands dirty during harvest, crafting their own blends. What’s better than pouring guests a glass of vino you made in your backyard?
Wellness here is a way of life. Spa Talisa taps into Calistoga’s storied mud bath tradition,
mineral-rich treatments that feel equal parts healing ritual and indulgent escape. There’s also a sleek fitness center, two pools (one adults-only), fire pits and bocce ball.
In the realm where fiction meets fantasy, Four Seasons recently partnered with HBO Max’s The White Lotus—and oh what a backdrop Napa would be. Where else could a season of sun-dappled secrets, cabernet-fueled drama and passive-aggressive brunches unfold more deliciously? It’s not simply prestige television—it’s prestige terroir.
LUXE CALENDAR
JULY 3 - 6, 2025
BRITISH GRAND PRIX
Northamptonshire, England
The Formula 1 Qatar Airlines British Grand Prix will take place over 52 laps of the 5.891-kilometer Silverstone Circuit on Sunday, July 6th. Practice rounds are scheduled for July 4th and 5th and the qualifying round will also be held on July 5th. The four-day festival kicks off on July 3rd with a concert headlined by English singer, songwriter and musician Sam Fender. Multiple ticket options are available, including VIP packages.
JULY 5 - 27, 2025
TOUR DE FRANCE
France
The 2025 Tour de France will take place entirely within France’s borders, which has not happened since 2020. This challenging men’s bicycle race will include 21 stages: seven flat stages, six hilly stages, six mountain stages with five mountain finishes and two time trials. There will also be two rest days. 176 riders will line up for the start on Saturday, July 5th in Lille, and the race will finish on Sunday, July 27 in Paris at the Champs-Élysées.
AUGUST 14 - 17, 2025
BMW CHAMPIONSHIP
Owings Mills, Maryland
The top 50 players in the world will gather to compete in the penultimate event of the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs, the BMW Championship, which will be hosted by Caves Valley Golf Club. Multiple ticket choices range from Grounds Tickets to the premium Bay Club, an all-inclusive, climatecontrolled venue boasting stunning views of the 18th and 11th fairways. Premium bar service and restaurant-quality dining are included with Bay Club tickets.
AUGUST
17, 2025
PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE
Pebble Beach, California
A tradition since 1950, this will be the 74th annual gathering where the finest collector cars will be on display on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links to compete to be named Best of Show—the ultimate award for automobiles. This year’s celebration will feature three marques celebrating their centennials: Invicta, Chrysler and Moretti. The dramatic postwar creations of designer Virgil Exner and the innovative racing greats of Formula 1 past and present will also be on display.
Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance
Tour De France
AUGUST 19 - 24
PALERMO - MONTECARLO REGATTA
Sicily, Italy
This will be the 20th edition of the PalermoMontecarlo, one of the most renowned offshore regattas of the Mediterranean Sea. This maritime challenge starts from the picturesque Gulf of Mondello and the competitors sail the waters of the Mediterranean to the glamorous Principality of Monaco. The technically challenging course will test even the most experienced sailors, making the competition gripping right up to the finish.
SEPTEMBER 3 - 6, 2025
FRIEZE SEOUL
Seoul, Korea
Following its widely acclaimed 2024 event, the Frieze Seoul international art fair will return to COEX in the Gangnam District of Seoul for its fourth edition. Sections of the fair will include “Galleries,” which will feature commercial galleries with a roster of international artists; “Focus Asia,” which will be devoted to solo artist presentations from Asia-based galleries opened in or after 2013; and “Frieze Masters,” dedicated to works of art made before the year 2000, ranging from ancient and ethnographic art to 20th-century masters.
SEPTEMBER 4 - 8, 2025
MAISON&OBJET PARIS
Villepinte, France
For the past three decades, Maison&Objet has established itself as the only international event that brings together interior decoration and furniture. The brand celebrates its unique ability to reveal inspiring lifestyle trends, where each object gives soul and character to the home. The September show explores decor, fashion and homeware, accessories, tableware and wellbeing. It also celebrates creativity, innovation and tomorrow’s trends, highlighting innovative designers and young talents.
SEPTEMBER 11 - 14
BOURBON & BEYOND
Louisville, Kentucky
Recently named “Music Festival of the Year” by the music industry trade publication Pollstar, Bourbon & Beyond will present performances by dozens of musical acts over a four-day period. Headliners this year will include Phish, Noah Kahan, Sturgill “Johnny Blue Skies” Simpson and The Lumineers. Also billed as “The World’s Largest Bourbon Experience,” the event offers opportunities for bourbon aficionados to sip and savor rare, vintage and experimental expressions. Blind Bourbon Live is a tasting experience where renowned bourbon critic Fred Minnick will crown the Best in Show.
SEPTEMBER 20 - 24
FAB PARIS
Paris, France
France’s premier fair for fine art and antiques is being moved forward two months to position it at the start of Paris’ autumn art season. Celebrating human creativity from the antiquity to today, the fair will bring together 100 internationallyrenowned art and antique dealers representing no fewer than 20 categories in the fields of fine art, furniture, antiquities and jewelry. Last year, the fair was moved to its current home, the newly-restored Grand Palais, and welcomed over 30,000 visitors from around the world during its six-day run.
Maison&Objet Paris
Bourbon & Beyond
Frieze Seoul
FAB Paris
Introducing Four Seasons Deer Valley, a world-class mountain resort, at the heart of the most exciting new alpine destination in North America—Deer Valley East Village.
The Four Seasons Private Residences Deer Valley features 123 ski-in/ski-out luxury condominiums and a collection of exclusive amenities—envisioned by world-renowned architect ODA, realized by Extell Development Company, and perfected by Four Seasons service to create a truly legendary lifestyle.
One- to Six-Bedroom Mountainside Condominium Residences from $3.75M
