Holiday 2026 Featuring: See the Unseen with SWAROVSKI OPTIK
Sofi Parry, Senior Editor Phone: 01283 365204 Website: lux-life.digital Editors Letter No information contained on or in this website constitutes investment advice or an offer to invest or to provide management services and is subject to correction, completion and amendment without notice. Neither AI nor any of its associated entities are authorised to give financial advice of any nature nor are they regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Prior to making any investment, AI recommends that any prospective investor should consult with its own investment, accounting, legal and tax advisers to evaluate independently the risks, consequences and suitability of that investment. AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility. Welcome to the Holiday 2026 issue of LUXlife Magazine! We are thrilled to welcome you back for more updates, insights, and features on all things related to your luxury lifestyle, sharing many of the latest developments we have seen and heard about since our last edition in March. It has been a particularly exciting time for the team here at LUXLife, as two of our members recently had the opportunity to attend a private event hosted by SWAROVSKI OPTIK at the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire. Not only were guests treated to a presentation and a field test of its latest products, they also had an exquisite dining experience. More on the event can be found inside these pages. Other topics covered in this issue include wedding services, luxury wellness in the form of spas and bathhouses, unique travel opportunities, and the latest in architecture and design. This is just the beginning, and we invite you to sit back and enjoy all that our Holiday 2026 edition has to offer. We wish you a fantastic couple of months and cordially remind you to come back in July ready for more from our Summer 2026 issue.
4. News 6. See the Unseen with SWAROVSKI OPTIK 8. Giant Leap Digital: Bringing Clarity to Luxury Marketing 9. A Modern Australian Bathhouse Making Wellness Easy and Affordable 10. Hammam Spa: Most Relaxing Day Spa 2026 – Toronto 11. Designs by Felicia Higdon: Best Wedding Planning Company 2026 – Southeast USA & LUXlife Client Satisfaction Excellence Award 2026 12. Bespoke Mental Health Care in a Boutique Office or From the Comfort of Home 13. Bunaken Oasis: Dive into Luxury 14. SpringVillas: Redefining the Luxury Guest Experience 15. Le Prieuré Saint-Nicolas: Best Heritage Guesthouse Retreat 2026 – France & Historic Wedding Venue of the Year 2026 – France 16. César Castrejón Cid: Best Local Travel & Events Management Specialists 2026 17. MYT Shutters: Shedding Light on Sustainable Luxury 18. How Advanced Architecture is Shaping Luxury Residences in Ecuador 20. Helping Newlyweds Make Magical Moments on Lake Como 21. Cacao Catering & Events: LUXlife Culinary Presentation Excellence Award 2026 22. Paradise Bay Resort: Best Seafront Resort 2026 – Malta & LUXlife Sustainable Hospitality & Guest Experience Excellence Award 2026 23. Purple Dragon: The World’s Best Family Club in the Heart of Chelsea 24. Kaffivagninn: Best Seafood Restaurant 2026 – Reykjavik 25. JeeTravels: The Best Way to Explore Northern Europe 26. Stöckl im Park: Best Brewery & Restaurant 2026 – Vienna 27. Life Grand Café: Best Luxury Dining Concept 2026 – Cape Town & LUXlife Customer Service Excellence Award 2026 Contents
4 | LUXlife Magazine In the newly unveiled campaign visuals, Purito Seoul highlights Natalia Dyer's distinctive natural beauty and understated elegance. With a globally admired presence, she has earned widespread recognition for her refined, authentic, and effortlessly captivating image. The brand shared that her graceful sensibility and genuine warmth closely reflect Purito Seoul's core values, making her an inspiring and fitting choice as its global muse. Natalia Dyer Named Global Muse for Purito Seoul Natalia Dyer, best known for her role in a hit global series, has been named the first global muse for Purito Seoul, a leading global skincare brand. The company plans to expand the campaign through a phased rollout of interview content and visual editorials. With Dyer, Purito Seoul aims to further solidify its brand identity across global markets. A representative from Purito Seoul stated, "Amid rapid growth in key overseas markets, we selected our global ambassador to further strengthen the brand's global presence and identity. This appointment marks a significant turning point in our journey toward becoming a global brand." The representative added, "We will continue to drive sustainable growth based on our product competitiveness and brand philosophy." Purito Seoul has consistently upheld a philosophy centered on fundamentals, even within the fast-evolving K-beauty landscape. The brand focuses on naturally derived ingredients, developed into scientifically formulated skincare solutions. Moving beyond the concept of clean beauty, it aims to establish itself as a trusted global skincare brand through a refined ingredient philosophy and advanced technology. Over the past four years, Purito Seoul has achieved approximately tenfold growth, maintaining steady momentum in global markets. The brand has built strong consumer trust through ingredient transparency, proven product performance, and word-of-mouth driven by real user experiences. Its growth and product excellence were further recognized with the "2025 Olive Young Awards – Rookie Category." Building on this momentum, the company aims to accelerate brand growth with a target of KRW 130 billion in revenue by 2026. "This appointment serves as a starting point for elevating our brand philosophy and advancing toward global brand status," the representative said. "We will continue to reinforce our philosophy and expertise more clearly across international markets."
News The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay is proud to introduce the Town & Country Chef Series, an exclusive new culinary program curated with Executive Chef Daniel Quintero. The series marks a unique collaboration between the legendary gastronomy of Honolulu on O'ahu and Wailuku "town" on Maui, and the rugged, authentic spirit of the North Shore's "country" lifestyle, all while supporting Hawaiʻi's local culinary community. To launch the series, the resort will welcome celebrated guest chef Sheldon Simeon, the beloved six-time James Beard Award nominee, two-time Top Chef Fan Favorite and author of Cook Real Hawaiʻi, for an intimate event on May 23 at the resort's signature restaurant, Alaia. Redefining the North Shore Dining Experience The "Town & Country" series is the latest evolution of the world-class cuisine at The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay, where dining venues redefine restaurants on Oʻahu with picturesque ocean vistas and locally inspired menus. From fresh island creations to globally influenced dishes, the resort's North Shore restaurants deliver unforgettable culinary journeys that celebrate Hawaiʻi's diverse flavors amid the aweinspiring natural beauty of the coastline. Hosted at the resort's signature restaurant Alaia, guests can enjoy the island's abundant bounty with locally inspired creations from each chef, while soaking in the picturesque beachfront Oʻahu setting. "We are thrilled to introduce this series as a way to celebrate the diversity of talent across our islands," said Dan Mizrahi, Director of Food & Beverage of The Ritz-Carlton O'ahu, Turtle Bay. "Bringing a chef of Sheldon Simeon's caliber to Alaia allows us to create a unique dialogue that honors both heritage and modern innovation, all while surrounded by the incredible ocean views and landscape that make this destination so special." The Launch: Top Chef Sheldon Simeon The Ritz-Carlton OʻAhu, Turtle Bay Introduces New Town & Country Chef Series Featuring Debut Guest Chef Sheldon Simeon For the series premiere and in celebration of the release of his second book, Ohana Style, Chef Sheldon Simeon brings his signature "interpreted local" style to the North Shore. Guests will enjoy an elevated dining experience where Simeon and Quintero co-create a six-course tasting menu that explores the evolution of island cooking. Each course is paired with selected wines from Kosta Browne Winery specifically chosen to complement the nuanced acidity, tropical sweetness, and bold umami of modern Hawaiʻi cuisine. Dining with a Purpose: Benefiting Chef Hui The Town & Country Chef Series is proud to partner with Chef Hui, a local nonprofit dedicated to building bridges between chefs, farmers, families, and food service providers to strengthen Hawaiʻi's food system and support those in need. In direct response to the recent Kona Low storms, a fundraiser will take place at each dinner, with proceeds donated to Chef Hui to provide North Shore farm relief and communityled resources to farmers affected by the storm. Additionally, Seisuke Knife will be contributing one of their knives as part of the fundraising efforts supporting Chef Hui. 2026 Series Calendar • Series Premiere: May 23, 2026 (Featuring Chef Sheldon Simeon) • Late Summer Session: September 5, 2026 (Chef Lee Anne Wong) • Harvest Session: November 7, 2026 (Chef Mark "Gooch" Noguchi) Reservations & Details Seating for the May 23 event at Alaia is highly limited to ensure an intimate connection between the chefs and guests. • Location: Alaia at The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay • Price: $180 per person • Experience: 6-Course Tasting Menu with Wine Pairings from Kosta Browne Winery • Reservations: Available via Town and Country Chef Series with Sheldon Simeon The North Shore is fully open and the resort continues to support the local community. The Ritz-Carlton O'ahu, Turtle Bay is located at 57091 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, Hawaii, USA, 96712. For more information, visit the website and follow The Ritz-Carlton O'ahu, Turtle Bay on Instagram and Facebook.
6 | LUXlife Magazine “For the love of nature.” Since its establishment in 1949, SWAROVSKI OPTIK has continued to hold its place as a global leader in precision optics. Its outstanding optics with appealing designs, rooted in deep experience and grown from within the heart of Europe, means the company itself has become synonymous with undeniable quality and care for our planet. To this day, the company prioritises quality, sustainability, nature, and, of course, our enjoyment of the beauty to behold around the globe. From binoculars to spotting scopes, accessories to gear, and bundles for making the most out of our time spent in nature, SWAROVSKI OPTIK has so much on offer. Upon arrival, we were greeted with friendly faces, light refreshments, and a peek at a range of binoculars and spotting scopes that we See the Unseen with SWAROVSKI OPTIK would be using later on in the day during our field test. We got a good look at the AT/ST Balance, new CL Companion, MY Junior, and more, before we nestled in for a presentation that would change the way we looked at nature going forward. Around the world, an astonishing number of us deeply enjoy being part of nature and seeing everything it has to share. Therefore, with SWAROVSKI OPTIK, we would like to present a new way to enjoy the natural world and its majestic inhabitants in any weather. Each of SWAROVSKI OPTIK’s products have been designed by nature lovers, for nature lovers. Its wide assortment of tools are redefining precision optics through perfected vision, shake-free image capturing, streamlined ergonomics, innovative accessibility for well-received handling and use, and highly sophisticated technology which goes hand in hand with elegant design. Whether we’re hiking, on safari, or anywhere else, the products from SWAROVSKI OPTIK deliver the ultimate optical vision through SWAROVISION and in the new image stabilized AT/ST Balance spotting scopes, SWAROBALANCE, meaning we can experience 1,000 measurements per second to ensure a stable and clear image. The adjustable eyecup for utmost comfort, whether we wear glasses or not, a built-in gyroscope sensor and electric motor to offset movement, and more, result in unrivalled, crystal-clear vision no matter where we are in the world. The CL Companion from SWAROVSKI OPTIK is waterproof so you don’t need to worry about the weather. The shoulder straps available are flexible and comfortable, and support the easy transportation of a tool that allows you to see the world through completely new eyes. With SWAROVSKI OPTIK you can witness every detail, remember everything, and savour the moment. “Your eyes in the wild.” One fine example of SWAROVSKI OPTIK’s products in motion comes from multi-award-winning photographer Richard Peters who has spent around 15 years capturing some of the most delicate, raw, and incredibly beautiful images and videos of wildlife on safari, and beyond. As part of the presentation, Richard explained just how much easier SWAROVSKI OPTIK’s binoculars, spotting scopes, and phone adapter accessories has made his work. The outcome speaks wonders, and we witnessed firsthand just how transformative SWAROVSKI OPTIK’s products are for documenting our stunning surroundings. For SWAROVSKI OPTIK, nature is one of the most precious parts of our world. The business understands that our time in nature is also precious, which is exactly why the company produces the highest quality tools for us to see the unseen which always surrounds us. For those special moments, where you see a flicker of white fur behind a tuft of tall grass on the horizon; On the 12th of May 2026, LUXlife Magazine visited the Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire to attend a private event hosted by SWAROVSKI OPTIK. Not only were we treated to light refreshments on arrival, an exquisite dining experience, and the lavish setting of the hotel and its grounds, but we were deeply nourished by the opportunity to learn more about a selection of SWAROVSKI OPTIK’s products. We even tried them ourselves to truly experience what it means to be part of nature.
Feature when you hear a distinct bird call darting across the sky; as you notice a shadow dart behind a tree in the distance, SWAROVSKI OPTIK is there to help you take more than a closer look. Each one of these products have been expertly crafted to not only bring you closer, but to take you right to the source of the flicker, the darting, and the shadow. You won’t just feel closer, you will feel at one with each subject as you are able to focus more clearly than ever before. When we stepped out of the hotel to take in its beautiful surroundings, with our SWAROVSKI OPTIK binoculars and scopes to hand, we were excited to be guided by estate ornithologist John Clark. The results of our private excursion were nothing short of breath-taking as our group caught glimpses of wildlife then focused deeply on them through SWAROVSKI OPTIK products. Equipped with the CL Companion and the AT/ST Balance Spotting Scopes, we were delighted to feel immersed in nature without missing a single thing. Ultimately, we experienced each moment with wonder and awe and we are proud to have been a part of SWAROVSKI OPTIK’s private event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire this May. Choosing SWAROVSKI OPTIK for your equipment is choosing quality, innovation, and uncompromisable results, and we witnessed that in person at the Four Seasons Hotel. You can see what we got up to here. “The world belongs to those who can see beauty. Experience the moment. See the unseen.” Company: SWAROVSKI OPTIK Website: https://www.swarovskioptik.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swarovski-optik/
8 | LUXlife Magazine Giant Leap Digital: Bringing Clarity to Luxury Marketing The luxury digital landscape is undergoing continuous evolution, and brands are working tirelessly to remain relevant to their exclusive audiences. Thanks to changing content preferences and fleeting trends, remaining engaging and ahead of the curve is a daunting task. Enter Giant Leap Digital, a luxury digital marketing agency dedicated to helping brands with strategic campaigns that speak the language of tomorrow’s high-net-worth audiences. We heard more from Luxury Accounts Strategist Hannah Blunt below. Since its inception in 2023, Giant Leap Digital has dedicated itself to helping luxury and finance brands access wealth audiences through creative, paid, earned, owned, and data-driven strategies. The agency specialises in digital transformation within high-value sectors, going beyond campaign delivery to build long-term, sustainable growth. This mindset has positioned Giant Leap as an invaluable growth partner for brands seeking to evolve their digital presence. It brings together industry leaders to consult on brand, commercial, and transformational challenges, providing clear, impartial advice and invaluable skills that allow digital businesses to thrive. Its work is delivered by a team of more than 50 experienced consultants, using a model intentionally built to challenge traditional agency structures and ensure that the people shaping the strategy are the same individuals delivering it, unlocking consistency. “At the same time,” added Hannah, “our remotefirst approach allows us to attract and retain exceptional talent, while fostering a more balanced and sustainable way of working. This is a model designed not just for performance, but for longevity.” The team at Giant Leap has invested significantly in understanding how affluent, high-net-worth audiences behave online, learning not just who they are but how they engage and what they value. The agency’s proprietary audience intelligence bridges the gap between brand perception and reality, layering behavioural data, intent signals, and cultural nuance over traditional wealth segmentation. Most importantly, Giant Leap understands the differences in mindset, digital habits, and expectations across affluent, HNW, and UHNW audiences. This allows the team to move beyond assumption-led marketing and deliver evidence-backed strategies that feel seamless, highly personalised, and relevant. As Hannah told us, “Every touch point is intentional.” She shared: “Our clients operate at the highest level, and they expect a standard of delivery that reflects their own. We mirror that expectation internally, ensuring every interaction, output, and recommendation is considered and precise.” At Giant Leap, every engagement begins by understanding where a brand is, where it wants to be, and what is preventing it from getting there. the team then designs bespoke programmes that drive meaningful change over incremental improvements. This insightful work is always executed with flexibility and precision, resulting in a service that feels intelligent, instinctive, commercially effective, and brand-first. Driven by a commitment to its clientele, Giant Leap has recently introduced Mini Leap. A more accessible extension of its core offering, Mini Leap has been designed for early-stage brands that require strategic digital support but are not yet in a position to invest at a larger scale. It allows Giant Leap to build relationships earlier on, supporting brands as they scale and evolve into more comprehensive programmes over time. Looking to the future, Giant Leap is focused on building a more adaptive, intelligent model that will allow it to respond quickly to change whilst maintaining a high level of craft. Building on its upward trajectory after being named London’s Best Luxury Digital Marketing Agency 2026, the agency intends to continue evolving alongside the needs of its clients and their audiences. “Digital expectations are rising,” Hannah concluded. “Luxury consumers increasingly expect seamless, immersive, and highly curated online journeys. This will shape the next phase of brand experience. Our goal is to remain at the forefront of that shift, helping our clients navigate change with clarity whilst continuing to deliver work that feels both modern and timeless.” Contact: Hannah Blunt Company: Giant Leap Digital Web Address: www.giantleapdigital.co.uk
Holiday 2026 | 9 Alexis explained: “Everything we do is designed to support that – whether it’s through the physical benefits of hot and cold therapy, or creating a space where people can genuinely catch-up and connect.” She continued: “Wellness can sometimes feel quite individual or even isolating, but at Soak Bathhouse we’ve created something that’s both restorative and social.” The goal is for people to leave feeling better than when they arrived, in a way that fits into their daily lives and has a real impact on how they feel. Its success in doing so all comes down to the details, from its large travertine mineral pools to the quality of its water and the way every space is designed. Everything just ‘flows’ from the moment a person walks in, and all of the facilities here feel elevated and considered without seeming out of reach. Again, this feeds back to the key point that Soak Bathhouse makes about seeing feeling good as part of a routine, not a one-off. “We’re really proud of building something that people don’t just visit once – but somewhere they come back to regularly because it fits into their lifestyle and genuinely makes them feel better.” There is something bigger going on in the world of wellness that this relates to, and Soak Bathhouse has struck a chord with so many people because wellness is becoming ‘more’ – more supplements, more biohacking, more steps in their routine. This is overwhelming for many, as wellness should be a way to switch off from the ‘more’ of daily life, not become part of the problem. Alexis sees Soak Bathhouse as being the antidote. “Instead of adding more, we’re creating a space where people can actually do less”, she told us. “It’s a simple, self-guided experience that takes the guesswork out. You don’t need to know exactly what you’re doing or follow a strict routine.” For those who favour some level of structure, the Soak & Massage service (a 50-minute massage paired with a 90-minute bathhouse session of pool, spa, steam, and cold plunges) is one of its popular experiences, but many others prefer simply to relax. Both, of course, are fine. By looking at everything through the lens of the guest, Soak Bathhouse is continuing to enhance its offerings to remove as much friction as possible, empowering people to fully switch off and make the most of their time at one of its locations. Long term, the aim is to continue to shift the idea of wellness into something more social and consistent, without it being a burden. The overarching message is that self-care does not have to be lonely or infrequent, it can be something that fits into daily life in a positive way. Contact: Alexis Dean Company: Soak Bathhouse Web Address: https://soakbathhouse.com.au/ Bathhouses have been luxurious centres for relaxing and socialising since back in ancient Rome, but they are increasingly relevant in today’s non-stop world. Recognising this, husband-and-wife duo Niki and Alexis Dean established the family-owned Soak Bathhouse to make wellness as affordable and accessible as they felt it should be. Following its recognition as the Best Luxury Urban Bathhouse & Spa 2026 – Australia, we spoke with Alexis for more on its five locations. A Modern Australian Bathhouse Making Wellness Easy and Affordable fter collectively spending years juggling the demands of their professional careers, family lives, and looking after their health, Niki and Alexis Dean had both come to rely on annual visits to health retreats as a way to rest and rejuvenate. Their experiences in these settings were incredible, but they felt as though this level of wellness should not only be accessible to a select few, leading them to look for ways to incorporate wellness into the regular schedules of people in their home of the Gold Coast and beyond. They decided this should be a space people can pop in and out of at their leisure, somewhere they could visit either solo or socially to disconnect from the grind and reconnect with themselves and those around them. Of course, it had to be affordable so that anyone could experience the benefits of taking the time to slow down and switch off. This vision was realised in 2020 when Soak Bathhouse Mermaid Beach, a communal bathhouse offering simple and affordable relaxation and rejuvenation, was born. Built on a foundation of inclusion, acknowledgement, and respect, all underpinned by a distinctive sense of social wellness, Soak Bathhouse has expanded to include five locations across Australia. Alongside its location in Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast, Soak Bathhouses can today be found in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Bondi Junction. Each of these locations is guided by the same belief: that happiness, connection, and day-to-day feelings all play a huge role in shaping a person’s wellbeing. A
10 | LUXlife Magazine eautiful meets spiritual at Hammam Spa, an ancient-inspired sanctuary where thoughtful design, advanced treatments, and its Canadian spa-grown brand Céla come together to restore balance, nurture beauty, and awaken the spirit. Hammam Spa has two locations to choose from, both in Ontario, the first being at Bayview Village Shopping Centre in North York, and the second in Toronto. Both have a choice range of packages and treatments to choose from, and both reflect the vision of Celine Tadrissi, Hammam Spa’s founder and CEO. Since starting out in this space in 2006, Celine has been reframing wellness in North America through a philosophy centred around hammam rituals, beauty, and spirituality. Under her leadership, Hammam Spa has blossomed into one of Canada’s leading spa providers for excellence and luxury, renowned for inviting every guest to pause, breathe, and reconnect – with themselves first of all but also with rituals and a sense of something greater. The first of its kind in Canada, Hammam Spa is the ultimate urban sanctuary for those seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of modern city life. By balancing the physical, sensorial, and emotional across its treatments, which include massages, facials, nail rituals, steam treatments, body treatments, and, of course, hammam-based treatments, Hamma Spa is contributing to improved overall health and wellness for every one of its guests. “All our services are related to health, beauty, and wellness”, explained Jennifer Harrington, who has been with Hammam Spa since 2016 and occupied various role including spa coordinator, spa manager, and, more recently, sales director. “We are seeing a large increase in body treatment trends which we are already experts on, so we are working with this to develop our services and treatment offerings.” Just one example of the innovation Hammam Spa stands for is the aforementioned Céla range of products it provides. This is just one of the brands used across its treatments, but the ties it has with the experience run deep and help to enhance the wellness journey of every guest. Some of the products from this line most commonly used in these treatments include Céla Seed to Skin, a multi-award-winning natural grain scrub, and Céla Black Soap, which is a natural, traditional black soap manufactured in Morocco and packaged in Canada. Thanks to their use of products such as those across the Céla range, every signature and body treatment offered by the team behind Hammam Spa helps set it apart, as too does this delivery of old-world rituals within a comfortable, modern-day setting. The result is that people return time and again for these treatments, even bringing along Most Relaxing Day Spa 2026 – Toronto Hammams, or Turkish baths, are traditional steam baths combining cleansing with relaxation, often in a ritualistic sense. These spaces have been around for more than 1,000 years and were once believed to purify the soul. Spas today have a much different purpose, but by offering a modern retreat inspired by these ancient traditions, Hammam Spa by Céla stands as a place of renewal and growth, as well as the ultimate spa experience in Toronto. Long-time team member Jennifer Harrington was on hand for more about Canada’s top day spa. family and friends for special occasions, such as Mother’s Day, which is celebrated in Canada on the second Sunday in May. These spas proved especially popular with moms again this year! A range of gift cards and package items prove popular with those looking to share the experience of Hammam Spa with loved ones, and its digital store also makes it possible to bring some of the magic behind these treatments into a person’s home, meaning wellness is always within reach. It is this unique blend that continues to position Hammam Spa as both a united brand and Canada’s top day spa. Named Most Relaxing Day Spa 2026 – Toronto, Hammam Spa by Céla delivers a spa experience that is quite unlike anything else we have ever seen, resulting in acclaim from both the industry and its clients alike. As one client wrote: “The perfect place to unwind and relax. The hammam treatment was authentic and the service was exceptional. Highly recommend!” Receiving this level of praise is one of the most rewarding things for the team here, and we are delighted to add to this by featuring the spa in these pages. Contact: Jennifer Harrington Company: Hammam Spa Web Address: https://hammamspa.ca/ B
Holiday 2026 | 11 Best Wedding Planning Company 2026 – Southeast USA & LUXlife Client Satisfaction Excellence Award 2026 Taking the phrase ‘custom weddings’ to a whole other level, Felicia Higdon covers everything from the planning and coordination to the flower decorations and table arrangements, making many of the pieces she uses by hand and designing the rest on the back of her expertise. Mainly working with professionals from markets like New York and Chicago, Felicia brings her entire wedding inventory to most places in the US, and will fly anywhere in the world to do a wedding. For more on the services of this custom wedding coordinator, we caught up with Felicia. A full-service wedding designer and planner specialising in bouquets and handmade table arrangements, Felicia Higdon often begins by redesigning the area in question (her design degree comes in handy here), enhancing the bride-groom table with custom pottery vases and containers that she makes herself. This is just the start, and using a comprehensive master timeline to encompass all vendors and keep the schedule of the day running smoothly, Felicia ensures every wedding is as perfect as the couple it celebrates. As Felicia’s namesake company, Designs by Felicia Higdon, suggests, she is a designer at heart, and she loves nothing more than transforming empty spaces into the very best settings for her clients. She does this with a little help from a full warehouse worth of wedding décor, which contains everything from palm trees and chandeliers to pedestals, turning any space into the ultimate luxury venue. Then there is the flower side of her business, which allows Felicia to tap into her design mindset by delivering beautiful, fully custom floral displays in the likes of handmade pottery and wooden vases, meaning the newlyweds have an eternal keepsake even after the flowers have withered away. “I love working with flowers”, she added, “and I love putting together arrangements! And now I love doing the pottery for the added custom touch that sees someone has a keepsake item that isn’t another glass vase.” Felicia strives to be a blessing to her clients through these services, as she knows first-hand the difficulties of weddings, having started in this space following her experiences with those of her own two daughters. She explained: “I knew the whole process could be done better, so, with their encouragement, I started my own business.” By doing most of the work herself, and managing the rest through her role as planner, clients only have to deal with one point of contact, and Felicia knows exactly what every client is after. “There is no other planner or coordinator that does what I do. They don’t do the flowers themselves, they don’t invest in decor, and they don’t have the talent to hand to make the pottery and huge floral displays that I do.” The ‘showstoppers’ of Felicia’s weddings are undoubtedly the custom products she delivers, and she works hard to not only deliver these, but to give every couple the fun wedding they desire and deserve. When she really ‘clicks’ with a client, which she almost always does, Felicia explained that she will jump through hoops to help them. To this end, she once did three huge weddings from start to finish within just 30 days. Whether she is flying across the world to work with a bride in the location she envisions for her dream wedding or rescuing frustrated couples from disastrous wedding planners, Felicia continues to deliver dream weddings in even the most challenging circumstances, particularly in an industry where it is hard Designs by Felicia Higdon to get on venue lists due to them instead recommending everyone from people they already know and their own employees to those offering unethical financial kickbacks. However, given her international reach, custom approach, and encompassing delivery, Felicia Higdon is continuing to foster success stories, and is she is aiming to fly out to more locations to bring the luxury weddings directly to her clients for the rest of this year and beyond. After all, there is only one wedding day, and having heard countless horror stories over the years of terrible experiences, Felicia is dedicated to remaining as hands-on as possible to ensure this never happens to her. Giving her full attention to every client so that they can enjoy their big day whilst she still carries out all of the detailed work, Felicia Higdon sets the bar for client satisfaction in the wedding planning industry, making her more than fitting of being recognised with two awards in this feature. Contact: Felicia Higdon Company: Designs by Felicia Higdon Web Address: www.weddingsbyfelicia.com
12 | LUXlife Magazine Bespoke Mental Health Care in a Boutique Office or From the Comfort of Home For some, their status, lifestyle, or employment means that traditional psychology services in a crowded office are not right for them. This does not mean these groups should have to miss out, and this is where Concierge Psychology in Atlanta and Los Angeles comes in. Providing VIP concierge counselling and coaching to society’s elite, there are no busy waiting rooms or insurance records here, with no chance of privacy being violated. Named the Best Boutique Psychology Practice 2026 – USA as a result, we take a closer look at these services below. The premier psychologists Concierge Psychology provides all stand for concierge treatment at its best, with patients able to visit them at their private offices or opt for on-call, in-home, or telehealth appointments from the privacy of their own spaces. All of these services are flexible, confidential, and customised to the individual needs of the client, allowing society’s elite to be the best, most healthy versions of themselves without sacrificing on the level of luxury and service they are now accustomed to. Dr Rebecca Johnson Osei, a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, is the woman behind the practice, and she leverages her skills as a therapist and a life coach to deliver a premier service that can integrate seamlessly with a client’s concierge medical team. This level of service has made therapy more accessible than ever for her clients, with her blend of inperson and online provisions having led to an integrative approach that overcomes many of the limitations of a traditional therapist’s office. “I wanted to do more than just build a practice where anyone could feel safe and comfortable getting the support they need, I wanted to build a practice that reflected the same level of luxury and service you expect in other areas of your life.” Joining Dr Osei is a team of five leading Atlanta psychologists all with a range of specialties. The team are mainly based in Georgia (with two additional psychologists in its California offices), but their telehealth services cover 44 states across the US, ensuring coverage for almost every potential client. Regardless of doctor or location, the psychotherapy performed at Concierge Psychology blends evidence-based practices with truly personalised treatment, which means no two clients are treated the same. As for what the services here actually look like, Concierge Psychology goes beyond telehealth (the use of phones, computers, or other devices to connect with mental health providers remotely) to cover therapy/coaching for everything from stress and relationship issues to PTSD, anxiety, depression, and more. It can also carry out testing and assessments to help determine the presence of a mental illness of personality disorder, including ADHD tests for those struggling to focus and achieve. Lastly, Dr Osei also utilises her training and personal business experience to offer business consulting, through a range of services relating to advertising, customer acquisition/retention, and employee relations. These offerings are a perfect crossover for Dr Osei’s clientele, many of whom are high-performing, high-net-worth individuals with major stakes in the business environment. The relationship they have with their investments is intrinsically linked to their health, so this synergy is one that makes sense. These services have resulted in Concierge Psychology receiving acclaim since Dr Osei founded it back in 2012, in addition to being featured across the likes of the BBC, Tubi, and FOX 5. We are privileged to add to this deserved recognition by recognising Concierge Psychology as the Best Boutique Psychology Practice 2026 – USA. More on the concierge services it provides to its esteemed clients can be found at the web address below, with the company also having a presence on social media. Contact: Dr Rebecca Johnson Osei Company: Concierge Psychology Web Address: https://conciergepsychology.com/
Holiday 2026 | 13 Located in the Coral Triangle of Indonesia, Bunaken National Park is renowned for its rich marine biodiversity and pristine underwater ecosystems. Paired with crystal-waters and vibrant coral reefs, Bunaken is a top-tier travel choice for passionate scuba divers and conservationists alike. Showcasing all that this dream destination has to offer is Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort & Spa, a leading dive resort dedicated to providing a luxury five-star diving experience whilst keeping its ecological footprint to a minimum. Sales and Marketing Director Georgie Bartlett told us more. Bunaken Oasis: Dive into Luxury or supporting different levels of experience. It creates a feeling of ease and confidence, whether guests can simply enjoy the moment instead of thinking about logistics.” Whilst luxury is a top priority, Bunaken Oasis places an equally strong emphasis on sustainability and community. Through ongoing conservation work and local engagement, the team ensures that the experiences it offers contribute positively to the environment and communities around them. The resort uses its own bore holes, and even sea water, with water makers and ultraviolet treatments to ensure that all water in the resort is fully drinkable whilst mitigating the use of plastic bottles. Wherever possible, Bunaken Oasis hires Indonesian employees for all positions across the resort in efforts to support the local community. The resort has built a highly trained, attentive, and genuinely engaged team, demonstrating a capability for anticipating needs and a passion for creating a personalised guest experience. The level of care and consistency displayed by the team creates memorable moments for guests, adding true depth to every stay. Looking to the future, Bunaken Oasis has a number of exciting developments in the works, all focused on adding further depth to the experience rather than merely expanding it. One of the most pivotal areas for the team is the evolution of its diving offerings, particularly with the introduction of Halcyon rebreathers and ongoing team training. This will allow Bunaken Oasis to provide longer, more immersive, and highly personalised dives. Concurrently, the resort will continue building onto its sustainability and conservation work, with more opportunities for guests to engage with the environment and local community during their stay. In fact, Bunaken Oasis is enhancing the guest journey as a whole, with a stronger focus on personalisation to make each stay feel even more intuitive and seamlessly tailored. Such an unwavering commitment to every aspect of its offerings reaffirms precisely why Bunaken Oasis has been named Indonesia’s Best Luxury Dive Resort 2026 in the Leaders in Luxury Awards 2026. In light of the resort’s significant success, Georgie concluded, “At its heart, the resort is about more than just diving. It is about creating meaningful experiences, developing people, and safeguarding one of the world’s most remarkable underwater ecosystems for future generations.” Contact: Georgie Bartlett Company: Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort & Spa Web Address: www.bunakenoasis.com ince 2016, Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort & Spa has been on a mission to deliver exceptional, sustainable dive experiences that connect guests with the extraordinary biodiversity of the Bunaken National Park, whilst actively protecting that environment and supporting its local community. Its team is guided by the core values of sustainability and environmental responsibility, community and empowerment, and excellence in guest experience. Bunaken Oasis offers 12 large, traditionally built luxury villas that overlook the Bunaken marine park. This includes one family villa with two bedrooms, and one villa specifically positioned for guests who may have difficulty walking. The resort features a free-form infinity pool, a chill-out cocktail bar and full-service restaurant serving Indonesian and international cuisine, as well as an air-conditioned library and fullequipped Dive Centre. In a competitive industry, Bunaken Oasis stands out for the way it brings every element together to form a genuinely cohesive, highquality experience. Attention to detail runs through every aspect of the resort, from the design and upkeep of its villas to the overall flow of the experience. Nothing is ever left to chance at Bunaken Oasis, and that consistency entirely underpins the resort’s luxury positioning. Across its luxury offerings, Bunaken Oasis’ dive operation is a key point of focus. The resort’s Dive Centre contains a classroom with a 4K flatscreen television for dive briefings and photography workshops, and a spacious camera room with charging points in abundance. With small group sizes, experienced guides, excellent safety standards, and a deep respect for the marine environment, Bunaken Oasis delivers a diving experience that feels both premium and meaningful. “Rather than treating diving as a schedule to follow, we approach it as a fully guided, highly personalised experience,” Georgie explained. “Small group sizes allow our guides to tailor each dive to the individuals in the water, whether that is adjusting pace, focusing on specific marine life, S
14 | LUXlife Magazine not to grow into the biggest, but rather to be known as the best in quality and trust.” With this mission in mind, the team at SpringVillas goes the extra mile to enhance the guest experience. As well as offering accommodation, the company also provides additional services and support, such as organising transfers, grocery shopping, private chefs, regular cleaning, massages, babysitting, cultural tours and experiences, adventurous activities, and more. It aims to create moments that stay with people for life, making every aspect of their stay as seamless and worry-free as possible. Since its inception, SpringVillas has successfully ensured exceptional holiday experiences for more than 25,000 guests. Its villas have seen returning guests for over a decade, testifying to the high quality and seamless services it delivers with each stay. The company has proven that contemporary luxury truly lies in the human relationships, time, and privacy it provides to guests, and has successfully established a reputation for personalised hospitality and exclusive services in the Algarve. For this reason, SpringVillas has been named the Algarve’s Best Villa Rental Company 2026. Looking to the future of SpringVillas, Miguel shared: “We are an innovative company, but with traditional values. We are always looking for ways to deliver a better service and innovate based on our values, ensuring that our quality and authenticity are never compromised. There are indeed many ideas to implement that we have not yet seen any competitor do, but at the moment we cannot reveal those plans. “Ultimately, our goal is to always deliver more value every year to those who visit us, without ever losing our essence and values.” Contact: João and Miguel Silva Company: SpringVillas Web Address: www.springvillas.net “We know that holidays are a precious moment in people’s lives, capable of creating memories that last a lifetime.” SpringVillas was founded in 2012 by brothers João and Miguel Silva, born from their simple, shared belief: luxury is not about material items, but about how a place makes you feel. On a mission to create experiences that leave lasting memories for families and friends alike, the pair have dedicated over a decade to growing SpringVillas into the Algarve’s leading luxury villa hospitality company. Today, SpringVillas manages a carefully curated portfolio of 12 exclusive luxury villas across the Algarve, each chosen for their unique character, comfort, and ability to bring people together. These villas are located in some of the most sought-after destinations across the Algarve, including Alvor, Portimão, Silves, Loulé, Lagoa, Praia de Galé, and Albufeira. Within this portfolio, SpringVillas believes its most standout offering to be Villa Penina Majestic, a large and luxurious private holiday villa located in Penina Golf Course, close to Alvor and Portimão. The villa was built around the concept of a private hotel, with a comprehensive suite of amenities that offer guests a five-star experience with the privacy and freedom of their own home. Each of SpringVillas’ villas are designed for groups of friends and families wanting to spend quality time together whilst enjoying the very best of the Algarve. The company has made significant investment in amenities across its villas, equipping its accommodations with heated and indoor pools, Jacuzzis, barbecue areas, cinemas, games rooms, tennis courts, mini-golf, bicycles, and more. The scale of SpringVillas’ collection is an intentional choice; owning luxury properties is a simple matter of investment, but delivering luxury to guests requires far more. Today, more than ever, luxury in hospitality is defined by the guest experience and the services provided. Guests expect connection and warm welcomes, delivered by a meticulously chosen team demonstrating strong values of honesty, helpfulness, and a genuine interest in serving people. “For this reason, today we only manage 12 villas,” João told us, “because growing solely for profit, without finding the right assets and the right teams, leads to a decrease in quality in the long term. Our strategy is SpringVillas: Redefining the Luxury Guest Experience The sun-drenched Algarve is one of Portugal’s most picturesque regions, offering tourists a delightful mixture of beautiful beaches, charming towns, and a vibrant, welcoming culture. The region has steadily gained popularity as a top-tier tourist destination in recent years, having achieved record tourism revenue in 2025. Showcasing all that the Algarve has to offer is SpringVillas, offering guests an unrivalled collection of luxury villas and exceptional service. We spoke with Co-Founders João and Miguel Silva below, as SpringVillas is named in the Leaders in Luxury Awards 2026.
Holiday 2026 | 15 Best Heritage Guesthouse Retreat 2026 – France & Historic Wedding Venue of the Year 2026 – France The Pont Saint-Nicolas de Campagnac is a 12th-century landmark built by monks who lived in a stone monastery on the edge of the Gardon River. Today, this monastery has been transformed into Le Prieuré Saint-Nicolas, a stylish boutique hotel offering a historic stay overlooking the Pont Saint-Nicolas de Campagnac. We took a closer look at this exceptional establishment below, as Le Prieuré Saint-Nicolas is named in the Global Wedding Awards 2026. Le Prieuré Saint-Nicolas is an establishment steeped in rich history and culture, located in the heart of the Nîmes-Uzès-Pont du Gard triangle. The hotel was acquired in 2020 by Arnaud and Pauline Le Bihan, who have since invested significant time and effort in transforming the 12th-century building into a multifaceted accommodation that showcases every aspect of the beautiful region it calls home. Occitanie is the second-largest region in mainland France, known for its diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage. The region is home to the picturesque department of Gard, named after the Gardon River. This spectacular setting offers travellers myriad opportunity for exploration, from visiting Le Duché d’Uzès or the Place aux Herbes in Uzès, and the Arena of Nîmes or the Maison Carrée in Nîmes to strolling through the cobbled streets of Avignon or exploring the salt marshes of the Camargue. Regardless of a person’s reason for visiting Occitanie, Le Prieuré Saint-Nicolas invites its guests to share the Le Bihan family home and delight in its friendly and authentic atmosphere. The property boasts two renovated guesthouses – the Cloister House and the House of the Refectory – each boasting breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, including the Pont Saint-Nicolas de Campagnac and the Gardon. Le Prieuré Saint-Nicolas offers 11 bedroom suites across the two guesthouses, with the Cloister House containing six and the House of the Refectory offering five. Two of these rooms have been designed to accommodate large families of up to five people, with one featuring a terrace in the House of the Refectory and some in the Cloister House showcasing private balconies. Each room has been designed with the utmost guest satisfaction in mind. Breakfast is included in the room rate, and each room features five-star bedding from Le Matelas Français, sheets and towels made in France by the house of Garnier Thiebaut, and natural soaps, shampoos, and conditioners provided by L:A Bruket. Both the Cloister House and the House of the Refectory can be rented in whole or as part of a partial or total site privatisation. Privatisation is a significant offering at Le Prieuré Saint-Nicolas, as many families, friends, and professionals opt to utilise the property for their special events. Boasting a 12th-century chapel, gardens and terraces, a natural swimming pool, a pétanque court, and unique reception areas that include a bar, tasting cellar, crypt, and more, it is no wonder that the establishment has become a top-tier venue for celebrations and corporate events alike, truly earning its status as France’s Historic Wedding Venue of the Year 2026. Events at Le Prieuré Saint-Nicolas can hold parties as small as ten guests to as big as 200+, offering a variety of events that suit any celebratory need. For corporate clients, the estate provides space for work meetings, team building exercises, sports activities, product launches, seminars, and settings for filming or shooting. For families and friends, it caters to weddings, birthdays, communions, baptisms, New Year’s Eve events, and more. Outside of events, Le Prieuré Saint-Nicolas provides a wide range of exceptional gastronomy experiences to guests. Locus Solus, the ephemeral restaurant operated by Chef Cédric Olenine, offers a seasonal menu showcasing a selection of high-quality regional produce, whilst the Chai and the Crypte shop operates as a tasting and sales cellar. There, guests can sample and purchase from collections of wines, honey, beers, chocolate, coffees, and oils, as well as decorations, tableware, and books. In just six years, Arnaud and Pauline Le Bihan have transformed Le Prieuré Saint-Nicolas from an admired relic into a thriving boutique hotel that honours its long-standing history whilst offering its guests a fresh and unique experience in the heart of Gard. With many projects still in development across the property, we at LUXlife Magazine eagerly anticipate what the future holds for Le Prieuré Saint-Nicolas, appropriately awarded the status of France’s Best Heritage Guesthouse Retreat 2026. Contact: Arnaud Le Bihan Company: Le Prieuré Saint-Nicolas Web Address: www.prieure-saint-nicolas.com
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