If you had told me a year ago that the luxury travel story of 2026 would be yet another summer of European dominance, I might have been skeptical. After all, geopolitical tensions were high, and the industry consensus was that 2026—the year of America250—would be the year of the “Great Domestic Pivot.”
In this issue, I sit down with Elie Maalouf, CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts, to discuss his company’s global momentum, and check in with Agnès Roquefort, Accor’s chief development officer of luxury and lifestyle brands. Leading the largest hotel company in Europe gives her serious bragging rights in this environment, and both her and Elie’s insights on the sector’s resilience are a must-read.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Luxury Travel Advisor.
