Preferred Hotels & Resorts has spent the second quarter of 2026 collecting places worth crossing continents for, adding ten independent properties.
The map runs from Indonesia and Kenya to Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates and the secluded western tip of Saint Thomas. Some are built for stillness, others for the pleasure of a city discovered by bicycle. A Balinese wellness resort of 184 suites sits in the same intake as a 48-key townhouse on one of Lisbon’s most photographed streets.
“As travellers continue seeking more meaningful and personalised ways to experience the world, we are proud to welcome these exceptional independent properties to our global portfolio. Each reflects a strong sense of place and individuality, whether through thoughtful design, immersive cultural connections, innovative wellness offerings, or exceptional service, further expanding the diverse range of experiences available through Preferred Hotels & Resorts.”
Lindsey Ueberroth, Chief Executive Officer, Preferred Hotels & Resorts
The Meru Sanur, Bali
The Meru Sanur sits along Sanur Beach on Bali’s quieter south-eastern coast, offering 184 suites and joining the L.V.X. Collection. Its position matters as much as its architecture. The resort falls within ‘The Sanur’, Indonesia’s first special economic zone devoted to health and wellness tourism, where traditional healing practices operate alongside modern medical science.
Taru Pramana Spa & Wellness anchors the property, with treatments and longer wellness journeys drawing on centuries-old Balinese methods. Rooms take their inspiration from the island’s natural surroundings and spiritual heritage, and the wider programme covers mindfulness sessions and oceanfront downtime. The vibrant centre of Sanur remains a short walk away.
San Clemente Palace, Venice
San Clemente Palace occupies its own island in the Venetian lagoon, roughly 15 acres of gardens, courtyards and restored monastery buildings with 900 years of history behind them. The Legend Collection entrant holds 190 rooms and suites looking out across either the parkland or the water, and a complimentary shuttle boat covers the short crossing to Piazza San Marco. Arriving by private launch rather than by crowded vaporetto sets the tone before check-in.
Three restaurants operate across the island, among them Acquerello for lagoon-side dinners and Insieme for slower mornings. A heated outdoor pool, tennis court, spa and a beautifully restored 12th-century chapel fill the space between meals, and rotating art installations appear throughout the grounds. The hotel runs seasonally from late March to early November, which makes the shoulder months particularly appealing.
Ilora Retreats, Masai Mara
Ilora Retreats occupies 30 acres of protected wilderness within Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, and the numbers tell the story. Fourteen tented suites across that acreage means space, silence and a guide-to-guest ratio that supports observation-led wildlife encounters rather than convoy game viewing. The camp entered the Lifestyle Collection this quarter.
Days centre on game drives in pursuit of the Big Five, with hot air balloon safaris, bush walks and wildlife photography sessions filling the gaps. Cultural exchanges with the local Maasai community form part of the offering, as does a spa for anyone who has spent six hours in a Land Cruiser. Evenings gather around the fire beneath an unusually generous sky.
Wynn Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah
Wynn Al Marjan Island is the largest arrival by some distance, a $5.1 billion resort rising on a purpose-built island of more than 60 hectares in the Arabian Gulf. A 70-storey tower reaching 352 metres will hold around 1,530 rooms, suites and residences, among them 297 Enclave suites, two Royal Apartments, four Garden Townhomes and 10 Marina Estates. The Legend Collection member sits 15 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and under an hour from Dubai.
The amenity list matches the ambition, with 22 restaurants, lounges and bars, 12 pools, a beach club, a five-star spa, a theatre, a skylit shopping parterre and 420 metres of private white-sand beach. A deep-water marina has been built to take superyachts, which tells its own story about the intended crowd. Wynn Resorts has confirmed a September 2027 opening for the property, developed alongside Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding.
Via Antwerp, Belgium
Via Antwerp has opened in Zurenborg, a residential quarter better known to architecture enthusiasts than to weekend visitors, and its 176 guestrooms and suites borrow from the district’s celebrated Art Nouveau facades. The Lifestyle Collection entrant runs a rolling calendar of art exhibitions, live music, yoga classes and pop-up dining, with bicycles available for exploring the city properly.
MEA, the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant and bar, serves from morning through to late evening and draws locals as well as guests. The result reads as a neighbourhood hotel with genuine footfall rather than a lobby that empties at nine.
MYTHIC SANA Downtown Suites, Lisbon
MYTHIC SANA Downtown Suites has taken up residence on Rua Áurea in the Baixa Pombalina district, joining the Legend Collection with 48 guestrooms and suites inside a carefully restored historic building. Its Golden Sleeves Butler service handles everything from curated itineraries to in-suite arrangements, while BLACK MOON Gastrobar contributes contemporary plates, cocktails and a dedicated Champagne Bar.
The Botany follows this winter on the secluded western tip of Saint Thomas, set within the 300-acre Preserve at Botany Bay. Twenty villa-style accommodations will look out across turquoise water, with two pools, each served by its own bar, plus a spa, nature walks, yoga and water-based activity. Caribbean flavours will drive the kitchen through a modern treatment.
The Botany, Saint Thomas
The Botany follows this winter on the secluded western tip of Saint Thomas, set within the 300-acre Preserve at Botany Bay. Twenty villa-style accommodations will look out across turquoise water, with two pools, each served by its own bar, plus a spa, nature walks, yoga and water-based activity.
Caribbean flavours will drive the kitchen through a modern treatment, and the L.V.X. Collection debut leans on personalised service and curated experiences to introduce guests to the spirit of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Montebelo Vista Alegre Lisboa Chiado Hotel, Lisbon
Lisbon collects a second entry this quarter with the Lifestyle Collection arrival of Montebelo Vista Alegre Lisboa Chiado Hotel, set in a restored historic building on Largo do Barão de Quintela. The 58 rooms and suites carry the hand of Vista Alegre, the centenary Portuguese porcelain house, whose artisans hand-painted original works throughout the property. Reception opens with a large porcelain display beneath a skylight that pulls Lisbon’s light down through the staircase.
Each of the three wings follows its own theme, so rooms facing Rua das Flores take floral motifs, those on Rua do Alecrim carry rosemary and other natural notes, and the ones looking over the square use biscuit porcelain, with original stucco ceilings retained in the suite. The Tagus is a five-minute walk away, with Bairro Alto, Cais do Sodré and Príncipe Real all within easy reach on foot.
Teatro Luxury Apartments, Florence
Teatro Luxury Apartments joins under Preferred Residences, and the building has an unusually good backstory. The former Teatro Comunale di Firenze on Via Magenta opened in 1862 as the Politeama Fiorentino and served the city as a cultural fixture for over a century before its restoration into 156 residences under Starhotels Collezione.
The apartments run from studio flats to three-bedroom layouts of 121 to 126 square metres, each with a fully equipped kitchen, separate living area and finishes that lean on Canaletto walnut, oak parquet and black Saint Laurent marble.
Short, medium and long stays are all catered for, and guests get access to Circolo del Tennis Firenze 1898, with its clay courts, padel courts and summer pool. Santa Maria Novella station and the Lungarni are both a short walk from the door.
The Victoria Killarney, County Kerry
The Victoria Killarney brings 33 rooms and a Michelin Key to the Lifestyle Collection, sitting on the Muckross Road with Killarney National Park at the end of the drive. The family-run hotel keeps a country-house character while using bolder colour and lighter decoration than the Victorian framing might suggest, and rooms vary in size and shape with goose-down duvets throughout.
The Courtyard Restaurant has become something of a local fixture, while the Ivy Lounge handles all-day food, cocktails and two open fires for the wetter Kerry afternoons. The Botanical terrace comes into its own when the weather behaves. Walking trails and a cycle path cross the property, with bicycle hire available next door and Lough Leane, Muckross Abbey and the Ring of Kerry all within reach.