The Luxe Lens

  Four Meliá Hotels International (MHI) properties in Thailand have clinched inclusion in the prestigious MICHELIN Guide Hotel Selection 2026, marking a significant milestone for the Spanish hotel group’s growing presence in the Thailand and its strategic alliance with Thailand’s leading integrated lifestyle real estate group Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC). Spanning four of Thailand’s most compelling destinations and representing two Meliá Hotels International brands, the selected properties are 234-room Meliá Pattaya Hotel, Thailand 208-room INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit, 260-room Meliá Chiang Mai and 200-room Meliá Koh Samui. The MICHELIN Guide’s hotel selection is curated by its inspectors, who travel anonymously and independently to identify notable hotel experiences around the world. Opened in February 2025, Meliá Pattaya Hotel, the newest of the four properties, commands expansive views of the Gulf of Thailand. Its design pays homage to Pattaya’s ethnic di...

 Fusion Hotel Group has signed a long-term hotel management agreement with Han Spaces to develop Fusion Resort Tuyen Lam Lake Da Lat, a new wellness-led resort overlooking Tuyen Lam Lake in Da Lat, recently named by Travel + Leisure as Asia’s “New Retreat Capital.” Set across 11 acres at the foot of a lush hillside, surrounded by pine forest and overlooking Tuyen Lam Lake, the resort will comprise 15 villas and a 90-room hotel. Facilities will include all-day dining and specialty restaurants and bars, meeting and event spaces, a kids’ club, swimming pool, yoga and fitness center, and Fusion’s signature Maia Spa featuring 14 treatment rooms. The resort will bring Fusion’s signature all-spa-inclusive wellness concept to Vietnam’s Central Highlands, complemented by the brand’s “breakfast anywhere, anytime” offering and personalized service from its “Fusionistas,” who combine the roles of personal host, lifestyle concierge and local guide. Scheduled to open in the second quarter of 202...

  Casio continues to push the boundaries of G-SHOCK design and engineering with a new trio of timepieces that explores the use of blue sapphire crystal across its MR-G and GMW collections. Leading the release is the MRG-D5000, an exceptionally limited edition of just 20 pieces worldwide and the first G-SHOCK timepiece to incorporate blue sapphire crystal components into a shock resistant structure. The MRG-D5000 represents a significant technical achievement for Casio, combining a bezel crafted entirely from blue sapphire crystal with a proprietary screwless multi-component construction developed specifically to protect the material against impact. The result brings together advanced engineering, fine craftsmanship and the distinctive aesthetic associated with sapphire crystal, while remaining true to the durability that has defined G-SHOCK. Alongside the MRG-D5000, Casio is introducing two additional timepieces that further explore the use of blue sapphire crystal. The MRG-B5000SA...

  YSL Beauty is bringing a distinctly couture-inspired touch to everyday skincare with the launch of the Care Crush Hand & Body Serum-In-Cream — a pocket-sized treatment designed to moisturise, support the skin barrier and double as a covetable fashion accessory. Inspired by the Maison’s iconic YSL heart, Care Crush arrives in a glossy white, heart-shaped case that feels more like a miniature designer collectible than a conventional tube of hand cream. A matching limited-edition keyring allows it to be attached to a handbag or carried as part of a beauty-on-the-go routine. Beyond its statement-making appearance, the formula combines the concentrated feel of a serum with the comforting moisture of a lightweight cream. It is created for beauty lovers who want effective hydration without leaving the hands or body feeling heavy, greasy or sticky. Serum-In-Cream Care for Hands and Body At the heart of Care Crush is a skincare-focused blend containing 2% niacinamide, Ceramide NP and ...

Two of Thailand’s most iconic beachfront resorts, Banyan Tree Samui and Banyan Tree Krabi, have been awarded Two Keys by the MICHELIN Guide to Thailand for the third consecutive year. Equivalent to MICHELIN stars for restaurants, the award of “Two Keys” is bestowed on a hotel or resort described by MICHELIN as “an exceptional stay”, in that it offers a remarkable experience in every regard, including distinctive character, outstanding design and impeccable service. The announcement follows a comprehensive evaluation of the 5-star hotels by anonymous MICHELIN Guide inspectors and reaffirms Banyan Tree’s leadership in meaningful luxury hospitality in southern Thailand. “To retain Two Keys in an increasingly competitive market is a significant achievement,” said Banyan Tree Krabi General Manager Haruethai Maneerat. “This is a reminder that hospitality today is not just about luxury — it’s about consistency, soul, and a connection to place. Our resort embodies Banyan Tree’s founding ethos:...

 Banyan Tree Samui, one of Thailand’s leading beachfront resorts, has announced a partnership with T.A.I Studio, bringing a collection of handwoven bags and baskets from Phatthalung in southern Thailand to the resort’s onsite boutique, Banyan Tree Gallery Samui. The collection is made from krajood sedge and banana tree fibre — materials grown and gathered in Phatthalung — transformed by combining traditional weaving and production methods with contemporary design. T.A.I Studio was founded by husband-and-wife Nick and Sai Rawling as a way of connecting these existing materials, skills and making traditions with luxury hospitality. Today the studio works alongside a network of growers, weavers and specialist makers around Phatthalung, with different hands contributing weaving, hand-loomed cotton, embroidery, leatherwork and finishing. “When these traditions are thoughtfully integrated into contemporary hospitality, something else becomes possible,” said Rawling. “Visitors encounter a...