The Resort Renaissance

How retreats around the world are redefining renewal through design, sustainability and a sense of place

From the misty shores of Loch Lomond to the sun-splashed coast of Antigua and the mountains of Northern California, resorts are reinventing what it means to retreat. Their evolution reflects broader travel shifts: sustainability that feels personal, design that tells a story and experiences that go well beyond the pool deck. Across continents, meeting planners and leisure travelers alike are finding that renewal now comes with deeper roots—and sometimes, a circular saw.

Scotland’s Sustainable Vision

At Cameron House on Loch Lomond, renewal begins in the forest. This five-star Scottish estate has launched an on-site wood-milling initiative that turns necessity into innovation. When trees are removed for safety or ecological reasons, they’re now milled and repurposed into usable materials for new projects throughout the resort, from wildlife habitats to furniture made of oak, larch and beech.

“As part of Cameron House’s ongoing commitment to circular principles, which focus on minimizing waste, reusing resources and extending the life of materials, we are dedicated to making the most of everything our estate provides,” said Tim Henson, the resort’s environment and sustainability manager. “Ultimately, it’s about working with what we already have, rather than consuming more.”

The initiative is an extension of Cameron House’s land management plan, which guides conservation across 400 acres. It complements a 3-to-1 native tree replanting policy—three new trees for every one removed—and sits alongside other biodiversity-focused practices like wildflower meadows, “Untidy Garden” habitats and on-site beehives.

This attention to stewardship threads through the guest experience, too. The resort’s new fine-dining venue, LOMA, led by Michelin-starred chef Graeme Cheevers, sources roughly 60% of its herbs and produce from an on-property kitchen garden, dramatically reducing food miles. Even the spa has joined the renaissance: a redesign of the award-winning Cameron Spa was unveiled earlier this year, pairing Scottish tranquility with a modern aesthetic.

For groups and incentive travelers, these sustainability measures aren’t just green talking points—they’re tangible examples of “luxury with longevity,” something planners can showcase in eco-focused programs or CSR activities like tree planting alongside local students.

Florida’s Culinary Debut

Far from the Highlands, a new kind of craftsmanship is making waves on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort, slated to open later this year, is already on the culinary map thanks to The Merchant Room, a collaboration with James Beard Award-winning chef Gavin Kaysen. Known for Minneapolis’ acclaimed Mara Restaurant & Bar, Kaysen brings his Midwestern sensibility and French training south to create an inventive New American brasserie.

“We are excited to partner with Chef Gavin Kaysen on the opening of The Merchant Room and add to the Naples’ already vibrant dining scene,” said Diego Angarita, general manager of Naples Beach Club. “As a New American brasserie, the restaurant brings an innovative approach that combines the influence of Chef’s Midwestern roots with his classic French training for an elevated dining experience.”

The restaurant joins a resort vision designed for effortless elegance, where new culinary destinations double as social anchors for incentive events, board dinners or post-meeting receptions. Two private dining rooms, a high-energy bar and an expansive main dining area offer built-in flexibility for small groups.

Antigua’s Evolving Allure

In the Caribbean, Carlisle Bay on Antigua is writing its next chapter. Half of its 87 suites have been fully renovated under the creative direction of London-based designer Miminat Shodeinde, who is guiding the resort’s ongoing evolution through 2027. Her concept, “laid-back luxury,” balances natural textures, warm light and understated glamour, honoring the island’s cultural heritage while keeping the design fresh and timeless.

Tucked at the far end of the crescent beach, the six newly unveiled Bay Suites form an adults-only enclave ideal for high-end executive retreats. Each features direct beach access, four-poster beds, freestanding bathtubs and Haeckels amenities, complemented by organic Caribbean coffee and Kusmi teas. Guests staying four nights or more enjoy a personal concierge, private airport transfers and a bottle of Champagne with any beachfront dinner booking—a detail that says as much about the brand’s hospitality philosophy as it does about its taste in bubbles.

These refreshed suites provide a high-touch setting for small-group incentives or leadership retreats, where barefoot luxury and design-forward comfort coexist.

Vietnam’s New MICE Hub

Half a world away, Vietnam is stepping onto the global stage for business events. The newly opened InterContinental Halong Bay Resort, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, blends purpose-built meeting spaces with one of Asia’s most scenic backdrops—a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of limestone karsts and emerald water.

“Vietnam is rapidly emerging as a leading MICE destination, supported by enhanced connectivity, expanding international flight networks and streamlined e-visa procedures making it easier for global organizations to plan and deliver events,” said Jesper Bach Larsen, the resort’s general manager. “Our dedicated venues and flexible spaces allow planners to deliver seamless meetings—and at the gateway to Ha Long City, we offer culturally rich, immersive experiences that redefine what luxury incentives and corporate travel can truly mean.”

The resort’s meetings center features omnidirectional microphones, a Logitech video-conference system, LED lighting and multiple LCD screens designed for hybrid collaboration. Spaces range from the pillarless Tonkin Grand Ballroom, seating up to 1,050 guests, to the light-filled Cat Ba Ballroom, and several boardrooms and breakout rooms. Beyond the meeting table, guests can join curated cultural excursions—private bay cruises, village visits and local pearl-farm tours, reflecting a broader shift toward experiential business travel.

Sustainability is another pillar. Through IHG’s Meetings for Good initiative, the resort eliminates single-use plastics, replaces printed materials with digital signage and enforces reduced-energy practices during event set-ups and breaks. Wellness, too, plays a starring role: 174 guest rooms, 41 villas and the Hidden Lagoon Spa ensure delegates can transition seamlessly from boardroom to beach.

For planners, it’s an enticing equation: sustainability plus technology plus authentic experience, all within two hours of Hanoi.

California’s Elevated Escapes

Back in the U.S., Northern California is seeing its own wave of resort reinvention.

In the rolling hills south of San Jose, CordeValle continues to climb the ranks—it was recently named among Condé Nast Traveler’s top five Northern California resorts. Set on 1,700 acres just a half-hour from Silicon Valley, the property feels worlds away from boardrooms yet remains purpose-built for them. The resort offers 4,400 sq. ft. of sunlit indoor meeting space and 10,000 sq. ft. outdoors, framed by vineyards and golf greens.

Groups can bond over archery, tennis and pickleball on a new 8,000-square-foot facility or gather at the newly acquired CordeValle Winery for tastings and team building among the vines. Catering showcases organic, locally sourced ingredients—a nod to the property’s roots in California’s original wine country. For executive off-sites and wellness-driven programs, CordeValle blends solitude and sophistication in equal measure.

Farther north, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe has just completed a two-year transformation. Designed by Premier Design and Johnson Studios, the extensive refresh touches nearly every corner of the mountain property: reimagined guest rooms and suites, a modernized arrival experience, new pool cabanas, a fitness-center renovation and redesigned meeting spaces that bring the outdoors in.

The resort’s Living Room, now aptly renamed The Living Room Lodge, serves as the social heart of the resort, while signature restaurant Manzanita has been refreshed with contemporary alpine flair. The debut of Alpine Market, offering artisanal snacks, local beverages and boutique finds, rounds out the new arrivals. For meeting planners, it’s a full alpine reset.

An Inclusive Future

The definition of “resort” continues to widen, and Hyatt Inclusive Collection is leading the charge. The brand’s recent and upcoming openings (Secrets Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa and Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa in the Dominican Republic, Secrets Mirabel in Cancún and Secrets Baby Beach Aruba) reflect the next generation of all-inclusive luxury.

Each property embraces the brand’s core pillars of connection and personalization, catering equally to incentive groups and leisure travelers. Expect elevated dining, modern design and meeting-ready event venues that deliver the convenience of inclusivity without sacrificing sophistication. These new resorts add fresh options across the Caribbean and Mexico—destinations where sun, service and streamlined planning converge.

Renewal as a Common Thread

Renewal isn’t just cosmetic. Resorts are rethinking their purpose: balancing guest indulgence with environmental integrity, design innovation with cultural respect and group productivity with personal wellbeing.

For meeting professionals, that translates into richer experiences and more meaningful conversations—proof that today’s most compelling resorts aren’t just where you stay. They’re where ideas grow, connections deepen and the future of travel takes shape, one thoughtful change at a time.