Leading hotel brands from around the world take part
Participants share insights rooted in destination and brand philosophy
Newly opening hotels for the second half of this year unveiled
Wellness and cultural immersion highlighted as core values
Heavens Portfolio, a global luxury travel brand sales agency, held the Heavens Portfolio Hotel Roadshow 2026 on Tuesday at the Yeongbingwan banquet hall of the Shilla Hotel in Seoul. The event brought together leading luxury brands from Asia, Europe and Africa to share evolving global luxury travel trends centered on authenticity, wellness and cultural immersion.
Held for the second time following its 2024 debut, the roadshow carried the theme "Seventh Heaven: The Art of Luxury Travel." Heavens Portfolio is a sales and public relations agency specializing in representing luxury travel and hospitality brands in key markets, including South Korea.
Participating brands included Azumi Setoda from Japan, Patina Tianjin from China, 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts from Thailand, The Oberoi Bali & Lombok from Indonesia, Six and Six from the Maldives, Castelfalfi, Forestis, Le Sirenuse and IDI Travel from Italy, Beau-Rivage Palace and Lausanne Palace from Switzerland, Royal Mansour Collection from Morocco, and The Dolli at Acropolis from Greece. Korean media, influencers, key opinion leaders and travel industry professionals also attended.
Participating brands presented distinctive experiences and visions grounded in their respective destinations and philosophies. A highlight was the unveiling of Patina Tianjin's development progress — the property is set to open in Tianjin, China, in the second half of this year. Attendees explored the core values driving luxury travel today: wellness, cultural immersion, sustainability and personalized experiences.
The event was divided into a lunch session for media and influencers and a trade dinner for travel industry professionals. The daytime session featured brand presentations and networking, while the evening trade session brought together representatives from major domestic travel agencies to discuss future joint promotions and business collaboration.
The roadshow's theme, "Seventh Heaven," evokes ultimate happiness and symbolizes what luxury travel pursues today. The organizers underscored the importance of the Korean market and the value of partnerships in presenting the trends put forward by global partners.
Christine Gallet-Rouzat, CEO of Heavens Portfolio, said the roadshow was "a place where hotel partners, media and industry professionals from around the world come together to connect and share new inspiration." She added that Heavens Portfolio believes "the true value of luxury travel lies in connecting people, cultures, destinations and experiences," and expressed hope that the event would "create opportunities for new conversations and collaboration, and serve as a catalyst for building more meaningful relationships."
The agency's Korea office also outlined the characteristics of the domestic luxury travel market and detailed plans for future collaboration with global brands. Heavens Portfolio said it plans to strengthen its role as a platform connecting global luxury brands with Korean travel industry partners, and to continue expanding insights and collaboration opportunities in the local market.
Kang Eun-jeong, head of Heavens Portfolio Korea, said South Korea is "one of Asia's leading luxury travel markets, where travelers have a discerning eye and a strong appetite for new destinations and differentiated experiences." She said she hoped the roadshow would give Korean media and industry professionals "the opportunity to meet luxury hotel and travel brands from around the world in person, and to gain a deeper understanding of the philosophy and stories each brand pursues."
terry@heraldcorp.com
