Preferred Hotels and Resorts has added eleven properties to its Legend Collection, the highest tier in its global portfolio, signalling a clear shift in what affluent travellers now expect from a luxury stay. The 2026 additions span eight countries, from a private island in the Venetian lagoon to a restored 19th-century palace overlooking the medina of Fes, and from a forest sanctuary in India's Western Ghats to a lakefront resort in Nevada.
The Legend Collection Explained
Created in 2015, the Legend Collection represents Preferred's most demanding tier. Properties must deliver exceptional accommodations, personalised service, renowned dining, spa facilities, and a setting that genuinely stands apart. The collection surpassed the 100-hotel milestone in June 2024 and now counts more than 125 addresses worldwide.
What makes these new additions notable is their variety. Rather than a single definition of luxury, the 2026 intake reflects what Preferred's CEO Lindsey Ueberroth describes as a fundamental change in traveller expectations. Today's luxury guest is not looking for a standardised experience. They want places that cater to their desires, whether that means reconnecting with nature, soaking up a destination's heritage, or discovering a new dining scene.
Palais Jamai Fes: Moroccan Heritage Reimagined
Among the most compelling additions is Palais Jamai Fes, a late 19th-century palace that has been restored and relaunched this month. Set overlooking the historic medina of Fes, the property offers 94 rooms and suites within a building that once served as a royal residence. The restoration preserves the architectural grandeur of the original structure while introducing contemporary luxury fittings, creating a dialogue between Moroccan craft tradition and modern comfort.
Fes itself remains one of Morocco's most culturally rich destinations, a living medieval city that has drawn increasingly sophisticated visitors in recent years. The Palais Jamai reopening taps into that momentum, offering a genuine heritage experience rather than a themed pastiche.
Europe's Strong Showing
Spain accounts for three of the eleven additions, reinforcing its position as one of Europe's most dynamic luxury hotel markets. BLESS Hotel Barcelona opened in August with 119 rooms focused on design, gastronomy, and cultural programming. BLESS Ibiza The Site followed in June, bringing a Mediterranean seaside sensibility to Playa d'en Bossa. Serras Sevilla, which opened in September in an Anibal Gonzalez building facing the cathedral, offers 43 rooms and a Fismuler restaurant.
In Venice, San Clemente Palace occupies a private eight-hectare island in the lagoon. The former monastery turned hotel features 196 rooms, suites, and residences, and has transitioned from Kempinski management to independent operation. In Lisbon, MYTHIC SANA Downtown Suites opened last December in a restored Pombaline building in the Baixa district, offering 48 rooms and suites with butler service.
Nature-Led Luxury Beyond Europe
Two additions stand out for their nature-led approach. The Leela Coorg Forest Sanctuary opened in July on a former coffee plantation in the Western Ghats of India, offering 71 private pool villas surrounded by lush forest. Edgewood Tahoe Resort follows a similar model on the southern shore of Lake Tahoe, combining a mountain setting with environmentally focused design across 154 rooms and suites.
Further east, Dusit Thani Bangkok reopened in late 2024 within the new Dusit Central Park district, facing Lumphini Park with 257 rooms and suites. The Cooper in Charleston, opened in March 2026, brings 191 rooms to the Charleston riverfront peninsula, complete with a marina, spa, and infinity pool.
What This Tells Us About Luxury Travel
The biggest future addition is Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, scheduled for spring 2027. The 70-storey tower will feature over 1,500 rooms, more than 20 restaurants and bars, a beach club, private marina, and landscaped gardens. Its inclusion in the Legend Collection before it even opens speaks to the scale of ambition in the UAE hospitality sector.
Taken together, the 2026 Legend Collection additions paint a picture of luxury travel moving away from uniformity and towards identity. Whether it is a palace in Fes, a forest retreat in Coorg, or a private island in Venice, the message is clear. Affluent travellers want places with a story, not just a star rating.