British pop star Pixie Lott will perform on New Year's Eve at the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau, as part of the resort's "12 Pearls of the Ocean" programme of festivities. The programme features a day of themed activities and entertainment for each "pearl", beginning with the lighting of the Christmas tree on 22 December. Santa arrives by boat on Christmas Day, while the "Pearl of Champagne" includes an exclusive yacht cruise with Champagne. At midnight on New Year's Eve, fireworks and a drone display will see in 2027. Rooms start from around $1,500 a night.
Kempinski, described as Europe's oldest luxury hospitality company, has launched a programme called E.R.A.s, standing for Experience Real Access, at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich. Guests can take a private flight to Bavaria's royal castles guided by two historians, or attend a hosted dinner with live music in the royal halls of the Nymphenburg Palace. Other options include painting, discovering Bavaria's beers and automotive heritage, swimming in the Eisbach canal guided by a Wim-Hof expert, or a morning run with former German footballer Lothar Matthäus. E.R.A experiences start from €130 per person.
Matfen Hall sits on the edge of the International Dark Sky Park in Northumberland, an area offering some of Europe's clearest night skies. The Northumberland National Park is a 25-minute drive away, covering around 400 square miles of landscape close to the Cheviot Hills. Suites at the hotel have their own telescopes, and the Kielder Observatory within the Dark Sky Park will host stargazing activities. Stays start from £350 a night.