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Blackstone Buys Four Seasons SF, Jackie Kennedy’s Election Coat Up for Auction & More

InterContinental opens, Blackstone buys, Jackie Kennedy’s coat stirs the auction room, Versace changes course, and Dusit pushes into Bataan.
December 12, 2025
Photo: iStock/Sotheby’s/iStock

closed the week with a flurry of decisive moves, from major hotel plays to historic pieces entering the auction spotlight.

InterContinental brings barefoot to the Red Sea with a new resort built for yacht arrivals and coral-blue mornings. Blackstone snaps up the Four Seasons San Francisco, betting on the city’s return to form. Jackie Kennedy’s election-night coat steps into the auction spotlight. Meanwhile, Versace enters a creative transition post-Prada, and Dusit eyes Bataan as the next beachfront destination to watch. Consider this your compass for what matters now in ultra-luxury.

InterContinental Comes to the Red Sea

Photo: InterContinental Hotels Group

InterContinental plants its flag on the Red Sea with a new resort on Shura Island. The property leans into privacy and indulgence with spacious villas, private pools, dedicated butler service, and yacht-ready access for those who measure holidays in soft landings and salt on skin.

Sustainability sits at the core, too, with coral conservation programs and low-impact architecture threading eco-consciousness into high glamor. With Saudi Arabia’s luxury tourism ambitions accelerating, this opening positions the Red Sea as a compelling new rival to the Maldives and Oman for warm-water escapes.

Blackstone Buys San Francisco Four Seasons

Photo: Four Seasons

Blackstone has acquired the Four Seasons San Francisco in a US$130 million deal, signaling renewed confidence in high-end urban hospitality. The 277-room property has long been considered one of the city’s premier addresses for business travelers, power diners, and weekend escapists. It now enters a new era under one of the world’s most aggressive real estate players.

It’s a strategic bet on the city’s rebound, banking on the return of tech wealth, convention traffic, and luxury leisure. Expect refreshed spaces, elevated programming, and an eye toward experiential luxury as competition tightens among top-tier West Coast hotels.

Jackie Kennedy’s Election Coat Up for Auction

The coat was said to have been worn by other pregnant women close to Kennedy. It was “passed from one to another as a cherished maternity garment.” Photo: Sotheby’s

Jackie Kennedy’s violet election-night coat is entering the auction floor at Sotheby’s, offering collectors a rare chance to own a piece of American style history. Kennedy is said to have worn it while she was eight months pregnant during John F. Kennedy’s 1960 victory.

In fact, the double-breasted wool coat also appeared on the cover of Life magazine and helped cement Jackie’s reputation as a fashion icon even before she became First Lady. Sotheby’s will present the piece as part of its Handbags & Fashion sale, where provenance and cultural legacy are expected to fuel serious bidding.

More information here.

A Shakeup at Versace

Photo: Marek Śliwecki

Versace enters a period of change as creative director Dario Vitale prepares to leave less than nine months after taking the helm. The news follows last week’s announcement of Prada Group’s US$1.4-billion acquisition of the house.

His exit comes after delivering only one collection. We can say that the move signals a strategic reset, as Prada begins shaping Versace’s next chapter. The industry now watches for who will take creative command and how the brand will balance its high-octane glamor with Prada’s precision-focused approach. It seems as though a new aesthetic direction, possible restructuring, and fresh energy on the runway is on the way. A more competitive Versace perhaps?

A New Dusit Thani in Bataan

Photo: Dusit Hotels & Resorts

Dusit International is expanding its Philippine footprint with ASAI Camaya Coast, a new lifestyle- resort rising along Bataan’s increasingly polished shoreline. Set to be opened in 2029, the project will bring roughly 150 rooms and suites surrounded by powdery beaches, diving sites, and rolling coastal landscapes.

It’s an appealing draw for Manila weekenders and regional travelers seeking design-forward relaxation without leaving the country. The hotel should offer much of the brand’s signature Thai-Filipino hospitality blend, contemporary interiors, and dining that leans into local provenance. With Camaya Coast developing into a full leisure estate, this opening positions Bataan as an emerging destination.

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