03-05-2025
45 Park Lane Debuts Travel-Inspired Exhibition
45 Park Lane
Now open at 45 Park Lane hotel is Par Avion, a new exhibition that explores the global connections shaped by travel, as told through the artistry of vintage-inspired postage stamps and travel tickets by London-based artists Guy Gee and Ella Freire.
Artwork by Guy Gee
Embracing the bonds between people and places, the show has been curated by the hotel's long-term collaborator Lily Ackerman, who has drawn on her on own memories of receiving letters from her grandfather during her time at university, 'I always loved opening the par avion sealed letters, which often included newspaper clippings of things he thought I'd find interesting, with handwritten comments in the margins,' says Lily. 'It was like an insight into his mind, and I always loved his commentary on what was happening in the world. When I first came across Ella Freire and Guy Gee's work, I had that same feeling of nostalgia and the excitement of discovery. It felt like the perfect fit. The themes of nostalgia, travel, identity and moving between spaces all resonated deeply.'
Artwork by Ella Freire
A creative streak passed down from his father, Guy Gee is known for his pantography, where he transforms postage stamps into larger compositions that celebrate national identity and heritage. Inspired by the Ancient Greek pantograph, a tool used to scale drawings, Gee reinterprets stamps (one of the earliest forms of mass media) by digitally enlarging and reimagining them. His aim? Well, it's to create an artwork for every country, drawing on research from thousands of stamps. With over 400 stamps from around the world in his collection, his work highlights their cultural significance as a medium for storytelling and global connection.
Artwork by Guy Gee
On travel and its impact on his creative process, Guy says, 'I cannot help but collect while I'm traveling. On a recent trip to Japan, I spent two weeks trawling through antique markets, hauling back my body weight in curious objects, including a number found in skips. The most notable find on that occasion was an old four-foot traffic cone, which stuck upside-down out of my rucksack for the rest of the trip!' He continues, 'Over the years, I've filled my studio with crates of these kinds of objects. They don't always find their place right away, but they'll later resurface and spark something unexpected. It's become a kind of tactile archive, an ever-growing resource I return to when researching new projects.'
As for Ella, she is inspired by vintage travel ephemera, offering screen prints that pay tribute to the Golden Age of travel, recreating the bold graphics and typography of that era. The artist explains, 'I love to travel and am very interested in travel ephemera. Over the years, I have collected a wide array of train and bus tickets, luggage labels, and airline tags from the '60s and '70s. I'm drawn to their bold colors, striking typography, stamped numbers, imperfections, unique shapes, and punched holes, each detail telling the story of a well-travelled past.'
Artwork by Ella Freire
Working from her Wimbledon studio, Ella prints on cotton archival paper, each piece with perforated edges, a reinforced tab, and a punctured hole, echoing the details of classic luggage labels. Embracing nostalgia, and mid-century air travel, her work has been featured in the Pan Am Museum Gallery and exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition last year. And what does she want the viewer to take away? 'My work stirs a sense of nostalgia, bringing back memories of past journeys, dreamt of destinations, and the romance of a more glamorous era of air travel,' says Ella.
Set against the backdrop of the sophisticated 45 Park Lane, a hotel known and loved for its artwork and architecture, Gee and Freire's work present a narrative of travel's impact on our cultural exchanges and collective memory. As Lee Kelly, the GM of 45 Park Hotel notes, art is central to the hotel's offering, 'Alongside permanent displays by celebrated British artists such as Damien Hirst and Sir Peter Blake, the hotel regularly hosts exhibitions like Par Avion, offering guests fresh perspectives through works by emerging and established talent in painting, photography, sculpture, and print.'
45 Park Lane
Embodying the hotel's ongoing commitment to showcasing culturally resonant art, Lee continues 'At the heart of the exhibition are themes of global connection, communication, heritage, and the emotional experience of travel all of which deeply align with the spirit of the hotel and its international, creatively minded clientele.'
The exhibition Par Avion will run until the 13th of July, 2025.
The Connaught launches its Suite Collection: The Connaught has introduced 'The Connaught Suite Collection' as part of its newly restored rooms and suites. The five-star, fully butler-serviced hotel now offers a selection of in-suite experiences that celebrate the art of refined living, Connaught style, from tip top martinis prepared from its infamous bar (voted the world's best), cakes by master pâtissier Nicolas Rouzaud, bespoke massages from the Aman Spa, shoeshines by John Lobb, and not to mention, the hotel is home to three Michelin-starred fare by Hélène Darroze.
The Connaught Suite Collection
Suite stays also include access to The Connaught Cinematic Collection, a series of classic films curated by the British Film Institute, featuring former hotel guests like Lauren Bacall, Alfred Hitchcock, and Grace Kelly.
The Connaught Suite Collection
General Manager of the hotel, Sandeep Bhalla says, 'We have such a rich choice of wonderful experiences on offer at The Connaught, it felt only right that that for the first time, we can now offer them to our guests in the privacy of their elegant suites. We can even provide our own Connaught Concert Pianist to play should the mood call for it!' The hotel's restoration was led by designer Guy Oliver, alongside architect Michael Blair and David Collins Studio, creating 34 unique suites including the contemporary Terrace Suite, the literary-inspired Library Suite, and the grand Sutherland Suite complete with a piano.
Yātrā Opens at Montcalm Mayfair: Montcalm Collection has opened Yātrā, a new wellness concept created with COCON and designed by Studio Est. Found at the Mayfair outpost, the serene underground space features calming tones and refined design, along with a treatment menu that includes luxury facials, massages, and rejuvenation rituals aimed at restoring balance and wellbeing. As Samantha van Exter, Montcalm Collection Head of Hotels, says, 'YĀTRĀ Signature Spa elevates the spa experience in London to new heights, integrating cutting edge technological features and amenities to ensure our guests have access to the latest advances in spa experiences and services.' She conintues, 'Every treatment we offer is designed to provide a journey for the senses, enriching mind, body and spirit, while delivering tangible health benefits. Rooted in the ancient Ayurvedic approach of holistic healing, our treatments will address the complete wellbeing of our guests.'
Raven Smith creates a library edit for Templeton Garden: A new lifestyle hotel brought to you by Miiro, Templeton Garden has partnered with author Raven Smith on a curated library collection featuring his favorite titles, such as Don't Look Now by Daphne Du Maurier, Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, and his own works, Men and Trivial Pursuits. Here, guests and visitors are welcome to explore the edit in the hotel's library, while hotel guests will also find a book from the collection in their rooms, along with a note from the best-selling author himself on why he's chosen that particular title.
Raven Smith creates a library edit for Templeton Garden
On the literary takeover, Raven says, 'Pulling this edit together was a fantastic walk down the memory lane of my bookshelves. There's a bit of everything in there – some classics, some jump scares, all bangers! As a Londoner, and a life-long book lover, working with Templeton Garden to celebrate its launch and share the world's greatest stories (in my opinion!) has been an absolutely joy!'
The Goring launches a supper club series with MasterChef: The Professionals: Running on the 13th and 14th of May champion Dan Merriman will join Executive Chef Graham Squire for a two-night residency, serving up a six-course tasting menu at the Michelin-starred Dining Room. Later, on the 31 of July, finalist Gaston Savina will co-host a glamorous al fresco garden party with live music, cocktails, oysters, and a delectable barbecue.
London, England - The Goring Hotel in central London
Meliá White House rolls out dog friendly stays: Meliá White House, the Grade II-listed hotel has launched dog-friendly stays featuring sustainable, pet-focused amenities from organic dog food to comfy beds and toys. Perfectly located opposite Regent's Park, known as one of the best dog-walking parks in the city, the hotel is perfectly placed for strolls with four-legged friends.
Tato curates a cocktail menu for The Emory Rooftop Bar: Beloved and award-winning Argentinian bartender and founder of Florería Atlántico, Renato Giovannoni a.k.a. has curated a cocktail menu for The Emory Rooftop Bar in Belgravia, right in time for summer supping. Back by popular demand, following his previous pop up, his menu includes San Lucas, a reimagined mojito from '98, plus Negroni Balestrini, made with Tato's own gin, and the Garua Martini that's made using London rainwater.
Renato Giovannoni's cocktail lineup at The Emory
