Afar

We're launching the first-ever Afar Creator Collective, an online community aligned with Afar's mission to make a positive impact on the world through high-quality storytelling that inspires, enriches, and empowers travelers who care. This first iteration will celebrate the diversity of travel. We're looking for enthusiastic content creators with a unique perspective, expertise, and taste, who can help our content reach more corners of the world through compelling, high-quality storytelling. If you love to travel and have something new to add to the conversation, we want you in the collective. For brand and destination partners, it's a chance to connect with a vetted group of creators and Afar's engaged community of travelers who care about how and why they travel. If you'd like to learn more about partnering with us, send us a message. Apply at the link in the comments. Know a creator who should be part of this? Tag them below.

How do you honor 160 years of history while redefining luxury for today’s travelers? Langham Hospitality Group has the answer. In this ILTM episode, recorded live in Cannes, Afar editor-in-chief Julia Cosgrove sits down with CEO Bob van den Oord to discuss transforming iconic buildings into modern luxury destinations, blending heritage with wellness and design, and keeping the “Langham Way” of authentic, unscripted service alive across the brand. 🎧 Listen to the full episode in the comments. #AfarMag #LuxuryTravel #TravelDeeper #ILTMCannes

What does it take to uphold the gold standard of luxury hotel ratings for more than 60 years? As part of our special View From Afar series recorded live at ILTM Cannes, Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, joins Afar cofounder Joseph Diaz to share how the Guide maintains its legendary standards while evolving for modern luxury. Hermann explains how FTG keeps inspectors fully anonymous (even from him) while expanding its five-star ratings beyond hotels to cruises, air travel, Star Bars, and iconic properties. 🎧 Listen to the full episode in the comments below. #AfarMag #LuxuryTravel #TravelDeeper #ILTMCannes

River cruising is evolving, and AmaWaterways River Cruises is leading the shift. As part of our special View From Afar series recorded live at ILTM Cannes, Catherine Powell, the new CEO of AmaWaterways joins Afar editor in chief Julia Cosgrove to share how the brand is expanding its appeal beyond traditional cruisers to solo travelers, active families, and wellness-focused guests. Catherine reveals AmaWaterways’ refreshed visual identity and ambitious expansion plans, from eight new European ships to pioneering routes along Colombia’s Magdalena River, all shaped by her guest-experience expertise from Disney Parks and Airbnb. Listen to the full episode in the comments below. #AfarMag #LuxuryTravel #TravelDeeper

What happens when every luxury brand promises the same “elevated experience”? As part of our special View From Afar series recorded live at ILTM Cannes, Anant Sharma, founder and CEO of Matter Of Form, joins Afar cofounder Joseph Diaz to unpack why so much of luxury hospitality has started to sound the same, and how brands can reclaim what makes them truly singular. Anant shares how Matter of Form has helped icons like Aman, Belmond, Mandarin Oriental, and Lindblad Expeditions uncover their unspoken truths, cut through homogenized language, and build brands rooted in confidence and purpose. 🎧 Listen to the full episode in the comments below. #AfarMag #LuxuryTravel #TravelDeeper

Who would you pick as your ultimate travel plus-one? At ILTM Cannes, we asked industry leaders the same question, capturing their answers both on the show floor and from our apartment overlooking the Palais. Some picks were surprising, some were hilarious, and all revealed a little more about the personalities shaping the industry. Watch the full video and tell us who you would travel with below! Featuring insights from: Mark Weinstein, Hilton James Treacy, AKTG (Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group) Catherine Powell, AmaWaterways River Cruises Dino Michael, Hilton Jenna Hackett, Hilton Bob van den Oord, Langham Hospitality Group Henley Vazquez, Fora Travel Anant Sharma, Matter Of Form Hermann Elger, Forbes Travel Guide Leo Ghitis, Nayara Resorts #AfarMag #LuxuryTravel #TravelDeeper #ILTMCannes