Culture
Rome's Colosseum opens secret passage to the public
Rome’s Colosseum will open an underground passageway once used by Roman emperors to the public for the first time. The Commodus Passage, located in the arena’s foundations, allowed emperors to enter the arena without being seen by crowds. “The opening of the Commodus Passage is of extraordinary significance, not only because it makes accessible and accessible for the first time ever a place so fascinating for its history, its architecture, and, not least, its decorative apparatus, which during the time of the emperors was for exclusive use and hidden from the public, but also because, finally, for the first time, the restoration has fully restored the ancient surfaces,” wrote the Colosseum Archaeological Park. The underground passage leads from the outside of the Colosseum to the pulvinar, a platform where Roman officials were seated at the arena’s southern end. Colosseum tickets including the Commodus Passage will be available from the end of October. The Commodus Passage also features frescoes illustrated with mythological scenes and events from Colosseum shows, which have been digitally reconstructed in areas where restoration was not possible. Restoration and construction began in October 2024 and was complet
Four Seasons Paris completes luxury revamp
Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris has completed an extensive three-year transformation, unveiling fully renovated rooms and suites for the first time since its grand reopening in 1999. The landmark Parisian property, part of the Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts collection, has reimagined its 243 guest rooms as private residences, designed to blend contemporary elegance with the intimacy of classic Haussmann-style apartments. Each redesigned space features some of the most expansive layouts in the city, complete with personal work areas, curated libraries and private dining rooms. Select suites now boast French windows that frame sweeping views of the Eiffel Tower and Paris rooftops, while private balconies have been converted into lush urban gardens. The enhancements allow natural light to permeate deeper into interiors, creating an atmosphere of serenity and sophistication. Modern technology complements the traditional design, with discreet home automation systems, mood lighting, and advanced audiovisual equipment, ensuring guests remain fully connected while immersed in the hotel’s luxury setting. Three flagship suites showcase the new vision of residential-style living: the Penthouse Suite, the Parisian Eiffel S
Club chain Soho House goes private in US$2.7bn deal
Members’ club chain Soho House will go private in a US$2.7 billion deal, after its purchase by a consortium led by MCR Hotels. MCR Hotels and its CEO Tyler Morse will buy around 15% of Soho House’s shares for US$9.00 each. Actor and investor Ashton Kutcher will also join the company’s board, while Tasty Restaurant Group’s Neil Thomson will take over as chief financial officer. “This transaction reflects the strong confidence our existing and incoming shareholders have in the future of Soho House & Co., and the transformation we’ve led since becoming a public company. Since our IPO in 2021, we’ve focused on building a stronger, more resilient business,” according to Soho House CEO Andrew Carnie. “Returning to private ownership enables us to build on this momentum, with the support of world class hospitality and investment partners.” Soho House’s remaining shares will continue to be held by retail investor Ronald Burkle, who has a 40% stake, as well as Soho House founder Nick Jones, Caprice Holdings chair Richard Caring, and Goldman Sachs. It operates 46 clubs worldwide, with the majority in the Americas and the United Kingdom, and said it had more than 270,000 members worldwide at the end of last quarter. While th
Flexjet raises US$800 million, courtesy of LVMH
Private jet operator, Flexjet, raised US$800 million in a new funding round led by L Catterton, a private equity firm backed by LVMH. The investment is set to be used to fuel the company’s international operations and grow its fleet. “The timing also steals some runway from the slowly re-opening IPO market, but avoids the headwinds of quarterly-earnings turbulence,” Chief Investment Officer at Running Point Capital Advisors, Michael Ashley Schulman, said, as reported by Reuters. The new funding has led Flexjet to be worth around $4 billion, a substantial jump from the US$3.1 billion figure tied to the company’s planned SPAC merger in 2022, which ultimately collapsed the following year. “Flexjet learned the hard way that SPACs can be like unpressurised cabins at 41,000 feet – exhilarating until the masks drop,” Schulman said. Flexjet’s expansion strategy is underscored by a $7 billion deal with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, which includes the purchase of 182 Phenom and Praetor executive jets with options for an additional 30 aircraft. JPMorgan analysts expect the deal to increase Embraer’s total backlog by about 26% to $28.7 billion.