Unlock Deeper Exploration, Closer to Home

For years, luxury travel was often measured by distance. The further away the destination, the more exclusive the experience appeared to feel.

But increasingly, affluent travellers are rethinking that idea.

Rather than rushing across multiple continents chasing bucket-list moments, many are looking closer to home, searching for experiences that feel deeper, more immersive and more connected to the places they visit.

That shift is helping reshape the future of luxury expedition travel across the Asia-Pacific region, where remote coastlines, cultural immersion and nature-led journeys are becoming the new markers of prestige.

PONANT EXPLORATIONS has spent more than 35 years building its reputation around exactly that philosophy. While the brand is known for refined French hospitality, Champagne and elegant design, the real focus sits elsewhere: meaningful exploration.

The appeal is increasingly about access.

Large cruise ships simply cannot reach many of the destinations modern travellers want to experience most. Remote anchorages, hidden coastlines and environmentally sensitive regions demand a different style of travel, one built around smaller vessels and more intimate journeys.

With a fleet of 14 small ships carrying a maximum of 264 guests, the French flagged fleet is able to go where larger ships simply cannot, unlocking remote coastlines and isolated destinations far beyond the reach of traditional cruising.

That includes the towering ochre cliffs and waterfalls of The Kimberley, the coral-rich waters of French Polynesia, Western Australia’s marine parks and the UNESCO-listed wilderness of New Zealand’s subantarctic islands.

But the experience is designed to go beyond sightseeing.

Each journey is shaped by onboard experts including historians, marine biologists, naturalists and cultural specialists, helping travellers understand not just where they are, but why those places matter.

Small-group shore excursions and local guides add another layer of immersion, allowing guests to engage more authentically with the landscapes, cultures and communities they encounter.

The result feels less like conventional tourism and more like access to a world many travellers never properly see.

At the same time, expedition travel itself is evolving.

For a long time, the category carried associations of rugged adventure and compromise. Today, luxury travellers increasingly want both exploration and comfort, something PONANT Explorations has deliberately built into its experience.

Yet while the journeys are expedition-led, the experience itself remains distinctly refined. Guests return each evening to elegant suites, spa treatments by SOTHYS and Clarins Paris, regionally inspired menus curated by Ducasse Conseil and the kind of personalised service that comes from a crew who know guests by name.

After a day exploring remote coastlines or wildlife-rich waters, guests return to refined surroundings, personalised service and a crew who know them by name.

It reflects a broader shift happening across luxury travel itself.

Status is becoming quieter. Increasingly, high-end travellers are placing greater value on privacy, rarity, authenticity and emotional connection over spectacle alone.

In that environment, the Asia-Pacific region is uniquely positioned.

The destinations are extraordinary, but they also feel accessible in a different way. Travellers are discovering they do not necessarily need to fly halfway across the world to experience genuine wonder, remoteness or cultural depth.

Sometimes it exists much closer than expected.

And increasingly, the most luxurious journeys are not about seeing more places.

They are about experiencing them more deeply.

See all destinations here and learn more about the PONANT Explorations experience here.

Series by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of more than 30 hotel brands, has announced its debut in New Caledonia through a collaboration with Société Hôtelière de Nouméa (SHN).

The agreement marks a new chapter in a relationship spanning more than three decades and is expected to strengthen the tourism offering of New Caledonia’s Southern Province.

SHN’s three flagship Le Domaine du Pacifique resorts—in Nouméa, on the Isle of Pines and in Déva—will join the Series by Marriott portfolio.

Marriott International’s newest collection brand is designed to celebrate regional character while providing the consistency associated with Marriott’s global standards. Each resort showcases a different aspect of New Caledonia’s natural beauty, from lagoons and pristine beaches to protected forests.

The properties also reflect the destination’s blend of Oceanian, French and Asian influences through their art, cuisine, heritage and traditions. Each resort will retain its individual identity and sense of place while becoming part of Marriott’s global network.

Key highlights

Brand milestone: The first Series by Marriott properties in the Pacific region.
Combined capacity: 375 guestrooms and suites—120 at Le Domaine Déva, 48 at Le Domaine Oro and 207 at Le Domaine Nouméa.
Resort facilities: Beachfront and lagoon settings, restaurants and bars, outdoor pools, fitness centres, Deep Nature Spa facilities, direct beach access and water-based recreation.
Events and recreation: Meeting and event spaces in Nouméa and Déva, plus access to Golf de Déva in Bourail.

“We are delighted to strengthen our longstanding relationship with Société Hôtelière de Nouméa and introduce Series by Marriott to New Caledonia,” said Jason Nuell, Regional Vice President, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, Marriott International.

“These distinctive resorts reflect the character, culture and natural beauty of New Caledonia and embody the vision of Series by Marriott: regionally created and globally connected.

“Through this collaboration, guests will be able to enjoy memorable local experiences with modern design and warm hospitality, alongside the trusted consistency and Marriott Bonvoy member benefits they know from Marriott across the globe.”

Le Domaine Déva, Series by Marriott

Located in Bourail within the Déva Domain nature reserve, Le Domaine Déva is a beachfront resort beside a UNESCO World Heritage-listed barrier reef.

The resort offers 176 Melanesian-inspired guestrooms, including 40 suites and 56 bungalows. Its Kanak-inspired architecture features high, thatched roofs, with a choice of garden or beach views.

Designed for leisure, special events and nature-focused stays, the resort features direct beach access, an outdoor pool, whirlpool, fitness centre, games room, business centre and meeting facilities. Guests also have access to Golf de Déva.

Dining options include Reef, a signature restaurant showcasing local ingredients, and Sand Beach Grill, which serves freshly prepared French cuisine with ocean views. Creek Bar offers local cocktails beside the beachfront infinity pool.

The Deep Nature Spa includes a jacuzzi, sauna and treatment rooms set among the trees, with lagoon or forest views.

Guests can also explore cycling and horse-riding trails in the surrounding reserve. The Domaine de Déva offers 158 kilometres of marked hiking trails across 7,800 hectares of protected dry forest, with views of the UNESCO World Heritage lagoon.

Le Domaine Oro, Series by Marriott

Set on Oro Bay on the Isle of Pines, Le Domaine Oro is an intimate island resort surrounded by white-sand beaches, coconut groves, pine trees and lagoon scenery.

The resort offers 48 guestrooms, including 28 bungalow suites. Rooms feature private balconies or terraces overlooking the gardens, pool, beach or lagoon.

Facilities include an outdoor infinity pool, fitness centre, bar and games room. The iconic Baie d’Oro is within walking distance, offering a natural coral lagoon widely regarded as one of the South Pacific’s most beautiful swimming and snorkelling locations.

Guests can dine at La Pirogue, the resort’s signature restaurant overlooking Oro Bay, which serves French-inspired cuisine with local flavours. Longitude 167 Bar offers a relaxed setting with lagoon views.

The resort also features a Deep Nature Spa and a range of recreational equipment and activities, including canoeing, snorkelling, paddleboarding, table tennis, pétanque, cycling, beach volleyball and beach tennis.

Le Domaine Nouméa, Series by Marriott

Located on Anse Vata Bay, Le Domaine Nouméa combines French-influenced style with Pacific Island hospitality.

Positioned opposite the world’s largest lagoon, which is UNESCO-listed, the landscaped beachfront resort offers 207 guestrooms, including 34 suites. Each room features a private balcony with garden or lagoon views.

Dining options include Le Sextant, the signature restaurant serving buffet breakfast and a popular weekend brunch; Le Faré, a relaxed beachfront bar and lounge; and Latitude 22, a casual café and grab-and-go venue with a garden-facing terrace.

The resort is adjacent to the Grand Casino and within easy reach of Anse Vata Beach.

Facilities include direct beach access, an outdoor pool, fitness centre, business centre and Deep Nature Spa with water views. The property also has seven meeting rooms, including the Laperouse Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 400 guests.

Marriott Bonvoy benefits

All three Le Domaine du Pacifique properties will participate in Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s travel program.

Members will be able to earn points during stays at the resorts and across Marriott Bonvoy’s wider portfolio. Through the Marriott Bonvoy app, members can also access personalised services and contactless features.

“With these new agreements, we are opening a new page in our relationship with Marriott International,” said Brieuc Frogier, President of Promosud, SHN Administrator and Second Vice-President of the Southern Province in charge of tourism.

“They allow us to strengthen the specific identity of each of our establishments while continuing to benefit from the power and expertise of a world leader in the hotel industry.

“This is an evolution that fully meets our ambition: to promote New Caledonia through an authentic, demanding and resolutely internationally oriented hotel offering.”