The 15 properties that comprise COMO Hotels and Resorts include some of the most glamorous in the world. The company was founded in 1991 by Singaporean Christina Ong and her husband, Ong Beng Seng. Its first venture was The Halkin in London, soon followed by Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands. On December 15 of last year, three decades after the firm’s inception, COMO took over the management of Laucala Island in Fiji, a 3,460-acre private retreat situated a 50-minute flight from Nadi, the country’s international gateway. Originally owned by Malcolm Forbes, Laucala was purchased in 2003 by Dietrich Mateschitz, the billionaire co-founder of the Red Bull energy drinks business.

The resort, having been closed for eight months during the pandemic, has undergone extensive refurbishment. It features 25 standalone residences, some with private beaches and all with private pools and butlers. Amenities include an 18-hole David McLay Kidd-designed golf course and a private submarine for observing Pacific marine life. Aside from elegant and distinctive contemporary styling, COMO properties are renowned for the quality of their spas. Laucala will now feature COMO Shambhala Retreat, a wellness center offering the brand’s signature Asian-inspired massages and products. Laucala seems set to enter a new era as one of the world’s most exotic and exclusive resorts.