When you have spent nearly 40 years designing travel, you sleep in a lot of very good beds. You see a lot of infinity pools, taste a lot of tasting menus, and walk through a lot of grand lobbies. But there is a difference between a fine hotel and a memorable one.
The architecture of memory
When we asked Panache World Founder-Director Sanjar Imam to name the five hotels he has fallen in love with, his answer revealed something interesting about how discerning travellers actually evaluate luxury. It is rarely just about the marble. It is about the context.
“I tend to fall in love with most hotels that I stay in, and that has to do with choosing them well,” Sanjar says. “But the ones that are most personal to me are defined by the experiences I had there.”
Notice how many of his picks are lodges rather than full-blown hotels, and how often a stay is anchored by a specific view, a meal, or an emotional surprise. Here are the five properties around the world that have stayed with him long after checkout.
1. Huka Lodge, Taupo (New Zealand): Artistry on a plate
Located on the banks of the Waikato River near Lake Taupō, Huka Lodge is practically royalty in the world of luxury lodges. What started in the 1920s as a humble fisherman’s camp has been transformed into an 18-villa sanctuary that regularly tops global award lists (including Oceania’s Leading Boutique Hotel). It has hosted everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to Bill Gates.
But for Sanjar, it wasn’t the guestbook that left an impression—it was the quiet, meticulous beauty of the place, and the sheer artistry of the kitchen: “I wasn’t expecting what I saw there. It’s set in these lush green lawns, and while a lot of money has been put into the transformation, you can see exactly why. Every detail has been looked into. But the thing that surprised me every single time I went to the restaurant was the meals. It wasn’t just about what I was eating; it was what I was looking at. It was like artistry on a plate. I would say the finest meal I’ve ever had in my life was at Huka Lodge.”
Why we love it: Huka Lodge proves that true luxury doesn’t need scale; it just needs flawless execution.
Bonus: Read our review of Huka Lodge
2. &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge (Tanzania): Drama at the rim
Perched on the edge of an ancient volcanic caldera, &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is often described as “Masai meets Versailles.” It is a property that leans into theatrical romance—think banana-leaf roofs, beaded chandeliers, and silk curtains framing one of the most dramatic landscapes in Africa.
For Sanjar, the lodge will always be tied to the emotional high of a long safari day that finally delivered: “We had a long day driving from the Serengeti, looking for lion, which we hadn’t seen yet. The day was almost done, we were nearing the lodge, and our guide suddenly whispered, ‘Simba.’ And there it was, walking towards us. My day was already made, but the lodge is what blew my mind. I walked straight into the bathroom, and there was a huge bathtub filled with rose petals, positioned in front of a massive window looking right out over the crater. That stay will stay close to me for my life.”
Why we love it: &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge understands that in a place as primal as the crater, the architecture should be equally dramatic.
3. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London (UK): Grandeur in the Big Smoke
London is Sanjar’s favourite city in the world, and if you want to understand English grandeur without the stiffness, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is where you stay. Recently awarded Three Michelin Keys (the highest possible hotel distinction) and named ‘Sustainable Hotel of the Year,’ the property balances historic Edwardian elegance with contemporary intelligence.
But sometimes, a hotel becomes memorable simply because of how it makes you feel when you open the curtains. Sanjar’s Insight: “When I checked in, they bumped me up into the Presidential Suite. That was the treat of a lifetime. The balconies opened right up to Hyde Park. From there, as a regular feature, you can watch the Household Cavalry trot by every morning on their way to the Changing of the Guard. That is as grand a sight as you can get in a city like London. The expanse of the suite, the views of the park, the address—it just did it.”
Why we love it: Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park offers the most privileged perspective of London’s daily pageantry. As Mandarin Oriental Fan Club members, we are able to provide our clients exclusive perks like complementary upgrades, early check-in’s and late checkouts.
4. Forestis, The Dolomites (Italy): Alpine minimalism
High in the Italian Alps, surrounded by dense forest, Forestis is a masterclass in how to build a hotel that doesn’t compete with its environment. This eco-conscious, adults-only retreat was constructed using local timber, stone, and glass, creating a serene, minimalist frame for the UNESCO-protected peaks outside.
It requires effort to reach, but as Sanjar notes, the payoff is immediate: “It had been on my bucket list for a long time. It took a couple of train changes overnight, but driving up, I knew exactly why I wanted to do it. It is the most magnificent scenery you will come across in all of Italy. The pièce de résistance is the view from every single room. The Dolomites are so up close you feel like you can almost touch them, and they change colour during the course of the day. The restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows, and the meals are a gastronomic delight. If you haven’t done the Dolomites, do it—and stay at Forestis.”
Why we love it: Forestis strips away alpine cliché and replaces it with pure, elemental elegance.
5. Samode Palace, Rajasthan (India): A heritage masterpiece
We finish in India. Nestled in the rugged Aravalli Hills about an hour outside Jaipur, Samode Palace is a 475-year-old architectural marvel. Unlike many heritage hotels that feel like museums, Samode feels vibrantly alive, with its intricate frescoes, mirror-work, and courtyards maintained with remarkable care.
For Sanjar, the connection here is personal—forged not just through stays, but through celebrations: “It is very close to me because I’ve stayed there several times and had the opportunity to organise several weddings there. For someone who has never been, you drive through rugged country, and then it just comes up like a grand stage set. You don’t expect anything like this. It is a stunning palace, almost out of a picture book. The rooms, the public areas, the hand paintings, the pool—all of it is preserved architecture, and you get to actually live in it.”
Why we love it: Samode Palace is regal Rajasthan without the commercial crowds, operating on a deeply personal scale.
How to choose a hotel that remembers you
“The hotels we stay in become a part of our memory,” Sanjar says, “and that’s because of the experiences we have within them.” That is the philosophy behind how Panache World designs travel. We don’t just read reviews; we go, we sleep in the beds, we eat in the restaurants, and we take notes. When you come to us, we match the hotels we know intimately to your specific tastes. So when you finally walk through the lobby doors, you aren’t hoping it’s a good hotel—you’re walking into a place you already know you will love.
Ready to find your own unforgettable stay? Get in touch!
