With exceptions that can be counted on two hands, globally, every hotel and resort has suffered dramatically for what is now a whole year. To my knowledge, only Belmond Maroma, 30 minutes south of Cancun, Mexico, has taken such a long-term view that all stakeholders, from LVMH owner Bernard Arnault via the operating team and all employees, to customers and their travel advisors, will ultimately benefit.

LATTE columnist Mary Gostelow has been recognised by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Gostelow was one of two global hospitality icons bestowed with the HSMAI Lifetime Achievement Award in marketing and public relations.

Question. How does a new boss arrive on the job? It would have been tempting for Gauderic Harang, just-appointed GM of Six Senses at Zigby Bay on the Musandam Peninsula of Oman, to have arrived by paraglider. This is, after all, arguably the only eco-resort anywhere that has a final approach over 1,000 metre-high pale-sand-coloured Hajjar mountains, barren here but, not too far away, offering green rainforest areas. Come in by standard four-by-four – or paraglide for momentary, and forever lasting, glory.

My mother-in-law lived outside Edinburgh and she knew that ‘afternoon tea’ was a vital meal – many, in their own homes, would add a hot dish, say kippers, a Scottish speciality. Hotels, naturally, do it rather more elegantly. Queen of the scone brigade is undoubtedly Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian (which locals have affectionately called The Cally since the hotel, designed in red Permian sandstone by architect J.M. Dick Peddie, opened in 1903).

There is temptation to think of the name ‘Caesars’ in connection with colourless Nevada desert that has been turned into a kaleidoscope of hues, thanks to Las Vegas. Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai, however, is a completely different story.

Chewton Glen Hampshire, 90 minutes’ south-west of London, is the ultimate English country house hotel surrounded by forest, in this case, The New Forest, renowned for its wild ponies and centuries of history. It was proclaimed a royal forest, indeed, by William the Conqueror and the rights of common pasture exist today, in a total 28,924-hectare area that remains a habitat for many rare animals and birds.

Mandarin Oriental, Munich hotel epitomises style. I went in through one of the pairs of glass doors off Neuturmstrasse, past a bin holding perfectly furled black umbrellas. I look over cream carpeting with gold squiggles to Ory bar, and up the spiral staircase, its wall bearing bigger gold squiggles. At the 6th floor I look along a wide, well-lit corridor flanked by mushroom walls (its taupe carpeting has teal squiggles).

There are many make-you-smile highlights of One&Only The Palm Dubai, and one is the rabbits. Someone brought in one rabbit, and now there are dozens (apparently one regular – human – guest orders extra room service for their breakfast). More important highlights are the aesthetics of the 90-key resort, and thoughtful and unobtrusive service from a team of 300, led by skilled Venetian GM Vincent Smarrella.

A sense of place is increasingly important to luxury travellers today, and in the Bavarian capital, Munich, you have it all around you, 360 degrees, and day-in, day out, and night-time too. Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski, Munich, is under ten minutes’ walk north to the city’s famous English Garden. How many know about the unique Eisbach surfing there? A stretch of river about 30 metres across has continuous low water, but really rushing, rapids. Anyone can surf there, day or night, free. You and your board plunge in from one bank and undoubtedly fall off in about a minute, at which point someone has already plunged in from the opposite bank, and so on and so forth, 24/7. It is fabulous, apparently, to be taking part but it is absolutely riveting to watch.

There are other significant city-centre post offices that have been turned into hotels – Perth’s COMO The Treasury, for instance, and even Washington DC’s Trump. But Sofitel Bayerpost in Munich, Germany, uniquely offers an alpine chalet experience into the bargain.