Can you UnLondon London - Bob van den Oord

Welcome back to Travel Stories with Moush! Today I am joined by Bob van den Oord, CEO of Langham Hospitality - a name synonymous with timeless, storied luxury. With over 160 years of Langham history behind him and properties spanning the globe, Bob doesn't just witness the world of luxury travel, he shapes it. In this episode, we travel through history, culture and extraordinary hidden gems, and Bob shares what luxury truly means in today's ever-evolving world of travel. Episode Highlights & Destination Gems: 1. Marrakech - Where Culture Collides. Bob's recent visit left a lasting mark - the hospitality, the people and the food are second to none Moroccan culture beautifully intertwined with French influences creates something entirely unique The legendary Royal Mansour comes highly recommended. It’s one of the most extraordinary luxury experiences in the world. https://www.royalmansour.com/en/marrakech/ 2. Istanbul - Where Europe Meets Asia. A city where two continents, two cultures and centuries of history converge in the most spectacular way. Rich in people, food and soul It’s a destination that every traveller to experience 3. Venice - The One Destination Everyone Must Visit The ultimate once-in-a-lifetime destination Gateway to the Oriental Silk Road, a mecca of art, food, fashion and culture Home to the Biennale, world-class cuisine and architecture unlike anywhere else on earth 4. Langham London - Where It All Began Built in 1865, it was the first hotel in Europe with elevators, running hot and cold water and afternoon tea service The Wigmore - Langham's iconic "posh pub", is now one of London's most beloved destination bars Langham concierges offer their own exclusive tour of their London, a truly personal way to experience the city 5. Saudi Arabia - A Story Being Written Right Now Langham is opening a property at the UNESCO-protected Diriyah Gate, adjacent to the new Opera House in Riyadh Bob believes deeply in being part of Saudi Arabia's extraordinary evolution and cultural renaissance 6. Jerez, Southern Spain - The Ultimate Off-the-Grid Escape The sherry region of Spain where you can experience sherry tastings every evening, horse riding on the beach and dinners in the vineyard Slow, spacious, deeply personal travel that city breaks simply cannot offer 7. Korea - Destination of the Year for 2026 Bob predicts Korea will be the hottest destination of 2026 as travellers look beyond a crowded Japan. K-pop, Korean dramas, incredible food and a culture-rich travel scene that is truly having its moment 8. China - The Most Underrated Destination in the World Bob's advice: take a full month and travel through it properly - you will not regret it. Vast, diverse and deeply misunderstood as a travel destination From north to south, the cultures, food, history and experiences are unlike anywhere else on earth 9. Bangkok - The World's Greatest Culinary City Michelin-starred dining sits side by side with the world's best street food Southeast Asian, Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern and Western cuisines all coexist in one extraordinary city 10. Tuscany - Bob's Hidden Gem A magical stay at the Ferragamo property Castiglion Del Bosco. https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/castiglion-del-bosco Truffle hunting with a local farmer, followed by a home-cooked meal  Olive oil tastings, cheesemaking and the kind of deeply immersive, bespoke travel that stays with you forever Coming Up in the World of Langham: Venice, 2027 - Murano Island, overlooking the lagoon Bangkok, 2026 - On the Chao Phraya River in the historic Custom House Riyadh - At the UNESCO-protected Diriyah Gate, adjacent to the new Opera House Dubai – Coming Soon Connect with Langham Hospitality: https://www.langhamhotels.com/en/ Thank you for tuning in to Travel Stories with Moush! If you loved this episode, please hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a rating or review - it truly helps us reach more travelers like you.   Drop a comment and tell us which destination from today's episode is going straight to your bucket list? Stay connected with me on https://www.instagram.com/moushtravels/ to find out who's joining me next week.   Explore all past episodes and destinations here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/travel-stories-with-moush/id1691525895 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pAUXiXuRLv1E9WFznWm7T?si=qA_E3Cf8RqKT97pUJcINxQ https://www.youtube.com/@travelstorieswithmoush Until next time…safe travels and keep adventuring. "Want a spotlight on our show? Visit https://admanager.fm/client/podcasts/moushtravels  and align your brand with our audience."Connect with me on the following:Instagram @moushtravelsFacebook @travelstorieswithmoushLinkedIn @Moushumi BhuyanYou Tube @travelstorieswithmoush   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.