Design Hotels and Fora Partner on a New Retreat Celebrating Slowness, Craft, and Connection

Design Hotels has partnered with Fora, the modern travel agency, to unveil a transformative three-day retreat (22-25 May 2025), crafted in collaboration with Casa Lawa—a multidisciplinary guesthouse founded on the slopes of Mount Etna by Lukas Lewandowski. 

Together, Design Hotels and Casa Lawa will offer a rare and deeply personal exploration of contemporary Italian hospitality—rooted in place, shaped by people, and designed to inspire. This first retreat is bookable exclusively through Fora Advisors and marks the first full-package, multi-day experience for both Design Hotels and Fora.

The first in a new series of global moments curated by Design Hotels, this gathering will take place at Palazzo Daniele in Puglia, a 19th-century aristocratic residence where contemporary art and historic architecture converge. With only 15 rooms, Palazzo Daniele offers a meditative setting defined by frescoed ceilings, mosaic floors, and site-specific works. The design is curated by Francesco Petrucci, the last heir to the Daniele family, alongside Gabriele Salini, the visionary behind the hotel’s artistic direction. An intimate backdrop for a retreat designed offer a creative alchemy of food, people and place. 

Ceara Sadler, Senior Director of Brand and Commercial, Americas, at Design Hotels said: “As we continue to evolve how Design Hotels creates transformative travel, this retreat represents a natural extension of the work we have built closely with our hotels and long-time creative collaborators like Casa Lawa. Partnering with Fora allows us to expand the reach of this programming and connect with a new community of like-minded travelers. It is a partnership grounded in commonality, and we are excited to see it grow.”

The weekend unfolds through a series of cookery masterclasses led by Casa Lawa, exploring one of Italy’s most iconic and deceptively simple dishes: Pasta with Salsa di Pomodoro, using fresh and local ingredients, ancient Apulian techniques and flour from heritage grains. Guests will also learn how to prepare traditional ricotta and primosale using time-honored techniques still preserved by Salento’s local artisans.

“The future of luxury travel will be defined by incredible experiences, and partnering with Design Hotels to provide an exclusive retreat to Fora clients is a perfect reflection of that, “said Henley Vazquez, co-founder of Fora. "This retreat is exactly the kind of immersive, culturally rich journey our advisors are excited to bring to their clients. Palazzo Daniele provides an extraordinary setting for travelers to slow down, learn from local artisans, and experience Puglia in a way that simply isn’t possible through traditional tourism.”

Retreat packages start from $5,000 per person. For more information visit: fortravel.com and www.designhotels.com. 

About Design Hotels
For more than 30 years, Design Hotels has been at the forefront of a movement in travel by crafting a handpicked portfolio of 300+ independently owned and operated hotels in over 60 countries. From cultural hubs in fast-paced cities to tiny off-the-beaten-path escapes, each hotel reflects the vision of its pioneering owner—or “Original”—who possesses a passion for genuine hospitality, cultural authenticity, thought-provoking design, and architecture. More than a collection of hotels, Design Hotels brings forward-thinking member hotels insightful travel industry expertise—from trend forecasting and creative consultancy, to PR, marketing, and global sales representation.

About Fora
Fora is the modern travel agency, powering a new generation of travel entrepreneurs. Our AI-enabled platform provides advisors with the technology, training, and community to grow their businesses, and connects travelers to smarter service, personalized trip planning, and VIP perks worldwide. Since the company launched in 2021, Fora Advisors have booked more than $2 billion in travel for clients across 180+ countries. Fora is headquartered in New York City and backed by Thrive Capital, Insight Partners, Forerunner Ventures, and Heartcore Capital. Learn more at foratravel.com.

About Casa Lawa
Featured in Design Hotels’ Further Forecast 2024, and co-host of the NYC x Design takeover at the Moore, Casa Lawa is a multidisciplinary guesthouse and creative residency located on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. Founded by Lukas Lewandowski, it offers a unique blend of hospitality, culinary arts, and cultural experiences. The property features a chef-in-residence program, hosting culinary professionals from around the world who create immersive, produce-led cooking experiences using hyper-seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.