18: Fresh Intentions and Big Discoveries for 2025

New Year, New Intentions: I’m kicking off 2025 with a fresh focus on meaningful moments and high-quality content. This issue of the newsletter highlights boutique hotels, groundbreaking tech, regenerative travel, and a wellness hack you can use right now. Dive in, and let’s make 2025 unforgettable!

• New Year, New Intentions

• Top Boutique Hotels to Check Out in 2025

• A Hotel That Lends You a $2,300 Watch?

• The Coolest Tech from CES 2025

• Travel With Purpose: Regenerative Tourism

• Wellness Hack: The 4-7-8 Breathing Technique

• Artist Spotlight: Hiroshi Nagai

New Year, New Intentions

How I'm setting the tone for 2025

Starting the year always feels like hitting “refresh,” but 2024 left me—and many others—carrying some heavy baggage. This year, I’m determined not to let the weight of the past hold me back. Instead, I’m taking the lessons, wins, and even the tough moments from last year to make 2025 intentional and meaningful.

On a personal note, I plan to focus more on quality time with family, friends, and myself. I’m also switching things up with this newsletter: instead of a weekly format, I’ll be delivering it every two weeks. Why? Because I’d rather fill your inbox with value than just show up for the sake of showing up. This new schedule gives me the space to create something worth reading—every single time.

Big news: I’ve also started a YouTube channel! It’s early days, but I’m excited to explore life, work, travel, and tech in a way that feels fresh. The support from the YouTube community so far has been incredible, and I can’t wait to hear what you think.

👉 Subscribe to my channel

Here’s to a productive, positive 2025. Now, let’s dive into the first issue of the year.

Top Boutique Hotels to Check Out in 2025

Brandon Berkson’s must-visit picks from Hotels Above Par

Hotels Above Par’s Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Brandon Berkson, knows boutique hotels like nobody else. This year, he’s spotlighting some incredible destinations that merge design, culture, and nature into unforgettable stays.

Boca de Agua (Bacalar, Mexico)
Located on the serene shores of Bacalar Lagoon, this boutique hotel is all about nature. Picture this: turquoise waters, stilted rooms blending into the lush surroundings, and neighbors like spider monkeys and iguanas. Plus, nearby Mayan ruins steep you in ancient history.

Lost Lindenberg (Pekutatan, Indonesia)
Bali’s unspoiled west coast sets the stage for this hidden gem. Think eight treehouse-inspired rooms connected by elevated walkways, a stunning lava-sand beach, and a Balinese-style spa that’ll leave you rejuvenated.

That’s just a sneak peek! Check out the full list here: Hotels Above Par 2025 Picks

A Hotel That Lends You a $2,300 Watch?

Yes, really—Detroit’s Shinola Hotel is making it happen.

Detroit’s Shinola Hotel just launched a new program that lets guests borrow luxury watches during their stay. The concept? To deepen the connection between guests and the city of Detroit, where the brand’s iconic timepieces are made.

Steve Katzman, CEO of Bedrock Manufacturing Company, says, “By wearing a piece created right here in Detroit, guests will feel the intrinsic ties between our brand and the city.”

Ready to try it out? Learn more here.

The Coolest Tech from CES 2025

35 innovations that will shape the year ahead

This year’s CES in Las Vegas brought us closer to the future. From robots to edible tech (yes, really), CNET’s experts scoured the show for the best of the best. If you couldn’t make it, no worries—they’ve rounded up the 35 most innovative products that’ll have us talking all year.

Catch the highlights here: CES 2025 Round-Up

Travel With Purpose: Regenerative Tourism

Leave places better than you found them.

Regenerative travel is the next step beyond sustainability. It’s about giving back—to local environments, communities, and economies—so that travel leaves a positive impact. From eco-friendly resorts to immersive local experiences, this trend is redefining responsible tourism.

Dive deeper here: Regenerative Travel Guide

Wellness Hack: The 4-7-8 Breathing Technique

Relax and recharge in under a minute.

If stress or sleepless nights are tagging along into 2025, the 4-7-8 breathing technique might be your new best friend. Inspired by ancient yogic practices, it’s as simple as inhaling for 4 seconds, holding for 7, and exhaling for 8.

With regular practice, this method could help you fall asleep faster, manage stress, and feel more grounded.

Learn how to master it: 4-7-8 Breathing Explained

Artist Spotlight: Hiroshi Nagai

The master behind City Pop’s iconic visuals.

Hiroshi Nagai is a Japanese illustrator whose dreamy, pastel-toned designs defined the look of City Pop in the 1980s. His work captures the effortless cool of a genre that’s as much about aesthetics as sound.

Explore his art:
Instagram
Website

Enjoyed this edition of The Bassport? Don’t keep it to yourself! Share it with your friends and invite them to join the journey. Each share adds a stamp to your Bassport, bringing you closer to exclusive rewards and insider content. Spread the word, and let’s explore the world together!

Thank you!