This Week in The Four Freedoms – January 4th, 2026
A new LA members club, Bottega's redesigned NY flagship, a first look at Bulgari's Bodrum resort, The Newt's 2026 retreat calendar revealed, and a dozen more of the week's top stories.
Editor’s Letter
Happy New Year, everybody. I’m not typically one for sentimentality, but I had a good year, and after advising you to pause and reflect over the holidays, it would be hypocritical not to acknowledge my own efforts. I’ll keep it brief, but I launched this publication in 2025, and, as I’m sure many of you can relate, it was initially just the latest idea in a wave of others that had failed or that I had given up on. Something about The Liber stuck, however, and thanks to a little dedication from me and a lot of support from you, here we are today.
I’m writing to you from the outskirts of Bangkok at RAKxa Wellness, a world-class health and wellness retreat that invited me to spend New Year's being pampered and cared for by a team of longevity specialists. There are certainly worse ways to ring in the New Year, and it’s examples like this that remind me how swiftly one can make progress in their career or business. I say this not to brag (though you should be jealous), but rather to act as a conduit in the spirit of The Liber’s tagline – “The voice of ambition.” I can’t truthfully say I am surprised to find myself living many elements of the life I envisioned a year ago. This was, after all, the plan. But that does not mean that it’s not worth taking note of that progress at regular intervals, and the New Year is, for most of us, the best excuse to do just that. I hope you found time to recognize your accomplishments.
With that said, and in the spirit of ambition, I’ll shut up now and get on with it – there is much more to be achieved. I hope you enjoy the first roundup of the year.
– Daniel Wickstone
Headlines
This week, at a glance.
Arc Beverly Opens a New Members Club in LA
Saint Barts Hosts Busiest New Year’s Yet
John Summit Hints at Ibiza Residency
Milano-Cortina Olympics Face Venue Delays
Bottega Veneta Opens New York Flagship
Jaguar Produces the Final F-Pace
Prada Debuts Alpine Boutique in Cortina
Swatch Releases the Moonswatch “Cold Moon”
Bulgari Previews New Resort in Bodrum
Mandarin Oriental Vienna Opens Its Doors
The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne Reopens
Abu Dhabi’s Longevity Island Concept
The Newt Announces 2026 Retreat Calendar
Soho House Miami Announces New Health Club
Equinox Opens Second Santa Monica Location
Racketeer Club Launches in London