SUITE BEGINNINGS AT HOTTEST NEW HOTELS OPENING AROUND WORLD
▶ Katy Gillett scouts out the optimum venues to visit, from a resort restaurant reachable by zip-line to an Indonesian ‘paradise of paradoxes’
Location: Qatar
Opening: Now open
On the border of a Unesco-protected site on Qatar’s west coast is the country’s first Our Habitas property, part of a new multi-destination hotel circuit in the region that follows the debut of the AlUla resort.
An hour’s drive from Doha, Ras Abrouq will celebrate the country’s vibrant creative sector and use the surrounding desert as a setting to stage art exhibitions, pop-up dining experiences, film screenings and concerts.
There are 42 one to four-bedroom villas, all with private pools and outdoor decks, alongside Qissa Restaurant, a terrace lounge, beach club, bar, wellness centre, water sports adventure hub, padel courts and infinity swimming pool. Rates start from $700 per night. www.ourhabitas.com/ ras-abrouq
Hotel Casa Lucia
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Opening: January 29
This boutique hotel is the inaugural venture beyond Spain for Unico Hotels. Set within the historic Edificio Mihanovich, once the tallest building in Latin America, Casa Lucia opens its doors in the Argentinian capital, promising luxurious accommodation and exceptional service.
Located on the storied Calle Arroyo, a curved road famed for its French architecture in the heart of Recoleta, the hotel features 142 rooms and suites, a vibrant culinary scene that includes Argentinian Cantina Restaurant and a luxurious spa with a 16-metre-long mirror-framed pool.
Rates start from $670. www.hotelcasalucia.com
Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island
Location: Seychelles Opening: February 3
Fifty seaside villas offer private pools, spacious patios and bohemian decor from Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria brand, bringing luxury to a secluded tropical oasis on Seychelles’s Platte Island.
Six restaurants and bars feature garden-to-table dining experiences, with seasonal fruits and vegetables picked fresh from the farms, alongside sushi and Afro-Latin fusion cuisine. Amenities and activities, from fly-fishing to snorkelling and an outdoor cinema, as well as tennis, culinary masterclasses and island explorations are available for guests. www.hilton.com
Soneva Secret
Location: Maldives
Opening: February 10 Soneva, the resort operator behind Soneva Fushi, which came seventh in the first World’s 50 Best Hotels list last year, is opening another ultra-luxe property.
Thirty years in the making, Soneva Secret – located in Haa Dhaalu, one of the most remote atolls in the Maldives – comprises 14 beach and overwater villas. This includes the lagoon Crusoe, which is only accessible by boat, and a floating villa called the Castaway.
Every villa comes with a private chef, although dining outlets also include Out of This World, which is described as a “castaway dining tower, observatory and wine cellar” located in the lagoon and reachable by zip-line. www.soneva.com
Four Seasons Hotel Rabat at Kasr Al Bahr
Location: Morocco Opening: March 4
The forthcoming Four Seasons Hotel Rabat at Kasr Al Bahr is now accepting reservations for its grand opening in March.
Set in the historic Kasr Al Bahr, a former 18th-century sultan’s residence, the hotel spans five hectares of landscaped gardens, featuring six heritage and five new buildings. With 200 rooms and suites, oceanfront views and signature dining experiences, including French and Mediterranean fare, the property’s amenities also include an indoor saltwater pool, traditional Moroccan hammam, fitness centre and spacious event spaces. www.fourseasons.com/rabat
Janu Tokyo
Location: Japan
Opening: March 13
From the makers of Aman Resorts comes this younger, more vibrant sister hospitality brand set to launch in Tokyo in March. The first of 12 properties, Janu Tokyo is connected to the Azabudai Hills project and features 122 rooms and suites, eight dining venues, two boutiques and a 4,000-square-metre wellness centre that’s home to one of the city’s largest gyms.
It’s now open for bookings, with rates starting from $944. www.janu.com
25hours Hotel The Oddbird
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Opening date: March This quirky hotel from the 25hours Hotel brand by Accor is described as a “paradise of paradoxes”.
It celebrates quirkiness and elaborateness in an urban sanctuary that contrasts with
Indonesia’s jungles. With 345 rooms and serviced apartments, the hotel also offers a slate of culinary experiences including a South American restaurant and the Monkey Bar, known from 25hours Hotels in Berlin and Dubai.
Amenities include an outdoor infinity swimming pool, ice plunge pool and durian-shaped sauna, as well as a karaoke lounge and bike rentals. www.25hours-hotels.com
Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Location: Red Sea, Saudi Arabia Opening: March
The first Middle Eastern property in the exclusive collection – which comprises six resorts worldwide – will be launched this year.
Nestled within the Red Sea’s Blue Hole cluster in Saudi Arabia, the reserve sprawls across private islands on the kingdom’s west coast, offering 63 one to three-bedroom water and beach villas integrated with the natural surroundings.
An on-site speciality seafood restaurant is a highlight, alongside other amenities such as a spa, swimming pools, children’s club, and Galaxea Diving Centre and Conservation House, where guests can connect with Saudi culture, community and environment through activities on land and in the sea. www.ritzcarlton.com
Serengeti Explorer
Location: Tanzania
Opening date: March Elewana, which is renowned for its luxury properties in East
Africa, is introducing Explorer by Elewana, an upscale safari lodge collection that offers a more accessible price point.
First to launch is Serengeti Explorer in Tanzania, on top of Nyaboro Hills, offering views of the famed plains. With 70 rooms and six suites, the property will also provide diverse dining options, including Swahili signature dishes at Boma Restaurant, and activities and cultural experiences, from stargazing with an astronomer to children’s bushcraft and an outdoor cinema showing African classics.
Rates range from $330 to $940 on full board. www.elewanacollection.com
Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel
Location: Austria
Opening: March Anantara is launching in the Austrian market as part of the group’s expansion across Europe. Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel will open in the heart of the capital, on the renowned Schottenring, occupying a listed palace built in 1873 for the Vienna World’s Fair.
The property was used as municipal offices and cultural venues before it was transformed into a luxury hotel in 2013. The rebranded property will feature 152 classically decorated guest rooms and suites, including a 270-square-metre Presidential Suite, the largest in Vienna.
Dining options will include a Michelin-starred restaurant and regional cuisine at Wintergarten, while leisure facilities will feature an indoor swimming pool, fitness centre and
Anantara Spa, combining European and Asian traditions. www.anantara.com/en/ palais-hansen-vienna
One&Only Kea Island
Location: Greece
Opening: May 1
This ultra-luxury property is set on a 65-hectare beachfront site on Greece’s Kea island, surrounded by sea views of the Cyclades.
Resort-style villas blend Greek elegance with elements that harmonise with the surrounding nature and azure waters, hugging the hillside with private pools, terraces, courtyards and fireplaces.
Culinary diversity is on offer throughout the hotel’s restaurants, which include a relaxed Greek-inspired taverna, a speakeasy bar and vibrant beach club, all serving ingredients sourced directly from the island’s local artisans and producers. www.oneandonlyresorts.com/ kea-island
Moxy Barcelona
Location: Spain
Opening: April-June
The playful Moxy Hotels brand from Marriott is entering Spain for the first time, offering a fun base for Barcelona visitors in the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Sants, which is within walking distance of the historic city centre and FC Barcelona stadium.
There will be more than 400 stylishly decorated guest
rooms, complete with walk-in showers and private balconies, as well as a rooftop pool on the 10th floor, featuring cabanas, a bar and pop-up food stalls. Other highlights include a fully equipped gym, nine meeting rooms and Plug In, a communal space for co-working or leisure. www.moxy-hotels.marriott.com
W Prague
Location: Czech Republic Opening: April-June Wenceslas Square is the location of W’s first hotel in the Czech Republic. A radical art nouveau-style property from 1905, the former Grand Europa hotel is being reinvigorated with the brand’s vibrant spirit, combining this historic structure with a modern oval-shaped extension.
Other new elements include Fantastical Garden where guests can relax and socialise, a rooftop bar with outdoor terrace and two destination bars in the basement. There will be 161 guest rooms and suites, including the Extreme Wow (Presidential) Suite, as well as W signatures, such as the indoor Wet pool deck, Fit fitness centre and Away Spa. www.marriott.com
Casa Monti
Location: Rome, Italy Opening: April-June Family-owned Leitmotiv will launch Casa Monti in the Italian capital as a tribute to the charming neighbourhood of Rione Monti, where artisanal shops sit next to chic wine bars and new-age art galleries.
The bohemian-inspired boutique property will feature 36 guest rooms, a restaurant, bar, rooftop space and spa that overlooks the ancient city, with the theme of art de vivre running throughout.
Its location between the busy Via Cavour and Via Nazionale, east of the Forum, means it’s only a short walking distance away from some of Rome’s must-visit landmarks and yet tucked away from the overly touristic areas in a distinctly Roman spot that renders it a discreet gem. www.leitmotiv.fr/hotels/ casamonti
Mythtopia
Location: Scotland, UK Opening: April-June Eco-glamping is getting a modern makeover in this resort as luxury meets augmented reality. Mythtopia, which is opening near Edinburgh, is set among 80 hectares of preserved green land and will offer families an augmented reality adventure 20 minutes from the Scottish capital. It will also be the UK’s first holiday destination exclusive to holders of NFTs (unique cryptographic tokens).
There will be 150 low-carbon-impact geometric domes and lodges, alongside a restaurant, clubhouse, bar and spa.
Each guest will have access to activities, including a geofenced augmented reality playground based on ancient Celtic mythology, which allows players to explore the natural woodland environment while following a story full of mythical creatures.
Real-world activities will also be on offer, including open-water swimming in the lake, stargazing, horse riding, yoga classes and silent discos. www.mythtopia-eco-glamping. com
Gigiri Gem Forest Hotel Nairobi – MGallery
Location: Kenya
Opening: April-June Accor is flying the MGallery flag in Nairobi, bringing this 105-room, design-led boutique hotel to the Kenyan capital. It has a prime location on Gigiri’s Limuru Road, about 10km from the city centre.
Its striking interiors will feature a replica of the Nairobi River via aquamarine carpet weaving throughout the hotel’s corridors, while actual water will flow across its portecochere entrance.
There will be four restaurants, including a signature dining experience, pool bar and rooftop venue. The property will also have wellness facilities that include a gym, pool and spa. www.group.accor.com/en
Hotel Du Couvent
Location: Nice, France Opening: April-August
In the heart of Nice’s Old Town, a 17th-century convent – untouched since 1985 – is being brought back to life as Hotel du Couvent. Cultured travellers are invited to discover the charm of this forgotten city landmark.
This is the first luxury project by Valery Grego, founder of Les Roches Rouges and Le Pigalle in Paris.
The restored sanctuary will have Roman thermal baths, menus that feature produce harvested from the hectare of terraced gardens and the convent’s own farm, plus a resident herbalist, who will organise unique retreats on the Riviera. www.hotelducouvent.com
Nobu Hotel and Residences Toronto
Location: Canada
Opening: June-September Coming to the heart of Toronto’s Entertainment District is Nobu’s first Canadian hotel, rising 45 storeys above the city.
The new property will blend the brand’s minimal Japanese tradition with the vibrancy of a modern lifestyle hotel in the historic Pilkington Glass Factory building.
There will be 36 suites, a hotel lounge and wellness centre, alongside
660 residences. The jewel in its crown will be the 4,500-square-metre, two-level Nobu restaurant with separate bar and lounge, two private dining rooms, a sushi bar and outdoor terrace. www.nobuhotels.com
Raffles Jaipur
Location: India
Opening: June-September Anantara, Waldorf Astoria and Raffles are all set to open in Jaipur, turning The Pink City into a hot destination.
Raffles, due to launch in the middle of this year, will feature 50 suites, all with private pools, infusing a sense of old-world charm within these secluded residences and courtyards. It’s linked to a sprawling estate shared with Fairmont Jaipur, not far from famous Indian landmarks, such as the Jaigarh Fort and Jal Mahal Palace. www.raffles.com
The St Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort
Location: Oman
Opening: June-September The St Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort will bring Riviera lifestyle to Muscat’s waterfront, blending Omani architecture with the New York glamour of the brand.
There will be 250 guest rooms and suites, all with their own private balcony, walkin wardrobes and expansive windows that look out over one of Oman’s most exclusive neighbourhoods – a gateway to landmarks, such as the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and Al Hajar Mountains.
A Guerlain Spa will feature a hammam and scent bar, alongside a fully equipped fitness centre, swimming pools, padel court, private beach and children’s zones. Culinary destinations include international names, such as Hakkasan, Em Sherif and Novikov, plus Karibu, which showcases a taste of Zanzibar and Oman. www.marriott.com
The Artyzen Singapore
Location: Singapore Opening: October-December Artyzen’s first property outside of China brings this modern luxury lifestyle brand to a Singaporean landmark. The structure was once a tropical garden mansion called Villa Marie, built by the great-grandson of well-known philanthropist Tan Tock Seng.
Today, it will offer 142 plush rooms and suites, all featuring balconies, barrel-vaulted entry corridors and traditional ceiling fans, a stone’s throw from the city’s famed Orchard Road. The piece de resistance is the Roof Garden, where a 25-metre cantilevered infinity pool offers views of the West Orchard neighbourhoods. www.artyzen.com
The Vineta Hotel
Location: Palm Beach, US Opening: October-December Oetker Collection, of Le Bristol Paris fame, is opening its first property in the US, with The Vineta Hotel in Palm Beach, minutes away from the beach. The hotel has a 100-year legacy in the heart of the town, two blocks from Worth Avenue, where designer boutiques, art galleries and popular restaurants reside.
It was originally opened as the Lido-Venice in 1926 before it was renamed The Vineta, as it remained for 50 years. It became a condo in the 1980s, before its incarnation as The Chesterfield in 1989.
Now, this quintessential example of Mediterranean Revival architecture is undergoing a top-to-bottom renovation led by Parisian interior designer Tino
Zervudachi, reducing the number of rooms from 53 to 41 and brought to life with fresh, bright interiors. www.oetkercollection.com
Silversands Beach House
Location: Grenada
Opening date: TBC
The latest Caribbean endeavour by Silversands sits against a stone bluff overlooking Portici Beach, offering intimate escapism with 28 cliffside or beachside rooms that are designed to work in harmony with the surrounding nature.
The hotel will feature two restaurants, a cigar lounge and a spa where locally inspired remedies will be offered alongside more modern aesthetic therapies. www.silversandsgrenada.com
1Hotel Melbourne
Location: Australia
Opening: TBC
This pet-friendly, sustainably minded resort – the group’s first in Australia – sits on the banks of the Yarra River. A beacon of modern architecture, the brand’s ethos embeds a respect for the surrounding lands, waters and traditions.
Native greenery and reclaimed wood are incorporated into the guest rooms, as well as non-toxic, organic, sustainable textiles and floor-to-ceiling windows that act as a canvas for the scenery beyond. There’s also a focus on wellness, with a fitness centre, spa, sauna, steam room, group classes and one-on-one training sessions. www.1hotels.com/melbourne
Rosewood Amsterdam
Location: Netherlands Opening: TBC Rosewood is entering the Dutch market in fine form, as it opens its first Amsterdam property in the former Palace of Justice, a historic building in the Unesco World Heritage-listed Canal District.
The building was originally constructed in 1665 and served as the city’s main courthouse for more than 175 years. Architectural firm Kentie & Partners is working closely with local authorities to preserve the heritage and character of the building while transforming it into an ultra-luxury hotel.
It will blend classic Dutch elements with contemporary style, featuring 133 guest rooms, three restaurants, bars, an Asaya Spa, wellness and fitness centre, indoor pool and event spaces. www.rosewoodhotels.com
Aman Nai Lert Bangkok
Location: Thailand
Opening: TBC
This new Thai venture follows the success of the refined Aman brand, embodying its commitment to celebrating local culture and heritage.
The property, nestled in Nai Lert Park’s tropical gardens, will comprise a 52-suite hotel, up to 50 Aman Residences and an Aman Club – a new concept launched in New York last year.
Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, the contemporary urban sanctuary blends Aman’s elegance with the influences of Nai Lert Park Heritage Home, all in the heart of the bustling Thai capital.
The Residences are located on floors 11 through 28, with one, two and three-bedroom units and penthouses, most with private terraces.