1. TOP 30 HOTEL OPENINGS of 2018
1. Raffles
Europejski – Warsaw – Now open, Raffles opens up
the whole of Poland with the first 5-star hotel in the country, a grand hotel
that will surely help luxeplorers add Poland to their radar this year.
2. Heckfield Place (Fall 2018) – located in Hampshire,
about 35 mins from Heathrow, Heckfield will be a fabulous countryside resort
where guests are encouraged to forage for dinner ingredients and participate in
the working farm and even work alongside chefs to prepare dinner.
3. Park Hyatt St. Kitts – Opened this past winter, the first luxury resort on
the island, the contemporary - chic Park Hyatt will bring the sleepy island of
St. Kitts prime time.
4. Rosewood Luang Prabang – An uber-luxe experience 10
minutes from the center of this beautiful city, one of the last in Asia with little
Western invasion. The resort will feature 22 spacious villas many with private
pools. In addition, luxury tents add a new dimension to glamping with open-air
showers, tubs and living rooms. So far it’s getting all five star reviews.
5. Fonteney - Hamburg – Germany’s progressive city
of Hamburg finally gets a true luxury hotel. Set lakeside, this urban resort
fuses contemporary design with whimsical, fresh touches and the perfect place
to explore the new Elbphilarmonie cultural center.
6.The Jaffa Tel Aviv - (Summer 2018) – In a late change, what was supposed to be a W Hotel for Tel Aviv will now be The Jaffa Tel Aviv, a Luxury Collection Hotel. Both brands are owned by Marriott International along with other luxury flags such as Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis and Bulgari. Located in the old town of Jaffa,
it is the only luxury beachfront hotel within walking distance to the
neighborhoods fabulous art galleries, acclaimed restaurants, buzzing bars and club. No doubt it
will be a Game Changer for the city.
7. Setai Tel Aviv – not to be outdone, the Setai brand
expands with its new hotel, also located in Jaffa’s artsy suburb of downtown
Tel Aviv. This new beachfront Setai Tel Aviv will feature 120 slick rooms offering
a level of luxury and design unknown to the Israeli coast.
8. Setai, Sea of Galilee – The Setai brand also expands into the
north of Israel. The first luxury resort of its kind on Israel’s serene Sea of
Galiliee, the renowned Setai Miami brings an air of modernity and sexiness to
this region that has since suffered from a lack of sufficient accommodations. Home to the
country’s largest wellness facility, it offers a base to hike the
Golan mountains or experience a host of adventure activities in the country’s
north.
9. Amanyangyun
– Just 45
minutes outside of Shanghai, Amanyangyun will be a remarkable resort recreating
the owner’s rural village with Ming- and Qing-dynasty structures plus hundreds
of trees, all literally transplanted and reassembled, brick by ancient brick,
to create a truly unique immersive experience with 24 Ming Courtyard Suites and
13 Antique Villas feature tranquil courtyards.
10. Adare
Manor - Set on an 842-acre
estate in Limirick, Ireland, the newly reimagined Adare Manor will emerge with
an ambitious Tom Fazio golf course that is positioned to be one of the best
golf courses in Europe. Interiors will have a fresh take on Gothic Revival
style while the Le Mer spa will be a first in
Ireland.
11. Auberge The Lodge at Blue Sky – Set outside of
Salt Lake City’s pristine mountains, Blue Sky will be a game changer in offering
a luxury ranch and tented camp experience within easy reach of a hub city. Its
luxury yurts will be among the largest luxury tents in the country while its
bespoke approach to outdoor adventures, let by ex-Aman visionary Stuart
Campbell, will redefine the way people explore the American West.
12. The
Langley – Live your own
Downton Abbey life on what was once the Duke of Marlborough's Former Country
Estate. Located in the Langley Park estate, a 40-minute drive from the heart of
London, this 41-room boutique boasts a 25,000 sft spa and some of the most
sumptuous, yet traditional accommodations in the United Kingdom.
13. Rosewood
Baha Mar - Recently opened, the long anticipated Rosewood Baha Mar will finally swing its doors open this
Spring as an elite oasis in the sprawling Bahamian Baha Mar complex. Its
sprawling villas and multi-bedroom residences will be unique in the Caribbean,
giving guests an exclusive beach experience with access to the amazing
restaurants, entertainment and casino of Baha Mar just steps away. And being
just over a 2 hour jaunt from New York it is kinda a no-brainer weekend
excursion for anyone.
14. One
& Only Nyungwe House & One & Only Gorilla’s Nest - Rwanda – One&Only
Resorts will pave the way for travelers to experience Rwanda and all its
natural wonders in true luxury. First up, the 22 room One&Only Nyungwe
House opens on the grounds of lush working tea plantation on the footsteps of
the ancient Nyungwe Forest National Park – famous for its chimpanzees. And
later in the year, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest debuts on the foothills of the
acclaimed Virunga Volcano range where guests will have the opportunity to
experience one of the rarest wildlife experiences in the world – interacting
with Gorillas in their native habitat.
15. Six Senses Bhutan - Six Senses opens five boutique
adventure lodges in Bhutan joining the venerable Amankora lodges and forging
the way for luxury explorers to experience this unique country with a focus on
wellness and sexy, contemporary design.
16. Sanders
Copenhagen – This stunning
new gem is the brainchild of renowned Danish ballet dancer, Alexander Kølpin,
who adds this boutique hotel to Copenhagen’s buzzing scene in an idyllic
location. Inspired by his personal experience and travels, Kølpin brings a
refined aesthetic sensibility and ideology to the property which is deeply
rooted in his creative history.
17. Bulgari in China – The
lifestyle-branded hotel hits China this year in tandem in Shanghai and Beijing,
both featuring a Bulgari Spa and pool, central location and an intimate
atmosphere (Beijing will have 119 rooms and Shanghai only 82), designed by
Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, the mastermind behind the Bulagri Milan, London
and Bali.
18. Silversands,
Grenada - (Fall 2018) -
the islands first luxury resort boasts five private beachfront villas with private
infinity pools all done up with a chic, whimsical style. Other guests will
enjoy oversized suites (the smallest is over 700 square feet!) with organic woods and
earth-toned marble accents, most framing shimmering turquoise views. At the
center of the resort is a football-field size infinity pool lined with cabanas,
swings and slick lounge furniture.
19. Lutetia
Paris – The
reimagination of this grand dame will surely redefine the Left Bank of Paris.
Resorted to its former art-déco glory, the Luetitia will have the largest
accommodations on the Left Bank, an area known for its small, bed &
breakfast like
options. From its sprawling spa to its
spectacular Jazz Bar, no doubt it will be a hub for trend-setters looking to
experience “Paris-Cool” without sacrificing creature comforts.
20. Allia
Ventana Big Sur - Following
unpresented storms that knocked out the bridge to Bir Sur and much of its
surroundings, Ventana Inn reopens this year better than ever with 15 pimped out
glamping tents (the only of its kind in California) and 59 zen-line rooms with
a modern rustic ambiance. Ventana’s
tents will be the first luxury accommodation in Big Sur to welcome kids of any age.
21. Burgenstock
- Set high
above Lake Lucern with some of the most spectacular views in Switzerland, the
new Burgenstock resort boldly opens its doors with three distinct resorts: The Palace, a classic revival, the
Burgenstock, a slick, contemporary concept and the Waldhotel, a state of the
art clinical spa complete with medical practitioners and encyclopedic options
of spa treatments, perfect for someone looking to restore their body or just
recovering from that “elective surgery.”
22. The
Murray - paying tribute to
Hong Kong’s heyday Art-Deco period, the 336 Murray will bring a glamourous
touch to downtown Hong Kong Island.
23. Bishop’s
Lodge - Santa Fe, New
Mexico (Summer 2018) - Auberge
Resorts reopens this historic ranch resort located at the
foothills of New Mexico’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Set on 317 acres, this
jewel emerges after a $75 million renovation, restoring its glory from when it
first opened in 1918. In addition to 92 rooms and suites and 12 residences
there will be three incredible glamping tents for a night under the stars.
24. Four
Seasons Astir Palace - This urban resort, located just 30 minutes from Athens, offers
guests a wonderful beach experience within easy reach of the international
airport and access to some of the most incredible archeological ruins in the
world. With 300 rooms, suites and bungalows it will be a destination resort
with a full spa, a beach club and unique gastronomic experiences.
25. Four
Seasons Costa Palmas - Los Cabos, Mexico (coming Winter 2018) -Forming part of the private beach community of
Costa Palmas at the sandy eastern shoreline of Baja (considered its “secret
cape”) is the 145-room Four Seasons featuring a Robert Trent Jones II–designed
golf course.
26. Hotel
Celestine Kyoto Gion – This 157 room new luxury hotel features its own onsen (natural hot spring) in the heartof the
Higashiyama district.
27. Gloria
Manor – This beautiful new
60-room resort in Taiwan’s Kenting National Park is the first luxury eco-resort of its kind, with a
modernist twist on a former guest house.
28. San
Francisco Proper – Kelly
Werstler’s newest creation infuses color and whimsy to the Bay area with the
funky new Proper located right on Market Street and sure to be one of the
buzziest hangouts in the city!
29. Fauchon
Hotel Paris – located
across from the Madeleine and steps from the Plaza Concorde, this marks the
first foray of this Paris gastronomic mainstay into the hotel business. Fusing
its signature pink spark with an otherwise neutral palette, the hotel will be
chic and fun with an unsurprising focus on an incredible foodie-focus.
30. Azerai
Can Tho, Vietnam – Adrean
Zecha’s second resort manifests his post-Aman vision with incredible space,
design and bespoke service set among the silky power sand beaches of Can Tho.