Many of our readers expected the number “90” in the title, following the previous years’ pattern of 60, 70, and 80. This time, we were in a more picky mood and decided to cap the list at a lower number. That said, there are dozens of other mentions throughout, and a list of runners-up at the very bottom adds more than eighty other openings, worthy at least a mention.
Finally, we have not arranged this list in any particular order — and if you think we missed a particularly cool new luxury opening, please do let us know.
*Note: the hotel opening dates are subject to changes and delays.
NEW! See our 2020 list: The Top 100 Luxury Hotel Openings of 2020
Conveniently located only a boat ride away from Male and the Velana International Airport, the Waldorf Astoria took over three islands in the South Male Atoll. The property has as many as 121 villas, all with private infinity pools and ample outdoor space. Guests have ten dining outlets to choose from, including a “treetop” and overwater restaurants.
Website: Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi, Maldives. Opened: Early 2019.
Photos © Waldorf Astoria
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Japan feels like a natural destination for the exclusive properties from Aman Resorts, known for its highly developed wellness offering, refined service, and minimal aesthetics. The Kyoto property near the Kinkaku-Ji Temple is Aman’s third Japanese opening, after Aman Tokyo and Amanemu.
Surrounded by forests and gardens and featuring only 24 rooms and two two-bed villas, the hotel is as exclusive as they get. Its features include a spa with indoor and outdoor hot spring onsens and dining venues offering highly refined Japanese cuisine and casual picnics in the forest.
Website: Aman Kyoto Hotel, Japan. Opened: November 2019.
Photos © Aman Group
“The Happiest Place on Earth now has even more ways to make you smile. Six Senses Bhutan will take you on a spectacular journey, in the truest sense of the word”
— Six Senses Brochure 2018/2019
This unique project is more than a single hotel. In essence, it’s a journey designed to showcase the magical Kingdom of Bhutan on an expedition between five small lodges: Six Senses Thimphu, Six Senses Punakha, Six Senses Paro, Six Senses Gangtey, and Six Senses Bumthang.
The Six Senses experience in Bhutan starts in the capital and continues with each lodge designed in a different theme reflecting its setting. All lodges but one can be booked since 2019, with the last one, Bumthang, available in 2020.
Website: Six Senses Bhutan. Opened: Spring 2019. Photo © Six Senses
We love the style of Singita and its approach to luxury safari hospitality, so we always welcome new openings from this unique company. (Our regular readers may remember our reviews of Singita Sabora Tented Camp and Singita Grumeti Faru Faru Lodge in Tanzania, both of which we loved).
Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House in Rwanda are positioned on the edge of a national park where one-third of the world’s mountain gorillas can be found deep in the cloud forests. As with other lodges by Singita, the designers infused them with high-quality earthy aesthetics and philosophy focused on minimizing the environmental impact.
Website: Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Rwanda. Opened: August 2019. Photos © Singita
The ultimate list of 100 hotels, plus another 100 runners-up!
The long-awaited Oberoi in Marrakech is set on twenty-eight acres of Mediterranean orchards, surrounded by citrus trees and centuries-old olive groves. The opulence of royal Morocco inspired the stately architecture of the hotel, its carefully landscaped gardens and water features, and its location offers picturesque views of the majestic snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Spacious accommodation, personalized wellness offerings, Moroccan and international restaurants, and an engaging children’s activity area complete the full range of features and services.
Website: The Oberoi, Marrakech, Morocco. Opened: December 2019.
Photo © Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
Formerly known as Casa Cook Chania, now rebranded as Domes Zeen Chania, this luxury boutique property launched on the island of Crete with a quasi bohemian chic feel and focus on families. Located on a hillside overlooking a stretch of Cretan coast, the Domes Zeen has 104 rooms, many with shared or private pools. The public spaces of the resort, the main pool, the restaurant, the bar, are designed to riff off a tropical beach club vibes. We love the modernist style and earthy tones complementing the bright Aegean skies.
Website: Domes Zeen Chania, Crete, Greece. Opened: Summer 2019.
Images © Domes Resorts
Namibia is an incredibly beautiful country, and its popularity is growing steadily. New luxury lodges in the country keep popping up, and 2019 was no different. Among the new openings that year was the Sonop Lodge, located on the edge of the Namib Desert, near one of the most spectacular places we’ve ever visited and photographed: the Sossusvlei dunes (do check out our photo essay from the site!).
Launched by the Zannier Hotels Group (the owners of Omaanda, included on our Openings 2018 list), Sonop is an exclusive lodge made up of only ten guest tents, created in the style of an early explorer’s camp. With a restaurant, spa, and swimming pool, the Sonop Lodge evokes a sense of blissful retreat, perfect after a day exploring the stunning country of Namibia.
Website: Sonop Lodge, Namibia. Opened: July 2019. Photos © Zannier Hotels
With a name based on a “bright, sunlike optical illusion, often on a luminous ring or halo”, this hotel is a dazzle—not least thanks to the clean lines of its architecture, and the simplistic beauty of the all-white Cycladic style of Paros. Parīlio comes with 33 only guestrooms, with interiors mixing the aesthetics of Cyclades and contemporary chic. Exposed concrete, local marble, and natural stone serve as a backdrop to warm timber, handmade rugs, elegant furniture—all set in a muted color palette of white and ivory, grey and earthy sienna.
Parīlio is the fourth hotel from hoteliers Kaila and Antonis Eliopoulos, and their small portfolio includes the stunning Istoria Santorini.
Website: Parīlio, Paros, Greece. Opened: April 2019. Photo © Parīlio
This long-delayed Six Senses resort was well worth the wait. Comprising 40 beautifully designed villas, the Six Senses Krabey Island brings to the Sihanoukville area the hallmark approach of barefoot luxury that embraces modern technology and total convenience and comfort. Landscaped into the picturesque island of Krabey, this property features the famous Six Senses Spa, two poolside restaurants, and a deli complete with the ice cream parlor.
Website: Six Senses Krabey Island, Cambodia. Opened: March 2019.
Photos © Six Senses Resorts
We loved the quality of service and level of sophisticated luxury at the Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Ubud — and all signs tell us that Zadún matches the quality we experienced in Bali. Set on the dramatic coastline of San José del Cabo, the fourth Ritz-Carlton resort branded “Reserve” is a luxury retreat with 115 villas (many with private pools), and a number of Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residences. The resort boasts two championship golf courses, and it maintains a botanical park with the desert flora.
Website: Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Los Cabos, Mexico.
Opened: Spring 2019. Photos © The Ritz-Carlton
We have been following the openings of properties branded J.K. Place for some time now, and wrote reviews of the first hotel in Firenze and then in Capri and Rome. They all offer the perfect blend of smart chic and relaxation in a concept that redefined the Italian townhouse hotel. This time, this mini-chain attempts to import its own brand of Italian style to France.
Set in a former embassy building on rue de Lille in Paris, the hotel infuses its interiors with the sense of place, thanks to furniture commissioned from French designers and antiques sourced from Parisian flea markets. J.K. Place Paris features a spa and pool in the basement and an all-day Italian restaurant Casa Tua on the ground floor.
Website: J.K. Place Paris, France. Opened: End of 2019. Photo © JK Place
Without a doubt, Maldives is one of our favorite destinations. We have visited the country many times and reviewed the best luxury resorts here. So we are quite excited about the possibility of checking out Raffles Meradhoo and seeing how it compares to the other top places in the country.
Located near the equator at the southern edge of this island country, this is a debut in the Maldives for this world-famous hotel brand. Raffles Maldives Meradhoo offers only 38 guest villas, but as many as four dining outlets, a Raffles Spa, fitness center, and water sport activities. The resort is accessible by an hour-long flight from Male to Kaadedhdhoo Airport in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll.
Website: Raffles Maldives Meradhoo, Maldives. Opened: 1 February 2019.
Images (including the leading image at the top of the article) © Raffles Hotels & Resorts
Located in a driving distance from Florence and Siena, and occupying a twelfth-century castle layered with Renaissance frescoes, COMO Castello Del Nero is a unique new development from the wellness-centered COMO. Hidden among the rolling hills of Tuscany at the heart of the historic 740-acre estate, the hotel’s fifty rooms and suites embrace the heritage of the building with a pared-back aesthetic in their contemporary interiors, designed by Paola Navone. The resort offers Michelin-starred dining, and, true to the COMO Shambhala Retreat credentials, top-notch wellness experiences.
Website: COMO Castello del Nero, Tuscany, Italy. Opened: March 2019.
Photo © COMO Hotels and Resorts
Located within the central business district of the city, this luxury hotel from Rosewood is becoming Bangkok’s most celebrated urban sanctuary (matching how we felt about the Rosewood Beijing hotel). Rosewood Bangkok comes with 159 guest rooms, including Pool Sky Villas with spacious terraces and private plunge pools. Guests find plenty of opportunities to unwind and relax, thanks to three restaurants and bars, Rosewood’s signature Sense®Spa, a swimming pool, and a fitness center.
Website: Rosewood Bangkok, Thailand. Opened: 2019.
Photos © Rosewood Hotels and Resorts
Surrounded by thick jungle, the seven villas and two larger mansions of Haritha are located some 25 minutes from the beautiful heritage city of Galle and just a five-minute tuk-tuk ride from the Narigama beach. The hotel features a tea garden, a spa, a yoga pavilion, and a garden-to-table restaurant. The villas, built using recycled teak, concrete, and marble, come with saltwater plunge pools.
Website: Haritha Villas + Spa, Sri Lanka. Opened: Late 2019.
Photo © Haritha Villas + Spa
Rwanda continues to enjoy the growth of its luxury tourism industry, as discerning travelers seek less-explored destinations. Answering the demand, One&Only created the Gorilla’s Nest Lodge, in the foothills of the Virunga Volcano Range. Featuring twenty-two guest tents as well as a restaurant and spa, this is an exclusive home base from which to discover the roaming grounds of the mountain gorillas. The camp’s restaurant serves cuisine focused on local traditions using produce grown in the property’s organic garden, while the spa provides African-inspired treatments.
Website: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Rwanda. Opened: Late 2019.
Images © One&Only Resorts
Conceived as a bohemian hideaway resembling an exclusive private home where mealtimes are entirely up to the guests, this resort in the Baa Atoll attracts travelers seeking the intimate side of Maldives. The Nautilus occupies a tiny island, and features only 26 houses (one-, two-, or three-bedroom), with a living room, sundeck, and private pool. The resort promises a pure “private island experience,” only a 35-minute seaplane hop from Male.
Website: The Nautilus, Maldives. Opened: January 2019. Images © The Nautilus
The Saharan oasis city of Tozeur is known for the film set locations of Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, and Anantara upped the ante of the high-end hotel niche with a beautiful resort of 93 guest rooms, suites and pool villas. With six dining venues, several swimming pools, a spa, and a souk, the place promises vacations themed with the “Arabian Nights” lore. The sand dunes of the desert are the perfect backdrop for the dreamy Saharan sunsets.
Website: Anantara Tozeur Resort, Tunisia. Opened: End of 2019.
Photos © Anantara Hotels
Covent Garden has always been one of our favorite neighborhoods in London, and the One Aldwych opening is an excellent excuse to pay a visit again. This refined city hotel, designed in the style of an elegant modern residence, has 86 rooms and 16 suites, and two restaurants and bars, including the exclusive guests-only Lounge at One.
Website: One Aldwych, London, United Kingdom. Opened: March 2019.
Photo © One Aldwych
The ultimate list of 100 hotels, plus another 100 runners-up!
Say what you will about Dubai, but one thing they are not short of is the ideas for exciting luxury hotels. Mandarin Oriental’s entry to this mirage of a city lures guests with spacious suites and stunning views, either of the city or the ocean. A spa and kids’ club, and seven dining outlets (including a restaurant with a dedicated dock for patrons arriving by private yachts) completes the picture.
But it doesn’t complete the picture for what else happened for the group in 2019. Openings this year included Mandarin Oriental Doha in Qatar, Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing in Beijing, China, and Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London, England. Finally, the Mandarin Oriental Lake Como, in Italy re-opened following refurbishment.
Website: Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, UAE. Opened: Q1 2019.
Photo © Mandarin Oriental
We love coming back to Greece, and next time we are in Athens, we know where to check-in. Located only 30 minutes from the historic city center, and occupying a lovely spot on the trendy Athens Riviera, the new Four Seasons Astir Palace promises a laid-back seaside escape with easy access to Acropolis. The hotel’s 303 guest rooms, suites, and bungalows are accompanied by three pools, two private beaches, and as many as eight restaurants, lounges, and bars. The Spa claims to be “inspired by the ancient teachings of Hippocrates.”
Website: Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, Greece. Opened: Early 2019.
Photos © Four Seasons Hotels
Africa features prominently on our list, and Botswana is one of the most interesting destinations on the continent. Natural Selection — a safari provider of which the Shipwreck Lodge in Namibia we covered the Top Openings list in 2018 — clearly thinks the same, as evidenced in their entry to the Okavango Delta of Botswana. The Tuludi is a luxury camp surrounded by a vast private reserve and comprised only seven tents, each with a plunge pool.
A small portion of the camp’s total revenue is donated to the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust, focusing on the protection of leopards.
Website: Tuludi Camp, Botswana. Opened: July 2019. Image © Natural Selection Safari
Following a lengthy and careful restoration, the Raffles’ flagship property in Singapore was updated and brought up to the expectations of 21st Century city dwellers, without losing any of its unique colonial character. The nostalgia-inducing interiors, decorated with straw fans, vintage lamps, and dark-wood furniture is still here, but the hotel now offers luxury standards to compete with the best in town.
More: Read about our visit and the recipe of the famous Singapore Sling.
Website: Raffles Singapore, Singapore. Opened: The first half of 2019.
Photos © Raffles
Menorca Experimental has thirty-four rooms and nine private villas, designed in a style that blends the local whitewashed-walls vernacular with a modern take on Art Deco, and infused with a laidback island vibe. The hotel was designed by the agency Chzon, specializing in the hospitality industry and known for some of London’s most interesting hotels, including Henrietta Hotel, as well as a string of bars in Paris.
Website: Menorca Experimental, Alaior, Spain. Opened: August 2019.
Photo © Experimental Group
Oh, don’t we just love Santorini! We are always up for any excuse to return to the island. And we may have just found one, in the sensational Andronis Arcadia. This luxury spa hotel, perched on a clifftop in the village of Imerovigli, offers fifty-eight suites, all with sunset views and all seemingly carved out of the rich volcanic earth. The hotel wows with a range of facilities and attractions, including Spa, a man-made beach (with imported sand), and underwater music in the pool. The restaurant menus are based on two very different traditions: one of the ancient Greece progeny and another of Japan, in the Oishii Sushi Bar.
Website: Andronis Arcadia, Santorini, Greece. Opened: June 2019.
Images © Andronis Arcadia
“We have taken a fresh and contemporary approach to the sense of adventure […], creating a feeling of not knowing what to expect around the next corner, adding an element of surprise and delight in this ever-evolving sculptural and architectural language” — Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens
Another (re)opening in Botswana comes courtesy of Wilderness Safaris, with whom we traveled extensively in neighboring Namibia. In 2019 they relaunched the famous Jao Camp, located in the middle of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Rebuilt and reinvented, the place offers five twin accommodations with kitchen and dining areas, private plunge pools, and en-suite bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers included. There are also two new Jao Villas, designed for up to four guests, with a private vehicle, guide, chef, and butler. The main pool looks out onto the floodplain for sweeping views of the delta. A spa and a gym are also part of the experience, as well as the camp’s own museum and gallery.
Website: Jao Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana. Opened: June 2019.
Photos © Wilderness Safaris
A multi-use tower, home to the Rosewood Hong Kong, is quickly becoming a new landmark on the city’s famous skyline. Twenty-seven floors of the building are occupied by the hotel, with 398 guest rooms inviting guests to experience the Rosewood’s brand of luxury. The hotel offers eight dining options, a swimming pool, a fitness center, and a wellness spa. Rosewood Hong Kong is located in Tsim Sha Tsui, on a prized Victoria Harbour waterfront. Also in China, this respected hotel chain launched Rosewood Guangzhou.
Website: Rosewood Hong Kong, China. Opened: Winter 2019.
Photo © Rosewood Hotels
Located in the Namib Desert near one of the most amazing locations on Earth (the dunes of Sossusvlei, which we called “the most unreal sight in Africa“), the &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge relaunched after a complete makeover. Going against the trends in the area, the lodge unveiled a contemporary look set to redefine the luxury lodge standards in Namibia. The bold angles of its design frame the desert landscape, while the floor-to-ceiling glass windows invite in the outdoors and help to immerse the guest in this remarkable destination.
Website: &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, Namibia. Opened: October 2019.
Images © &Beyond
With the address on Via di Santa Maria dei Calderari, named after the patron of metal workers who used to dwell in this part of the Regola district, the Chapter Roma has a distinctive industrial style that draws on raw steel, brass, copper, and bronze to invoke the local connection. The building, which dates back to late 1800, has elegant rooms kitted out with custom-made storage furniture and smart vanity solutions.
Website: Chapter Roma, Rome, Italy. Opened: Feb 2019. Images © Chapter Roma
We know Asilia Africa from their amazing Highlands camp in Ngorongoro, where we stayed at during our most recent trip to Tanzania (don’t miss our review!). This experience makes us feel confident to say the Namiri Plains is an extraordinary place to stay. Following a complete revamp, the Namiri relaunched with eight guest suites, each complete with a wooden sundeck, an outdoor bathtub, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors overlooking the Serengeti Plains.
Website: Namiri Plains, Tanzania. Opened: Summer 2019. Photo © Asilia Africa
This unique property celebrates Cape Town’s art, cultural diversity, and rich history. Gorgeous George has thirty-two rooms and features a rooftop bar and an event and art space, befitting the character of the neighborhood, filled with galleries and niche museums. The hotel is located within walking distance of V&A Waterfront and provides easy access to Table Mountain. The Clifton and Camps Bay beaches are a 10-minute drive away.
Website: Gorgeous George, Cape Town, South Africa.
Opened: March 2019. Photos © Gorgeous George
The former capital of Burma, Yangon, is a perfect getaway to discover Myanmar, and many people start their tour of the country right here. But until recently, the city did not have many truly five-star hotels. Rosewood is one such establishment. Launched in a refurbished 1927 heritage building on The Strand, the carefully restored property features 205 spacious rooms and suites and one and two-bedroom Rosewood Residences. Most guestrooms sport patios and balconies, and many ensure views of the Yangon River. The hotel also offers five dining venues, including a patisserie and tea lounge, a contemporary Chinese restaurant, and a rooftop bar, next to the infinity swimming pool.
Website: Rosewood Yangon, Myanmar. Opened: Late 2019.
Photo © Rosewood Hotels and Resorts
The Italian brand Baglioni has ventured into the Maldivian resort world, and we rather like the idea of marrying the Italian sense of style with a “paradise island” living. The elegant villas of this resort are a great match to the beauty of the Dhaalu Atoll. Awaiting the guests of the Baglioni is a full range of services, including a spa, three elite restaurants, a large infinity pool, and the Dive Centre.
Website: Baglioni Resort Maldives. Opened: Spring 2019.
Image © Baglioni Hotels
Indonesia is vast, beautiful, and diverse, and remote pristine beaches are one of the attractions travelers can expect here. And now one more popped on the radar of the luxury travelers: the Lelewatu, on Sumba Island. Set on a cliffside overlooking a secluded lagoon, the property has only 27 villas, designed with the use of local design traditions, combined with indoor marble baths and private swimming pools.
Website: Lelewatu Resort Sumba, Indonesia. Opened: April 2019.
Photos © Lelewatu Resort
The ultimate list of 100 hotels, plus another 100 runners-up!
As far as beautiful destinations go, Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni has been in our bookmarks for a while (think tranquil-lake-meets-the-sky Instagram shots). But we are pretty discerning when comes to the luxury hotels — and only now this otherworldly destination gets our full attention, thanks to the space-station-like Kachi Lodge.
This is the first permanent luxury lodge located on the Salar de Uyuni. Designed with the use of innovative technology, the six domed guest tents match perfectly the lunar landscape of the world’s largest salt flat. The solar-powered structures come with comforts including en suite bathrooms and wood-burning stoves and ensure uninterrupted views of the high-altitude landscape and the unpolluted night sky.
Website: Kachi Lodge, Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia. Opened: February 2019.
Image © Kachi Lodge
The design of Mason Pattaya is nothing if not striking. This hotel, located on the Na Jomtien Beach, stands out with its minimalist interiors and quasi-brutalist architecture, juxtaposed against the lush nature. Thirty-five private infinity pool villas are positioned to maximize the ocean views, while the rooftop Sky Pool and Bar invites for the perfect sunsets.
Website: Mason Pattaya, Thailand. Opened: Early 2019. Images © Mason Pattaya
Amerikalinjen is a city hotel inspired by the history of its building. Formerly housing the offices of the American Line, which provided sea voyages for emigrants to America, today it is reborn as home to a vibrant boutique hotel. With nods to its maritime history, the interiors are “designed for the modern explorer,” and they are must-see for design aficionados. The hotel offers 122 high-ceiling guest rooms, an all-day dining venue, a live jazz club, and Finnish sauna and plunge pool.
Website: Amerikalinjen, Oslo, Norway. Opened: March 2019. Image © Amerikalinjen
Four Seasons Los Cabos at Costa Palmas is a luxury beach resort in the exclusive Costa Palmas community. This establishment boasts a private marina and yacht club and is set alongside a three-kilometer stretch of a white-sand-beach, lapped by the warm waves of the Sea of Cortez. Designed by Las Vegas-based TAL Studio, the 145-room Four Seasons retreat features a range of five-star amenities. They include a full-service spa and multiple swimming pools, a members-only beach, and an 18-hole golf course, as well as access to an 18-acre organic farm.
Other developments from this venerated hotel brand in 2019 included Four Seasons One Dalton in Boston, and Four Seasons Hotel Montreal in Canada.
Website: Four Seasons Los Cabos at Costa Palmas, Mexico. Opened: Mid 2019.
Photos © Four Seasons Hotels Limited
Rwanda is a destination in the vast continent that will see more and more luxury tourism, thanks to its wild and beautiful national parks, and, naturally, the gorillas. That said, the Wilderness Safaris’ second opening in Rwanda (after the Bisate Lodge, which we talked about in The Top 70 Luxury Hotel Openings of 2017), is more focused on the “Big Five” sightings, expanding Rwanda’s draw as a full safari destination. The revered animals have been successfully reintroduced to the Akagera National Park, and the Magashi camp will contribute to sustaining the conservation initiatives.
Website: Magashi Camp, Rwanda. Opened: May 2019. Image © Wilderness Safaris
Amapa fuses traditional Mexican aesthetic with a laidback vibe and a strong focus on contemporary design. Filled with bespoke local craftsmanship and artisanal finishes and furnishings, the hotel showcases its own style of luxury set against the dramatic backdrop of the Sierra Madre mountains, Pacific Ocean, and old town. This new opening was destined to reinvigorate the area, and the hotel’s rooftop pool and bar, as well as the street-level café and restaurant highlighting local flavors with coastal Mexican cuisine, is becoming a talk of the town.
Website: Hotel Amapa, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Opened: End of 2019.
Images © Hotel Amapa
“The Prestige” is a reference to “the third act of a magic trick,” in which the disappeared object is brought back. It points to visual trickery at the core of the hotel’s concept, making the experience of The Prestige magical, quite literally. Thus, a mirrored stainless-steel reception desk appears to float atop shiny chrome spheres, the marble floor is a maze, guest rooms conceal pantries and toilets behind hidden doors, and framed images reference Houdini’s escape box. But other than this, the hotel is mostly inspired by its 19th-century English colonial building, interpreting Victorian design in its tropical location, through heritage patterns and lattices. The Prestige has 162 rooms, and the site is surrounded by lush vegetation. An infinity pool with a cocktail bar, sits at the rooftop level, maximizing the heat of the Malaysian sun.
Website: The Prestige Hotel Penang, George Town, Malaysia.
Opened: October 2019. Photos © The Prestige Hotel
Facing a vast beachfront on the edge of the South China Sea, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is a serene retreat, surrounded by tropical gardens, and offering a range of luxury accommodation. Set in low-rise buildings based on traditional Malay architectural templates, the hotel has a range of accommodation options. These include rooms and standalone villas ideal for couples, as well as expansive residences, offering families and groups privacy and space, with an infinity pool, full kitchen, and chef and butler service at each residence. The resort also has a signature Anantara Spa, while dining options include the elevated Observatory Bar and alfresco beachside dining at the breezy Sea.Fire.Salt.
Another recent opening from Anantara includes Anantara Le Chaland Resort in Mauritius.
Website: Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, Malaysia.
Opened: December 2019. Photos © Anantara Hotels
Tented accommodations are all the rage these days, so we are not at all surprised that this new style is coming to Costa Rica. Nayara Hotels is tapping into the popular trend with the launch of the Nayara Tented Resort, located in the Arenal Volcano National Park, the star attraction in the country. The guest accommodation does not compromise on the luxuries of a five-star hotel: each tent has a bedroom, bathroom, and a plunge pool, and the adjoining tent offers extra space for an additional bedroom or a lounge.
Website: Nayara Luxury Tented Resort, Costa Rica. Opened: Fall 2019.
Images © Nayara Resorts
This is the first foray for St. Regis into the vibrant hospitality world of Hong Kong, and the 27-floor, 129-room property is also one of the newest luxury hotels in Wan Chai. The largest guest suites of The St. Regis Hong Kong offer up to 2583 square feet of pure indulgence, and thanks to the coveted location at the waterfront near the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, they ensure stunning views across Victoria Harbour and Kowloon Bay. The St. Regis Hong Kong’s dining venues are run by two chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants.
Another recent opening from the group is The St. Regis Amman, in Jordan.
Website: The St.Regis Hong Kong, China. Opened: June 2019.
Photos © Marriott International
With only three suites, Vora focuses on a very small number of guests, with tranquility and exclusivity as the selling points. Vora Villas is carved into the sheer cliff on the Santorinian caldera, dozens of meters above the surface of the Aegean, and is designed to offer sensory contrasts, standing out as one of the most exciting new hotels on the island of Santorini.
Since its launch, we have now stayed at Vora — make sure to read our review!
Website: Vora Villas, Santorini, Greece. Opened: April 2019. Photo © Vora
Not everything at the doomed Thomas Cook was unsuccessful. As the company was collapsing, the Chinese Fosun International took over part of the business, including the award-winning Casa Cook collection of boutique hotels. So, Casa Cook was free to pursue its plans in 2019, with openings in Ibiza and Casa Cook El Gouna in Egypt.
The hotel in Egypt is the fifth in the small portfolio of Casa Cook. The 100-room Casa Cook El Gouna is an ideal base to relax and unwind amid the desert dunes and rugged Red Sea coastline. The rooms, ranging from Standard Rooms to Villas, have simple decor, with rattan, raw wooden furniture, and tarnished ceramics, adding to the sense of a pared-back, earthy chic.
Website: Casa Cook El Gouna, Hurghada, Egypt. Opened: late 2019.
Images © Casa Cook
The EDITION is a boutique hotel brand to watch, and their 190-room hotel in on the corner of West Sunset Boulevard and North Doheny Drive is a real head-turner. The hotel features a signature restaurant, spectacular lobby lounge, basement club, an expansive rooftop pool, and a 6-room spa. Meanwhile, another recent opening from the EDITION is The Times Square EDITION in New York, US.
Website: The West Hollywood EDITION, California, US. Opened: Mid 2019.
Image © EDITION Hotels
The enigmatic letter “W” is the symbol of the hotel brand of bold character and personality that embraces the fun of life. Ibiza is the perfect location for W, and its address, in Santa Eulalia del Río, is smack in the center of the buzzing beachside neighborhood, with easy access to Ibiza’s famous beaches and nightclubs. The 162 guest rooms and suites all have distinct W amenities, and the partygoers will also appreciate the 4,000-square-foot Away Spa with seven treatment rooms.
Worth mentioning are also openings of W Dubai- The Palm in the United Arab Emirates, as well as W Muscat in Oman.
Website: W Ibiza, Spain. Opened: Summer 2019. Images © Marriott International
Soho House & Co continued its rapid expansion worldwide with Soho Warehouse, located in the Industrial District of Downtown Los Angeles. The company transformed an old five-story warehouse into a fashionable hotel topped with a rooftop pool, with exclusive club space offering dining facilities, and 48 bedrooms that can be booked by both members and non-members.
In addition, the company also opened the Soho House Hong Kong in China.
Website: Soho House, Los Angeles, US. Opened: Spring 2019. Photo © Soho House
“The world’s first happiness-themed boutique hotel” has been dreamed up by Adriana Chardí and Martin Loeffler, and its concept promises an almost transcendental experience. The “temporal visitors” (guests) of the Awakening stay not in hotel rooms, but in “human cocoons.” These futuristic-looking pods can be described as a cross between a beach cabin and a treehouse.
Website: Awakening, Riviera Maya, Mexico. Opened: Late 2019.
Images © Awakening
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Top hotels and resorts for the new decade
Best of the rest:
There were so many new launches in 2019 that we found it challenging to limit the number of Top Openings to only fifty. So we are rounding off the above list with the runners-up. These are other notable hotels, lodges, and resorts opened in 2019.
Al Bait Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (image below left). Opened: 2019.
W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE. November 2019.
Waldorf Astoria Dubai Financial Centre, Dubai, UAE (image below, middle).
Jumeirah Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi, UAE. February 2019.
Elmina Hotel Jaffa, Tel Aviv. August 2019.
Riad Spice, Marrakesh, Morocco. November 2019.
Riad L’Atelier, Marrakech, Morocco. May 2019.
Lekkerwater Beach Lodge, South Africa. April 2019.
The Farmstead at Royal Malewane, South Africa. May 2019.
Nyamatusi Camp (image below right) and Nyamatusi Mahogany, Zimbabwe. Opened: April 2019. Bordering the Zambezi River, the Nyamatusi Wilderness Concession will see the launch of not one but two luxury safari camps, being readied by the African Bush Camps company. Nyamatusi Camp made up of 6 tents, and offering beautiful views of the river and escarpment, promises the romance of safari experience, while Nyamatusi Mahogany will have two tents and two-family units and will be geared more towards families.
Sanctuary Baines’ Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana opened after refurbishment in January 2019.
The PuXuan Hotel & Spa, Beijing, China (image below, left). January 2019.
Iraph Sui, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Okinawa, Japan. January 2019.
Node Hotel, Kyoto, Japan. July 2019.
The Pavilions Himalayas Lake View, Nepal (image below, middle). Jan 2019.
Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa, Maldives. June 2019.
LUX* North Malé Atoll, Maldives (image below, right). Feb 2019.
The Celino South Beach, Miami, Florida, US (image below, right). Spring 2019.
The Hoxton Downtown Los Angeles, US. Spring 2019.
1 Hotel West Hollywood, Los Angeles, US. April 2019.
Santa Monica Proper Hotel, Los Angeles, US. June 2019.
Maison de la Luz, New Orleans, LA, US. Spring 2019.
The Hoxton Chicago, US. Spring 2019.
Shinola Hotel Detroit, US. January 2019.
Conrad Washington DC, Washington DC, US. February 2019.
Nobu Hotel Los Cabos, Mexico (image below, left). April 2019.
Hotel Escondido Oaxaca, Mexico. End of 2019.
Santarena Hotel, Las Catalinas, Costa Rica. February 2019.
Cannúa Hotel, Marinilla, Colombia (image below, middle). April 2019.
Andenia, Sacred Valley, Peru. 2019.
Hotel CIRQA – Relais & Châteaux, Arequipa, Peru. July 2019.
The ultimate list of 100 hotels, plus another 100 runners-up!
Le-Meurice, Paris, France, 29 rooms and suites were opened after renovation, including a penthouse with a 360-degree view of all Paris.
Vintry & Mercer, London, England. Opening February 2019.
Great Scotland Yard Hotel, London, UK. December 2019.
The Dixon, London, England. January 2019.
Belmond Cadogan, London, England (image below, left). Opened early 2019.
The Standard London, London, England. Summer 2019.
Monkey Island Estate, Bray-on-Thames, England. February 2019.
Market Street Hotel, Edinburgh, Scotland. Early 2019.
Mystery Hotel Budapest, Budapest, Hungary. Opened in January 2019.
The First Roma Dolce, Rome, Italy. February 2019.
Hotel de la Ville, Rome, Italy. May 2019.
Experimental Hotel Venice, Venice, Italy. 2019. Located at the heart of Venice, on the Canal della Giudecca, the romantic Il Palazzo Experimental offers 32 elegantly designed rooms and suites, and a spacious garden. The hotel wows with an opulent design that includes granite terrazzo floors and richly carved wood.
Galleria Vik Milano, Milan, Italy. November 2019.
Palazzo Daniele, Puglia, Italy. April 2019
Finca Serena, Mallorca, Spain (image below, right). May 2019.
Fontenille Menorca, Spain. July 2019.
El Llorenç Parc de la Mar, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. 2019
The One Palacio de Anunciada, Lisbon, Portugal. March 2019.
Torel 1884 Suites & Apartments, Porto, Portugal. February 2019.
Grand Park Hotel, Rovinj, Croatia. April 2019.
August, Antwerp, Belgium. April 2019.
Britannia Hotel, Trondheim, Norway. April 2019.
Hotel Ottilia, Copenhagen, Denmark. January 2019.
Blique by Nobis, Stockholm, Sweden. April 2019.
PURO Hotel Warszawa Centrum, Warsaw, Poland. Summer 2019.
Kazan Palace by Tasigo, Russia. January 2019.
Rooms Hotel Kokhta, Georgia. 2019.
Happy travels!
Author: Travel+Style. Last updated: 03/02/2022
The anticipated top ten, plus a few runners-up!
