As usual, major hotel brands have been busy updating their offerings — as well as making big plans for the future. From newly introduced guest programming to recent resort debuts from late 2023 and soon-to-come properties, here's a look at the latest news from companies including Capella Hotel Group, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, AndBeyond, Rosewood Hotel Group and more.
New Experiences at Capella
Capella Hotel Group is going all-in on immersive travel for guests. The company recently unveiled its new “Senses of Capella” initiative, in which each property represents one of seven senses — sight, spirituality, taste, touch, sound, movement and smell — and aims to create a “sensory voyage” for guests throughout their stay.
For example, a sight-focused itinerary at Capella Sydney in Australia includes a guided walk in the city followed by a personally curated experience at China Heights Gallery, hosted by artist Edward Woodley, the gallery’s owner. Guests then dine within the gallery on a lunch served by a neighborhood restaurant, while engaging with Aboriginal artist Otis Hope Carey. Or, at Capella Ubud in Bali, Indonesia, a spirituality journey offers a floating breakfast in the guest’s private pool and a purification ritual, followed by a trip to Puri Agung Peliatan palace, where travelers receive a blessing from a high priest and enjoy a local dance performance. The evening concludes with a festive Balinese dinner to experience the flavors of the region.
Guests can see Balinese dance as part of an itinerary at Capella Ubud.
Credit: 2024 Capella Hotel GroupMelia Expands Its Luxury Footprint
Luxury never goes out of style — and that’s why Melia Hotels International is investing heavily in expanding its portfolio of luxury properties.
Noteworthy recent openings for the company include Gran Melia Nha Trang in Vietnam, which debuted last summer as an all-villa resort, marking the brand’s first entry in Southeast Asia. Melia also added a fourth Tanzania property to its portfolio last year, with the opening of Ngorongoro Lodge Melia Collection in July; the 56-room lodge is perched in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And just this past December, Palazzo Cordusio Gran Melia opened its doors in Milan, Italy, occupying the restored, 19th-century Palazzo Venezia.
ZEL Mallorca opened last summer.
Credit: 2024 Melia Hotels InternationalThis year, plans for the company include new ME by Melia properties in Lisbon, Portugal; St. Julian’s, Malta; and Sayulita, Mexico. All will feature the ME brand’s focus on style, culture, art, fashion and gastronomy. Looking a bit further out, ZEL Sayulita is expected to debut in Mexico in 2025, following last summer’s launch of the new ZEL lifestyle brand — created in collaboration with famed tennis player Rafael Nadal — in Mallorca, Spain.
Hyatt Openings to Watch in 2024
This year will prove to be a big one for Hyatt Hotels Corporation, with a multitude of new properties slated to open in the coming months.
In the U.S., travelers can look forward to the openings of the 172-room Thompson Houston in Texas and the Thompson Palm Springs in California, which will feature 168 bungalow-inspired guestrooms and suites. Both are set to open early in 2024. Thompson South Beach, in Florida, is aiming for a mid-year debut, featuring 150 guestrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, plus a rooftop pool.
Two new Mexico properties are slated for the end of the year. Dream Valle de Guadalupe will span 35 acres in Baja California, with 61 guestrooms and villas, a luxury spa and a large vineyard. Park Hyatt Los Cabos at Cabo del Sol will be the first Park Hyatt hotel in Mexico when it opens in the exclusive community of Cabo del Sol, 20 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas. And the Dominican Republic will welcome the new Hyatt Centric Santo Domingo late this year, placing guests near prominent restaurants, shopping malls, art galleries and nightlife.
Thompson Palm Springs is coming this year.
Credit: 2024 Hyatt Hotels CorporationSome of the company’s Europe plans for this year include welcoming Park Hyatt London River Thames, unveiling the renovated Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht and debuting Grand Hansa Hotel in Helsinki, Finland. A few other openings to watch include Park Hyatt Marrakech in Morocco, Alila Shanghai in China and Andaz Doha in Qatar.
On the Horizon for Six Senses
Among the big plans for Six Senses in the next few years are a number of exciting new properties. This year, the brand expects to open Six Senses La Sagesse on Grenada in May. Designed to reflect “Caribbean village vibes,” the property will offer 56 pool suites, each of which features an outdoor terrace with a private plunge pool. Fifteen villas will be offered in one-, two- and four-bedroom layouts, while five larger four-bedroom retreats will feature a privileged location with stunning views.
Six Senses Wadi Safar will span 49 acres.
Credit: 2024 Six SensesSix Senses is also in the process of opening two properties in Saudi Arabia. With a projected opening in 2026, Six Senses Wadi Safar will be located just 15 minutes northwest of Riyadh. Guest accommodations will extend across 49 acres, with 80 guestrooms. Plans also call for an Experience Center that will serve as a gateway to desert adventures, a Six Senses Spa and lineup of special events.
Six Senses AlUla, meanwhile, is slated for a 2027 opening. The property will feature 100 guest villas and 25 residences, plus culinary offerings influenced by the region’s cuisine. Guest experiences are expected to include sunrise yoga and meditation classes, moon bathing, starlit dining and even opportunities to help preserve the Arabian leopard.
Rosewood Adds to Its Portfolio
Rosewood Hotels and Resorts is not resting on its luxurious laurels. In October, the brand welcomed Rosewood Munich, marking the company’s debut in Germany. Spanning two landmark buildings just steps from Munich’s Old Town, the new hotel features 73 guestrooms and 59 suites, five food and beverage outlets and Germany’s first Asaya Spa.
And in December, the company announced its expansion into New Zealand, with its management of Rosewood Cape Kidnappers (located in Hawke’s Bay on the North Island), Rosewood Matakauri (in Queenstown on the South Island), and Rosewood Kauri Cliffs (near the Bay of Islands). The three properties were previously Robertson Lodges.
Rosewood Munich is the brand’s first hotel in Germany.
Credit: 2024 Rosewood Hotels and ResortsUpcoming plans include the reopening of Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, Canada, in early April 2024 with renovated guestrooms, public spaces, culinary outlets and more. Further out is a new hotel on the island of Barbuda, slated to debut in 2028 with 50 suites and three culinary options.
What’s New at AndBeyond
Conservation-focused luxury travel company AndBeyond has plenty of exciting news to share. Just a few months ago, the brand introduced its first lodge in Asia, the new Punakha River Lodge in Bhutan. Located on the banks of the Mo Chu River in the Punakha Valley, the property features just six tented suites (suspended from a traditional Bhutanese timber structure), a one-bedroom villa and a two-bedroom villa. Guests can enjoy easy access to area attractions including the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten (a structure built to ward off evil spirits) and outdoor activities.
Phinda Forest Lodge recently completed an extensive rebuild to enhance the guest experience.
Credit: 2024 AndBeyondIn addition, the company reopened its Phinda Forest Lodge last month after an extensive rebuild. Located in the Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa, the lodge was originally designed to minimize its impact on the environment, and has followed the same principle for the redesign. To this end, existing lodge and room structures were preserved but updated to feature better interior flow and functionality, new fixtures and furnishings, and additional design elements related to the natural forest and Zulu culture. Clients will also find a new family suite, a library and lounge, a reshaped pool and upgraded dining and bar areas.
Still to come is Suyian Lodge (expected in 2025), to be located within the Suyian Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya. As the sole luxury lodge and tented camp operator in the conservancy, AndBeyond will assist with conservation efforts related to the landscape and its wildlife, including a number of endangered species that call the area home. In addition to providing traditional safari experiences, the lodge also expects to offer unique activities such as walking and horse-riding safaris, as well as interaction with local pastoral tribes and the chance to participate in conservation and research.
