2016's Most Anticipated Hotel Openings
Need some inspiration for planning your 2016 travels? Let this list of notable hotel openings be your guide. From a multiyear makeover of a Parisian legend to a downtown Manhattan spot with dome-topped penthouses, to W Hotels’ first Indian resort, these spots have hotel junkies raring to go — and all of us checking our calendars.
Editor’s Note: New hotels are notorious for opening months or even years behind schedule. The dates we’ve listed have been verified by representatives of each property, but be sure to double-check by calling hotels or looking at their websites before you make any travel plans.
1. The Watergate Hotel
Courtesy of The Watergate Hotel
Where: Washington, D.C.
Expected Opening: March
Although its name will forever be linked to a famous political scandal, this Georgetown-area hotel will be garnering buzz of another kind when it reopens in March following an extensive renovation and expansion. When it first launched in 1967, the property featured what was then a groundbreaking design, so the current owners engaged designer Ron Arad to complement the midcentury-modern bones with contemporary furnishings and metal art installations. The 336 rooms—including Premier, Diplomat, and Presidential suites—feature spa bathrooms with floor-to-ceiling marble tile, TVs with Android platform streaming capabilities, and in most, balconies with Potomac River views. Other upgrades include a 12,500 square-foot spa with 15-yard indoor pool, casual and fine-dining restaurants, and two bars—one whisky-focused, one on the rooftop, with 360-degree views—that are sure to attract the capital’s movers and shakers.
2. Renaissance Montreal
Courtesy of Renaissance Montreal
Where: Montreal, Canada
Expected Opening: Opened in January
Business travel to Montreal just got a lot more pleasurable with the mid-January opening of this downtown Renaissance hotel, located near Place Ville Marie and shop-lined St. Catherine Street. Past its mirrored Art Deco exterior, the 142 espresso machine-equipped rooms feature contemporary design accented by eclectic graffiti-style pieces by local artists, as well as the city’s only rooftop terrace, complete with stainless steel plunge pool, bistro kitchen, and panoramic views. The trendy vibe continues inside at East, a pan-Asian eatery with a master mixologist and live DJs. Renaissance signatures like in-house Navigators — local insiders who help guide guests to the best that the city has to offer — allow even time-crunched road warriors to make the most of their trips.
3. Six Senses Bhutan
Courtesy of Six Senses Bhutan
Where: Bhutan (various locations)
Expected Opening: Second half of 2016
Bhutan’s international hotel boom continues this year with the arrival of Six Senses, which will follow the lead of other luxury brands and open a few properties in the country to form a seamless circuit for guests to follow. In this case, Six Senses will offer 82 suites spread out over five intimate lodges located in Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang, and Paro. Each will reflect traditional arts and aesthetics of the kingdom, while also connecting guests to the stunning natural settings, historic sites, and unique cultural experiences that are earning Bhutan a spot on every “must-go” travel list.
4. Park Hyatt Mallorca
Courtesy of Park Hyatt Mallorca
Where: Mallorca, Spain
Expected Opening: Spring
Set to open in spring 2016, Park Hyatt’s first hotel in Spain—and first resort in Europe—will look out over the Balearic Sea and Canyamel Valley from its perch above the town of Canyamel. The resort is designed to evoke a traditional village, with the 142 residential-style guestrooms and 16 suites set around a “town square” that also functions as the property’s dining hub. Culinary choices will include a seafood-heavy Balearic restaurant, a tapas bar with Mallorcan wines and handcrafted cocktails, a Pan-Asian spot in a private villa, and an all-day cafe with freshly baked empanadas and pastries. On-site facilities like terraced pools and a locally influenced spa, and access to an off-site beach club, cycling trails, water sports, tennis courts, and more help make the most of Mallorca’s 230 annual days of sunshine. ‘
5. The Beekman
Courtesy of The Beekman
Where: New York City
Expected Opening: May
When it was built in 1881 as one of Manhattan’s first skyscrapers, the structure at 5 Beekman Street in Lower Manhattan made waves for its elaborate architectural flourishes, which include two exterior “turrets,” and a nine-story Victorian atrium with pyramid-topped skylight and cast-iron brackets shaped like dragons. (In 1995, its facade was even designated an NYC landmark.) After sitting empty for several years, the structure has been restored, renovated, and converted into residences and the LEED-certified The Beekman, operated by Thompson Hotels and opening in May. The 287 rooms will include 45 suites and two signature penthouses; the latter are set within the towers and feature private rooftop terraces overlooking One World Trade Center and City Hall Park. The prestigious location has attracted some big names to the project, including chef Tom Colicchio and restaurateur Keith McNally, both of whom will have restaurants on site; Colicchio’s Crafted Hospitality will also oversee room service and event catering.
6. The Ritz Paris
Courtesy of the Ritz Paris
Where: Paris, France
Expected Opening: March
Since opening in 1898, the Ritz Paris has become a luxury hotel icon, a favorite of everyone from Marcel Proust and Coco Chanel to The Da Vinci Code’s fictional hero. But even a grande dame needs a touch-up, so in 2012, the legend closed its doors for the first time in its history for a complete top-to-toe, three-plus-year renovation. Despite setbacks this January due to a construction fire on the top floor, the new Ritz is still on track to be unveiled in mid-March 2016, and will feature 142 expanded and redesigned rooms — 50 percent of which will be suites — plus updated restaurants (one with an added retractable roof), a new chef, and a invigorated Bar Hemingway. The former bank building next to the hotel now houses the Ritz Club spa and Chanel au Ritz Paris beauty space; other additions include a more casual bistro and a larger Ecole Ritz Escoffier cooking school. Lots of behind-the-scenes upgrades (think electrical, technology, air conditioning) will help ensure the Ritz stays top-of-the-line for at least another century.
7. The Williamsburg Hotel
Steelblue Courtesy of The Williamsburg Hotel
Where: Brooklyn, New York
Expected Opening: Spring
An impressive roster of heavy hitters—from hoteliers with credits like New York City’s Standard, Bowery, and Gramercy Park hotels on their resumes to award-winning young architects and designers—joined forces to create The Williamsburg Hotel, a stylish, fun-focused Brooklyn option set to open in spring 2016. Behind an eight-story industrial facade are 150 rooms, most with balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows framing skyline views, plus a subterranean ballroom with 30-foot ceilings and space for 400 guests. Among the three drinking venues will be a rooftop bar set in a replica water tower, an homage to the neighborhood’s now-defunct wooden water tower factory. A rooftop pool and lounge further ensure a see-and-be-seen scene.
8. W Retreat & Spa Goa
Courtesy of W Retreat & Spa Goa
Where: Goa, India
Expected Opening: June
W Hotels’ first Indian property will make a splash in the coastal hotspot of Goa, taking over 21 Arabian Sea-side acres on trendy Vagator Beach. The “City of Carnivals” (and legendary parties) is sure to appreciate all the W touches, from cutting-edge design and a lively WET pool scene to street food-inspired dining, a 12,000 square-foot AWAY spa, and an innovative Rock Pool event space. Enjoy direct access to the beach, or let the W Insiders arrange visits to historic sites, colorful fishing villages, or the latest nightlife spots.
9. Amanemu
Courtesy of Aman Resorts
Where: Ise-Shima National Park, Japan
Expected Opening: March
Following the 2014 opening of its Tokyo hotel, Aman has headed to the central Honshu Mie Prefecture—and the dramatic coastline of the Ise-Shima National Park—for its second Japanese property. Opening in March 2016, the dreamy, sanctuary-style Amanemu is inspired by Japan’s onsen (hot spring) and ryokan traditions, and will feature 24 suites and four two-bedroom villas, each with its own hot spring pool and a terrace overlooking Ago Bay (aka the Bay of Pearls). The expanded Aman Spa will also have two bathing pavilions, as well as a watsu pool, a gym and yoga studio, and serene treatment rooms. Other on-site perks will include a gourmet restaurant highlighting regional seafood and ingredients, while available area experiences range from golfing at an 18-hole course to exploring UNESCO-protected pilgrimage routes and Shinto shrines.
10. Toscana Resort Castelfalfi
Courtesy of Toscana Resort Castelfalfi
Where: Tuscany, Italy
Expected Opening: Late 2016
Since 2007, a deserted, 800-year-old Tuscan village has been undergoing a thoughtful restoration and transformation into Toscana Resort Castelfalfi, a part-residential, part-resort complex designed for vacationers and long-stay residents alike. The project has opened in stages; to date, the 2,700-acre property includes a 27-hole golf course, a four-star hotel, close to 70 apartments and farmhouses, pools, on-site vineyards and olive groves, and two restaurants — including a fine-dining option set in the town’s former castle. In late 2016, a much-anticipated five-star hotel will be added to the mix, complete with 120 rooms, a 6,500 square-foot restaurant with covered verandas, extensive meeting spaces, and a spa with indoor-outdoor pool, salt cave, and hammam. Guests will have access to all the complex has to offer — including special experiences like truffle hunting and tastings of the estate-made wine.
11. The Restoration
Courtesy: The Restoration
Where: Charleston, South Carolina
Expected Opening: January
Charleston’s ongoing revival reached another milestone in January with the relaunch of The Restoration, a historic property set on downtown’s King Street — though the “on King” has been dropped from the hotel’s original name. Following a $27 million transformation, the new incarnation—which is spread out over five buildings, four from the 19th century — includes 54 suite-style rooms, ranging from one to three bedrooms. Other additions include a Culture Library curated by Assouline books, an on-site Toby’s Estate coffee shop, and a bike-share program with Martone—so you can explore all the other new openings in the thriving city.
12. Hotel Eden
Courtesy of Hotel Eden
Where: Rome, Italy
Expected Opening: Fall
Set in the heart of Rome’s Old City, a short walk from the Spanish Steps, this Dorchester Collection classic (its roots go back to 1889) will relaunch in the fall of 2016, following nearly a year of renovations and expansions. The upgraded version will feature 99 stylish rooms and suites, as well as redone public spaces and the addition of an urban spa offering beauty and wellness treatments and a blow-dry salon. The refreshed sixth floor restaurant will have a new food and drink concept to appeal to both locals and guests, as well as a design that accentuates the panoramic views over the Eternal City.
13. LondonHouse Chicago
Courtesy of Curio - A Collection by Hilton
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Expected Opening: Spring
The downtown Chicago corner of North Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive has been the site everything from the historic Fort Dearborn to the London Guarantee & Accident Building, where the renowned LondonHouse jazz club hosted countless musical luminaries before closing in the 1970s. In spring 2016, the location will enter a new chapter when it becomes the home of the LondonHouse Chicago, a 452-room luxury hotel spread out over a 92-year old landmark building and a new 22-story glass tower. Part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, the property will feature two floors of retail, a destination spa and fitness center, 25,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and a chic, warm design throughout. The refurbished rooftop and cupola will become Chicago’s first tri-level rooftop bar, sure to draw crowds for its menus and sweeping river and skyline views.
14. St. Regis Langkawi
Courtesy of St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
Where: Langkawi, Malaysia
Expected Opening: April
A secluded cove on the southern tip of the island of Langkawi is the dreamy setting for a new St. Regis, opening in April 2016. The resort’s 85 suites and three villas will all boast views of the Straits of Malacca, while the rest of the grounds will house pools, an Iridium Spa, and gourmet dining at L'Orangerie (with an open kitchen and rainforest vistas) and Kayuputi (with a focus on seafood.) You’ll also find a St. Regis Bar offering brand signatures like locally influenced Bloody Marys and daily champagne sabering rituals. The resort’s location is an ideal departure point for exploring the UNESCO-designated Global Geopark island’s natural wonders, from paddy fields and mountain tops to tropical jungles filled with caves and waterfalls.
15. Ace New Orleans
Photo: Simon Watson
Where: New Orleans, Louisiana
Expected Opening: March
Come March 2016, a nine-story, 1928 Art Deco building — for decades the site of a furniture store, and now flanked by the museums and galleries of the Warehouse District — will be the new home of the Ace Hotel New Orleans. Along with a design inspired by a range of artistic movements (from Dada and Cubism to the Bloomsbury group), the 234 rooms will feature signature Ace touches like custom bedding and full-size SMEG refrigerators — each colorfully painted and brimming with everything you’ll need for creating your own cocktails, including shakers, cutting boards, and recipes. James Beard Award-nominated chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman meld the flavors of Italy and the American South at the hotel’s restaurant, while the on-site Stumptown café — the first in the south — will feature a cold-brew coffee program in a nod to the steamy location.
See all the hotel openings on Fodor’s Travel
More from Fodor’s Travel:
10 Reasons to Visit Venice This Winter
Where to Eat in NYC: Winter 2016 Edition
20 Gorgeous Landscapes That Will Make You Love Winter
WATCH: TripAdvisor Reveals: Top-Rated Hotels in the U.S. and the World
Let Yahoo Travel inspire you every day. Hang out with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
