12th December 2019 // By Alex Martin
Take a look at our selection of the most anticipated luxury hotel openings 2020 / ©One&Only
Find out where you should be heading this year to experience the latest in luxury travel. From an eco-tourist’s paradise in the British Virgin Islands to one of the world’s deepest underground hotels in London, Elite Traveler takes you through its pick of the most anticipated luxury hotel openings 2020.
Rosewood Little Dix Bay, British Virgin Islands
Opening: January
Rosewood Little Dix Bay is set inside an idyllic cove / ©Rosewood
Rosewood Little Dix Bay opens in January following a four-year closure and a huge restoration project. It returns with the same big emphasis on eco-tourism. In fact, in many ways, this region gave birth to the booming travel trend. The site was originally developed by conservationist Laurance Rockefeller over half a century ago and has set the standard for conservation ever since. Located on half-mile crescent bay over 500 acres, the resort’s rooms and suites are set just steps from the beach, with 24-hour butler service. Highlights include a cliffside Sense Spa and hilltop yoga platform with panoramic views – and the hexagonal-shaped Tree House Suites, perched on stilts in the lush gardens, with wrap-around terraces for an elevated perspective.
Paragon 700 Boutique Hotel & Spa, Puglia, Italy
Opening: February
Each of Paragon 700’s 11 rooms has been individually designed / ©Paragon
There has never been a better time to visit the hill-top city of Ostuni, set in Italy’s charming southern region of Puglia. Its winding cobbled walkways and whitewash buildings are an Instagrammer’s dream. There is only room for boutique hotels here, and Paragon 700 will in February become the latest luxury offering that Ostuni has to offer. Set in a quintessential Puglian property, the hotel is being meticulously restored to boast 11 individually curated rooms with a cosmopolitan soul. In contrast to the whitewashed buildings of Ostuni, Paragon 700’s red brick façade cocoons a lush garden and swimming pool, a rare green space in the heart of the city, offering a tranquil and exclusive oasis just five-minutes from Ostuni’s main square.
Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, Chao Phraya River
Opening: February
Four Seasons Bangkok will boast beautiful riverside views / ©Four Seasons
Bangkok’s coveted riverside is already home to a number of luxury resorts, but Four Seasons Bangkok will be aiming to set a new standard when it opens in February. With 299 guest rooms including a number of suites, the hotel will sit amongst galleries, boutiques, restaurants and cafés. It will also have its own collection of restaurants and bars as well as a stunning courtyard and an outdoor infinity pool boasting lovely views across the river.
Pendry West Hollywood
Opening: Spring
Pendry West Hollywood has 149 luxury guestrooms and suites, and 40 residences / ©Montage
Whether its chic boutiques or modern fine dining, there are few hotter places than West Hollywood right now. The ultra-modern Pendry West Hollywood will slot perfectly into this fashionable district with interiors designed by the acclaimed Martin Brudnizki Design Studio. The hotel will have 149 luxury guestrooms and suites, and 40 Pendry Residences with full access to the hotel’s services and amenities. Most excitingly of all, the hotel will also be home to a new restaurant from the famed Los Angeles chef Wolfgang Puck. There will also be a private membership club for the city’s elite.
Cheval Blanc Paris, France
Opening: Spring
Arnaud Donckele will be in charge of Cheval Blanc Paris’s food offering / ©Cheval Blanc
Located in the heart of Paris, on the edge of the River Seine and mere yards from the Louvre, Cheval Blanc Paris will combine historical, cultural and contemporary features inspired by the City of Light. The hotel will be the fifth under the Cheval Blanc brand after Courchevel, Randheli in the Maldives, St-Barth Isle de France and St-Tropez. The Maison will be a residential haven for guests with meticulous French craftsmanship championed wherever possible. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the 36 rooms and 36 suites will offer views of famed landmarks and city life. There will also be a new gourmet experience from the three-Michelin-starred chef Arnaud Donckele. The restaurant will be located on the seventh floor and will have a large terrace offering unrivaled views. Donckele, who has earned the accolade of a 19/20 rating in the Gault Millau guide, is currently in charge of La Vague d’Or restaurant at Cheval Blanc St-Tropez.
Six Senses, New York
Opening: Spring
Six Senses New York will cut a striking image in the banks of the Hudson / ©Xi
A Six Senses property in North America has been a long time coming, but it looks as though it will be worth the wait. Six Senses New York will be housed in two unique, twisting towers designed by world-renowned architect Bjarke Ingels in an unparalleled location in between Manhattan’s Hudson River and The High Line. The hotel will have two restaurants that will fall in line with the brand’s approach to health and wellness. They will offer fresh and wholesome dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients. The rooms and suites are designed by Parisian firm Gilles & Boissier to embody contemporary, modern city living wedded to a calm ambiance.
One&Only Mandarina, Mexico
Opening: June
The property has been designed to blend in with the surrounding environment / ©One&Only
The Dubai-based hotel chain One&Only will add to its collection in June with a new property worthy of its ultra-luxury reputation. One&Only Mandarina is being built on a previously undeveloped stretch of coastline along the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico. Its spectacular cliff-side setting overlooks the Pacific Ocean and sits on top of the surrounding rainforest. The hotel will be made up of 104 free-standing villas that float above the treetops or perch against the cliffs. The property has been designed to blend in with the surrounding environment and botany experts have been consulted to minimize the impact on the existing natural landscapes.