Edited by Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com
Who can deny the special excitement to be among the first to experience a new, grand hotel? Here is the inside scoop for some of the 2023 openings to spark those engines:
Le Grand Mazarin – Paris, France, Opening Q1 2023: Known for its collection of eclectic boutique hotels in private and beguiling destinations throughout France, hospitality group Maisons Pariente will debut their first urban property, Le Grand Mazarin, in the heart of Paris. Located a stone’s throw from the Seine in the Marais district, the hotel is housed within historic buildings that has been reimagined by famed architect Martin Brudnizki to create an ambiance both true to the area’s cultural heritage and luxurious for the modern traveler. The whimsical 17th century-inspired décor is juxtaposed with lush textures and intricate patterns while floor-to-ceiling windows warm up the spaces with inviting, natural light. With just 50 rooms and 11 suites, guests will find an intimate setting and the highest level of service at the hotel, which will also feature a day-to-night restaurant, lively bar, and stunning pool.
Bulgari Hotel Rome – Rome, Italy, Q2/Q3 2023; The new Roman hotel will be the Italian group’s flagship location, strategically located in the central Piazza Augusto Imperatore, in the heart of the Campo Marzio neighborhood. Italian architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel took on both the architectural project and the interior design of the hotel, seamlessly blending elements of the original 1930s modernist building with classic Roman architecture and materials – such as travertine marble and red brick. A rotating collection of both modern and antique art will draw on the city’s legacy as one of the world’s most renowned cities and its position as an enduring cradle of arts and culture. The hotel will offer 100 rooms, most of them suites, as well as the prestigious Il Ristorante curated by Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito and The Bulgari Bar.
Bulgari Hotel Tokyo – Tokyo, Japan, Spring: Bulgari Hotel Tokyo will occupy the top seven floors of a 240m tall ultra-skyscraper in the city’s Yaesu neighborhood – within walking distance of some of the city’s best attractions, including Imperial Palace and the vibrant shopping areas of both Nihombashi and Ginza. The hotel will offer 98 guest rooms in a variety of configurations, including multiple luxury suites and an extraordinary Bvlgari Suite with views over the city from the 45th floor. Bulgari Hotels iconic features such as Il Bar, Il Ristorante, the fireplace Lounge, and a 1,500sqm Bulgari Spa, complete with 25m indoor pool will add a further luxurious touch to the guest experience.
Fasano Itaim– São Paulo, Brazil, January: Brazil-based luxury hospitality brand Fasano Group will open its second hotel in São Paulo with Fasano Itaim, located in the heart of the Itaim Bibi neighborhood where guests can easily reach everything from Michelin-starred restaurants and shopping centers to global office buildings. The architecture and design are spearheaded by aflalo/gasperini architects and Márcio Kogan’s firm studio MK27, who have imagined interiors with a mix of contemporary décor from both Brazilian and international designers that bring sleek lines, varied textures, and natural accents. Fasano Itaim will occupy a complex spanning almost 5,000 square meters that includes other restaurants, bars, and residences – all coming together to create a lifestyle destination within an increasingly stylish neighborhood.
Virgin Hotels Glasgow – Glasgow, Scotland, Opening March: Virgin Hotels Glasgow, Virgin Hotels’ second UK hotel, sits by the River Clyde with waterfront views with 242 Chambers and Grand Chamber suites. Each accommodation is beautifully curated with Virgin’s signature design elements, like bright red accents, sliding doors to separate living and sleeping areas, standalone vanity desk. There will also be multiple dining venues, including Virgin Hotels’ flagship restaurant Commons Club offering a contemporary and imaginative takes on Scottish cuisine; Rocks, a laid-back but elegant bar offering local whiskies and creative cocktails; Highyard, a versatile space for coworking, entertainment and dining; and Funny Library Coffee Shop for winding down and socializing. The hotel has also launched a Grand Opening Offer for guests who book a stay prior to January 31, who’ll receive a complimentary bottle of Champagne.
Virgin Hotels New York City – NoMad, New York, February: Virgin Hotels New York City will sit at the heart of the booming NoMad neighborhood and deliver a vibrant yet sophisticated hospitality experience in one of the world’s most exciting cities. To create a contemporary space that seamlessly melds the classic Virgin aesthetic with the dynamism of the Big Apple, Virgin Hotels tapped the Brooklyn-based design team at MARKZEFF and community-minded architecture firm Stantec to the design of the New York City property. Guests will find clever layouts for work and play and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the cityscape at all 460 guest rooms and suites, including Sir Richard’s Flat, the property’s impressive 2,800-square foot suite spanning across the hotel’s 35th and 36th floors. The property will also be home to multiple culinary destinations, including Everdene, a sprawling 4,000-square foot indoor/outdoor venue that captures the city’s energy through shareable dishes and drinks and rotating entertainment, and The Pool Club, the seasonal deck and bar where overnight guests have exclusive access to lounge against the backdrop of the Empire State Building.
Life House – Palm Springs, California, April: This retro 66-key property built in 1965 will be the first West Coast outpost of the LifeHouse brand. Inspired by the roots of the building, the concept will celebrate mid-century modernism in a delightfully unexpected way – infusing Japanese minimalism and Desert Botanical muses. The hotel will include an expansive exterior Pool Bar & Cabanas, an interior Living Room, and guest room suites with private terraces overlooking the mountains.
Life House Berkshires Opens
Set in the mountains, Life House, Berkshires which opened this fall, is a reimagined 1970s-era retreat with 64, exterior-facing guest rooms that culls inspiration from the lodge styles of the past. The design narrative is imagined through the lens of a fictional writer who escapes to his abode in the Berkshires in search of a peaceful and stimulating environment that fosters inspiration – a cue to the historical literary figures who spent time in the Lenox area to complete their renowned works: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville and Fanny Kimble. The Club Room is hyper-focused on seasonality and a farm-to-table cuisine. The cocktail program is a dynamic nod to the ‘70s with charred herbal craft cocktails, fresh pressed juices, and a sustainable wine program.
“In some ways the House in the Berkshires was loosely inspired by Thoreau’s Walden Pond and offers a perfect balance of both with breathtaking hiking, local farms, and a cozy living room, bar & restaurant to settle back into after an adventurous day,” said Rami Zeidan, Founder & CEO of Life House.
The opening of Life House, Berkshires follows the brand’s most recent openings of Life House, South of Fifth; Life House, Little Havana; Life House, Lower Highlands in Denver; and Life House, Nantucket. Several more Life House hotels will open next year across the country and into international territories as well. “Life House continues its mission to make travel more meaningful and more accessible through creating authentically local places to bring travelers and locals together for a shared sense of place and belonging.”
Life House, Berkshires, 194 Pittsfield Road in Lenox, Massachusetts, www.lifehousehotels.com/hotels/lenox/berkshires.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts Launches 11 Independent Hotels for 2023
Preferred Hotels & Resorts, one the world’s largest independent hotel brands, will welcome 11 new luxury openings globally in 2023, including two additions to its prestigious Legend Collection. From a 17th century palatial estate in the foothills of Mallorca’s Tramuntana Mountains to a heritage resort replete with Arabesque art and design on the Red Sea, each of these new launches inspire adventure and indulge a sense of exploration with distinctive on- and off-property experiences rooted in local culture. They include:
The BoTree (London, U.K.) – launching July (Legend Collection): One of London’s hottest new openings, The BoTree is located at the cross-section of Marylebone and Mayfair – two of the city’s most central neighborhoods and a lively destination for visitors. In addition to 199 guestrooms, including 29 suites, the new build will offer dedicated hosts on each floor and open plan rooms with sliding panel doors for guests to customize spaces – from a single guestroom to an entire wing of the hotel. Other highlights include a rooftop restaurant and bar with city views, a private screening room, and a live music and entertainment venue accommodating 450 guests.
sly Berlin (Berlin, Germany) – launching May (Lifestyle Collection): Located in the city’s trendy Friedrichshain neighborhood, Berlin’s coolest new hotel takes on the latest architectural trend of blending indoor and outdoor spaces with four buildings, including a 2,368 square-foot greenhouse, connected via open-air walkways and courtyard spaces. Comprised of 150 guestrooms and suites, some boasting spacious balconies or terraces, sly Berlin’s interiors fuse nature and the city’s urban culture with solid oak wood, Italian serpentine stone, stainless steel, and Brutalist concrete. Other highlights include a large rooftop sauna with sweeping skyline views, a health club, and a restaurant featuring an open kitchen and grill.
Son Net (Mallorca, Spain) – launching Spring (Legend Collection and Preferred Residences): Set in the foothills of the Tramuntana Mountains – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the luxury boutique retreat in a 17th century private estate, will reopen its doors following a large-scale refurbishment. Guests will enjoy stays in 31 guestrooms and suites that beautifully showcase original architectural features such as rustic wooden beams, stone floors, and antique fireplaces, in addition to an extensive curated private art collection, an outdoor pool, and a luxurious onsite spa. Guests can enjoy the surrounding nature, which includes vineyards and mature forests, with tailored experiences and excursions organized by the hotel team.
Galeria Plaza Monterrey (Nuevo León, Mexico) – launching January (Lifestyle Collection): A soaring tower in the heart of downtown Monterrey’s new financial district, Galeria Plaza Monterrey is the fifth addition to the Hoteles Galeria Plaza brand and the newest skyline addition to the state of Nuevo León’s business capital. Boasting panoramic views of the emblematic Cerro de la Silla mountain -a national monument – the hotel blends avant-garde, minimalist design with comfort and technology across 196 deluxe rooms, six lofts, and two master suites. Additional highlights include a pool and lounge, terrace with firepit, full-service spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, and two restaurants offering local and international cuisine under the direction of Executive Chef Guy Santoro.
Les Grands Voyageurs (Paris, France) – launching Summer (Lifestyle Collection): Tucked away in the chic Saint-Germain neighborhood, Les Grands Voyageurs will embrace its location with interiors designed by Paris-based Fabrizio Casiraghi – extending a confluence of Milanese design across its 138 guestrooms and suites, each adorned with wood and hunter green accents complementing a bold palette of vibrant brown and ivory tones. The design-forward property will boast a celebratory restaurant concept, and a 35-cover speakeasy bar, complete with hidden entrance and a roster of live music and entertainment venues.
Serry Beach Resort (Hurghada, Egypt) – launching January (Lifestyle Collection): An Egyptian-Arabian heritage resort on the shores of the Red Sea, the property includes 453 guestrooms, a range of dining options, an outdoor horizon pool, Aqua Park offering freshwater wave pools and water slides, cabaret speakeasy nightclub, mezze lounge, and a buzzing food hall with a souk-like atmosphere.
Pendry Newport Beach (California, United States) – launching Summer (L.V.X. Collection): The latest addition to Pendry Hotels & Resorts, this exciting new resort will extend 295 guestrooms, including 82 suites, with harbor and bay views – just steps from Fashion Island, Orange County’s premier shopping destination. The hotel will wow guests with three dining destinations, Spa Pendry, outdoor pool with sundeck, and 14,000 square-feet of meeting and event space.
Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences (Florida, United States) – launching March (L.V.X Collection): Covering more than seven acres of prime oceanfront in Palm Beach County’s Singer Island, the sprawling wellness resort will extend 155 guestrooms with 34 suites, a four-story wellness center featuring meditation gardens, tranquility pools, outdoor Patanjali yoga classes alongside four farm-to-table dining options, including vegan celebrity chef Matthew Kenney’s restaurant AYRE.
The Elser Hotel & Residences (Florida, United States) – launching Q1 2023 (Lifestyle Collection and Preferred Residences): The new 49-story luxury tower designed by Sieger Suarez Architects in downtown Miami, offers 646 guestrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows offering unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay and a pool with lounges and a 16-foot LED screen wall.
El Fuerte Marbella (Marbella, Spain) – launching May (L.V.X. Collection): Following more than a year of renovations, the Fuerte Group Hotels flagship on Spain’s Costa del Sol, will reopen its doors as a 5-star hotel, presenting 266 rooms with interiors designed by the award-winning Jaime Beriestain. The reimagined hotel will launch with a brand-new destination spa and a seafood focused restaurant that draws inspiration from the town’s local fishing culture.
The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club (Colorado, United States) – launching Spring (Lifestyle Collection): Named for the former University of Colorado president Bruce Benson, this seven-story, 106-room hotel on the Fitzsimons Innovation Community campus in Aurora offers meeting spaces designed for collaboration and connection, a ballroom, rose garden, and The Common Good restaurant and bar.
Travelers planning to book a stay at any of these new hotels, or any of the other 650 participating properties across the Preferred Hotels & Resorts, can access exclusive member rates, earn points, and take advantage of other value-rich, immediate benefits during every eligible stay, while also accessing special members-only offers and exclusive partner offers, by joining I Prefer Hotel Rewards, one of the world’s largest points-based loyalty programs for independent hotels with more than 4.5 million travelers currently enrolled.
For more information, visit www.PreferredHotels.com.
Photo: Life House Berkshires just opened is a reimagined 1970s-era retreat that culls inspiration from the lodge styles of the past. Another Life House hotel is opening several other hotels including one in Palm Springs, California, this year. (photo from Life House)
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