2016’s Hottest Hotels: The 16 Most Anticipated Openings
A new hotel is to a seasoned traveler what a new car smell is to a gearhead. (Basically, pure heaven.) Even the rehabilitation of legendary properties can be just as thrilling. Here, we take a look at the 16 openings that we’re most excited for in 2016.
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Photo: Courtesy of Ritz Paris1/14Ritz Paris
For the first time since its opening on June 1, 1898, the Ritz Paris shut its wrought-iron doors for restoration on August 1, 2012. Home to the iconic Vogue photo of Kate Moss sprawled in a peach-colored, gold-trimmed chair among Chanel boxes and where André Leon Talley “used to run into Tom Cruise, in navy gym shorts, and Nicole Kidman, in black knee-length stretch pants, working out side by side,” the Ritz Paris has been dearly missed. Now, after much anticipation and more than three and a half years later, the storied hotel is set to reopen on March 14, 2016. Much of the prized masterpieces and furniture have been preserved and will return to their original homes within the hotel (such as the vintage records and typewriters at the carefully rehabilitated Bar Hemingway), and fret not, the golden swan fixtures on the sinks are staying put. So what’s new? A sublime spa; a shopping gallery with brands like Prada, Chanel, and Cartier; and a tunnel under the Place Vendôme, where the modern-day Audrey Hepburns and Coco Chanels can discreetly come and go from the parking garage.
Photo: Courtesy of Amanemu2/14Amanemu
Aman’s first hot spring resort, Amanemu, will be the brand’s second property in Japan. Opening in March in Ise-Shima National Park in Honshu’s Mie Prefecture, the property overlooks the Ago Bay, and guests can take in the serene view of the waters and the pearl rafts from the terrace suites. The region is also known for the Matsusaka variety of Japanese Wagyu—one of the best varieties of the coveted marbled beef—and it will be served in the hotel’s restaurant along with locally sourced seafood. And to really dive into the culture, make sure you take an Aman Journey to explore the UNESCO-protected pilgrimage routes of Kumano Kodo and the Ise Grand Shrine.
Photo: Courtesy of Mar Adentro3/14Mar Adentro
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico’s West Coast spring break destination, can get pretty rowdy, which is all the more reason to head north to San José del Cabo if you still want to experience the Baja peninsula. Enter Mar Adentro, a design-focused property with all-white interiors where minimalism is key. The hotel and residence is currently in its soft opening and will be completely open by March with 205 ocean-view guestrooms, a spa offering holistic treatments, an art gallery with rotating exhibitions, an on-site movie theater, a private beach club that holds two saltwater pools, and a beachside food truck serving fresh fish tacos. And if you really want to splurge, make sure to book one of the floating villas equipped with a roof deck, pool, and lounging sofas that are perfect for taking in the Sea of Cortez.
Photo: Courtesy of Toscana Resort Castelfalfi4/14Toscana Resort Castelfalfi
In the heart of Tuscany lies an 800-year-old medieval village that has been carefully restored, a project that began in 2007 and has resulted in the 2,700-acre estate known as Toscana Resort Castelfalfi. By the end of next year, a new 120-room hotel (for which a name has still not been determined) will be the latest addition to the grounds, with an 11,000-square-foot spa (highlighting an indoor-outdoor pool, sauna, hammam, salt cave, and ice cave) and a restaurant starring Mediterranean-inspired cuisine also joining the ranks of the existing amenities—two dining establishments, one helmed by a Michelin-rated chef; four pools; a 27-hole golf course; 57 acres of vineyards; and more than 9,000 olive trees from which Toscana produces its own wine and extra-virgin olive oil.
Photo: Alamy5/14Park Hyatt St. Kitts
Park Hyatt’s first venture into the Caribbean will take shape on the island of St. Kitts come November. The hotel, on the southeast peninsula of Banana Bay, will overlook The Narrows, a strait that separates St. Kitts and Nevis. Book one of the suites that houses its own rooftop pool, and don’t forget to spend some time at the spa, which promises a unique outdoor treatment room.
