Words: Zoe Dickens
There’s nothing like a great hotel. The glamour of an elegant bar, the convenience of 24-hour service, the luxury of fine linens and fluffy towels. But, in the era of Airbnb, hotels are having to work harder than ever to make themselves stand out from the holiday accommodation crowd. Not that this is deterring some of the world’s best known hotel groups from opening in exotic new locations this year. From Switzerland’s first dedicated spa resort to a pristine beachside destination in Indonesia, here are the best new hotels opening in 2020.
Hôtel Particulier Villeroy, Paris
The former private residence of Nicolas Villeroy – of Villeroy & Boch ceramics fame – the 8th Arrondissement’s Hôtel Particulier Villeroy is a grand Parisian hotel in every sense of the word. Sensitively converted to the keep the mansion’s traditional grandeur, the hotel’s four rooms, six suites and two apartments are beautifully appointed to preserve a residential, pied-à-terre feel and all come with personalised butler service. Looking to throw the ultimate party? Reserve the entire hotel for private hire.
Guests also enjoy exclusive access to the hotel’s Trente-Trois fine dining restaurant, led by Michelin-starred chef Sebastien Sanjou, a sophisticated cocktail bar and in-house spa with a gym, L’Officine Universelle Buly 1803 treatments, Jacuzzi, steam room and hydrotherapy shower. Opened in January 2020, it’s already receiving rave reviews.
The Legian Sire, Lombok
The sister hotel to the Legian Seminyak in Bali, the Legian Sire will open on Indonesia’s west coast in May. Boasting direct access to the stunning Sire beach, and with views over the Gili Islands and Mount Rinjani, this boutique resort will offer 45 suites and 15 villas – all over 110 square metres and many with private pools – as well as 15 hotel-managed residences for those who simply can’t bear to leave.
Designed for ultimate barefoot relaxation, the resort also offers two infinity pools, an 18-hole golf course and a wellness offering comprising a gym, fitness classes, vitality pool, steam rooms, sauna, Reflexology foot pond and a spa with holistic treatments inspired by the local healing heritage. Foodies are also well catered to thank to the hotel’s three restaurants serving authentic Indonesian cuisine, as well as Mediterranean and vegetarian fare, using ingredients from the hotel’s organic garden.
Chenot Palace Weggis, Switzerland
Billing itself as a ‘spa with rooms’, Chenot Palace Weggis will become the famed wellness group’s first dedicated European outpost when it opens on the shores of Lake Lucerne this spring. Each of its 97 lakeview rooms is housed in an historic mid-century palace, which adjoins a 5,000 square metre state-of-the-art medical centre where the full range of Chenot Method treatments are offered.
Guests choose from three programmes – Advanced Detox, Recover and Energise or Prevention and Ageing Well – each of which begins with a series of diagnostic consultations to tailor treatments to your exact needs. And almost anything is possible. The retreat is equipped with hydrotherapy pools, gyms, traditional spa spaces, cryotherapy chambers, anti-gravity exercise machines and medical grade diagnostic equipment, along with a bevy of highly trained doctors, nutritionists, chefs, osteopaths and personal trainers just waiting to cure what ails you.
Capella Bangkok, Thailand
With seven luxury properties already gaining a fan base in locations from Dusseldorf to Sydney, the Capella group is set to open its first hotel in Thailand later this year. Occupying an unrivalled 350 metre span on the banks of the Chao Phraya river (AKA the River of Kings), in the emerging Charoenkrung neighbourhood, Capella’s proximity to the city’s urban centre makes it the ideal base from which to explore this fascinating destination.
That is, of course, if you actually want to leave the hotel. Each of its 101 elegant rooms, suites and villas offer beautiful views of the river and city while the hotel also offers a European fine dining restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colarego, a casual Thai restaurant, French patisserie and tea lounge, a spa offering traditional Asian therapies and the Capella Living Room – a lifestyle hub hosting works and performances by local artists, musicians and chefs.
Villa Igiea, Palermo
With 13 hotels already to its name – and a further two coming this year – it’s safe to say that Rocco Forte Hotels knows a thing or two about great hospitality. One of its newest venues will be the majestic Villa Igiea in Italy, which is set to open in June. Housed in a turn-of-the-century palazzo at the foot of Mount Pellegrino, the building was designed by Sicilian architect Ernesto Basile for the Florio family and opened as a hotel in 1900, quickly becoming a favourite with European royalty and the Hollywood elite.
The modern hotel’s 104 rooms overlook the Gulf of Palermo and have been designed by Olga Polizzi and Paolo Moschino to offer high-end modern furnishings that preserve the palace’s historic atmosphere. The food offering, spearheaded by Fulvio Pierangelini, similarly draws on local produce to create classic Italian dishes designed for romantic dinners and long lazy lunches.
Four Seasons Resorts and Residences Napa Valley, California
Wine tourism is big business and this summer Four Seasons is hoping to earn its slice with an expansive new resort in the exclusive Napa Valley wine region. And oenophiles won’t have far to go to get a glass of the good stuff. The hotel will have a fully operational 5.6 acre vineyard and winery on site offering guests a full ‘grape to glass experience’.
Accommodation comes in the form of charmingly rustic rooms and suites complete with fireplaces and terraces overlooking the rugged Palisades Mountains, while a selection of large farmhouse villas, complete with personal hosts and cars, will also be available. A central pool and barn-style restaurant also offer an ideal spot to unwind after a long day exploring the valley.
Six Senses New York, USA
Six Senses is one on the world’s best known luxury hotel groups so it seems somewhat astonishing that it will only be opening its first property in New York City this year. Scheduled for an autumn launch, the Six Senses New York will be located in the vibrant Chelsea neighbourhood spanning ten floors of a brand new, architecturally stunning development known as The Eleventh.
Alongside its 137 rooms and suites, each of which boasts stunning views across downtown Manhattan and features interior design by Parisian firm Gilles & Boissier, there will be two fine dining restaurants, serving locally-sourced, seasonal dishes, and a full-service spa offering a range of high-tech treatments.
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