Janice Tober
Executive editor
From cheap and cheerful to cool and classy, these are the 26 hotels (because we just couldn’t stop at 24) opening in 2024 that we can’t wait to meet! From this list, you’ll notice that it’s not always a question of which hotels are the fanciest, but which ones tickle our fancy most.
North America
Hotel AKA Alexandria, Virginia, US
Old Town Alexandria is home to many lovely colonial-style, red-bricked buildings, and Hotel AKA Alexandria has managed to reflect this style in its exterior and mix it up with Japanese-inspired minimalism in its interiors. Designed by architect Piero Lissoni—famous for his floating staircases and, yes, there’s one in the lobby of AKA—this is a stunning property. On-site, you’ll find A.Lounge, serving light bites and bevvies (look up to see the floating sculpture, Mamacloud, by Frank Gehry) and an expansive outdoor terrace lending a comfy home-away-from-home feel.
Now open
Conrad Orlando, Florida, US
We called this in 2023’s most anticipated openings list and we were right: its official opening shifted to 2024. The true magic of Conrad Orlando is that parents have a solid respite from Disney World located right next door. Located within the expansive Evermore Orlando Resort, this 433-room hotel will be surrounded by a 1,100-acre nature preserve. A lovely eight-acre lagoon cocoons the resort within its watery border and rooms reflect the blue and sandy colors outdoors. A large freeform pool with private cabanas, a 20-acre white sand beach, two Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses and a spa make up the recreational facilities and five dining and drinking options will take care of your appetite. Once you’ve rested and relaxed, you can take the complimentary shuttle to the Magic Kingdom et al.
Now open
21c Museum Hotel St. Louis, Missouri, US
21c Museum hotels are the kind of properties that I like to hang out in but feel that maybe, just maybe, I’m not cool enough to pull it off. They are part contemporary art gallery and part hospitality-driven hotel. In St. Louis, 21c is breathing new life into an historic 10-story Renaissance Revival landmark and it is all in on contemporary art-filled spaces, community-focused cultural programming, and locally sourced food and drink options. Honoring the building’s roots as a former YMCA site, 21c St. Louis will also feature a full-service athletic and swim club.
Now open
Moxy Banff, Alberta, Canada
Moxy is coming to the mountain when it opens in Banff this year. Moxy Banff resulted from a $30-million-dollar makeover of the Voyager Inn, a classic motor hotel. Keeping the psychedelic vibe going, guests check in at Bar Moxy, lit by an upside-down bear wearing headphones, and receive a complimentary cocktail. The bar’s doors open right onto the courtyard, a social space for lounging by the fire or taking a dip in the hot pools. And if you’re hungry after your travels, there’s the fully restored 66 VW food truck where you can grab snacks.
Expected opening spring 2024
Nobu Hotel & Residences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Founded by chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Robert De Niro in 1994, Nobu Hospitality was a busy building beaver in 2023, with hotels opening in Rome, San Sebastián, Marrakech, Los Cabos and Atlantic City. Now, Nobu Toronto will mark the brand’s Canadian debut, rising 45 stories above Toronto’s entertainment district. The sleek and shining two glass towers will house 660 residences and 36 primo hotel suites located at the top of the west tower. With Nobu restaurants as noted as its hotels, guests should expect tasty tidbits and tipples that match the hotel’s hip and haute surroundings.
Expected opening summer 2024
The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie, Scottsdale, Arizona, US
We mentioned this baby last year but, as we know, construction delays are a real thing. Coolly sitting on 20 acres of landscaped gardens in the shadow of Camelback Mountain, The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, promises to be a serene escape with beautiful, clean design in shades of sand and sea and plenty of natural wood. There will be 215 rooms, suites and casitas found throughout the resort, linked by shaded pathways–each with an oxygen-enriched in-room air purification system and some with an outdoor shower and/or fireplace. Citrus groves, secret nooks and one of the longest resort pools in North America (400-feet long) will be found here, along with a spa, a lobby bar specializing in mezcal and tequila and an all-day restaurant featuring ingredients from the hotel’s groves and herb garden.
Expected opening fall 2024
Waldorf Astoria New York, US
This grand dame hotel has been closed since 2017 for massive renos and is about to make its renewed grand appearance. The Waldorf Astoria New York is one of the world’s most iconic hotels, debuting in 1893 as the brand’s original property. Renowned designer Pierre-Yves Rochon will retain the hotel’s distinctive Art Deco architecture and keep some of the hotel’s biggest treasures, like Cole Porter’s piano. But the renovated 375-room hotel also will have some of Manhattan’s largest accommodations, a 30,000-plus-square-foot spa and a signature restaurant.
Expected opening late 2024
The Caribbean
Six Senses La Sagesse, Grenada
Part of IHG hotels and resorts, Six Senses La Sagesse will mark this wellness and sustainability brand’s debut in the Caribbean. Nestled between the ocean and a protected cove in Grenada’s southern coast, 56 one-bedroom pool suites and 15 villas are set within 38 acres of lush landscape. The open-plan bedrooms are made using natural, renewable or repurposed materials with a contemporary beachy feel, each with a private plunge pool. Activities on site range from the ‘Sleeping with Six Senses’ personal sleep program to learning about the natural world at the Earth Lab and waterfall meditation at the two-story spa. This is laid-back luxury at its best.
Expected opening April 2024
ALMA San Juan, Puerto Rico
Set to open in Old San Juan, his 56-room boutique hotel takes its inspiration from Puerto Rican culture, cuisine and Con toda mi ALMA, or ‘with all of my soul’ as it commits to offering a transformative experience to guests. The property takes a modern look at tropical design and sustainability, focusing on all things local—award-winning Puerto Rican chefs head up the two restaurants plus three bars, local artwork is found throughout the property and even a bespoke fragrance tells the tale of the hotel’s heritage.
Expected opening June 2024
South America
St. Regis Cap Cana Resort, Dominican Republic
When the St. Regis Cap Cana opens this year, it will be one of the only luxury hotels in the DR that isn’t all-inclusive, a plus for those who want to taste what else the country has on tap. However, this expansive 200-room beachfront property will offer seven restaurants and bars if you don’t want to waste any energy in, say, moving. You’ll also find on hand seven pools, a private beach with butler service, a luxe spa and standard St. Regis amenities, like the evening ritual which, to give you a clue, involves Champagne sabering.
Expected opening December 2024
Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Cartagena, Colombia
Set to become Cartagena’s new “it” spot, the Four Seasons Cartagena will open in the city’s happening Getsemaní district. The property will be made up of several historic buildings—the oldest from the 16th century—all restored and preserved to protect the heritage architecture. Four restaurants and lounges will keep you well fed and hydrated while the spa and fitness center will keep you fit and tranquil. Plus, you’ll be able to chill poolside by not one, but two, rooftop pools. The 131 rooms will be designed in Four Seasons’ contemporary yet timeless style.
Expected opening late 2024
United Kingdom
The Emory, London, UK
This posh all-suite hotel is one of those properties that make us feel all aflutter. In this 80-room hotel overlooking Hyde Park, each floor will be designed by a different award-winning hotel designer, including the likes of Pierre Yves Rochon, André Fu and Patricia Urquiola. When you need sustenance, a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant is on-site as well as the off-the-lobby Emory Bar. Standard amenities include a personal assistant, access to a private members club focused on wellbeing, an exclusive rooftop Bar 33, the Emory Cigar Merchants and airport pick-up and deposit.
Expected spring 2024
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London, UK
This new boutique property is found in the heart of the fashionable Mayfair district. With only 50 rooms (and 77 residences) the hotel is meant to have an exclusive, intimate clubby feel. Look for serene interiors in a classic British style with just a touch of Asian influence to honor the brand’s heritage. Rooms are in muted creams with hand-painted wallpaper showcasing magnolia blooms in the brand’s signature blue. Marble bathrooms feature both a bathtub and walk-in shower. The hotel will also house the first namesake restaurant of Michelin-starred chef Akira Black in the UK, who will also oversee ABar Lounge, ABar Rooftop and Korean-inspired cuisine at DOSA. To round out the offerings, expect an expansive lower-level spa with an indoor pool and fitness center.
Expected opening summer 2024
Europe
The Hoxton, Vienna, Austria
On the surface, Vienna can feel quite formal, with its famous opera house and glitzy annual Vienna Ball. But this city also has things like the more DJ-heavy Rainbow Ball to show its other side. It’s the same with the hotels in Vienna.We have the opulent, monied Hotel Wien Sacher and now the less-buttoned-down The Hoxton. Taking over the modernist building which once housed the Chamber of Commerce, the hotel features a design best described as 1950s modern, mixed with a bit of local inspiration and a lot Wiener Werkstätte vision. Located near the Museum Quarter, the property houses a lobby coffee bar, a Viennese-New York terrace restaurant, a Cuba-themed rooftop bar and pool, a Beat Generation-style basement cocktail bar that’s cool daddy-o and an events auditorium for live music. The 196 rooms come in the classic Hoxton range of rooms from Shoebox to Roomy, delivering good design to all.
Now open
Domes Maison Corfu, Greece
Domes Resorts is one of the fastest growing lifestyle brands in the Mediterranean. This year alone they are opening three properties, each worthy of a mention. Domes Novos Santorini is an architectural adobe stunner, 91 Athens Riviera, a glamping resort that even non-campers can get behind, but the one we’re most excited about is Domes Maison Corfu. This gem will open within the Domes Reserves portfolio, rare hotels that combine luxury with cultural significance. The historic mansion dates back to 1903 and once hosted the British royal family after Prince Philip’s baptism. It was handpicked for its unspoiled cultural heritage and location on one of Old Town’s most prestigious boulevards and will offer just 10 suites, fine dining and bespoke interior design.
Expected opening winter 2024
Orient Express Grand Hotel de la Minerve, Rome, Italy
What could be better than a combination of the beauty of the Eternal City, a former sumptuous 17th-century palace and the heritage and luxury of the Orient Express? When Orient Express Grand Hotel de la Minerve opens, it will bring these things together in the historic center of Rome. Connected to the expected launch of the Orient Express La Dolce Vita trains this year, famed architect and designer Hugo Toro has taken his inspiration from the city itself to create an opulent experience for serious lovers of art and design who appreciate the glamour days of travel.
Expected opening late 2024
Fairmont Golden Prague, Czech Republic
This new Fairmont property found on the banks of the Vltava River, steps from the Charles Bridge, is a stellar location to stay when visiting Prague. The new digs are taking over the old InterContinental Hotel in the city’s Old Town with a full revamp of the original Soviet-era 1970s property. The chic makeover will bring 297 rooms and suites, three restaurants, three bars and a spa with both indoor and outdoor pools.
Expected opening late 2024
Africa
Gigiri Gem Forest Hotel Nairobi – MGallery, Kenya, Africa
The MGallery brand never fails to enthrall us. Each property manages to offer unique design that solidifies a place in a guest’s mind and this new property promises the same. Located at the edge of the Karura Forest, this 105-room design-forward hotel bumps up against nature but is close enough to local museums and galleries to be considered central. You’ll find a spa and infinity pool amidst verdant greenery, four restaurants and bars including the real gem, rooftop restaurant and bar Troy, with tantalizing views of Nairobi.
Expected opening spring 2024
Cape Grace, Cape Town, South Africa
The legendary Cape Grace hotel is reopening its doors with a head-to-toe redesign and new management. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has taken over the hotel reigns of this grand hotel, offering old school charm with new school interior design by 1508 London in all 112 rooms. Located right on the V&A Waterfront with Table Mountain in the background, views are stunning, and guests can take in the scenery, dine on authentic South African cuisine or check out the new spa. Keep an eye out for leading luminaries from the world of politics, film and business as this property is set to dazzle.
Expected opening spring 2024
Asia and the Maldives
Janu Tokyo, Japan
Janu is the brand spanking new sibling brand to the über-luxe Aman Hotels and Tokyo is where you’ll find its flagship. While Aman Tokyo is steps outside the Imperial Palace, Janu Tokyo is in the Azabudai Hills development, a neighborhood meant to feel like a city within a city. The 122 rooms are some of the largest in Japan and are styled in an Asian minimalist aesthetic. But the real focus of Janu properties, which means “soul” in Sanskrit, are the public spaces meant to bring people together. There are eight restaurants and bars to mix and mingle with locals or fellow guests, serving everything from Italian to a modern take on traditional sumibiyaki charcoal grilling.
Now open
SO/ Maldives, Malé
SO/ properties believe in the power of design and so do we, so having to land at the Malé International Airport and hitch a ride on a speedboat to whisk us away to this 15-acre resort on a private island seems well worth the trek. Personally, I’m crushing hard on overwater and beachfront villas and that’s what we have here, with each of the 80 open-plan villas sporting a private pool and deck. Attend the on-site wellness camp, indulge in cuisine from the Asian or Arabic restaurants and watch the sun set from your plunge pool with a creative cocktail in hand. Heaven.
Now open
Raffles Jaipur, India
This beauty, located within India’s Golden Triangle in Jaipur, will be one of the brand’s most exclusive hotels in the world. Built out of white marble with just 50 suites, all with private plunge pools, the hotel stands out with its Mughal architectural style. The hotel includes a restaurant serving contemporary North Indian cuisine, afternoon tea in the atrium, a writers’ bar, an intimate spa and a rooftop pool and bar. Elegant courtyards connect the property to the larger Fairmont Jaipur next door.
Expected opening mid 2024
Middle East
The Lana, Dorchester Collection, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Lana is found in Dubai’s waterfront Business Bay area. Two modern steel and glass towers announce its presence as Dorchester Collection’s first property in the UAE. The 225 large light-filled rooms, some with balcony, are done in creamy beige and earthy brown, anchoring its otherwise lofty feel. Standout features include the 30th floor rooftop pool with airy cabanas as well as the first Basque restaurant in Dubai, Jara, overseen by 12 Michelin-starred chef Martín Berasategui. And that ain’t all: There are seven additional restaurants and bars at the hotel run by award-winning chefs, including a ‘by invitation only’ after-dinner lounge.
Now open
Mama Shelter Dubai Business Bay, United Arab Emirates
This hip and happening hotel will be Mama Shelter’s first step into the UAE and, while there are plenty of super-duper luxe properties in the area, none are as colorful and quirky as this brand. Mosaic steps, vividly hued walls and eccentric hanging decorations brighten up every corner of the hotel, giving guests a choice of unique spots to call their own while checking email with a coffee or sipping a well-crafted cocktail.. Along with the cheery 197 rooms, there will be 207 residences so if you like the idea of chatting with a local, this might be your chance to do so. The property will feature a variety of dining options, a terrace with four swimming pools and an outdoor lounge and amphitheater with a place for DJs to crank up the tunes.
Expected opening late 2024
Australia and New Zealand
Hyde Perth, Australia
This boho hotel will be the first Hyde hotel to open in Australia, with 120 rooms in the central business district. Expect to find local design influences, tantalizing dining options with global fare and a playful beach club. As a true lifestyle hotel, it’s designed to create connections, with endless sofas in the lobby and long tables that encourage conversation late into the night. Dialing up the energy throughout the day, the hotel’s entertainment spaces will come to life with a curated program of music and live performances in keeping with Hyde’s festival vibe.
Expected opening late 2024
The StandardX, Melbourne, Australia
This wood-clad hotel is opening in Melbourne’s lively Fitzroy neighborhood, surrounded by dining and drinking hot spots, coffee and cafés, live music, vintage boutiques and art galleries galore. As brand-new little sister to The Standard Hotels, X Melbourne will feature a great hang-out spot on the ground floor serving Thai street food and a proper flat white and, on the roof, an exclusive guest-only enclave serving Mexican-inspired cocktails and treats for your tum-tum. The 125 guest rooms will include local art, a SMEG kettle, a French press and toiletries from Davines. You’ll find a range of room types, from a cozy king to the suite spot and, yes, we’re excited, too.
Expected opening is sometime in 2024
Hero image courtesy of Mandarin Oriental
