VIP arrivals: hottest hotel openings in October 2022

A wise man, James E. Faust, once said that ‘a rebirth out of spiritual adversity causes us to become new creatures’, and I think the same can be said for hotel openings for the destination they sit in. I have experienced this myself – design hotels really do have the power to change the look (and feel) of a destination. As we usher in a new month, the team at Hotel Designs have meticulously identified this month’s hotel openings that we expect will make the biggest impact, both locally and globally, designed in order to sensitively reflect destination, personality and timeless style.

Rosewood Luang Prabang

Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Seen as a significant addition to the Group’s Asian portfolio, Rosewood Luang Prabang is the brand’s first property featuring luxury tented accommodations, and it is hidden in the lush green jungle that surrounds the historic royal settlement of the ancient Laotian capital. Bordered by a riverbank, the resort offers 23 spacious accommodations including four deluxe rooms, four specialty suites, three riverside villas, six pool villas and six luxury tents, which include their own private dining areas and wrap-around decks.

Lao tradition and French colonial style are sensitively woven throughout the design and architecture, including the use of indigenous materials and locally inspired artwork. Dining options consist of The Great House and the Elephant Bridge Bar. Meanwhile, Sense, A Rosewood Spa, draws on locally harvested botanicals to create Laotian therapies designed to cleanse, replenish and balance the body, mind and soul. Seated next to a natural waterfall on a large open space behind The Great House, the oval shaped pool is the focal point of the property, where guests can relax on sun beds under tented cabanas.

Pendry Washington DC

Worlds away from the last Pendry property we checked in to, a striking new waterfront destination on in Washington harbour is about to arrive. Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf is being described as a ‘timeless testament to our nation’s classic style and grace’. Layered with a European-inspired sensibility and Pendry’s signature offering of modern-day hospitality, the ‘polished playground’ takes the city’s rich history and redefines it for a new era. Where substance is rooted in style.

The hotel features 131 beautifully appointed guestrooms, including 38 spacious suites, each imbued with a warm, residential-inspired aesthetic that feels comfortable and classic, while also inspiring with incredible detail and design-centric touches throughout.

In addition, Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf is home to three signature dining destinations welcoming hotel guests and locals alike. From all-day fare to evenings at Bar Pendry to the panoramic cityscape views from the Pool Terrace, each space is a stunning standout for food, drinks and just the right amount of revelry.

Habitas Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Image credit: Habitas Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Given the fact that the destination is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet – with around half a million species (estimated five per cent of the species on earth) inhabiting there – Costa Rica continues to be protected and developed sensitively in order to amplify and preserve the country’s unique relationship with nature. Cue the arrival of Habitas Santa Teresa, Costa Rica that’s location is its answer to keeping things ‘local’. Positioned on the Atlantic coast, the hotel’s style is that of a surfer by morning and a jungle explorer by afternoon.

The hotel has been built with the environment in mind, using local materials and up-keeping the native flora and fauna, while also creating a luxury experience for guests checking in.

 Sun Street Hotel London

Image credit: Sun Street Hotel / Bespoke Hotels

Multi-award-winning hotel brand Bespoke Hotels is adding to its already impressive portfolio with the launch of Sun Street Hotel this month, a brand new five-star property in the heart of London. Situated on the borderline of Shoreditch, the boutique hotel pairs a sensitively restored Georgian terrace with eclectic interiors that evoke timeless sophistication and acknowledge the old and new of the two contrasting areas of the capital.

The core aesthetic of Sun Street Hotel is elegance personified, with extravagantly beautiful décor and finishes. Internationally renowned interior design firm, Bowler James Brindley have expertly designed 41 guest rooms, including seven suites, where guests can choose to spend the night in either Georgian or modern styled suites. Creating the perfect blend of luxury and comfort, all bedrooms have king-size beds, Oxford pillows, illy coffee-machines, air-conditioning, twice-daily maid service and Penhaligon toiletries.

The Tampa EDITION

Image credit: EDITION Tampa / Marriott International

Technically, this hotel creaked open its doors last month when it soft opened, but given the statement it is about to make on the Tampa hotel scene, we couldn’t help ourselves and had to include this luxury address in this month’s mix of VIP arrivals. Cementing the city’s coming of age, and its position as a gateway to southern Florida, Water Street Tampa, a $3.5 billion urban mixed use development, shelters the newly unveiled The Tampa EDITION.

“Not often have I had the opportunity to work on a project that will completely transform the very centre and heartbeat of a great city like Tampa, and make it even greater,” said Ian Schrager, the visionary pioneer of the boutique hotel concept and the EDITION creator. “I call it urban expansion, rather than urban renewal, and it serves as a model for how cities will transform and evolve the future. The scale of it is mind-boggling and we’re very happy to be right here and a part of it.”

Bulgari Hotel Roma

Image credit: Bulgari Hotels

The decision to debut in the capital of Italy was one that was described as a ‘full circle moment’ for the Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, but also a significant one, opening a hotel an iconic destination that is rooted in the luxury brand’s heritage.

The Bulgari Hotel Roma is strategically located in the central Piazza Augusto Imperatore. This is in the very heart of the Campo Marzio neighbourhood, a stone’s throw from Via del Corso and Via del Babuino, the iconic Spanish Steps and the signature Bulgari flagship on Via Condotti. Italian architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel was in charge of both the architectural project and the interior design of the hotel, which counts more than 100 rooms, most of them suites. In addition, the studio has designed the prestigious ‘Il Ristorante’ curated by Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito and ‘The Bvlgari Bar’, both located on the top floor to guarantee an unparalleled view of the Eternal City.

If you know of a design hotel opening its doors in Autumn or Winter this year that you believe deserves to be featured in our VIP Arrivals series, then please email the editorial desk.

Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts