Hamish Kilburn, Editor of Hotel Designs, closes his nearly six-year editorship by taking us through the hottest hotel openings that are about to land on the global hotel design scene this February…
If this year’s emerging travel trends are anything to go by, then the global hotel development scene is in the middle of a transformative chapter, with various innovations and new mindsets shaping the industry to shelter more holistic hospitality experiences. Generally speaking, the hotels opening in this yet to be written era that put design at the forefront of the guests’ experience have the power to take the hotel design plot in a completely different direction.
While these trends were prevalent in 2023, the dynamic nature of the hospitality industry suggests that the hotel development scene in 2024 will evolve further still, incorporating new elements and adapting to feed modern traveller demands.
In February 2024, the global hospitality industry anticipates hotel openings of several noteworthy hotels that are sheltering gamechanging interiors and hospitality settings. From raw gems in Glasgow to new retreats in the Maldives, jaw-dropping architectural feats in Dubai to discovering new definitions of wellness in Mexico – here is our edit of the hottest hotels that are about to arrive this month.
Hotel Chateau D’Eau, Paris, France
Image credit: Touriste
Touriste is on a roll. Following the opening of the brand’s sixth property last year, Touriste is about to open its latest 36-key, seven-storey hotel, Hotel Chateau D’Eau, near Gare du Nord in Paris. Expect the same vibey attitude inside as the brand’s sibling properties, Hôtel Beauregard and Hôtel de la Boétie, with interiors by Necchi Architecture.
The Address, Glasgow
Image credit: The Address Collective
The Address Glasgow is set to become the hospitality address in the heart of Glasgow City Centre. The 95-key, design-driven hotel offers an eclectic mix of luxe interiors and traditional design pieces, over six storeys, all sourced from and crafted in Scotland.
Soneva Secret, Maldives
Image credit: Soneva
30 years in the making, Soneva Secret is what the brand is describing as ‘a new wave of hospitality’ in the turquoise waters of the Haa Dhaalu Atoll in the Maldives. The barefoot-luxury paradise presents what is expected to be the ultimate in privacy and seclusion, where the beauty of nature surrounds guests checking in.
Soneva Secret features 14 overwater and island villas, including the Maldives’ only floating villa. Designed to offer the ultimate in Soneva hospitality and exemplary service standards, each villa features a dedicated team of three, which includes a Barefoot Guardian, Barefoot Assistant and dedicated chef, to ensure every stay is wholly personalised.
SIRO One Za’abeel, Dubai
Image credit: Natelee Cocks
We have waited patiently to celebrate the debut of SIRO, a brand under the Kerzner International umbrella that is set to revolutionise the hospitality industry. The brand’s first property to open, SIRO One Za’abeel, sets a strong tone in both concept and design. The 250-key hotel will be sheltered inside the iconic OneZa’abeel development in Dubai.
“SIRO signifies Kerzner International’s continuous quest to innovate and disrupt the hospitality industry. It’s our incubator concept, a place where science converges with innovation to promote health and fitness, that blurs the lines of wellness and hospitality into the ultimate offering,” said Philippe Zuber, Chief Executive Officer of Kerzner International. “Over the last decade, the focus on self-care, and prioritising fitness and recovery as a form of wellbeing has accelerated at an exponential speed to become the core of modern lifestyle; SIRO is our direct response to this. We are creating that space that brings together a community of like-minded individuals willing to exchange, learn and improve their lifestyle.”
SIRO One Za’abeel arrives on the hotel scene just ahead of SIRO Boka Place, designed by London-based interior design studio Atellior, which will open later this year, marking the brand’s entrance into Europe.
Hotel Maria , Helsinki, Finland
Image credit: Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Hotel Maria, part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, is heralding a new era in luxury Nordic hospitality, with a level of refinement and excellence that is a first for the region.
The 117-key hotel – which is being called ‘a destination within a destination’ – is located in one of the city’s most prestigious addresses, in close proximity to the Presidential Palace and Senate Square. Steeped in tradition and reimagined to create a sophisticated escape for discerning guests, the hotel’s interiors, including its sumptuous guestrooms and suites, have been designed by head designer Jana Sasko and Puroplan, a leading Finnish interior design firm.
VIP Arrivals is a dedicated editorial series, that drops monthly, to explore the hottest hotels opening around the globe. Please contact the editorial desk if there is a hotel that you think should be on our radar for future features.
Main image credit: Kerzner International
