VIP arrivals: hottest hotels opening in August 2022

From the balmy climates of Santorini to the concrete jungles of New York and Bangkok – and Formentera, Austin and Qatar in between – this month’s VIP arrivals article is a whistle-stop tour around the world to see how designers and architects have helped hotel brands to enter new territories. Creating a statement, each hotel listed below, we believe, are going to be significant additions to the global hotel design scene – and each property shelters an interesting, unconventional and timeless design scheme that so effortlessly answers its location.

The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon, Bangkok

Image credit: The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon

We start our editorial journey in a city that is known for its ornate shrines, vibrant street life and ever-changing hotel development landscape – welcome to Bangkok, where Standard International is about to call home.

Located in one of the most iconic buildings in the city, The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon will feature 155 keys, inside which guests can find bright and stylish rooms ranging from 40 sqm to a sprawling 144 sqm penthouse. The hotel will also include a terrace pool, fitness centre, meeting rooms, and a dynamic variety of food, drink, and nightlife venues. Put simply, the destination’s spirit of innovation and unconventionality made the Thai capital the perfect locale for the brand’s Asia flagship. We can’t wait to check it out!

Aman New York

Image credit: Aman

After much anticipation, Aman New York is finally set to open in early August. The hotel’s opening is the culmination of a monumental transformation of the iconic Crown Building in Manhattan: a 100-year-old Beaux-Arts building sensitively restored by the legendary Jean-Michel Gathy.

Inside, in addition to paired-back comfortable guestrooms and suites, the hotel has landed its latest wellness flagship concept, which is set across three storeys and includes an indoor swimming pool lined by fire bits and daybeds.

Aman, which now has more than 33 properties spread over 20 countries and is absolutely considered a leader in luxury hospitality, has described the hotel as “a new urban sanctuary with the rebirth of an architectural icon” in the heart of the city.

Teranka, Formentera, Spain

The island of Formentera – the smallest of the Balearic islands, which lays just south of Ibiza – is about to welcome its answer to boutique luxury in the form of Teranka. The beachside hotel, with just 35 guestrooms across just three levels, features a laidback yet contemporary feel – think the Balearics the way they used to be.

The hotel will combine sophisticated design with cutting-edge hospitality, connected by sensory experiences. Vert Mer – by acclaimed Andalusian chef Juan Martín – will offer  fine dining from French three Michelin starred chef Emmanuel Renaut. Meanwhile, Nobu Formentera, on the hotel’s rooftop, will allow Chef Nobu Matsuhisa to serve up signature dishes.

The Pullman Doha West Bay, Qatar

Image credit: Pullman Hotels & Resorts

Immersive art and vibrant design inspired by the colours of the sand, Pullman Doha West Bay will be feature a light and airy interiors scheme, while the high-end materials in the interior create an impression of understated glamour. The 468-key hotel becomes a stylish addition to the iconic West Bay skyline.

In the expansive hotel, art plays a major role. Upon arrival, guests enter a generous lobby space and are welcomed by an impressive sculptural globe. The piece of art created by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur represents a time, place, and sense of travel and discovery, embodying the spirit of Pullman. As guests walk through the lobby, they will find a stunning collection of playful sculptures complemented by carefully curated decorative artefacts and books. Quirky and bold, these installations add character to the hotel design and enrich the guest experience.

The Loren at Lady Bird Lake, Austin

Said to deliver ‘hospitality that is elegantly elevated’, The Loren at Lady Bird Lake will be as much about the adventure outside – including a stunning rooftop pool – as the contemporary design inside.

With the “beautification of everyday living” at its core, the 108-key hotel’s guestrooms offer generous spaces with sophisticated modern furnishings and expansive views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Luxurious bathrooms feature natural stone, walk-in spa shower, plush bathrobes, SFERRA towels, and Malin+Goetz products.

Nobu Hotel Santorini, Greece

Image credit: Nobu Hospitality

Just when we thought Santorini couldn’t get any sexier – or busier with hotels. – along comes Nobu Hotels with the opening of Nobu Hospitality’s first Greek hotel and restaurant. And although this hotel technically opened last month, now that we have the official images, we couldn’t help but add it to the mix of hotels to watch this August.

Providing unparalleled access to the island’s iconic views and rugged coastlines, Nobu Hotel Santorini sits on a  clifftop in Imerovigli and houses the country’s first Nobu Restaurant, dual-level infinity pool, fitness facility and 25 five luxurious rooms, suites and pool villas.

Ace Hotel Toronto