Hamish Kilburn, Editor of Hotel Designs, takes the industry on a worldwide adventure to discover the hottest hotels that will open in November 2023…
While November is a time for us on the editorial design at Hotel Designs to celebrate the real influencers of the hotel design industry – with The Brit List Awards 2023 coming to its climax – it is also a time for us to look ahead to identify what’s next on the global hotel development scene.
November is jam-packed full of VIP arrivals, from new brands emerging in Japan to a new diva arriving in London’s Soho district – we have also thrown in a few boutique from Mexico into the mix.
Here are what we believe are the hottest hotels opening in November 2023…
Janu Tokyo
Image credit: Janu Tokyo
Translated as ‘soul’ in Sanskrit, Janu will deliver an elevated guest experience akin to Aman, while providing a spirited social scene in contrast to Aman’s whisper-quiet seclusion. Through Janu’s appreciation of cuisine, art, design and service, Janu Tokyo will reflect and celebrate the city’s rich, cultural fabric.
Claiming 13 floors in total, from the ground up, Janu Tokyo is located in the B-2 District Tower designed by Pelli Clarke & Partners with interiors by long-term Aman collaborator Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston Architects. All 122 light-filled guest rooms will feature floor-to-ceiling windows with the majority having private balconies with views of the iconic Tokyo Tower or surrounding greenery. Ranging from 55 square metre Deluxe Rooms to the 284 square-metre Janu Suite, there will be an abundance of connecting rooms encouraging travel with family and friends.
Boca de Agua, Bacalar
Image credit: Boca de Agua
Think of Boca de Agua as a poetic habitat. The 22-key property with suites has been designed by architect Frida Escobedo, who was recently tapped for the contemporary art wing at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. The boutique hotel., which nestles in the Laguna de Bacalar, shelters a number of rooms, villas and treehouses that have been designed, with local materials, and an aesthetic that feels luxurious and contemporary.
Angama Amboseli, Kenya
Image credit: Angama Amboseli
Angama Amboseli will present a brand-new intimate lodge in the heart of the private 5,700-acre Kimana Sanctuary, Kenya – think neutral, earthy colours, reflective of the lodge’s surroundings with elegant, understated textures including canvas, concrete and rattan.
The country’s first community-owned conservancy, working in partnership with the Big Life Foundation, the Sanctuary is framed by verdant landscapes, an abundance of wildlife and sweeping vistas of Mount Kilimanjaro. Offering guests an idyllic East African oasis with high level, warm Kenyan service and well-considered guest experiences, Angama Amboseli is set within a fever tree forest where some of Africa’s last Super Tuskers roam. Offering 10 tented guest suites, including two sets of connecting family units, featuring a contemporary take on African design, the high-end lodge has been designed with consideration to animals and nature throughout.
XELA, Tulum
Image credit: XELA
Hidden among the swaying palms on the shores of Tulum Beach lies XELA, a serene haven of laid-back luxury featuring 12 spacious en-suite rooms poised at the threshold of the wild and authentic. A secluded retreat that echoes the essence of a private coastal villa, the boutique luxury hotel emanates an atmosphere of effortless calm and exclusivity.
XELA’s design aesthetic effortlessly merges organic architecture with beach house minimalism. The common spaces embody chic tranquillity, where seamless indoor / outdoor transitions create an atmosphere of relaxed living.
Broadwick Soho
Image credit: Broadwick Soho
Broadwick Soho, is a hotel that was born from a vision between a group of friends. The 57-key hotel, with interiors by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, promises a ‘captivating and characterful’ experience in London’s vibrant Soho area.
The hotel’s design blends 1920s opulence with a dash of English eccentricity. Each guestroom, layered with texture and materials, has its own design. The rooms feature bespoke furniture, handpicked artwork, geometric patterns and vibrant prints that complement a muted colour scheme.
The Standard Singapore
Image credit: The Standard Hotels
Ever since the opening The Standard London, the brand has popped up in various locations, including Ibiza, the Maldives and Bangkok. The latest hotel to join the slightly dysfunctional family is The Standard Singapore, which, we expect will be open in November – we have been told, at least, that the hotel will open by the end of the year.
In addition to making its appearance in Singapore, The Standard is also planning on opening properties in Melbourne, Lisbon, Dublin and Brussels.
We will leave you with the news of One&Only opening its first vertical hotel, which of course will be in the Middle East. Although the hotel is not slated to open until December 1, it’s worth getting excited about the 299-key arrival, which, if rumours are to be believed, will shelter some of the largest rooms in Dubai.
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: Boca de Agua
