VIP arrivals: hottest hotel openings in July 2025
July is delivering a slew of sophisticated hotel openings across Europe and beyond in 2025, and even with the heat soaring – these properties are looking like pretty cool customers…
July’s hotel openings offer an abundance of colour and vibrancy, with a theme of art – curated and local – setting the tone in these beautiful spaces. From the south of France to the heart of South Africa, we’re embracing the local culture taking centre stage in all of the following.
The Talaia Hotel & Spa Biarritz – MGallery Collection
Image credit: Accor
This July, MGallery Collection welcomes its latest property in the Basque Country: Le Talaia Hotel & Spa Biarritz – MGallery Collection. Elegantly designed, the hotel features 149 rooms and offers breathtaking views over the Côte des Basques; the perfect setting to fully enjoy the many faces of the Atlantic Ocean. Guests can enjoy a panoramic rooftop, a Cinq Mondes spa, and a restaurant by renowned Chef Éric Frechon, for a memorable experience in France’s southwest.
With innovation and sustainability as its guiding principles, Le Talaia Hotel & Spa Biarritz – MGallery Collection mirrors the natural beauty of its surroundings. The renovation colours, inspired by the coastline, evoke the sea and are accented with warmer shades like terracotta, greige, and ochre. The design pays homage to the Biarritz spirit, reflected throughout the property – especially in spaces inspired by the ocean, wind, and Basque culture. The hotel also aims to support the surrounding communities, such as through engaging local artists.
The Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train
Image credit: Belmond
The Britannic Explorer – the first luxury sleeper train in England and Wales – will make history on 21st July 2025 for its maiden voyage. Set to become a new icon, the pioneering train embodies modern British identity through playing with history, style, and personality.
The train’s interior design has been meticulously crafted by London-based studio Albion Nord, in collaboration with Luke Edward Hall, Mel Campion and Olly Fathers. The eight carriages exude a refined ambiance and thoughtful sophistication, seamlessly weaving British wit and charm into every detail. Bold fabrics, layered textures, and hand-selected antiques come together to create a rich, characterful aesthetic that feels both timeless and modern.
Rooted in a vision to bring the outside in, the design draws inspiration from the serene, organic beauty of the surrounding landscapes. Natural materials – wood, stone, and wool – are thoughtfully paired with earthy tones and tactile finishes, evoking the elegance of the British countryside.
Image credit: Hyatt
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Park Hyatt Johannesburg, marking the luxury brand’s third destination in the African region. Set within the vibrant Rosebank district, celebrated for its cultural richness and urban vitality – Park Hyatt Johannesburg offers a refined, residential-style experience where thoughtful design, immersive art, and warm hospitality come together in perfect balance.
The hotel features 31 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites, each offering king-size beds and floor-to-ceiling windows designed to maximize natural light and provide serene garden views. Select rooms and suites feature private patios, further enhancing the sense of tranquillity. The carefully designed interiors boast plush cotton linens, marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, bespoke Ndebele-patterned throws, and curated South African artwork. Art themes within the rooms include Sea Algae, Trees, Safari, Forest, Explorer, and Leaves, all celebrating South Africa’s diverse biospheres. Local artistic work is also exhibited in public spaces, comprising pieces employing a warm neutral palette enriched by artisanal details and botanical illustrations dating back to the 1800s, many sourced from historical archives.
Image credit: Mama Shelter Group
Opening at the end of July, Mama Shelter Zurich will be the brand’s 19th location globally and introduces a fresh, lifestyle-oriented hospitality concept to the Swiss market. Located in the lively Oerlikon district, the property comprises 178 guest rooms, a convivial restaurant, a green rooftop with expansive views of Zurich, a stylish bar, a banquet hall, coworking spaces, recreational areas including pétanque and table tennis courts, pinball machines and a fully equipped gym.
For Mama Shelter Zurich, the design studio led by Benjamin El Doghaïli has created a joyful, welcoming interior filled with playful nods to Swiss culture. The concept draws as much inspiration from the Alpine landscapes as it does from horology, the modernist spirit championed by Le Corbusier, and, of course, chocolate, a universal symbol of comfort and indulgence.
A chocolate box colour palette evokes warmth and cocoon-like sensations, while theatrical and dreamlike design mixed with graphic, geometric elements give a nod to a more modernist theme.
Domes Neema Maison Finikia Santorini
Image credit: Domes Resorts
Domes, Greece’s prestigious luxury lifestyle hospitality brand, has unveiled the latest addition to its portfolio with the opening of Neema Maison Finikia Santorini, in July 2025. The launch is the first opening for The Finds, Domes’ fifth sub-brand, which offers a beautifully curated collection of boutique resorts for curious world travellers who seek authentic discovery. It marks Domes’ second resort on the Greek island following the success of Domes Novos Santorini, a family-focused retreat near the island’s north-western coastline which opened in 2024.
Inspired by a fashion atelier created by Greek architecture agency Urban Soul Project, the property features 16 stylish suites, combining traditional elegance with expressive design-driven architecture to provide a contrasting island escape. Stepping through the doors feels more like entering a fashion boutique, with hand-picked fashion displays in the reception. Contemporary interiors with whitewashed walls and soft red pops of colour have been curated to ensure the guest feels part of a captured moment, with vanity lights and bespoke furniture in vivid upholstery.
Main image credit: Belmond
