VIP arrivals: hottest hotel openings in April 2025
Come with us on a world tour as we search the globe for April’s most anticipating hotel openings to keep you in the know…
Finally we’re peeling the winter layers from our skin in anticipation of soaking up some natural vitamin D – but where in the world should we be looking for holiday (and design) inspiration? We’re casting the net far and wide this April as we look forward to some exciting openings in Asia and Australasia, but are just as delighted to find a number of projects opening a little closer to home, starting on our doorstep in London.
Image credit: Miiro Hotels
A tranquil retreat in London, Templeton Garden can be found on Templeton Place in Kensington, a stone’s throw from Earl’s Court. Once a rural idyll, this historic neighbourhood evolved into one of the capital’s most well-connected hubs, which Beatrix Potter, Alfred Hitchcock, and Agatha Christie all called home.
Templeton Garden comes with 156 guest rooms and suites, each designed as a calming city retreat. Many come with balconies, while others reveal gorgeous views of the verdant garden or Templeton Place.
The hotel’s look has been overseen by interior designer James Thurstan Waterworth, former design director at Soho House. He took inspiration from the hotel’s garden for its look and used upcycled materials and antique furniture, as well as collaborating with London-based craftspeople to create unique statement features for the hotel.
With Nicola James appointed General Manager at the beginning of the year, the hotel opened its doors to the public last week and promises to set a new precedent for the Miiro brand.
Image credit: Ennismore
Backlit by the Med’s dazzling sunshine, SLS Barcelona brings its distinctive brand of immersive extravagance to the waterside district of Port Fòrum. The hotel is set behind a striking, undulating façade that emulates the waves of the Mediterranean Sea. Offering 471 beautifully appointed rooms and suites, six distinct restaurant and bar concepts, three pools, a spa, and extensive events space culminating in a spectacular ballroom; SLS Barcelona is a true urban resort.
A creative collaboration between leading designers AIME Studios, AvroKO, and Rockwell Group has resulted in spaces that are brilliantly functional yet flamboyant, setting the stage for the extraordinary to unfold every day. SLS regulars will notice the brand’s design signatures sprinkled throughout the interiors, from the gala arrival vibes of the light-studded entrance hall to the use of richly textured fabrics and embellishments.
This design narrative extends to the 471 rooms and suites, which artfully combine luxe design and modern opulence. Each accommodation feels indulgent and glamorous with oversized headboards and mirrored glass and warm timber accents, while the chic bathrooms are informed by white marbled details, clean white tiling, and sculptural mirrors.
Image credit: Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Designed by internationally acclaimed architect André Fu, Waldorf Astoria Osaka reimagines the brand’s residential style, offering guests a refined sanctuary that feels both intimate and grand. A thoughtful interfusion of Eastern and Western motifs brings Osaka to life through the lens of Art Deco aesthetics, echoing the legacy of the original Waldorf Astoria New York.
With 252 expansive rooms and suites, Waldorf Astoria Osaka sets a new benchmark for design and comfort in the city. Occupying the top floors of the South Park Tower skyscraper at GRAND GREEN OSAKA, each room – including two 146-square-metre penthouse suites and the 193-square-metre Presidential Suite – sits between the 31st and 38th floors, offering breathtaking 360-degree views spanning from Osaka Bay to the Hyogo mountaintops.
This latest offering follows the reimagining of Waldorf Astoria New York and marks the first in a number of exciting developments from Hilton’s luxury portfolio.
Image credit: Aman Resorts, Hotels & Residences
A masterclass in urban architecture, Aman Nai Lert Bangkok officially opened its doors on 2nd April. Following in the footsteps of Amanpuri, the brand’s original home in Phuket, the newest Aman retreat meticulously blends modern design with the rich cultural heritage of its location. Created by long-time Amanrox collaborator Denniston Architects, the property’s design draws from the bygone legacy of Bangkok’s first and foremost developer, Nai Lert, and the historic park in which it resides.
“Nai Lert’s rich heritage provided an incredible foundation for this project. Our goal was to honour this legacy and Thai culture in a modern, timeless way alongside Aman’s renowned design DNA, developed over three decades,” said Jean-Michel Gathy, Principal, Denniston.
“Throughout, we integrated details of the park and its Heritage Home with contemporary interpretations, creating a palette that made sense within this context and the tapestry of influences.”
With every Aman destination drawing inspiration from the culture and history of its location, Denniston, with interior design lead David Schoonbroodt, sought to use tone-on-tone colours and sparse accents, emblematic of the brand’s calm ethos while still providing functionality. To create a harmonious balance between what is old and new, the design incorporates a mix of contemporary pieces and custom-made products, inspired by antiques, and made by local artisans.
Image credit: IHG Hotels & Resorts
Hotel Indigo, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury & lifestyle portfolio, has made its New Zealand debut with the official opening of Hotel Indigo Auckland in the heart of Midtown. The much-anticipated 225-room hotel is a powerful neighbourhood storyteller, blending rich local history, culturally inspired art, and globally influenced cuisine, creating a vibrant new destination for both visitors and Aucklanders in the City of Sails.
Located on the historic site of a 1912 motor house that imported Cadillacs into New Zealand, Hotel Indigo Auckland’s design pays homage to its industrial past with an exciting mix of heritage-listed and modern architecture. Stunning interiors and gallery-quality artworks make every corner of the hotel an immersive cultural experience.
Renowned stylist, Simone Haag, has transformed the hotel’s lobby into a captivating showcase of local artistry, featuring handcrafted paintings, wooden sculptures, ceramics, glasswork, woven pieces, and leather creations. Multidisciplinary artist, architect, and designer, Raukura Turei, has created two extraordinary installations using natural elements sourced from her ancestral land, exploring connections to atua (gods) and tīpuna (ancestors).
Image credit: Accor
La Dolce Vita Orient Express, the first Italian made luxury train, makes its much-anticipated debut with a bold ambition: to reinvent the very essence of travel in motion. Eight curated itineraries blending art, landscapes, and three-star Michelin cuisine by Heinz Beck, all in celebration of Italian excellence in motion.
The train was last week at Roma Ostiense Station, within the exclusive La Dolce Vita Lounge dedicated to its passengers, on the eve of its inaugural journey.
Born of a visionary collaboration between Arsenale and Orient Express and supported by Fondazione FS Italiane and FS Treni Turistici Italiani of the FS Group, this pivotal project signals the renaissance of rail as the ultimate luxury.
The interiors, by Milan’s Dimorestudio, are a reverent salute to Italian design golden age: geometric echoes of Gio Ponti, the sensual modernism of Gae Aulenti, whispers of Osvaldo Borsani. It embodies the spirit of mid-century glamour, an homage to La Dolce Vita and the cultural pulse of 1960s Italy.
Main image credit: Ennismore
