There is a strong sense of a seasonal shift as we move into the final few weeks of Q1 and, dare I say it, from where I am sitting it feels like spring is in the air – with that is a concurrent feeling of growth, which is reflected in this months VIP arrivals with hotels opening across the globe from Manchester to Miyakojima…
There are months when you have to dig deep to populate this list, but suffice it to say that March 2025 is not one of them! Hotels are opening at a pace across the globe – some like the Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab have been a long time coming, while others like the Élysée Montmartre Hotel have popped up like a breath of fresh air on the Parisian hotel landscape.
Renovation, repurposing and sustainability remain strong threads weaving through this months hottest hotel openings, alongside those builds that quite literally change the landscape, reminding us ‘to look up at the stars.’
Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab
The highly anticipated Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab in Dubai is finally set to open with its bold design by award-winning architect Shaun Killa. Completing an oceanic trilogy of iconic hotels, with Jumeirah Beach Hotel representing the wave and Jumeirah Burj Al Arab as the sail, Killa took inspiration from the soft elegant lines of a superyacht, and recreates the sense of being in water through the building’s curvatures. The way the hotel slopes effortlessly represents a dynamic movement – much like a superyacht going out to sea.
Boasting its very own 82-berths D-Marin marina at the tip of a peninsula, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab also features 385 rooms and suites, and 82 exclusive residences. Cleverly following the contour of the property, this collection of premium accommodations boasts floor-to-ceiling glass windows, which are retractable and frame 180° views of neighbouring Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, surrounding marina, and the Arabian Gulf.
Rosewood Miyakojima
Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Rosewood Miyakojima marks Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ first Japanese property, inviting guests to explore an unseen side of Japan while pioneering a new era of ultra-luxury hospitality on this remote island paradise in Okinawa. The property shelters 55 guest accommodations, each with breathtaking views of Miyakojima’s famous pristine waters. Embodied by Rosewood’s A Sense of Place philosophy, the architecture of the resort draws from the history, landscape and culture of the Ryukyu Islands, blending indigenous Okinawan materials such as Ryukyu limestone with the Japanese spirit of wabi-sabi. Designed by acclaimed Dutch architect Studio Piet Boon, the property has been built in sustainable harmony with the natural environment, making use of the original terrain and partnering with the local community.
Élysée Montmartre Hotel
Image credit: policronica / Julien Labrousse
Imagined by producer Abel Nahmias and architect and entrepreneur Julien Labrousse, the Élysée Montmartre Hotel brings together the artistic energy of Pigalle and the tranquillity of a cocoon in the heart of Montmartre. Surrounded by the legendary Trianon, an avant-garde theatre since 1894, and the Élysée-Montmartre, a mythical venue that has hosted the likes of David Bowie, Björk, and Daft Punk. The hotel has chosen the path of craftsmanship, with each piece of furniture being unique, designed and custom-made from eucalyptus wood. This wood, typically used for making paper, is here intended for a noble purpose, a gesture that reflects a commitment to eco-responsibility.
Montcalm Mayfair
Image credit: Montcalm Mayfair
Following two years of extensive renovation, Montcalm Mayfair is preparing to open its grade-II listed doors at the end of the month. With a sweeping transformation by award-winning architecture firm Holland Harvey, in collaboration with the creative synergy of several design studios, the hotel has been totally reimagined.
All guest room interiors have been thoughtfully designed by Studio Mica to beautifully complement the Montcalm Mayfair’s panoptical botanical theme. The lobby, public bar and restaurant spaces, once made up of several walled off rooms, have now been opened up to form one vast ground floor space. Cleverly designed by Studio Est, each area retains its individualism while encouraging guests to glide between them. United by timeless style, Montcalm Collection is a London compendium of luxury hotels, and Montcalm Mayfair promises to reveals a different chapter in the city’s story.
Locke Le Jardin de VerreÂ
Image credit: Locke
Located on the Rue de Lacépède, steps away from the Panthéon, Jardin des Plantes and Sorbonne University, Le Jardin de Verre by Locke, the group’s 17th property to date, will shelter 145 rooms across 11 different categories including two signature suites – the Begonia Suite and the Penthouse Suite. The property will also feature an on-site gym and yoga studio, a coffee shop, a boardroom for meetings and events, an open internal courtyard for al fresco dining, a triple height destination restaurant in the atrium complete with a bar and terrace, and dedicated cocktail bar.
Le Jardin de Verre was created by building a modern addition to the 20th-century industrial factory and 18th-century Parisian residence. The street on which it sits was once renowned for its series of grand public gardens. As such, the visual concept for this latest Locke property – created by acclaimed London and LA-based interior architecture and design studio Fettle – has been inspired by its strong connection to nature through extensive interior landscaping and planting, and maximising the natural light afforded by the courtyard atrium.
The Alfriston
Image credit: The Signet Collection
The Signet Collection will be opening its fourth hotel, The Alfriston, located in the picturesque village of Alfriston within the South Downs. The hotel will feature 38 exquisitely designed bedrooms and suites, each individually styled, with warm, playful colours, signature super-comfy mattresses, upcycled antiques and beautiful bathrooms.
Guests can indulge in a culinary journey at the 1554 Brasserie (which takes its name from the date of the building), which seats 70 and offers stunning views across the front lawn and towards the sea. For a more relaxed atmosphere, the hotel’s bar will provide casual dining for 50 guests, alongside outdoor seating for 60, perfect for enjoying the serene surroundings. Additionally, the sun-drenched Orangery will offer breakfast and afternoon tea with views over the rear gardens. Set to feature the brand’s signature Signet Spa, facilities will include a steam room, hot zone, sauna, three treatment rooms, and an outdoor swimming pool, partnering with GAIA for a rejuvenating experience. The hotel will also boast a function room for up to 120 guests, making it an ideal venue for weddings and events.
The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid
Image credit: Marriott International
An icon reimagined, formerly The Westin Palace Madrid, has undergone a major transformation to embark on the hotel’s next chapter as The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid. Originally commissioned by King Alfonso XIII in 1912, the hotel is uniquely positioned in one of the city’s most historic districts, part of the recently designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Landscape of Light. The comprehensive restoration encompasses the entire property, from its 470 guestrooms to its shared spaces, seamlessly blending its storied heritage with the modern needs of today’s travellers.
An architectural landmark, the hotel’s façade has been meticulously restored to its original splendour, recovering the colours, ornamental details and original structures of the hotel as it was originally inaugurated in 1912. Inside, guests are immersed in the theatrical interiors throughout the residential-style guestrooms, public areas, meeting facilities and fitness centre.
Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection
Image credit: Auberge Resorts Collection
Gazing over the Duomo in its sea of terracotta rooftops, Collegio alla Querce was a centre of learning for more than 100 years. From 1774 onward, Europe’s brightest scholars flowed through its marble-lined hallways on their way to the library, theatre, and chapel, and into the beautiful grounds. Realising the vision of Analjit Singh, owner and founder of Leeu Collection, the property’s transformation into a contemporary 83-room hotel while preserving its original character has been overseen by the award-winning Esteva i Esteva, a Spanish, father-son architectural firm. Local Florentine interior designers, ArchFlorence, have brought to life the hotel’s exquisite guest rooms and suites, five dining venues including the extraordinary Bar Bertelli in the former principal’s office, and a serene Auberge Spa.
The Social Hub Porto
Image caption: The Social Hub Porto | Image credit: The Social Hub
The Social Hub Porto will be the groups first hotel in the city with a design that seamlessly combines contemporary design with nods to Porto’s rich cultural heritage as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The property features 310 rooms, including 271 hotel rooms and 39 residential apartments with up to two bedrooms catering to travellers, extended-stay guests, and students. Amenities include a state-of-the-art gym, over 580 sqm of inspiring coworking space for nearly 100 local professionals, and 450 sqm of premium meeting & event spaces – including an auditorium that can accommodate more than 250 guests – creating a dynamic environment for networking, innovation, and entrepreneurship. A large interior courtyard garden open to all also brings a new green space to the city centre.
Treehouse Manchester
Image credit: Brad Mathews Photography
Treehouse Manchester will be the brand’s second UK property following the successful launch of Treehouse Hotel London in 2019. Offering a playful and free-spirited experience, the hotel features 224 guest rooms, including nine suites and three accessible rooms. The hotel will provide a unique retreat for visitors seeking both comfort and an element of adventure. Guests can expect whimsical interiors, evoking the enchanting charm of a forest, blended with Treehouse’s signature ‘perfectly imperfect’ design ethos.
In addition to its cosy accommodations, Treehouse Hotel Manchester will offer an array of destination dining and drinking options celebrating some of the North West’s most celebrated culinary talents. The ground-floor destination restaurant Pip by Mary-Ellen McTague is set to welcome guests alongside the hotel’s opening. The 14th-floor shelters a further destination restaurant Sister Moon by Sam Grainger, sharing the top floor with Treehouse Hotel’s signature bar The Nest in Treehouse – both offering unparalleled views of Manchester
art’otel Rome Piazza Sallustio
Image credit: art’otel Rome Piazza Sallustio
Reimagined through the eyes of Roman contemporary artist Pietro Ruffo and interior designer Eyal Shoan of Digital Space, art’otel Rome Piazza Sallustio will be bringing a contemporary and artistic twist to the Eternal City. As Rome enters its Jubilee year, and the city begins to come together in a celebration that only happens a handful of times during a lifetime, art’otel Rome Piazza Sallustio prepares for its March opening, bringing together bold design, immersive art experiences, a unique destination dining concept.
The opening of art’otel Rome Piazza Sallustio marks a significant milestone for art’otel, the contemporary lifestyle hotel brand owned by PPHE Hotel Group, known for its larger footprint of Park Plaza properties. Renowned for successful openings in cities like London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Zagreb, and Cologne, art’otel continues to expand its European portfolio with a focus on immersive, art-led hospitality, is now landing in Italy for the first time.
Main image credit: Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab
