Hot New Hotels and Resorts

While several top names in the field may dominate this list, there are also a number of boutique properties and rising stars welcoming guests as well. Here is a selection of Hot New Hotels, most of which opened sometime in 2016, but we’ve also included a sampling of some of 2017’s best (so far).

Hawaii

Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, Oahu

The first and only Four Seasons on Oahu — the last of Hawaii’s four major islands to get a Four Seasons hotel — is the brand’s fifth overall Hawaii property. It opened in May of last year in the building of the former JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa, which was the first hotel to be built as part of the Ko Olina development. The rooms and suites have full ocean views, floor-to-ceiling windows and private lanais. Additional features include five culinary options, an expansive Naupaka Spa and fitness complex and a custom-built wedding chapel nestled within the gardens. The resort is family friendly but also has an adults-only quiet ocean beach and pool.

Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach, Oahu 

Waikiki Beach continues to be a trendy destination for guests looking to do some high-end shopping and dine around some hip bars and restaurants. So, as Waikiki Beach’s latest luxury hotel, it’s no wonder there’s been heavy buzz surrounding the stylish new Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach. The rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling window views and spa-like bathrooms. The outdoor swimming pool has private cabanas and an entertainment deck, a bar and restaurant. The Hyatt Centric anchors the renovated Waikiki Trade Center building, which includes a two-story, 34,000-square-foot Nordstrom Rack, Starbucks, Jamba Juice and branch of American Savings Bank.

The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, Maui 

Trending mostly amongst Millennials, the brand new Westin Nanea Ocean Villas is a hot option for couples traveling with other couples and looking for Maui’s newest, freshest property. The resort comprises one-, two- and three bedroom villas. The master bedrooms include king-size signature Westin Heavenly Beds and Westin Heavenly Baths with showers, bathtubs and vanities. The living areas offer armoires, queen-size sofa sleepers and private furnished lanais. Villas also come with fully equipped kitchens and washers and dryers — a boon for families, who can also take advantage of the Westin Family Kids Club. Other standout amenities here include a lagoon-style swimming pool, a children’s beach pool and play area, oceanfront cabanas and a Westin Workout Fitness Studio.


Mexico

Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, Riviera Maya

The adults-only Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa is trending mainly due to its location — between the Caribbean Sea and the Lagoon of Bahia Petempich — and its vibrant social atmosphere. The resort’s all-suite accommodations occupy three unique areas, each with distinct character and appeal. The Xhale club section is for guests seeking an elevated level of personal service and luxury; the energy center for those looking to mix and mingle; and the Xcelerate Party Zone caters, as the name implies to partiers. The resort maintains a weekly party calendar for all guests, with themed events such as the Breathless Rocks, Neon Night Lights and Insomnia Pool parties and special guest DJ performances.

Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort – Playa Mujeres, Mexico

AMResorts’ latest family resort in Mexico is getting rave reviews for two reasons: the food and the service. Located in the gated Playa Mujeres community just outside of Cancun, Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort has stylish pools, a swanky cabana scene and swim-up bars. Guests can take advantage of the brand’s signature Unlimited-Luxury vacation concept — gourmet à la carte dining at 10 restaurants including an ice cream parlor.




The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun 

Cancun’s newest all-inclusive resort is a great fit for just about any client offering the luxury and tailored touch of a boutique experience coupled with the grandeur of a world-class resort destination. Set within the brand’s signature property, Moon Palace Cancun, The Grand offers exclusive access to premier dining establishments and the convenience of close proximity to the property’s best attractions and much more. Nine swimming pools include a children’s waterpark, an adults-only Day Club with a live DJ spinning poolside beats, and five swim-up bars.



Caribbean and The Bahamas

Breathless Montego Bay 

Resort & Spa, Jamaica AMResorts’ Breathless brand has been trending high with Millennials ever since the brand was introduced about four years ago, which is why the first Breathless brand in Jamaica has been creating a buzz since it opened in March. Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa, surrounded by Montego Bay Marine Park, is an adults-only resort with a chic design and modern technology ranging from free Wi-Fi to in-room tablets. Singles looking for exclusive service should book the Junior Suite Ocean View category or higher to receive the complimentary service of a butler. Other notable amenities include a swanky rooftop pool and bar, a beach club, fire pits, cabanas and five bars and lounges. The resort also hosts occasional theme parties, such as the 1920s-style “Gatsby Party.”

Grand Hyatt Baha Mar –  Nassau, Bahamas

This hotel is garnering a lot of buzz mainly due to the fact that it simply opened (in April) after the long-awaited Baha Mar Resort project has been delayed for years. The distinct East and West Towers of Grand Hyatt Baha Mar consist of 1,800 contemporary rooms including 230 one-, two- and three bedroom suites. Guest have easy access to the Royal Blue Golf Club, Baha Mar Casino, and Baha Mar Convention, Art and Entertainment Center. Twenty bars and restaurants will open in the Grand Hyatt under the leadership of Executive Chef Brent Martin.

Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

When it opened in November, the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa became the first new hotel on the Caribbean’s famed Seven Mile Beach in nearly a decade. Its three freestanding beachside bungalows offer loft-like one- and two bedroom layouts, enhanced amenities and exclusive views of the beach and ocean. All of Seafire’s restaurants, including the Mediterranean-inspired Ave, are 15 helmed by James Beard-honored Executive Chef Massimo De Francesca. The Coccoloba bar, only a few feet from the ocean, provides great views of the sunset.

Margaritaville Beach Resort  Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Inspired by the lyrics and lifestyle of singer, songwriter, and author, Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville Beach Resort Grand Cayman is already gaining favor with both girls’ and guys’ getaways. It occupies a stretch of Seven Mile Beach, with accommodations that incorporate casual-luxe furnishings, including crisp white bedding, accented glass and teak finishings. In addition, sleek, tropical inspired designs are accompanied by subtle maritime accents, natural rock and wood materials, and colorful accessories. Dining options include Yara: The Global Steakhouse and Banana Wid Café, named after Buffett’s 20th studio album. The License to Chill Bar serves handcrafted cocktails including, of course, the resort’s signature margarita.


Riu Reggae, Montego Bay, Jamaica 

Riu Reggae’s adults-only hotel is one of the newest all-inclusives in Jamaica and among the hottest Jamaican retreats for girls’ or guys’ getaways. Two of its three infinity pools come with an adjacent swim-up bar. For a vacation with a group of friends, there are some family rooms that can accommodate up to five people. They are comprised of two bedrooms, one with a king-size bed and sofa bed and a second room with two single beds and two bathrooms. A lively program of day and night activities includes evening shows with live music. For a quieter way to relax, there’s the Renova Spa.

Royalton Negril/Hideaway at Royalton  Negril – Negril, Jamaica 

Already a favorite with small families and groups, the new Royalton Negril has waterfront rooms throughout three distinct sections, including the main resort, an exclusive Diamond Club wing and, for guests 18 and older, the Hideaway at Royalton Negril. Diamond Club Chairman’s Suites, which have a private balcony with private outdoor Jacuzzi and dining table, are a good fit for Millennials traveling with other couples or for small families. Royalton Negril has eight bars and eight restaurants offering a wide selection of local and international venues. After dinner entertainment comes in the form of sunset champagne cheers at the 18+ Hideaway, boogying at XS Disco Bar and live nightly performances.

Royalton Saint Lucia/Hideaway at Royalton Saint Lucia 

This luxurious, yet laid-back resort is hot with families, with splash pads and waterslides, supervised kids’ and teens’ clubs and dining menus designed for children. For a quieter getaway, adults (ages 18 and older) can stay at the Hideaway at Royalton Saint Lucia, which has private infinity pools and an exclusive seafood grill. Offerings at Hideaway include yoga on the beach, mixology classes beside the pool and champagne toasts at sunset. Suites at Hideaway use aromatherapy to greet clients each time they enter. Inside guests will find a Jacuzzi for two and a selection of premium spirits. Hideaway guests also have access to butler service.



Europe

Il Castelfalfi, Tuscany, Italy

The Italian region of Tuscany got its first new-build five-star hotel in 25 years when Toscana Resort Castelfalfi opened Il Castelfalfi on a 2,700-acre estate in an 800-year-old village. The hotel’s design embraces sustainability and showcases traditional materials such as wood and stone. La Via del Sale serves authentic Italian cuisine such as handmade pastas and local recipes from Executive Chef Francesco Ferretti. Guests can experience Toscana’s amenities, including the golf course and tennis courts, cooking school, The Medieval Borgo (village) that is home to a dozen local shops, two additional restaurants, and activities such as truffle hunting and tasting the estate-produced wine.

Kimpton De Witt, Amsterdam 

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ first European hotel is set within three original Dutch Golden Age-era buildings in Amsterdam’s Palace Quarter Neighborhood. Many of Kimpton’s signature amenities are available, such as complimentary VanMoof bikes, a hosted Social Hour every day at 5 p.m. and in-room toiletries from Amsterdam-based skin care brand Marie-Stella-Maris. Perhaps the most inventive offering at the Kimpton De Witt is the three-story Little House accommodation within the hotel. It was once the childhood home of Dutch playwright P.C. Hooft and dates back to the 1600s.

The Ned, London 

The landmark Midland Bank headquarters, dating to 1925 and the  inspiration behind the James Bond film “Goldfinger,” reopened this spring as The Ned, London. Highlights include the private members-only Ned Club. The rooftop Ned’s Club Upstairs has a pool, a domed bar and restaurant. Ned’s Club Downstairs has the Vault Room lounge bar. The subterranean Cowshed spa, complete with a 65-foot lap pool, is complemented by the Cheeky nail bar and Neville barbershop.

The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest

For its first hotel in Hungary, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company chose a site on Elizabeth Square in the heart of Budapest’s cultural and shopping district. Just minutes away from the Danube River, guests can easily access the UNESCO World Heritage listed Buda Castle district, visit one of the city’s several thermal springs, or sample local Hungarian cuisine and wines. A large portion of the property’s original architectural details have been preserved, including statues on the exterior walls, while the interiors offer guests a more relaxed, contemporary style with a color palette inspired by the waters of the Danube River. Guestrooms and suites afford views of St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Soho House, Barcelona

Facing the Port Vell Marina, this boutique “member’s club” is billed as “a space for eating, drinking, and meeting.” Hence there’s a 36-seat screening room and a rooftop pool with sweeping views over the city and the Mediterranean. Entertainment is always a strong point at Soho House and the Barcelona outpost is no exception. Guests have access to all the facilities, including the eateries, gym, Cowshed Spa, and indoor pool. The House Kitchen serves Spanish fare, while Cecconi’s brings its signature northern Italian specialties to Barcelona.


Hotel Splendide Royal, Paris

Fans of the Hotel Splendide Royal in Lugano and Rome will be pleased to learn that the Roberto Naldi Collection opened a Paris hotel in October. Housed in a private mansion built in 1897, this intimate, all-suite hotel is just steps from the Elysée Palace and fashionable shopping on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Chef Michelino Gioia, who scored Michelin stars at the La Posta Vecchia and Il Pellicano hotels, oversees the hotel’s brand new, elegant, bistro-style Italian restaurant. The best views are from the fifth floor, where it’s possible to see the Eiffel Tower.