Ouvertures d’hôtels

🌊 In February 2020, a wildfire fueled by over 100 km/h winds devastated 40% of Australia's third-largest island, home to 4,000 residents and four times larger than Hong Kong. The disaster took down a lodge built by Hayley and James Baillie 12 years prior, leaving only an iron kangaroo sculpture intact. By December, the Baillies had reconstructed the hotel with the help of architect Max Pritchard.

🏠 OMNIYAT, a Dubai-based developer, announced The Alba, a new architectural project, at the Monaco Yacht Show on September 26. The waterfront project in Dubai is valued at 7 billion AED (approx. $1.9 billion USD). The Alba will become the 12th Dorchester Collection hotel globally and the second in the Middle East, after The Lana, with seven residential properties in Dubai managed by Dorchester Collection. The project embodies luxury living inspired by Zaha Hadid's architectural firm and will be managed by Dorchester Collection.

🏖️ Aman announces the launch of Aman Maldives, its 21st destination, located in the Vaavu atoll - one of the most remote and exclusive regions known for exceptional diving. The island oasis will feature a 52-key hotel and 16 branded residences designed by longtime collaborator Kerry Hill Architects, emphasizing the local beauty with inspiration from coral beaches and clear turquoise waters. The independent pavilions range from one to three bedrooms, each with a private pool.

🏠 Lefay Resorts & Residences adds five new luxury villas at Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda, opened in 2008. Located in an 11-hectare natural park, the Sky Pool Villas offer lake views, with sales now open and delivery by summer 2025. The villas come in three types: two-bedroom (300 m²), three-bedroom (470 m²), and Penthouse (550 m²), each featuring a lush private garden and a heated infinity pool. After the success of Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti's 21 sold units in 2018, this marks a unique real estate offering on Lake Garda.

🏡 Rocco Forte Hotels to open its third Sicilian hotel in 2026 in Noto, featuring the 18th-century Palazzo Castelluccio, a 4,600-square-meter property with 31 elegantly restored rooms. The Palazzo will join Villa Igiea in Palermo and Verdura Resort in Sciacca, offering a restaurant, bar, garden lounge, meeting/event spaces, a spa, and a gym. Designers Paolo Moschino, Philip Vergeylen, and Olga Polizzi collaborate on the interior design.

🏡 The Waldorf Astoria Abu Dhabi will offer 167 luxuriously furnished rooms and suites, many with mangrove views, and personal concierge service for each guest. The adjacent national mangrove park, home to over 60 species of birds and wildlife, offers nature immersion and activities like kayaking. The hotel, previously operated by Anantara, marks Hilton's first Waldorf Astoria in Abu Dhabi, as stated by Hilton's VP of Development for the Middle East and Africa, Carlos Khneisser. Abu Dhabi aims to attract over 39 million visitors by 2030.

🏖️ Hyatt to open two hotels in Jaumur, Magna, on the Gulf of Aqaba coast, aiming for luxury tourism in Saudi Arabia. These projects, part of 12 distinct initiatives in Neom, target affluent tourists. The Park Hyatt Jaumur and Andaz Jaumur Marina, set to open in 2027, will offer a total of 350 rooms, featuring a marina with 300 berths, entertainment, and a deep-sea research center.

🏠 Supervised by Faby THIBAUD, "Une Autre Chambre," imagined by the team behind "La Chambre du Marais," features 17 rooms and suites honoring historical women like Olympe de Gouges, Simone Veil, and Colette. Each floor's story is highlighted by architects Aurore Vachette-de-Lesquen and Camille Maire, and designer Alexandrine Perrodin. The hotel provides a 24/7 concierge service, homemade breakfast, an intimate bar, and the "George Sand" suite with stunning Paris rooftop views.

🏠 "The House of Tin Baron" in Phuket's historic heart to open on December 1, 2024, featuring the world's first and only Cristal Louis Roederer room. Aiming to redefine luxury and celebration, it will also offer a lively cocktail bar and two outstanding restaurants with Michelin-starred pedigree chefs.

🏠 José Andrés Group partners with Thor Equities to launch its first hotel, The Bazaar House by José Andrés, featuring 67 rooms, an exclusive private club, multiple dining spaces, event rooms, a wellness center, and upscale boutiques. The Bazaar Club, a penthouse with a signature restaurant overlooking Georgetown, will be a centerpiece. José Andrés, founder and leader of NGO World Central Kitchen, expresses excitement in opening this new chapter in Georgetown, Washington, where he began as a young chef 30 years ago. Sam Bakhshandehpour, the Global CEO of José Andrés Group, emphasizes the transformative potential of hotels similar to restaurants in offering refuge and community connection.