Major Luxury Hotel Openings To Watch For In 2016

AMERICAS

Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown (pictured above)

In South Tribeca – a block from the World Trade Center and minutes from Wall Street or SoHo – Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown adds its classic NYC profile to the world's most famous skyline. A city stroll from gleaming fashion arcades, or gastropubs and eateries on historic streets, Four Seasons introduces a level of luxury alive with Downtown's creativity, confidence and 24/7 vitality. Enjoy a hand-tailored New York experience in an ambience that's vibrant and fun.

The James Hotel, West Hollywood

The James Los Angeles, the first new ground-up hotel in West Hollywood in approximately 30 years, will be comprised of 286 rooms, two restaurants, rooftop and lobby bar and approximately 10,000 square feet of meeting space – with spectacular views of the Los Angeles area. The boutique property will open in the heart of Sunset Strip at the corner of Sunset and La Cienega Boulevards. The LA location will be the third for the brand after locations in Chicago (Magnificent Mile) and New York (Soho).

SLS Las Vegas

SLS Las Vegas, a resort featuring more than 1,600 rooms and suites, a Tribute Portfolio Resort, features some of Las Vegas' hottest nightlife and culinary venues, and is situated in the North Strip, a bourgeoning neighborhood between the heart of The Strip and the up-and-coming Downtown district. SLS Las Vegas is now accepting reservations.

Park Hyatt St. Kitts

Set on a nearly-untouched Caribbean island within the Christophe Harbour development on Banana Bay, Park Hyatt St. Kitts will bring the unparalleled Park Hyatt experience for discerning business and leisure travelers to this idyllic destination in the West Indies.

Slated to open in 2016, Park Hyatt St. Kitts will be a luxury 5-star hotel situated on a secluded area offering white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, overlooking The Narrows, a strait separating St. Kitts and the volcanic island of Nevis.

The original and sustainable design concept of Park Hyatt St. Kitts by Arcadia Architects features the intimate and contemporary elegance of Park Hyatt and has already received recognition with the prestigious Best New Hotel Construction and Design St. Kitts & Nevis award as well as the coveted Best New Hotel Construction and Design in the Caribbean Award 2014-2015.

Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Located on Avenida Lucio Costa, Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro occupies a privileged position in the heart of the prestigious and exclusive Barra da Tijuca neighborhood, famous for having the most beautiful stretch of beach in the city of Rio. Barra, as it is known by locals, is home to many luxury condominiums and large office complexes, and offers exclusive shopping, dining and cultural attractions. The hotel's stunning beach-front location overlooks Barra's extensive blue-green Atlantic Ocean and is surrounded by the Marapendi Lagoon from behind. Our Barra da Tijuca hotel is also just a short distance from famous neighborhoods such as Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, while Galeão International airport is approximately a 50-minute drive.

EUROPE

Ritz Paris

The ultra-luxury hotel has been undergoing renovations since July 2012, the biggest makeover in the hotel's 117 year-old history. The Ritz Paris is reborn and invites you to experience anew the City of Light. Now freshly restored, its grand décor and intimate salons welcome guests to rediscover a unique atmosphere and the inimitable French art de vivre. The refurbishment includes a new spa by luxury fashion brand Chanel, called "Chanel au Ritz Paris." The hotel is accepting reservations for stays starting March 14, 2016.

Hotel de Crillon, Paris

Since 1758, Paris has sparkled with the grandeur and magic of the Hôtel de Crillon. Over the course of the last three centuries, the Hôtel de Crillon has witnessed the reign of two French kings, the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Empire and the birth of the League of Nations. Built to captivate, the hotel's majestic architecture has dazzled generations of visitors and played host to some of history's greatest French and international events. For the reopening in 2016, the hotel will celebrate the beginning of a new era.

Il Sereno Lake Como, Italy

Scheduled for opening in Spring 2016, the sister hotel to Le Sereno on St. Barth's has been years in the making. Il Sereno will be located on a bluff on the eastern shore of the lake, next to the village of Torno and six miles from the city of Como. One of the best perks will be the hotel's private dock, so that guests can arrive in style aboard the hotel's wooden boat- a custom-built water-limousine. In-demand designer Patricia Urquiola was recruited to decorate the 34 suites. Il Sereno will have a 60-foot infinity pool and a terrace restaurant that's destined to be the place to see and be seen.

AFRICA / MIDDLE EAST

The Oberoi Marrakech

The Oberoi, Marrakech is a luxury spa resort nestled within twenty five acres of fragrant citrus orchards and ancient olive groves. Located just 20 minutes south of the city center, the resort is a haven of peace and tranquility, blessed with magnificent views of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. The Oberoi, Marrakech will be opening in the third quarter of 2016.

Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, UAE

The first Four Seasons in the Emirati capital will be 200-room Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, in the heart of the new Central Business District. The striking new building is on a prime stretch of waterfront adjacent to the new ADGM Square complex, home of the new Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. A retro-modern Chicago steakhouse, a cocktail bar, and a poolside restaurant with sweeping views overlooking the sea are among an array of dining options planned. The building will also house 124 private and serviced residences.

St. Regis Cairo, Egypt Opening October, 2016

The St. Regis Cairo draws guests to the heart of Egypt's modern metropolis on the north end of Corniche Road. With sweeping views of the Nile River and proximity to fine shops, restaurants and the pyramids, the hotel reigns as Cairo's finest address. Michael Graves' contemporary design embraces traditional architectural flourishes and graceful geometric lines throughout the hotel's restaurants and lounge, pools, spa and 23,000 square feet (2.155 square meters) of meeting and conference space.

Cousine Island Seychelles

Cousine Island will reopen in April 2016 and introduce a new Presidential Villa as well as a tailored Guest Ambassador program to support the island's ecosystem platform. The first exclusive eco-luxury private island in the world to adopt a conservation-based management structure, all revenue generated by Cousine Island's accommodation will be reinvested for long term sustainability, conservation and biodiversity.

The Silo, Cape Town

An iconic hotel in an iconic destination. The Silo is the latest addition to The Royal Portfolio.

The Royal Portfolio began in 2000, when Liz and Phil Biden converted their family bush lodge into what is now Royal Malewane. Since then, the Bidens have dreamed of opening a hotel in their home city of Cape Town. A hotel that would complete the portfolio of quintessentially South African experiences. The Silo is the realisation of that dream.

The Silo will be a magical space towering above the V&A Waterfront surrounded by the natural wonder of the Mother City. The Silo is being built in the grain elevator portion of the historic grain silo complex occupying 6 floors above what will become the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA). Zeitz MOCAA will be a modern art museum to rival the likes of the Tate Modern in London, MoMA in New York and Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. Zeitz MOCAA is a not-for-profit partnership between the V&A Waterfront and Jochen Zeitz, whose collection forms the Museum's founding collection.

The building has been designed by Thomas Heatherwick, Founder and Principal of the London-based Heatherwick Studio. Heatherwick Studio was tasked with the transformation of the elevator house and the adjacent storage annexe of 6 rows of 7 silos, while carefully retaining its cultural significance and creating a building that will be as synonymous with the Cape Town skyline as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris.

From the outside, the greatest visible change to the building's original structure will be the addition of pillowed glazing panels, inserted into the geometry of the hotel floors, which will bulge outward as if gently inflated. By night, this will transform the building into a glowing lantern or beacon in the harbour.

The Silo will open in late 2016. Rates will be released in late 2015 and this luxury hotel Cape Town will be open for reservations shortly thereafter.

ASIA

Amanemu - Ago Bay, Japan

Situated within Mie Prefecture, on the Shima Peninsula of Honshu's west coast, Amanemu is Aman's soothing tribute to the Japanese onsen culture. And where better than on Ago Bay? Surrounded by tranquil water and lush hillscapes, each of its 24 suites and four Villas will come with its own private onsen, or hot spring. Other features – such as the ever-reliable Aman Spa, two open-air onsen, and a lotus pond with its own meditation pavilion – only serve to make this property much enchanting. Amanemu joins Aman, Tokyo which opened in 2015 -- a beautiful oasis, perched high above Tokyo's skyline.

Wynn Palace Cotai, Macau

Scheduled to open on June 25, 2016, the $4.1 billion Wynn Palace will feature 1,700 rooms, an 8-acre Performance Lake, air-conditioned SkyCab, gaming space, meeting facilities, spa and salon, luxury retail and fine dining.

Mandarin Oriental, Bali

Located on the southern Bukit peninsula, the luxury hotel group's newest property will be built on elevated terraces to offer commanding views of the Indian Ocean. The resort will be comprised of 97 villas, each with a private pool and 24 guestrooms. The signature restaurant will be a cliff-top, cantilevered dining space with sweeping ocean views. Guests will also be able to indulge in luxurious spa services that include Balinese treatments.

Rosewood Phuket

The exquisite, secluded Emerald Bay is an ideal setting for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to debut its first Asia resort. Rosewood Phuket's innovative architecture with subtle Thai influences will blend organically and sensitively into the hillside forest landscape while uninterrupted views of the Andaman Sea will be visible from 71 spacious villas and 32 residences. Four restaurants will include a rustic Thai seafood restaurant on the beach, built with recycled teak wood; a casual poolside seafood eatery, a bistro and a terrace bar. They will be complemented by an array of recreational options: Sense spa; four swimming pools; health club with gymnasium; yoga pavilion; sea sports pavilion and tennis court. The Pavilion will be a residential-style space for meetings and functions while a wedding pavilion steps from the beach will host up to 200.

Rosewood Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Rosewood Phnom Penh, which will occupy the top 14 floors of Vattanac Capital Tower One in the heart of the Central Business District, will provide an ultra-luxury hospitality experience in the exotic capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia. A panoramic view of the city and the fabled Mekong River will be seen from its position in the structure – whose shape is inspired by the silhouette of a rising dragon – and the Royal Palace, National Museum and Central market will be within easy reach.

Rosewood Phnom Penh will feature 148 rooms and suites, which will be amongst the largest guestrooms in Phnom Penh. An additional 27 residences will be available for long-stay visitors. Dining options will include a bistro, lobby lounge, two specialty restaurants and a sky bar on a dramatic cantilevered terrace. Recreational facilities will feature Rosewood's signature Sense® spa, a 20-meter swimming pool and a fitness center. Meeting facilities will include The Pavilion residential-style meeting and function space and multi-functional meeting rooms.

The St. Regis, Langkawi Malaysia

Dubbed the 'Jewel of Kedah' with its craggy mountainscapes, lush tropics and numerous caves and waterfalls to explore, Langkawi is the first UNESCO Global Geopark to be named in Southeast Asia. And now, overlooking the sparkling Andaman Sea on Langkawi's southern tip is the St. Regis Langkawi, set to open its 85 luxurious suites to the world on April 6, 2016.

Shanghai Disney Resort and Toy Story Hotel, Shanghai, China

The opening of Disney's third theme park in Asia after Hong Kong and Tokyo is expected to open in Spring 2016. When it does, the park will also open the doors to two highly anticipated themed hotels, The Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and a Toy Story Hotel. At the Art Nouveau-inspired Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, guests will be greeted by bronze statues of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, while "Toy Story" fans will find Woody and Buzz Lightyear at the hotel courtyard.