THE 50 HOTTEST LUXURY HOTEL OPENINGS OF 2015

[Gibbs]

Just going to highlight the nominations for Asia Pacific, Among the 50 long list to save space.... Rest can be seen in the link given

The 50 Hottest Luxury Hotel Openings of 2015 | Luxury Hotels Travel+Style

The Top 50 plus dozens of mentions, and secret rumours!

We don't follow all the news. The trick is to follow the right ones—especially since we know pretty well what we want from luxury accommodation. Our Top 50 list reflects this, so don't expect nondescript hotels or crowded package-holidays resorts here. It's a highly opinionated and choosy affair.

3 KEEMALA PHUKET, THAILAND
These unusual shapes are the inventive dwellings of Kamala. Villas, tents, clay cottages, tree houses and dream-weaved spa units are designed to represent mythical early Phuket settlers.

Set in a woodland among trees, streams, and waterfalls and inspired by themes of nomadism, earth, sky, and nests, the 38 guest villas all come with private pools. Jungle walkways connect them with a lobby, common swimming pool, three dining areas, and a spa.

7 ALILA SEMINYAK, BALI

Located in the most fashionable part of Bali, Alila Seminyak is set to open in the first half of 2015. The stylish design and architecture of the resort is inspired by a rice paddy field, with greenery dominating the spaces.

This is going to be the fifth Alila-managed property on the island, but the chain is to open four more hotels in 2015. Still in Indonesia, we are looking forward to see the unveiling of Alila Solo Surakarta and Alila SCBD in Jakarta. The brand is also expanding to China, with Alila Anji in Zhejiang and Alila Xiangshuiwan in Hainan.

9 ANANTARA TANGALLE RESORT & SPA, SRI LANKA

The Anantara brand is debuting in Sri Lanka with two hotels. Scheduled to open late this year is Anantara Kalutara Resort & Spa, but first one to open is Tangalle Resort & Spa, on the island’s south coast.

The resort is established in a beach-side town of Tangalle, some 80 kilometres east of the historic fort city of Galle. The 152 guest rooms (including 32 pool villas), restaurants, bars and spa are set up over 18 hectares of coconut palm groves.

 

[Gibbs]

11 PHUM BAITANG – ZANNIER, SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

This boutique resort could become one of the best-looking hotels in Siem Reap (don’t worry Amansara, we still love you). Surrounded by acres of lush gardens and paddy fields, its forty-five villas reflect authentic Cambodia in a beautiful style.

A mere 10 minutes drive away from the Angkor Wat site, Phum Baitang guarantees plenty of relaxation after sightseeing, with a 50m infinity pool, spacious spa, two restaurants, and a sunset bar.

23 ANI VILLAS SRI LANKA
Set on the breathtaking beachfront of southernmost shore of Sri Lanka, Ani Villas is a fully-serviced luxury beachfront estate of only 15 guest rooms.

Created by the Paris-based architect Reda Amalou (a designer behind the Nam Hai and the Six Senses Con Dao in Vietnam), the resort comes with spa, large oceanfront pools, children’s facilities, and plenty of spaces for dining and entertainment. This year the brand will be also coming to Thailand, withAni Villas Thailand, a stunning 10-villa resort designed to reflect the style of Buddhist temples in the north.

28 JALAKARA PRIVATE VILLA-HOTEL, ANDAMAN ARCHIPELAGO, INDIA
This is as an undiscovered a destination as it gets. Until recently some of the islands in the Andaman Archipelago were off-limits to visitors—and the remoteness and lack of good transport links didn’t encourage tourism either. But this is changing.

“We want to make guests feel as if they have been invited to stay at their friends’ amazing tropical hideaway” —Mark Hill, Jalakara’s owner

Jalakara is the first boutique hotel in the Andaman Islands. With just seven luxury rooms and suites and a stunning 16-metre infinity pool it has already set the standard incredibly high. Owned by a high-profile London chef and a fashion designer, and designed in a boho-luxury style, the Jalakara is a very desirable tropical hideaway.

PATINA, CAPITOL SINGAPORE
Owned by Singapore’s Kwee family (whose Capella Singapore we reviewed), the Patina has 157 beautifully understated guest rooms and suites, spread across two lovingly restored, heritage-listed buildings: Stamford House and the Capitol Building.

The hotel is at once traditional and contemporary, and its intimate atmosphere provides a respite from the the breakneck speed of the world’s metropolis. Patina staff double as concierges—an idea that fosters the creative skills of employees and challenges them to provide a highly personalised experience for guests.

33 LIZARD ISLAND, GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA
This is an example of phoenix raising from the ashes. Destroyed in the Cyclone Ita, the Great Barrier Reef resort Lizard Island turned the calamity into an opportunity—for extensive refurbishment and refitting.

After 12 months of work, the hotel unveils not only the refurbished old, but some new additions too. There are new villa types and many older suites are expanded and redeveloped. New is also a dedicated deli room, and the spa has been relocated and expanded. What’s old? The spectacular, dazzling diving and snorkeling—and barefoot luxury.

 

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35 SHANGRI-LA’S LE TOUESSROK RESORT&SPA, MAURITIUS
The well-known, distinguished Le Touessrok is reflagging as Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa and relaunching in September 2015 under new management. Renovated and reinvigorated, the five-star resort has 200 guestrooms and suites and only three villas—all with sea views. Le Touessrok continues to offers guests access to two islands, Ilot Mangenie and Ile aux Cerfs, a home to a 18-hole golf course.

37 SUJÁN RAJMAHAL PALACE, JAIPUR, INDIA
Founded by the Maharaja of Jaipur in 1729, the palace hosted visiting monarchs, princes and lords. Now the Suján Rajmahal has been reimagined as an all-suite luxury hotel.

Opened anew, the Suján carries traditional royal motifs and classical architecture, blending them with contemporary luxury. There are only 20 rooms and suites, accompanied by two restaurants, bar, spa and a swimming pool.

39 SHANGRI-LA’S HAMBANTOTA RESORT AND SPA, SRI LANKA

This year Shangri-La Group has many development projects in exotic destinations, including Doha (Qatar), Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), Qinhuangdao China and Manila (Philippines).

Our favourite is Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort and Spa in Sri Lanka. This 375-room beach hotel is surrounded by an 18-hole golf course and coconut plantations, and feels as an almost natural extension of the area’s ecosystem. Sri Lanka’s Yala and Bundala National Parks and the island’s many heritage sites are within easy reach.

 

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44 AKARYN RETREAT AT KOH KRABEAY, CAMBODIA

A new private island opening in the south of Cambodia? Yes please! We have experienced Song Saa and loved it—it comes as no surprise that other hotel firms see the potential of the Sihanoukville area.

This time the developer is one of Thailand’s boutique hotel groups, the esteemed AHMS Collection.

AKARYN Retreat at Koh Krabeay opens on a secluded island with only 35 private pool villas. Designed to guarantee ultimate privacy, the villas feature a terrace with day bed, an ocean view garden and infinity pool.

47 TRI LANKA, KOGGALA LAKE, GALLE, SRI LANKA

What is possibly Sri Lanka’s first sustainable “eco” luxury hotel, the 10-room Tri is inspired by nature in more than one way. It will have green roofs, solar arrays, recycled wood and local materials unifying interiors and landscape, but its beauty comes from one of the nature’s fundamental geometric principles, the Golden Ratio: the rooms are arranged on a spiral grid, circling an island cape.

49 SIX SENSES QING CHENG MOUNTAIN, CHINA

Last year we wrote about Qing Cheng as one of the anticipated hotel openings of 2014, meanwhile we are already into 2015 and are still waiting. The longer the wait, the higher expectations—no pressure, Six Senses!

 

[Armstrong]

So much extravagance - I feel nauseous !

 

[Gibbs]

So much extravagance - I feel nauseous !

For the super rich man.. Not for mere mortals like us.. The plus point is almost all of these properties seems to be eco friendly unlike the mass developments we saw in the prevailing decades