The hospitality, travel and hotel industry has grown over the past year and even during the pandemic, there are many hotels that have been preparing to open their doors this year, albeit some of them have a few delays. It has been easy for the industry, those small owner-managed hotels and the larger hotels reliant on business travellers. Everyone and every hotel has suffered and the pandemic has forced many to pivot, reinvent themselves and offer alternative services. Some have come out stronger with unexpected vision, others sadly have had to close.

Here is a selection of hotels that have opened this year or are due to open from boutique hotels to luxury chains to historic inns.

East Coast America

Haywood Park Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection, opened in September

Asheville’s newest hotel opening, Haywood Park Hotel is located in the unusual location of the city’s first iconic department store, Bon Marche, close to several craft breweries, shops and museums.

Charleston's French Quarter is home to another luxury boutique hotel, the 50-room Loutrel hotel which boasts a rooftop terrace and bar with stunning city views across the city and French Quarter

Less than 30 minutes from Baltimore In Maryland, the 229-room Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre opens in November. It’s within walking distance to the nearby metro station.

September saw the first rooftop bar arrive in the Perimeter Center area of Atlanta with the arrival of AC Hotel Atlanta Perimeter. The Marriott-affiliated hotel offers a European experience with Spanish tapas and croissants imported from France as well as in-room bath and body products from the Greek Korres brand.

The Thompson Buckhead is another new Atlanta hotel that opens in November in the heart of Buckhead Village. This luxury hotel boasts a rooftop pool and private members club.

Northeast

Chapter House opened on Cape Cod in September. This charming inn dates back to 1716 and has just 21 boutique hotel rooms.

Half of the rooms at the new Park Lane New York which opened in September, face Central Park South. Pendry Manhattan West, part of the Manhattan West development project has opened with 164 suites and rooms with California style interiors.

Midwest and Central States

The Big Easy is now home to Virgin Hotels New Orleans. This pet-friendly hotel has a pool club and coffee shop named the “Funny Library,”.

The Study Hotels brand opened its third hotel in Chicago this autumn. The Study at University of Chicago’s 167 rooms, restaurant and meeting space are just a hop and a skip (well 2 minutes) from campus.

LE MÉRIDIEN HOTELS & RESORTS

Built in 1913, the historic building housing Le Méridien St. Louis Downtown is a local landmark weaving art into the overall design while respecting its historical heritage.

Downtown Indianapolis welcomes the 90-room Hotel Indy arrived in downtown Indianapolis in mid-October as part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio brand. Home to The Hulman rooftop bar is named after the family that bought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945 and saved it from closing down.

West Coast

In Guerneville, California (between wine country and the Sonoma Coast), Stavrand Russian River Valley is now open. The Spanish revival property sits amid organic gardens and groves of redwood trees. The 21 rooms and suites are complemented by a poolside bar and outdoor lawn games.

In Palo Alto El Prado Hotel takes its name from Madrid’s famous art museum. aking its name from the famous Madrid art museum and is a Spanish design inspiration. In addition to a tapas bar and solarium, there is plenty of space indoors and outdoors.

La Jolla welcomed the opening of the 26-room boutique hotel Cormorant with its own rooftop bar and lounge area. Named after the area’s famous

The new 10-room Citizen Hotel in Tucson has partnered with Sand-Reckoner Vineyards offering visitors visits to the winery and wine tastings.

Europe

An iconic property in Madrid opened in October under a new name. Rosewood Villa Magna and is Rosewood’s first address in Spain. Along the prestigious Paseo de la Castellana, the property boasts contemporary interiors and is home to Amós, its signature restaurant under the leadership of Spanish, Michelin-starred chef Jesús Sánchez

SOHO HOUSE GROUP

In the San Lorenzo district, the long-awaited Soho House Rome opened as the brand’s seventh European location with 49 bedrooms and 20 apartments. It is sure to give the best boutique hotels a run for their money!

The Eternal City also now has W Rome, the first hotel for the Marriott brand in Italy bringing its signature stylish interiors and love of music to Italy’s capital city.

CHÂTEAU L’HOSPITALET AND VILLA SOLEILLA

Who doesn’t love a wine hotel? This new hotel  Château l’Hospitalet and Villa Soleilla, in the south of France, is under the ownership of the renowned winemaker Gérard Bertrand. Expect 42 charming rooms and suites, a gourmet restaurant, beach club, a new spa and a great choice of wonderful wine experiences.

Also in the south of France is a newbie from Hotel Indigo, the rapidly expanding hotel group. Hotel Indigo Cagnes-sur-Mer is 30 minutes from Nice along the French Riviera. French painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir spent his last 12 years living just around the corner from the hotel.

Hotel Indigo has opened another hotel in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. You’ll find Hotel Indigo Belgrade’s 44 rooms in the city’s Old Town neighbourhood.

PALAZZO PASSERINI

Luxury living doesn’t come better than a stay at Palazzo Passerini a luxury residence in the heart of Cortona. Sleeping up to 6 this palazzo is just a hop and skip from the main square, it’s cafés and restaurants. One of the best restaurants in Cortona, Il Cacciatore, is a stone’s throw away. Expect a bespoke experience with handmade beds, Italian bedlinen, marble bathrooms and a bespoke kitchen.

Middle East and Africa

Nelson Mandela’s former home re-opened as a hotel in September in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton. Sanctuary Mandela has nine rooms whose interiors have been inspired by the life of Madiba.

Asia-Pacific

Ever been to Tahiti? Me neither, but never say never! The Hilton Tahiti Resort features a large swimming pool with six cabanas overlooking the island of Moorea, located only five minutes from the airport, the perfect location after a long flight.

In India’s Rajasthan region near Jaipur, Six Senses Fort Barwara is now open. Set within the walls of a 14th-century fort once owned by the Rajasthani Royal Family Six Senses has conserved the palace and two temples which are part of the resort. In addition to gardens and water fountains, there’s a stunning Six Senses Spa.

Regent Phu Quoc in Vietnam is the first new Regent to open since IHG acquired the brand.

In the Maldives, JOALI BEING has 34 beach and 34 water villas. Nestled on the secluded island of Bodufushi in Raa Atoll, amid crystalline lagoons, pristine beaches and lush coconut palms, JOALI BEING is just a 40-minute seaplane highlight from the airport. It showcases a variety of workshops and classes with herbalists, chefs and wellbeing experts. 

Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort is due to open in November though Bali is not yet welcoming international travellers. The interiors of this luxury hotel are inspired by Balinese theatre. It’s a great choice for a family holiday; it boasts a beach club, a kids club with organised kids activities and several international and Indonesian dining options

Latin America and the Caribbean

Now under the Rosewood brand, the Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth welcomes guests after a thorough overhaul following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. It’s smaller than it sounds with 66 guestrooms, suites and villas and there’s a children’s club, beachfront dining and a full-service spa.

In Barbados, O2 Beach Club & Spa has the island's only hammam treatment room in its spa. A great family choice it boasts three swimming pools (including one of the island’s only rooftop pools), six restaurants, a spa and no less than seven bars!