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Travel picked up quite a bit last year and it’s going to get even better in 2023. While there’s a huge list of luxury and boutique hotels opening this year, we’ve picked the ones that we think stand out for their location, design or the experiences they promise.
While many hotel chains are venturing into new countries, others are refurbishing old hotels into swanky properties. So, take your pick from this list of domestic and international hotels when drawing up your holiday plans for 2023.
INTERNATIONAL
1. Bulgari Tokyo, Japan
This hotel chain has always defined luxury and their first property in Japan will not be any different. Spread over seven floors (from the 39th to 45th floor) of a skyscraper in the heart of Tokyo, the hotel will have 98 rooms and all the signature touches like the Bulgari suite, spa and bar. An Italian architecture firm has designed the hotel and it will be conveniently close to the city’s tourist attractions.
Tentatively opening in the first half of this year
2. Raffles London at The OWO, United Kingdom
Very soon, London will be home to the iconic Raffles hotel in a historic building — the country’s Old War Office. It is the famous Whitehall building where a number of statesmen including the former Prime Minister of UK, Winston Churchill, have had offices. It may seem familiar because it’s been featured in the Netflix series The Crown and many James Bond movies. The hotel will open with 120 rooms and suites, nine restaurants and three bars, while the spa will have nine treatment rooms.
Tentatively opening in the first half of this year
3. Broadwick Soho, London, United Kingdom
Hip and happening Soho will see the opening of this luxury hotel in the second half of this year. Broadwick Soho, designed by Swedish architect Martin Brudnizki, will have 57 rooms including residential-style guest rooms, nine suites and a penthouse. Some of them come with balconies. The signature restaurant will serve Italian food inspired by the gorgeous island of Sicily. There’s also going to be a speakeasy bar, while the wraparound rooftop bar and terrace will be a great spot for cocktails.
Opening in the second half of this year
4. The Lana, Dubai, UAE
In a city replete with luxury stays, the choice is getting wider. Located beside the Dubai Creek and Marasi Marina, The Lana will open doors in September and will be the Dorchester Collection’s first hotel in the Middle East. This 30-storey building will have 225 rooms and many dining options including a Mediterranean restaurant and an Italian café. The hotel’s rooftop pool will transform into a lounge at night, making it the place to be.
Opening in September
5. ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo, Sri Lanka
With the view of the Indian Ocean and Beira Lake, ITC is set to make its mark overseas with this property which is slated to come up in the heart of Colombo. It will be a massive hotel with more than 350 rooms and service apartments, 12 dining options that include speciality restaurants, bars, lounges and two swimming pools. You can also pamper yourself at the signature Kaya Kalp spa.
Tentatively opening this year
6. Mosvold Villa, Ahangama Beach, Sri Lanka
With its own private beach, this 17-room boutique beach-front hotel will soon open on Sri Lanka’s gorgeous South coast. The accommodation is a mix of villas, suites and rooms. One of the villas has two bedrooms and a pool. When here, you can spend your time watching dolphins and whales, surfing and going on a safari in Yala National Park, while sumptuous local food is always at hand.
Opening in February
7. JW Marriott Masai Mara, Kenya
Check into one of the 20 luxury tents overlooking the banks of River Talek at one of the best national reserves in East Africa. Located at the edge of Masai Mara National Reserve, this hotel will have a spa, restaurant, lounge bar and an outdoor terrace with a fire pit. Just keep your fingers crossed that you spot the Big Five when you head out for a safari.
Tentatively opening in February
8. Hotel La Palma, Capri, Italy
Built in 1822, this was the first hotel on this gorgeous Italian island. After a major renovation, it will open with 50 rooms that all come with a balcony. It is also home to a swanky beach club, restaurant and bar, pool and a spa with three treatment rooms. It is within walking distance from Capri’s most famous square, the Piazzetta.
Tentatively opening in the second half of the year
9. Six Senses, Rome, Italy
Italy’s first Six Senses hotel will open with 96 rooms in the heart of the gorgeous capital city, just walking distance from the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. There’s an all-day restaurant, a rooftop space that promises to be a lovely spot for a sundowner and yoga at sunrise. And of course, there is the legendary Six Senses spa with a range of treatments.
Tentatively opening in the first half of this year
10. Shinta Mani Mustang, Nepal
The breathtakingly beautiful Mustang Valley will see the opening of its first luxury hotel in May. Each of the 29 rooms will have a separate living area and floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the Nilgiri mountains. You can look forward to tucking into local Nepalese cuisine sitting on the outdoor patio of The Nilgiri restaurant. There’s also a bar and wellness centre with a hot plunge pool.
Opening in May
11. The Ritz Carlton, Melbourne, Australia
Enjoy panoramic views of Melbourne when you walk into the lobby on the 80th level of what is going to be Australia’s tallest hotel. Spread between the 64th and 77th floors of a skyscraper, this 257-room Ritz Carlton will start welcoming guests in March. Apart from the signature restaurant and a bar, the hotel will have a heated indoor infinity pool, a spa with six treatment rooms and many meeting spaces.
Opening in March
INDIA
12. The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas, Uttarakhand
Located close to the holy town of Rishikesh, this sprawling property that opened this month, is just about 45 minutes away from Dehradun airport. The 141 rooms are nestled amid 12 acres of greenery and the villas come with private pools. The heated infinity pool has a swim-up bar and overlooks the mountains. As with all other Westin hotels, the focus is on wellness with a state-of-the-art fitness centre and the Heavenly Spa. Akasa is their all-day dining restaurant while Toya offers Asian fare.
Opened in January
13. Six Senses Vana, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
The Vana wellness retreat in Dehradun that Six Senses has taken over is their second property in the country. Surrounded by the lush Sal forest and sprawled over 21 acres, Six Senses Vana offers Ayurveda, yoga, natural healing therapies and Tibetan medicine. The focus, of course, is on nutrition, healthy eating, sleeping and just letting go. The retreat’s length can vary according to what you want. There are 66 rooms and 16 suites that come with balconies or terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Opened in January
14. Vivanta Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
The Taj hotel group will soon set foot in Arunachal Pradesh with the launch of this picturesque 80-room property in Famla village. Built using local materials, the hotel is surrounded by gentle slopes, waterfalls and lush foliage. It will have a bar, restaurant, an indoor pool and a spa with signature therapies.
Tentatively opening in the first half of this year
15. The Postcard on the Arabian Sea, Karnataka
Waking up to a spectacular view of the Arabian Sea, watching the sunset from the patio and going to bed with the lullaby of the waves — that’s what you can expect when you stay at this gorgeous hotel with nine rooms that all face the sea. Located on Maravanthe Beach, this is one of the best diving sites in the country. You can also satiate your cravings for South Indian food by delving into some great stew, ghee roast or prawn biryani.
Opened in January
16. Taj Resort, Guras Kutir, Gangtok, Sikkim
Located in Sikkim’s gorgeous capital, this 69-room hotel will open in the second half of the year. Apart from a multi-cuisine restaurant and a bar, the hotel will have a specialty restaurant where one can sample the local cuisine. There will be a spa, gym and banqueting space too.
Tentatively opening in the second half of this year
17. Taj Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan
Here’s your chance to spot the tiger at Ranthambore National Park in style. IHCL is set to open a 60-room hotel in Khilchipur village, next to the park, with villas and suites. Apart from the all-day dining restaurant and a bar, the hotel will have a special pool bar, spa, gym and a billiards room as well. It will also cater to business travellers as there’s a conference hall and meeting rooms too.
Tentatively opening in the second half of this year
18. Mementos by ITC Hotels, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Framed by the Aravalli hills, this 130-room hotel will launch ITC Hotels’ new luxury brand in one of Rajasthan’s tourist hotspots. Like many other ITC hotels, this one too has the signature Kaya Kalp spa, a fitness centre and a variety of dining options. Apart from rooms and suites, you can check into a villa as well. The hotel in Udaipur also boasts an infinity pool.
Tentatively opening this year
19. IHCL SeleQtions Jaagir Manor, Dudhwa, UP
IHCL’s newest hotel opened this year in a scenic location — Uttar Pradesh’s Dudhwa wildlife corridor — and is sprawled across 490 square miles. Situated about a five-hour drive from Lucknow, in the rainforests of the Terai hills, it is a 20-room hotel with heritage rooms that go back to the 1940s and luxury villas. The hotel is surrounded by sugarcane fields and lush orchards, so gear up for barbecue evenings, private game drives and organic farm visits.
Opened in January
20. Ozen Mansion Kolkata, West Bengal
By the end of this year, Kolkata is going to be home to yet another luxury hotel. This Maldives-based hotel brand will open its first hotel in India in the City of Joy. The sprawling 235-room hotel will have two presidential suites with a private pool. There’s going to be a pool, spa, club lounges, two bars, a bakery and café and an all-day dining restaurant. Located in New Town, it will be close to the airport.
Tentatively opening in the second half of this year
Photo: Featured brands