Seven new luxury hotel openings around the world.
Ion Adventure Hotel, Reykjavik, Iceland
Design Hotels has announced the opening of a luxury boutique hotel in Reykjavik. Sister to the ION Adventure Hotel, the 18-room ION City Hotel sits in a renovated building, designed with a combination of contemporary and traditional styles. Aluminium panels resembling a traditional Icelandic sweater decorate the exterior and an abstract mural over the courtyard illustrates the country’s landscape. The three suites each feature a private sauna and balcony looking out to the city, and guests in the Panorama Suite can hire a private bartender or chef. Rates start from €386 (about A$577) per night.
Porter House Hotel, MGallery by Sofitel, Sydney CBD
The Sydney CBD will see a new luxury hotel open on the corner of Bathurst and Castlereagh Street by late 2020. Designed by Candalepas Associates architects, the 36-storey Porter House Hotel, MGallery by Sofitel will have 121 rooms on the first nine floors and 131 residential apartments on the upper floors. The adjacent heritage-listed Porter House will also be redeveloped as part of the project. The hotel will feature a fourth floor bar with rotating art gallery, pool, fitness centre and two restaurants.
The Fontenay, Hamburg, Germany
Highly anticipated five-star hotel The Fontenay will open on the banks of Alster Lake in Hamburg this October. The hotel will feature 131 rooms and suites with scenic views of the lake and city. Hamburg architect Jan Störmer designed the hotel in the shape of three-interlocking circles with tall curving walls and open spaces. Each room will have custom-made furniture and large windows letting in natural light. The hotel is now taking reservations, and rates start from €355 (about A$530) per night.
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, USA
The new Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills opened its doors in June at the intersection of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards. Just a 10-minute walk from Rodeo Drive, the 12-storey hotel houses 170 rooms, a renowned La Prairie Spa and a Jean-Georges restaurant named after Michelin-starred head chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Each of the rooms features floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony while the Villa Suites offer a private terrace with panoramic views of the Hollywood Hills. Rooms start from US$695 (about A$878) per night.
Spicers Retreats, Potts Point, Sydney
From the outside, Spicers Retreats’ new boutique hotel is almost indistinguishable from the chic residences lining Sydney’s leafy Victoria Street. But the once modest suburban interiors have now been transformed into 20 luxury hotel rooms, complete with a lobby, breakfast space and bar.
The hotel started life as three separate terrace houses in the late 1880s and many of the building’s historic features have been preserved with the addition of modern design elements. Rooms are decorated in a neutral palette with gold and marble accents, while coastal artworks adorn the walls, paying homage to Sydney’s beach culture. Those staying in a Victoria Terrace Suite can take their morning coffee on the street-facing verandah, just like a Potts Point local.
While the hotel offers breakfast and a small bar, the venue has no restaurant, instead urging guests to explore the neighbourhood’s award-winning eateries. The Potts Point dining scene was one of the key motivations behind Spicers’ location choice, while the luxury boutiques, waterside parks and close proximity to the CBD add to the suburb’s appeal. Rates for the Bed and Breakfast package at Spicers Potts Point start from A$359 per night.
TRIBE Hotel, Perth
Australia’s fledgling hotel brand TRIBE has opened its 126-room debut property in West Perth, just around the corner from Kings Park. A newcomer on the hotel scene, TRIBE offers ‘accessible luxury’ with an emphasis on bespoke design, modern technology and fashionable food. The result is a venue that feels less like a traditional hotel and more like a mix between a creative workspace and a bar or restaurant.
The nine-storey hotel is the first in Australia to use a modular construction technique, meaning that each room is pre-fabricated in China, shipped to Australia and installed on site. These custom-designed rooms are extremely compact, but are fitted with premium linens, signature cotton throws and a Smart TV, while the bathroom contains Kevin Murphy products for guests to use in their rainfall shower.
Rather than remaining in their rooms, however, guests are encouraged to spend their time working or socialising in the hotel’s ground-level common areas, which feature statement chairs by Italian furniture designer Moroso, Jean-Paul Gaultier cushions, contemporary Australian artworks and, most importantly, fast, unlimited WiFi. The multi-purpose area also serves as the venue’s dining and drinking space, serving barista coffee, cold-pressed juices and a seasonal cafe menu created by celebrity chef Tobie Puttock. TRIBE plans to open properties in Adelaide, Hobart and Melbourne over the next year.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Melbourne
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is set to open its first Australian property in 2023. The Mandarin Oriental, Melbourne, will be in a new Zaha Hadid-designed tower on Collins Street with 196 luxury guestrooms and suites, and 148 private residences, plus a rooftop terrace and spa.