16 Oct 2024by Emma Dooney
Stuck for inspiration? Don’t sweat it; we’re back with another roundup of the week’s best new five-star properties.
Emma Dooney
Luxury Travel Reporter
Emma Dooney
Luxury Travel Reporter
We’re back once again with our roundup of the week’s best new hotels, and as usual, it’s a star-studded selection.
This Wednesday, we highlight a luxury resort opening in the Maldives next month, before stopping by China to check out the new Alila Shanghai. Back in Europe, we have a villa launch in Turkey, a French hotel in Burgundy and a London bolthole that’s recently refurbished its suites.
We hope our picks give you the inspiration you need to make that special booking for your clients, or maybe even try one out for yourself.
Villa Resorts will open Villa Haven next month, marking the fourth addition to the Maldivian resorts group’s portfolio.
Located in the South Ari atoll, this idyllic property is 35 minutes by seaplane from Velana National Airport and promises to fully immerse guests in the island’s breathtaking nature. It features 73 accommodation options, including a two-bedroom residence with three private pools and a villa just steps away from the beach.
For dining, guests have the choice of six restaurants, including Husk, which serves regional inspired cuisine, and Solara, which offers a menu of Mediterranean dishes. There’s also a garden spa with Ayurvedic wellness treatments, and signature activities like pottery classes, perfume making and Toddy Tapping.
If your clients are fans of the French countryside, you can’t go wrong with Hotel Bellevigne. Located in the heart of Burgundy’s Chambolle-Musigny, this former manor is just two hours from Lyon by car and two hours from Paris by train.
It has 37 guest rooms of varying sizes, each of which offers a different design with carefully-selected decor and bespoke furniture. Local cuisine is served at the hotel’s resident restaurant, while a vineyard’s worth of wine can be found in the cosy bar and the cavernous tasting cellar. It will also open its outdoor heated pool and spa, complete with a sauna and hammam, later this year.
The Barut Hotel Collection has recently launched its Bayou Villas Anda, as part of the Turkish resort group’s expansion. Situated within the brand new Anda Barut Collection Hotel in the Delice Peninsula, the compound consists of 14 luxury villas with one or three bedrooms and private pools.
Guests in these residences are still welcome to enjoy the all-inclusive resort’s facilities, including its five pools, adventure park, seven restaurants and five bars.
Buggy transfers, personal assistants and turndown service will also be offered, while clients staying in the three-bedroom villa will have their own complimentary private butler. For cultural enrichment, be sure to soak up the nearby ancient sites of Halicarnassus in Bodrum and Ephesus near Izmir.
Alila Shanghai has officially opened in the Chinese business capital, marking the latest addition to the Hyatt-owned hotel brand’s portfolio across Asia and North America.
Formerly the Four Seasons Hotel, the property is situated in the upscale area of Jing’an. Space is a major appeal here – of the 186 rooms, 96 are suites, and interiors have been inspired by nature’s elements. The most luxurious room is easily the Penthouse Suite King, which is located on the 37th floor and offers breathtaking views of the city. There are also four restaurants and lounges, including a rooftop bar, as well as a spa with five treatment rooms and a Turkish bath.
The Prince Akatoki London has finally completed its suite refurbishments, as part of the townhouse hotel’s commitment to elevating its luxury offering.
The Marylebone property’s updated lodgings include renovated bathrooms, which have been reimagined to create a Japanese spa-like experience. Guests can look forward to sleek new bathtubs, shower mixers and Toto toilets, as well as bamboo panelled walls and bespoke wooden vanities. The living areas have also been refurbished to align with this serene interior design; think custom stone worktops, new drinks bars and stepping stones with integrated lighting.