An overview of some brilliant hotel openings this year.
Moxy Athens City – Q1
Where: Athens, Greece
Why Go? Bringing the stylish Moxy brand to one of the world’s oldest cities, this new hotel takes a playful twist on Greek mythology with its ‘myth of eternal youth’ inspired design. Featuring 200 cozy and smart guestrooms. Moxy Athens City is just a short walk from Syntagma Square and Ermou Street, where fun hunters can find shops, trendy restaurants, and bars. The city’s top cultural attractions, such as the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the old city of Plaka, are moments away to discover. The hotel’s rooftop penthouse will be the perfect place for a memorable stay or a stylish event, offering dazzling views across the city skyline.
W Costa Navarino – Q2
Where: Costa Navarino, Greece
Why Go? Set to welcome guests this summer, W Costa Navarino will bring detail-driven design and inspiring energy to the new Navarino Waterfront, the latest development in Costa Navarino - a prime sustainable destination in the Mediterranean. The W Escape is expected to feature 246 stylish rooms, suites, and villas, many with private pools with stunning Ionian Sea views as well as its own beach club. The ‘Culinary Square’ is the hotel’s playful take on a deli food market with individual outlets creating a socially driven destination for all-day dining. Other planned amenities include a sunset bar and the signature W Living Room. Tennis courts and a water sports hub are part of the vision for those looking to get active, along with access to the destination’s four signature golf courses and an array of outdoor programming including biking, hiking, rock-climbing and sailing.
Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort, Paros – Q2
Where: Paros, Greece
Why Go? Experience Greek island charm like no other at Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort, Paros. Set to open right on time for the summer season, this luxury escape, located moments from the island’s whitewashed harbour village of Naoussa, will feature its own private beach club overlooking the turquoise Aegean Sea. The resort promises to be a spirited, cosmopolitan home away from home for the global explorer, with natural-chic décor that elegantly blends rare elements from around the world with bold Cycladic lines. Complete with 40 suites designed with a crisp aesthetic, guests will revel in a beachfront Mediterranean restaurant, spa, and outdoor wellness and fitness centre.
W Algarve – Q2
Where: Algarve, Portugal
Why Go? Making waves on the iconic Algarve cost, W Algarve marks the brand’s entry into Portugal and showcases W Hotels’ playful spin on the traditional resort experience. Take in sea, lush garden, and resort views from the 134 guestrooms and suites which include The Extreme WOW Suite, the W brand’s modern interpretation of a traditional presidential suite, which has stairs leading up to a panoramic rooftop terrace with an elevated lounge, DJ booth, sweeping infinity plunge pool, dining, and bar area. Promising to inject new vibrancy into the region, by entwining the Algarve’s striking natural scenery and rich Portuguese history with W Hotel’s signature style, the escape offers six bars and dining destinations including Sea Sky, overlooking the golden bay of Armação de Pera, the perfect setting pre or post-dinner to sip, mix and mingle and Paper Moon, the showstopping sister to the renowned Milanese restaurant, serving award-winning, honest Italian cuisine. Guests can relax at AWAY Spa’s six treatment rooms, express booths and hair salon, refuel in FIT and take in the poolside scene at the WET deck.
The Ritz-Carlton, Amman – Q2
Where: Amman, Jordan
Why Go? Two stunning towers unveil a refined, modern luxury experience in the heart of Jordan’s buzzing capital city, Amman. The Ritz-Carlton, Amman will offer 228 guestrooms including 34 lavish suites, perfectly complemented by the brand’s legendary service. Guests can relax in the elegant Cigar Lounge or indulge in distinguished cuisine at the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant. For a dinner with a view, the rooftop restaurant and bar offer dazzling views across the skyline. The enchanting towers offer both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness centre and spa, along with a 1,000 square metre ballroom.
Paragraph Freedom Square, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Tbilisi – Q2
Where: Tbilisi, Georgia
Why Go? The Luxury Collection will debut in Georgia with the opening of Paragraph Freedom Square, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Tbilisi. Set in the heart of Freedom Square, the most iconic postcode in Tbilisi, this iconic destination will offer an authentic gateway to explore this diverse hidden gem of a city. The 220 guestrooms have all been designed with traditional Georgian touches, mixed with modern luxury finishes. In the hotel’s specialty restaurant, guests can savour traditional Georgian dishes and for those looking for spectacular views whilst dining the Skybar provides the perfect evening escape, serving Asian cuisine in an intimate setting overlooking the city. Guests are invited to relax and indulge in the luxurious spa featuring ESPA spa treatments, an indoor pool, and a state-of-the-art gym. Golf lovers rejoice as the hotel rooftop offers cable car service transporting guests to the neighbouring golf course. The luxury hotel is poised to host memorable occasions at its eight meeting rooms and a stunning ballroom that can accommodate 600 people.
AC Hotel by Marriott Split – Q2
Where: Split, Croatia
Why Go? Located in the heart of the retail district, AC Hotel by Marriott Split is just a 15-minute walk from the Old Town. The perfectly positioned property has 214 intuitively designed guestrooms with sweeping views across the Adriatic Sea. Passing through the centre of the hotel is part of a protected Roman aqueduct, dating back 1,700 years, that remains exposed, fusing ancient history with modernist-inspired urban interiors. For the ultimate city escape, guests will enjoy the wellness centre, located on the 16th floor, which features a spa, indoor swimming pool, sauna, and gym. Crowning the property is a chic rooftop pool and bar, providing spectacular panoramic views for guests to soak up the city in style.
12|14 Stradom House, Autograph Collection – Q3
Where: Krakow, Poland
Why Go? 12|14 Stradom House, Autograph Collection is housed in a magnificent fourteenth-century building steeped in rich history. The buildings’ eclectic past includes time as a church, monastery, and hospital. The 125 guestroom hotel has been reborn into a botanical paradise, with a secret garden and its very own florist. Located between the Jewish and Royal Quarter it is in a prime location to explore the bustling city of Krakow, where old meets new, with Plant y Krakowskie and The Palace of Bishop Erasmus Ciolek Museum just around the corner. Gourmet travellers will enjoy the hotels’ exclusive seafood restaurant, where a lively atmosphere sets the stage for an enriching dining experience. Post-dinner drinks can be enjoyed at the wine bar, Hedwigs, a former chapel. Bringing the destination to life in a unique way, the hotel’s contemporary signature spa thoughtfully sources local ingredients, such as rock salt, and botanicals, which are then coupled with the healing and sensory traditions of Polish culture.
Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai – Q3
Where: Dubai, UAE
Why Go? Leisure travellers will love the Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai located on the iconic Palm Jumeirah beach. For guests that want to be in the heart of it all, the property is perfectly positioned with easy access to discover Dubai’s coastline, shopping malls and Downtown district. The hotel will feature 608 guestrooms and a private sandy beach offering stunning views of the Arabian Gulf beyond. Guests will be able to enjoy a swim in the hotel’s beachside pool, work out in the fitness centre, relax at the Saray Spa and for young travellers there will be an indoor Kidz Club. Foodies will not have to wander from the hotel as it comes complete with eight restaurants which include Korean, Italian, Japanese and Mexican cuisines.
2022 RENOVATIONS
Unveiling Marriott Bonvoy’s key 2022 renovations.
Sheraton Tel Aviv – Q1
Where: Tel Aviv, Israel
Why Go? Sheraton Tel Aviv has undergone extensive renovations to bring to life the new design approach for the Sheraton brand which looks to create an intuitive and holistic experience for guests with places to gather. Its recent transformation combines stylish, contemporary design with pioneering technology and a unique guest experience. Ideally situated between two blue flag beaches, just half an hour’s drive from Ben Gurion International Airport and within easy walking distance of the historic old town, Jaffa, the hotel is an innate part of this vibrant, cosmopolitan city. The urban beachside hotel features a large spa, with 14 treatment rooms, a hammam, sauna and jacuzzi, and offers a revitalising menu of treatments inspired by the healing minerals of the region. For guests that are keen to keep energised, the new fitness area has the latest in Technogym® WiFi-enabled training equipment.
KEY 2021 OPENINGS
Just in case you missed them, here are some of the fantastic openings from the end of last year for your 2022 Travel Bucket list.
The Westin London City – Opened November 2021
Where: London, UK
Why Go? Marking the debut of Westin Hotels & Resorts in the UK, The Westin London City sets a new standard for well-being in the heart of the capital. The 222-guestroom hotel boasts a prime riverfront location in the heart of London, benefitting from panoramic views over the River Thames. Led by British architects Dexter Moren Associates, the hotel’s design aims to increase connectivity to the natural environment. Amplifying London’s gourmet scene, Hithe & Seek, a riverside bar that invites guests to enjoy unobstructed views across the river, the Tate Modern and beyond, and an all-day dining restaurant, Mosaic offering an extensive choice of nourishing dishes focused on Westin’s philosophy of ensuring guests ‘Eat Well’ while travelling. Offering a relaxing haven in the heart of the city, the Heavenly™ Spa has been designed to prioritise wellbeing, with six treatment rooms, and a 12-metre indoor pool that has been carefully constructed around the archaeological remains of the Huggin Hill Bathhouse below. The Westin London City will encourage guests to explore the local area with the renowned RunWESTIN™ programme offering specially created running routes that will take advantage of the soon-to-be-completed final part of the Thames Path, connecting Embankment and the Tower of London.
W Rome – Opened December 2021
Where: Rome, Italy
Why Go? Marking W Hotels’ debut in Italy, W Rome is ideally situated near the famous Spanish steps and fashionable boutiques of Via Condotti. Spanning two adjacent 19th-century properties on Via Liguria, the 147 stylish, open-plan guestrooms and 15 suites boast iconic views, with some overlooking the Istituto Svizzero, and many offering private balconies and terraces. Foodies rejoice, the hotel’s unrivalled culinary offerings are spearheaded by Michelin-starred chef Ciccio Sultano. His signature restaurant at W Rome labelled Giano Restaurant is where diners can meet over their favourite cocktails and delicious dishes. This historic palazzo-turned-luxury-lifestyle-hotel offers an unapologetically Italian experience, where guests can live in the moment and anticipate the future of the Eternal City.
Moxy Manchester City – Opened December 2021
Where: Manchester, UK
Why Go? Located in the city’s vibrant Spinningfields, Moxy Manchester City is surrounded by Manchester’s hottest restaurants and bars. Stylish by design, the interiors play on the building’s storied history in the hat, soda, chemical and silk industry, whilst the raw materials and exposed ceilings nod to the location’s role in the industrial revolution. The 146 guestroom hotel is the perfect destination to make the most of Manchester’s energetic spirit. Guests can enjoy playful Moxy touches, such as a complimentary cocktail when they check-in at the bar and pet-friendly stays.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of nearly 8,000 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.
Atithi Jaiswal
Mumbai, India