Hotel Highlights: Key Spring Openings Every Smart Traveler Should Note

With spring just around the corner, several significant hotel openings are on the horizon: the Tokyo flagship of a new Aman Resorts brand; a beautifully renovated historic hotel on New York City’s Upper East Side; and a luxurious escape in the Maldives focused on sustainability and well-being.

1. The Surrey, a Corinthia Hotel

Corinthia Hotels, based in Malta, has built a reputation for transforming historic structures into luxurious accommodations. Their flagship in the U.S. is set to debut in mid-2024, housed in a 1926 residence hotel on the Upper East Side that once welcomed icons like JFK and Bette Davis. Designer Martin Brudnizki is behind the interiors, featuring 100 guest rooms and suites along with 14 residences adorned in richly textured fabrics of calming greens, blues, and muted golds. Miami’s Casa Tua will manage the Italian restaurant, lounge, and private members club.

2. Regent Santa Monica Beach

Regent made its mark in the 1970s, and in the past year, the luxury brand—now part of IHG Hotels & Resorts—has completed impressive renovations like the Carlton Cannes in France and the Regent Hong Kong. By summer, Regent will arrive in Santa Monica, California, just a short stroll from the pier. The Regent Santa Monica Beach promises a relaxed atmosphere with a sophisticated touch: guest rooms will feature beachy wainscoting alongside sleek gray headboards and ceramic lamps. A pool deck will overlook the beach, and guests will enjoy butler service on the sand.

3. Emory Hotel London

Maybourne Hotel Group’s iconic Claridge’s, Connaught, and Berkeley hotels are among London’s finest, generating excitement for the Emory Hotel, the first new Maybourne hotel in half a century, set to open in April 2024. This all-suite hotel with 61 rooms will exude a residential feel, with each of its nine floors featuring a unique interior designer’s work (including Alexandra Champalimaud, André Fu, Pierre-Yves Rochon, and Patricia Urquiola). The rooftop bar, exclusively for guests, will offer stunning 360-degree city views, while a four-floor subterranean wellness center boasts a 22-meter pool. Hotelier Knut Wylde, former general manager of the Berkeley, will infuse Maybourne’s renowned hospitality into the Emory, providing private airport transfers, hearty English breakfasts, and personal assistants for all guests.

4. Mandarin Oriental Mayfair

Set to open this spring, Mandarin Oriental's second London location resides in a contemporary red brick structure in Mayfair, crafted by the late British architect Richard Rogers, known for the Pompidou Centre in Paris. The hotel features 50 guest rooms inspired by haute couture, showcasing hand-painted silk wallpaper by de Gournay and carpets adorned with floral patterns. Chef Akira Back, originally from Korea, will make his debut in the U.K. with a restaurant bearing his name, while the spa will boast a 25-meter indoor pool.

5. Royal Mansour Casablanca

As a prominent port city showcasing architectural styles from Islamic Moroccan to art deco, Casablanca often finds itself overshadowed by Marrakech. However, this spring, it may take a more central role on travelers' itineraries with the opening of the Royal Mansour Casablanca, the sister hotel to the famed Royal Mansour in Marrakech. After five years of meticulous restoration, this hotel will debut in a historic art deco building that first opened its doors in 1952 as the city's premier luxury accommodation.

6. Singita Milele

Guests at the exclusive Grumeti Reserve in Tanzania enjoy 350,000 acres of diverse, wildlife-rich Serengeti landscapes. Managed by luxury standard-bearer Singita, the reserve features five distinct retreats, including the elegant Sasakwa Lodge and the canvas-walled Sabora Tented Camp. Set to open in May 2024, Singita Milele will cater to groups of up to 10 guests, offering generous outdoor living areas, an infinity pool, a jacuzzi, and a movie room. Suites will be inspired by collective nouns for iconic wildlife (like a crash of rhinos) and will highlight local artisans and materials. With floor-to-ceiling glass walls, outdoor showers, and expansive terraces, guests will feel immersed in the vibrant savanna. Custom-tailored experiences with Singita allow guests to explore the land at their leisure, whether that's a drive to observe herds of wildebeest or a tranquil walk through the bush.

7. Karangoma

Wild Expeditions in Africa is dedicated to promoting small, locally owned camps and mobile sMytouris across Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe, and Karangoma in Botswana's Okavango Delta is no exception. Set to open in May 2024, this six-tent lodge, created in collaboration with local elder Olatotse Sarefo, sits on a 74,000-acre wooded peninsula surrounded by the Okavango’s seasonal floodplains. The accommodations, elevated on wooden decks and connected by raised pathways, draw inspiration from the traditional basket weaving of the Hambukushu people. Guest experiences will immerse visitors in the cultural practices of the Bukakhwe San and Hambukushu communities, featuring activities such as wildlife tracking and workshops on crafting and playing local instruments. In the rich biodiversity of the Okavango, guests can expect to spot lions, wild dogs, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and more during game drives, walks, or by mekoro boat.

8. Janu Tokyo

Janu, the new sister brand to the renowned Aman Resorts, is set to open its flagship location in Tokyo’s Roppongi neighborhood in March 2024. While Aman is known for its tranquil and private atmosphere, Janu embraces a more vibrant and social ambiance. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, the hotel boasts 122 rooms and suites that showcase a sleek, minimalist style. Additionally, the expansive 43,000-square-foot wellness center includes a hammam, nine treatment rooms, and two swimming pools.

9. Soneva Secret

In February 2024, Soneva Secret made its debut in the remote Haa Dhaalu Atoll of the Maldives, a sanctuary for manta rays, whales, dolphins, and other marine life. Founded by Sonu Shivdasani, the visionary behind Soneva Fushi, this new resort brand emphasizes eco-conscious luxury in secluded locations, allowing families, including children, to connect with nature while ensuring a near-zero carbon footprint. The resort features 14 overwater and beachfront villas, each with a private chef. These villas are designed with a breezy indoor-outdoor flow and come with retractable roofs for stargazing; the restaurant, Out of This World, boasts an overwater wine cellar with a stunning glass floor.

10. Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The Red Sea region in Saudi Arabia aims to establish 50 hotels by 2030, all adhering to regenerative tourism standards. New arrivals include Six Senses and the St. Regis Red Sea Resort. This spring, Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, will unveil 63 villas along pristine white sands, each featuring its own pool with ocean views and expansive windows. The Ritz-Carlton Reserve will also house a diving center for snorkeling, diving, sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing in the Red Sea, along with the Conservation House, which will offer guests insights into Saudi Arabian culture and natural environments through various land and water activities.