Hilton Garden Inn Singapore
This is the upscale Hilton Garden Inn brand’s first hotel in the Lion City, situated within its vibrant Little India district just off Serangoon Road. For corporate travellers, the hotel is close to the central business district (CBD) and Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre. Featuring 328 rooms, the Garden Inn also has a 24-hour fitness centre, 24-hour business centre, 24-hour Pavilion Pantry and an outdoor pool. singaporeserangoon.hgi.com
X2 Vibe Bangkok Sukhumvit Hotel
The new X2 Vibe in Bangkok is the brand’s flagship property in the city. Described as a “smart and stylish urban property” targeted at millennial travellers, the hotel features 145 rooms as well as 121 serviced residences. During down time, guests can make use of the sea-salt pool or on-site spa, which features a Japanese onsen, or hot spring. x2vibe.com
Ibis Styles Bangkok Khaosan Viengtai
Another recently opened property in the Thai capital, the Ibis Styles Bangkok Khaosan Viengtai is a rebrand of the original Viengtai Hotel, which opened its doors in 1953 and was the first hotel in the Banglampu-Khaosan area of the city. The property features the Ibis Styles brand’s typical bright colours as well as a variety of facilities, including a bar, café and bakery, as well as a pool and bike rentals. ibisstylesbangkokkhaosan.com
Element Chongli
Marriott’s eco-friendly Element brand has made a few openings in China recently, and the Element Chongli is arguably the closest to nature you’ll find. Located in the mountainous ski resort area of Hebei in northern China, the property forms part of the Taiwoo Ski Resort of Zhangjiakou, which is the co-host city of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Each of the 164 guestrooms features natural sunlight, flexible open-concept interiors along with a telescope for viewing the night sky. elementhotels.com
Waldorf Astoria Chengdu
Following the trend for new hotels as part of larger integrated complexes, the 289-room Waldorf Astoria Chengdu forms part of the high-end, 190,000 sqm In99 Plaza mixed-use development. Rising 52 storeys above the city, the Waldorf Astoria features six F&B offerings, along with a spa and 24-hour fitness centre. It also holds the distinction of being Hilton’s 200th hotel in Asia-Pacific. waldorfastoria3.hilton.com
Courtyard by Marriott Changsha South
Courtyard by Marriott’s first hotel in Hunan province is also part of a mixed-use development. Featuring 260 rooms, The Courtyard by Marriott Changsha South is part of the Zhongjian Plaza, which houses office buildings and banks. The hotel itself has an executive lounge on the top floor of the property that serves breakfast, refreshments and evening cocktails. courtyard.marriott.com
Lake Biwa Marriott Hotel
Marriott International opened a total of five hotels under its flagship Marriott Hotels brand in Japan this summer, including the Karuizawa Marriott Hotel, Izu Marriott Hotel Shuzenji, Fuji Marriott Hotel Lake Yamanaka, and Nanki-Shirahama Marriott Hotel. The largest, however, was the Lake Biwa Marriott Hotel, at 274 rooms, some of which are offered in a Japanese style. A communal hot spring is also available, as is a 24-hour fitness centre, a 1,000 sqm gym, tennis and futsal courts and an indoor swimming pool. Those seeking more cerebral distractions meanwhile can head to the 166-seat planetarium. marriott.com
Ibis Melaka
The second Ibis on this list, the economy-level Ibis Melaka takes cues from its Unesco-listed surrounds with a colonial-inspired exterior façade. Nearby attractions include Dutch Square, Christ Church, Jonker Street and Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, while the hotel itself offers two F&B offerings as well as a garden gym. accorhotels.com
Skye Hotel Suites Parramatta
Having opened its doors last week, Skye Hotel Suites Parramatta in Western Sydney is an all-suite property with 72 apartment-style accommodations. Perhaps the most notable aspect of the property is its customisable options, which range from the ability to select your mattress firmness on each side of the bed – great when travelling with a partner – as well as virtual concierge tablets. The property also offers keyless room entry along with a pool, sundeck, sauna, spa and gym. skyehotels.com.au
Upcoming hotels
Sunway Velocity Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Having recently opened up for bookings, the Sunway Velocity Hotel Kuala Lumpur is expected to begin operations soon, currently having a September 20 opening date. The mid-market property features 351 rooms, an outdoor infinity pool and an express café offering light refreshments. Two underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations are also directly linked to the hotel, and Kuala Lumpur International Airport is about 45 minutes away. velocity.sunwayhotels.com
Savant Vela Hotel, Bangkok
Set to open later this year, the new Savant Vela Hotel, Bangkok is the brand’s first in Southeast Asia. Marketed as a “stylish, yet affordable lifestyle hotel brand”, the property is also located to business facilities including Royal Paragon Hall, an events venue on the fifth floor of the nearby Siam Paragon mall. cachethotelgroup.com
Regent Jakarta and Regent Residences Jakarta
The Indonesian capital is set to get a two-for-one accommodation project in 2018 when the Regent Jakarta and Regent Residences Jakarta mixed-use development opens its doors. This will also form part of the retail, dining and entertainment development, Mangkuluhur City. regenthotels.com
Hilton Dili Palm Springs
Also opening next year, towards the end of 2018, is the new Hilton Dili Palm Springs – the first hotel from Hilton Hotels and Resorts in Timor-Leste, or East Timor. The 150-room and suite property is the country’s first internationally branded property and will also feature meeting and events spaces, an executive lounge, a rooftop bar, outdoor pool, and spa. hilton.com
Regent Phu Quoc
After the opening of its Regent Jakarta property next year, Regent Hotels Group aims to open another Southeast Asia hotel in the form of the Regent Phu Quoc in Vietnam. Targeted for a 2019 opening, the resort also includes branded residential units alongside an open lounge overlooking the water. regenthotels.com
Courtyard by Marriott Yangon
Another Courtyard by Marriott opening in Asia-Pacific, this time in Myanmar. The upcoming Courtyard by Marriott Yangon is set for a 2019 opening and is aimed at both business and leisure travellers. Approximately 45 minutes from Yangon International Airport, the hotel will offer 200 guestrooms and suites, an executive lounge and multiple meetings facilities. A rooftop pool, spa, restaurant and an express Momo to Go F&B option will also be available. courtyard.marriott.com
Lyf Funan Singapore
The Ascott Limited’s new millennial-focused Lyf brand recently announced its first three properties, including two in China and one in Ascott’s home base of Singapore. Now, the Lion City looks set to get another hotel from the brand as part of the Funan integrated development. The Lyf Funan Singapore is slated for a 2020 opening, providing 279 units “with the flexibility to offer up to 412 rooms”. the-ascott.com
Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Jakarta
Pan Pacific is set to open its first serviced suites property in Indonesia in 2020 as part of the Indonesia 1 mixed-use development in the Indonesian capital’s CBD. Occupying the 47th to 58th floors of the North Tower, the 161-unit Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Jakarta will join the project’s other facilities and features, including offices and commercial space with entertainment and retail offerings. panpacific.com
