Business Traveller rounds up new, upcoming and reopened hotels from brands including Marriott, Cambria and Melia.
The Santa Maria, Panama City
The Luxury Collection Hotels and Resorts is making its debut in Panama with the Santa Maria, a hotel and golf resort located just five minutes from the Panama City centre. The hotel yields a design inspired by Panama’s culture, offering 182 guestrooms and suites complete with traditional Mola blankets, known for their colourful, geometric patterns, and handmade baskets crafted by the Embera, an indigenous Panamanian community.
In addition to a 72-par golf course, the Santa Maria features a spa, fitness centre and two restaurants serving Panamanian and country-club-style cuisine respectively. With the opening of the Santa Maria, the Luxury Collection now operates six hotels and resorts in South America.
Skene House Whitehall, Aberdeen
After undergoing a £320,000 refurbishment, Skene House Whitehall has reopened. Built for long-term stays, the apartment hotel is one of three properties in Aberdeen by the family-run Skene House company and offers 49 studio and 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, 20 of which were upgraded during the renovation. Located near Aberdeen’s West End boutiques and Union Street, the property offers complimentary parking, guest lounges with tea and snacks and a Skene Business Centre.
Cambria Hotel North Scottsdale Desert Ridge, Phoenix, United States
A subsidiary of Choice Hotels International, Cambria Hotels debuted its newest property in Phoenix, Arizona on March 9. Situated against the backdrop of Scotssdale’s McDowell Mountains, the hotel houses 130 rooms geared towards business travellers.
A 20-minute drive down the freeway will land guests in downtown Phoenix, while a short walk from the hotel lie numerous hiking trails. Along with both fitness and business centres, the hotel hosts a lounge bar as well as a restaurant that serves Southwestern fare.
Coming Soon
ME Sitges Terramar, Spain
Slated to open this spring, the ME Sitges Terramar marks Melia Hotels’ first property on the Catalan coast. Located just 16 miles from the Barcelona airport in Paseo Maritimo in Sitges, the hotel offers 213 rooms, among these the Personality Suite and 24 Chic Suites that come with spacious terraces and sea views.
Complete with five eateries, the food selection will include Mediterranean-inspired cuisine at restaurant Beso Sitges, fresh seafood at the Oyster bar and signature cocktails at the RADIO rooftop bar. Food aside, guests will be able to enjoy “ME time” at the hotel’s spa or private parties at one of the hotel’s many event venues.
The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Opening in April, the Retreat at the Blue Lagoon offers 62 elegant suites on the doorstep of Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa heated by an ancient lava flow.
With five types of suites to choose from, rooms can be booked for just one day or for overnight stays. Guests can access the Retreat spa and the Blue Lagoon itself during their stay. In addition, the Retreat’s Moss Restaurant serves various types of Icelandic cuisine, allowing customers to sample food from the ocean, mountain and farmland regions.
Bulgari Hotel Paris
Bulgari Hotels and Resorts has announced plans for a new hotel in Paris, set to open in 2020. Located in Paris’ “Triangle d’Or”, the hotel will leave guests in close proximity to the luxury shopping, entertainment and cultural attractions that the area offers.
Architects plan to style the building using a combination of Parisian limestone and 19th-century Haussmanian urban design. Featuring 76 rooms, most of them suites, the hotel will also house a spa with a 25-metre pool and a restaurant and bar next to the hotel’s courtyard garden.
Olivia Hultgren
