Business Traveller rounds up new and upcoming hotels from brands such as Hyatt Regency, Vienna House and Melia Hotels International.
Oblu Select at Sangeli, Maldives
Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts’ newest destination is situated in the north-west Male Atoll, an hour’s speedboat ride away from the Male airport. The hotel, which opened July 1, has 137 stand alone beach and water villas, some with private pools. There are three pools open to all guests, as well as three restaurants and a pool bar. A spa and aqua club with diving and water sports is available.
The hotel also offers music nights, with live musicians and a DJ each week. Additional excursions include sunrise fishing, sunset cruises and guided snorkelling.
Vienna House, Leipzig
The newest offering from Austria’s largest hotel company is situated a ten-minute walk from Old Town Hall in this historic city in Leipzig, Germany. The hotel opened on July 6 and aims to be a meeting place for both travellers and locals, coming with a Viennese coffeehouse and bakery.
There are 205 rooms, including 11 suites and six family rooms. Guests can personalise their rooms by selecting their own greenery at the hotel’s plant station and there is also a fitness centre with panoramic views of the surrounding city. Guests who book before August 12 will receive a discount, making the price around £70 for a single room.
Kimpton Saint George, Toronto
This 14-storey boutique hotel on the Bloor Street Culture Corridor, the arts hub of Toronto, opened June 19 and is the first Toronto location for IHG’s Kimpton brand. The hotel features 188 rooms, including 20 regular and one presidential suite.
The design channels the artistic and musical vibes of the neighbourhood in several ways. An owl mural by Canadian street artist Birdo decorates the exterior of the hotel and a large mural of a misty Toronto landscape by artist Tisha Myles adorns the lobby. Each room comes equipped with a turntable system and collection of vinyl from local talent. There is also around 140 sqm of event space. From around £212 a night.
COMING SOON
The East London Hotel, Bethnal Green
Set to open this summer next to Bethnal Green tube station, this hotel will mark the Definition Capital development company’s first venture into the hospitality sector. The hotel will have 161 rooms and cater to both business and leisure travellers.
The location puts visitors within walking distance of the vibrant and diverse Brick Lane, Columbia Road and Shoreditch High Street. An upscale restaurant and bar is planned for the hotel, and intends to serve some of the varied cuisines the area is known for. The hotel is just a 15-minute tube ride from London’s city centre.
Hyatt Regency Almaty, Rahat Palace
Hyatt Regency is returning to Kazakhstan and Rahat Palace hotel, which the Hyatt Hotels Corporation managed from 1995 to 2011. The reopening is scheduled for 2019, with 292 rooms, a restaurant, fitness centre and 220 sqm ballroom.
The property is located on Satpaev Street across from the A Kasteev Art Museum. Though Almaty has not been the capital city since 1997, it is still the biggest city in Kazakhstan and serves as a business and cultural hub in Central Asia.
Melia Budva, Montenegro
Melia Hotels International is set to make its debut in Montenegro this summer. The resort will offer 114 rooms, a swimming pool with sundeck and multiple restaurants.
Its location in the 2,500-year-old city of Budva on the Adriatic Sea makes it a desirable destination for leisure travel. The new hotel hopes to add to the tourism boom that the area, which is among the most visited in Montenegro, is experiencing.
Laura Miserez