The 40 Best New Luxury Hotels to Visit in 2023

Paris, France

Expected launch: February 2023

Rates: Doubles from $500

You won’t have to tote your purchases far after a day of retail therapy on the exclusive Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in the 8th arrondissement in Paris: Book a room or a suite at this 56-key hotel, housed in an 18th-century courtyard building. It’s the first urban property for Delano under the auspices of Accor, the giant hotel group which snapped up the Ian Schrager–originated name (along with sister spots like the Mondrian) and has teed up aggressive expansion plans; city center sites like this will operate under the new Maison Delano name.

New York, NY

Expected launch: March 2023

Rates Doubles from $900

We think it will be worth the wait. This ambitious new hotel in New York’s NoMad, originally slated for a debut last spring, is now penciled in to welcome guests in March. When they finally arrive, they’ll see rooms split between two buildings: There are 129 of them in a soaring new 24-story skyscraper, but the real lure is sure to be the 24 suites inside the former Second National Bank Building, a McKim Mead & White original design which the Gilded Age’s favorite architects completed in 1907. It’s undergone a painstaking reboot that should see it reborn in typically glamorous but understated style from Martin Brudnizki, who earned his reputation designing exclusive bars and restaurants like the Ivy in London. Operated by Flâneur Hospitality, the property will be helmed by experts who’ve previously worked at luxury hotels like the Ritz Paris and the Lanesborough in London.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Expected opening: March 2023

Rates: Doubles from $850

Get ready for the party of the century when Dubai’s long-awaited Atlantis The Royal finally debuts in March—given that Atlantis the Palm launched with a high-octane $30 million opening fête in 2008, the celebrations to welcome its neighboring 795-room behemoth will be sure to dazzle even more. The numbers at play here are staggering: 43 stories, 94 swimming pools, 4,000 jellyfish, 17 restaurants and 8 bars, for starters. And it’s those dining destinations that are generating some of the most pre-opening buzz—celebrity chefs Gastón Acurio, Heston Blumenthal and José Andrés are all opening glitzy new outposts across the resort, while Nobu’s first Nobu by the Beach will preside over the resort’s 1.2 mile stretch of sand.

Los Olivos, California

Expected launch: February 2023

Rates: Doubles from $750 

A holdover from last year, when it was initially expected to open in spring, this 67-room resort is now finally slated for Q1. The property itself has a deliciously only-in-California history: It started out as a stagecoach stop during the Gold Rush, then was owned by a namesake Swiss hotelier before morphing into a Volstead-era speakeasy and finally rebooting as a luxury hotel under the Auberge auspices. Just a two-and-a-half-hour drive from LA in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, the getaway will emphasize the outdoors, with a coffee bar porch and an open-air restaurant.

Sumba, Indonesia

Expected launch: January 2023

Rates: Doubles from $250

Yes, at 67 rooms, this resort in Indonesia’s Sumba, Cap Karoso, is much larger than most high-end properties. Don’t fret, though: its location quietens any doubts as to its appeal, one of the country’s most pristine strips of sand. “If you want to dive or snorkel, Maldives-style, you can do it right off your room at the beach – it’s one of the most beautiful reefs in the world,” adds Embark Beyond’s Jack Ezon. Fabrice and Evguenia Ivara, French globetrotters who founded the property, have equipped it with its own organic farm as well as incorporating impact-minimizing details like solar panels to supply at least 50 percent of its power.

Galápagos islands, Ecuador

Expected launch: January 2023

Rates: Seven nights per person from $9,450, based on two people sharing

As the line between large charter and small cruise ship continues to blur, enter this 10-cabin vessel from Ecoventura which is primed to sail around the Galápagos islands from January. It’s the third of its so-called megayachts, and very similar to Origin and Theory, two others that operate in this same biosphere. Each of the staterooms has panoramic windows to maximize views, though the best rooms are the 300-square-foot suites, with two staterooms and a his and hers bathroom, plus a king-sized bed. Ecoventura operates two itineraries around the archipelago, which can be combined into one fortnight-long voyage or booked individually.

Kyoto, Japan

Expected launch: Q4 2023

Rates: Doubles from $1,000

The latest addition to Kyoto’s hospitality landscape is this 52-room urban resort from the Singaporean hotelier. Its points of difference will include the private onsen spring that’s reserved solely for the hotel’s own use, a feature element for the onsite spa, as well as a restaurant which overlooks a Noh stage, where the classical Japanese dance-drama playlets can be performed. It’s right in the heart of Kyoto, and close to Gion, the historic district that more resembles a movie set than a neighborhood and where geishas continue to work even today.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Expected launch: Q2 2023

Rates: Doubles from $400

It’s almost a year late, but hopefully this 30-room hotel, named after its address (and the family-owned Red Carnation Hotel Collection’s first foray in Scotland) will welcome guests as planned this summer. The site has been meticulously designed to celebrate the destination. Not that you’ll forget where you are, since views of the famed Edinburgh Castle can be spied from all of the suites and the Club lounge. Other flourishes include a gorgeous central staircase hand-painted with murals depicting 11 Scottish explorers, custom-made tartan by designer Araminta Campbell and bespoke furnishings inspired by the style of Alexander McQueen. Best of all, the residents-only Explorers Club lounge will feature a wall lined with fine wines and Scottish whiskies, while the nearly two-to-one staff-to-guest ratio will ensure impeccable service.

Koh Yao Yai, Thailand

Expected launch: February 2023

Rates: Doubles from $400

Skip the crowds in Phuket when you arrive there and instead head to this pristine island in Phang Nga Bay, where the Asian luxury hotel chain will open a new property early next year. It sits right on its own half-mile strip of sand, but also has an indoor-outdoor kids club plus a great water sports center ideal for snorkel and dive trips as you island hop; take a tour of the coconut and rubber farms here, too, which have long been a key economic driver since before the resort’s arrival. Pick of the 148 rooms here: the eight, almost 4,000-square-foot Seaview Pool Penthouses, duplex crashpads ideal for families—one even has its own glass-bottomed pool.

Algarve, Portugal

Expected launch: Q3 2023

Rates: Doubles from $550

The Algarve is one of Portugal’s prime tourist spots thanks to a killer combo of great beaches (the surf’s good enough for boarding, too), pretty cities and impressive natural features, like the Benagil Caves—all that, plus world-class golf to boot. Another reason to finally visit in 2023 is the arrival of the 76-room outpost of the LA-based hotel group Viceroy. It doubles down on all of the Algarve’s key appeals, with its own 18-hole golf course and impressive F&B; try some lulas com ferrado, a moreish garlicky mashup of squid and potato that’s a classic dish from this region.

Baja California, Mexico

Expected launch: October 2023

Rates: Doubles from $499

We hope you arrive thirsty. This 31-villa resort features the Banyan tree’s first proprietary winery, with a focus on sustainable winemaking and uplifting the local community—all on a large site just 90 minutes’ drive from the US border. Every standalone room here is a cottage with its own pool, but the best place to crash is the three-bedroom Winemaker’s Villa, which has its own dining room, fireplace and a terrace that looks out across the vineyard with superb sunset views. All that plus a signature Banyan Tree spa, with several treatments that nod to the medicinal plants found here, like hoja santa and white sage.

Mallorca, Spain

Expected launch: March 2023

Rates: Doubles from $700

The 17th-century estate here, a manor house passed down through many prominent Balearic families and set in 57,000 square miles of private countryside, reopens as an ultra-luxe 31-room hotel this spring. The prime draw of that reimagining, per Scott Dunn Private head Jules Maury, is the operator: Spanish hotelier Finca Cortesin from Andalusia, where the GM will shuttle between the two properties. “It’s going to be a grande dame, the most fabulous country house hotel,” she adds. Cari Gray of Gray & Co agrees, noting its location in the Tramuntana is ideal for outdoorsy types: “The biking is some of the best in Europe, road or mountain, and it’s very raw—that’s what people are after lately.”

Healdsburg, CA

Expected launch: Q4 2023

Rates: Doubles from $600

Chef Charlie Palmer and Christopher Hunsberger, who spent almost 20 years as a senior exec with Four Seasons hotels, have come together to create what they hope will be a new five-star hospitality brand, Appellation. They’re prototyping the idea via their first site, in California’s Sonoma County. Sure, the 108-room property will have everything you’d expect, from a three-meal Palmer restaurant to a lavish spa, two pools and even three top suites with just under 2,000 square feet of usable indoor-outdoor space and a kitchenette designed by Palmer himself. But the real point of difference is its Maker Spaces, where the ‘Crafted at Appellation’ classes will take place. Here, in-house and local makers will school guests, one on one and otherwise, in everything from coffee cupping to wine education, a chance for a hands-on deep dive into the food, drink and other products that make the area distinctive.

London, UK

Expected launch: Late spring 2023

Rates: Doubles from $1,317

WWWT Raffles OWO (That’s What Would Winston Think of Raffles OWO). Churchill’s onetime wartime HQ, built in 1906 as a vast Edwardian masterpiece, has been deeded over to a new 120-room hotel run by the luxe hotelier after a painstaking five-year makeover. “It will be fascinating for Americas, people who love a bit of history,” says Jules Maury. “It’s going to have a lot more traction than many of the other hotels in London because of that.” Sure, the rooms will be nice, but the clincher for any stay is the chance to overnight in one of its five “rooms of historical significance,” where suites have been carved out of wood-paneled former executive offices occupied by major figures in British history from Churchill to David Lloyd George and even Scandal-generating John Profumo (that room’s best booked by frisky couples, of course).

Mui Ne, Vietnam

Expected launch: Q1 2023

Rates: Doubles from $200

The seaside town of Mui Ne on Vietnam’s southeast coast is a popular weekend hideaway, around four hours drive away from Ho Chi Minh City—not only a draw for its superb beaches, but also the reliable winds that have made it a sailing and watersports mecca. Weekending here, though, will undergo a major upgrade in early 2023, when the 127-room property from the Anam group opens here right on the water. Even if you don’t travel with private security (and so don’t need the adjoining bodyguard’s bedroom), book out the 1,300-square-foot Presidential Suite as the ultimate luxury.

Kibale, Uganda

Expected launch: Q4 2023

Rates: Doubles from around $1,000 per person

Volcanoes Safaris founder Praveen Moman pioneered eco-tourism in Uganda and Rwanda 25 years ago, introducing community-oriented travel experiences across Africa’s Great Lakes region. Now, his team is at work on unveiling a fifth lodge, set on a rocky outcrop in Uganda’s Kibale National Park that overlooks the Queen Elizabeth plains, Rwenzori Mountains and Kazinga channel. While gorillas have long been Uganda and Rwanda’s safari calling card, the focus at this plush camp will be chimpanzee trekking—the Kibale Forest counts more than 1,500, making it home to one of the largest chimp populations in Africa.

Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Expected launch: Early 2023

Rates: From $999

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Project is one of the most anticipated developments in the Middle East, with a who’s-who of resorts in the pipeline from the likes Ritz-Carlton, Miraval, Raffles, Fairmont Edition and others. But it looks like the first to the finish line will be the Six Senses Southern Dunes, a desert oasis of 79 rooms and villas that appear to meld seamlessly into the sand. The brand’s approach to wellness promises to be front and center, with a spa that encompasses a holistic anti-aging center, a sensory suite and alfresco treatment rooms.

Johannesburg, South Africa

Expected launch: Q1 2023

Rates: Doubles from $870

Johannesburg’s Rosebank suburb has become a creative hub in recent years: You can easily spend a day making your way from a clutch of renowned galleries like Circa and Everard Reed and boutiques like the flagship atelier of luxury South African handbag brand Okapi to restaurants from ace chefs including Luke Dale-Roberts’ Shortmarket Club and David Higgs’ Marble. And in early 2023, when Rosebank’s Winston Hotel is reborn as the 30-room Park Hyatt Johannesburg—a transformation led by the expert design team of Yabu Pushelberg—visitors will have a will have a stylish new hideaway in the midst of all the action.

Indonesia

Expected launch: January 2023

Rates: From $9,000 per night

Set sail through Indonesia’s alluring Coral Triangle aboard this plush reimagining of a traditional Sulawesi phinisi, or fishing boat. The 148-foot yacht has seven suites with space for 14 guests, and cruises through the remote waters of Raja Ampat, Komodo National Park and the Spice Islands, pausing for diving, wakeboarding and hiking adventures—with relaxing beach dinners and onboard spa treatments on offer along the way. Hand-constructed by boatbuilders from Indonesia’s Bulukumba region incorporating centuries-old techniques, the vessel has furniture and textiles sourced from Balinese artisans—the results are so authentic that the yacht was showcased at the recent G20 summit as an example of singular Indonesian craftsmanship.

Mallorca, Spain

Expected launch: June/July 2023

Rates: Doubles from $674

Virgin Limited Edition will open a new property on Mallorca, Son Bunyola, this summer (hop the new direct, non-stop United flight from EWR to Palma for maximum convenience). The fusion of an old finca with contemporary additions sits on an 810-acre estate; the best of the 26 rooms will be the Tower Suites, one of which is housed in a 15th-century fortification. As for souvenirs, make sure to take home some olive oil made from some of the 3,000 trees that sit ranged around the property; there are new beehives, too, and keep an eye on its vineyards, which are being planted with Malvasia grapes to hopefully produce their first harvest within two years.

Kailua-Kona, HI

Expected launch: Q3 2023

Rates: Doubles from $2,500

It was 2011 when the pioneering resort on the Big Island, Kona Village which dated back to the 1960s, shuttered after sustaining severe damage in a tsunami triggered by an almost 9.0 magnitude earthquake across the Pacific in Japan. The barefoot-luxe site lay fallow until it was rescued by Hong Kong-based Rosewood, which was ready to pump enough money into the 80-plus acres here to reinvent the hotel as a luxury hideaway for the 21st century. It will feature 150 hales—traditional Hawaiian structures which resemble beach bungalows—as well as five onsite restaurants; those will include revivals of two beloved drinking dens, the Talk Story and Shipwreck bars, which were longtime features of the old hotel. Rosewood’s also programmed an onsite cultural center, to better help anchor the site in the Polynesian culture which was often elbowed aside in modern development.

Istanbul, Turkey

Expected launch: February 2023

Rates: Doubles from $1,012

With the long-awaited opening of Istanbul’s gleaming new Galataport cruise terminal last year, the historic Karakoy district has been in the throes of a revival as a host of destination restaurants, museums and boutiques are arriving on its heels. Now, on the banks of the Bosphorus comes the ancient city’s most anticipated new hotel. The 177-room Peninsula Istanbul stands within striking distance of the best attractions, both old and new, while the property itself promises to marry Istanbul’s storied history with cutting-edge conveniences: spanning four waterfront buildings (including three century-old protected landmark structures), the Peninsula’s multilingual touchscreens and kilim-clad Marmara marble expanses coexist effortlessly. While the pool running alongside the Bosphorus is a standout, the real star is the 5,500-square-foot Peninsula Suite, with its own hammam, gym and rooftop pool.

Jomsom, Nepal

Expected launch: May 2023

Rates: From $1,700 per night

Design icon Bill Bensley has masterminded some of the world’s most majestic resorts, paving the way for conservation-focused hospitality everywhere from the jungle-clad mountains of Cambodia to the beaches of Bali. Now he has his sights set on the Himalayas, in Nepal’s Lower Mustang Valley, where the 29-suite Shinta Mani Mustang immerses itself in its dramatic natural environs. It’s a sumptuous gateway to the Forbidden Kingdom, which was off-limits to foreign travelers until 1992. The airy, open-plan rooms take design notes from traditional Tibetan homes, but the focal point is the floor-to-ceiling glass that centers the gaze on the dramatic snowcapped peak of Mount Nilgiri. Activities from rock-climbing to archery to horseback riding abound, but save some time for the spa—the Tibetan wellness program has been developed by an 11th-generation amchi doctor.

Sloatsburg, NY

Expected launch: Summer 2023

Rates: From $7,000 per person per stay

We told you that upstate New York was the latest focus for luxe hospitality stateside—and the arrival of the Malibu wellness legend in Hudson Valley next summer for its first East Coast site is further proof. On a 200-acre site just 45 minutes from New York City, it will offer VIP MOTs of various lengths and intensities: try the Ranch 3.0, for a gentle induction into the Ranch way of life, or the four-day reset which is anchored by four-hour-long daily hikes. There will be a 5,000-square-foot onsite Solarium, with gym and pool for winter, plus an outdoor pool and onsite lake when the weather’s warmer. The 25 rooms here are the work of Steven Gambrel, an architect-turned-designer who’s known for his spare but lush interiors that have a throwbackish, all-American vibe.

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Expected launch: June 2023

Rates: Doubles from $1,190 per person

This new property in Botswana, already arguably the epicenter of ultra-luxury safari in sub-Saharan Africa, will likely outstrip even rivals like Xigera. It will consist of just three luxe tented rooms, hovering on platforms above the namesake Delta, which will be teeming with dry season wildlife when it debuts in June. “I’d be surprised if it’s easy to book on a single room basis – the vast majority of bookings will be buyouts,” cautions Cazenove & Loyd’s Jonathan Goldsmith. Explore the area in multiple ways, not only on game drives but also by water on mokoro canoes and from high above in a hot air balloon. Bonus points to the Natural Selection team—which also runs the beloved Jack’s Camp—for opting to decorate with a contemporary flair instead of the cod-colonial vibe that still persists in most camps even today.

Capri, Italy
Expected launch: Q2 2023
Rates: Doubles from $1,603

If its spiffy new beach club, Da Gioia, is any indication of the soon-to-open Oetker Collection’s debut in Italy, La Palma, then sign us up now. That glammy hideaway in often overrun Capri is a dolce vita–era throwback that teased this summer’s opening of the reimagined hotel, the island’s oldest which just celebrated 200 years in operation. The multi-million-dollar reno was overseen by designer Francis Sultana; the key count has been reduced to ramp up the room size to comfier quarters—now there are just 50, versus the 80 of the old layout. The best perch, though, is the flexible two-to-five bedroom suite with room for up to 10 adults with its own loggia and private dining room.

Craigiburn Valley, South Island, New Zealand

Expected launch: January 2023

Rates: Rooms from $7,300 per night, two-night minimum

The ethereal beauty of New Zealand’s Southern Alps is no stranger to film crews determined to capture the majestic peaks, placid lakes and verdant valleys on celluloid. Now, travelers are drawn to a sumptuous new homestead tucked away in a particularly scenic stretch scattered with limestone boulders—a craggy landscape near Arthur’s Pass that set the stage for the battle scene in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Guests at Flockhill immerse themselves in the 36,000-acre homestead with hiking, star-gazing, heli-skiing and fly-fishing adventures, while active culinary experiences include truffle-hunting and an alpine glacier picnic. Afterwards, the four bedroom chic lodge beckon — with their own private chef, wine cellar, outdoor terrace and swimming pool, and appointed with rugs and blankets handmade locally with whisper-light New Zealand alpaca wool.

Rome, Italy

Expected launch: March 2023

Rates: Doubles from $844

A soothing sanctuary in the heart of the Eternal City? When the Six Senses arrives in Italy this spring, it brings its signature approach to serenity to a storied address steps away from the hubbub of the Via del Corso. Ninety-six tranquil rooms have been etched into the Baroque 15th-century Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini, each with Travertine limestone and distinctive Cocciopesto plasterwork, and the spa re-creates ancient Roman baths with a journey through three plunge pools with a bas-relief inspired by the myth of Daphne and Apollo presiding overhead. But it’s the rooftop garden oasis that promises to be the destination of choice for both savvy locals and travelers alike this summer—for yoga in the morning to late-night drinks with 360-degree views over the city.

Athens, Greece

Expected launch: Q2 2023

Rates: Doubles from $745

This starry new addition to the Athens Riviera arrives just in time for the summer, a Midcentury-style retreat with 127 rooms unfolding over 52 sunny acres. Parents will love parking little ones at the KidsOnly club while slipping away to the glorious Chenot Spa and two secluded beaches—one of which is exclusively for adults—but proximity to the city center, with all its historic landmarks and culture, are also a draw. Families will want to book the signature Villa One, an airy oasis with a private outdoor area with its own fireplace and pool.

Amboseli, Kenya

Expected launch: September 2023

Rates: Doubles from $1,650 per person

Indie safari outfitter Angama, which already operates in Kenya’s Masai Mara, will add a second site in Amboseli National Park with just 10 rooms. This is a park known for its supertusker elephants, with little luxury nearby until now. Angama is the final brainchild of industry doyenne Nicky Fitzgerald, who just retired (her daughter Kate remains deeply involved), and is known for supporting local communities in concrete ways, whether appointing a Kenyan-born GM or working with the families in Amboseli to create a standalone concession for the hotel. “People are actually not going to have other vehicles around them,” says Maury.

Surrey, UK

Expected launch: Q3 2023

Rates: Doubles from $1,000

Oh, the stories that Beaverbrook could tell: the wedding cake-like manse in London’s home counties was once the home of the buccaneering newspaper proprietor of the same name, where everyone from Liz Taylor to Ian Fleming spent the night. It’s been operating as a luxe, 35-room hotel for a decade or so, with modernist artwork (think Bacon, Picasso and co.) on loan from the Beaverbrook Foundation to retain some connection with its former owner. Next year, the hotel will expand with 26 additional rooms ranged around 10 cottages, albergo diffuso-style, in the woodlands of its 470-acre estate. They have full access to the existing spa, restaurants and grounds via buggy.

Paris, France

Expected launch: Q1 2023

Rates: Doubles from $688

A gem of a hotel, quite literally. It’s named after the 19-carat pink diamond which once was a centerpiece of the French crown jewels; this 61-room property sits two blocks from the Seine on the Rue des Archives in the heart of the Marais. It’s the first city center property from the French luxury hotel chainlet, Maisons Pariente, run by real estate mogul Patrick and his daughters Leslie and Kimberly and known for hotels like Crillon Le Brave in Provence. It has been designed by Martin Brudnizki, the go-to-glam-meister for high-end hospitality; it’s intended to evoke the home of a fictitious salon hostess, equal parts wealthy and well-read—think flouncy prints, overstuffed furniture and moiré silk lined walls.

Kauai, Hawaii

Expected launch: February 2023

Rates: Doubles from $1,299

Longtime regulars at Kauai’s beloved St. Regis Princeville won’t want to miss the chance to see what an $250 million upgrade will bring. When it’s reborn this February as the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, wellness will be at the forefront: a vast 7,900-square-foot wellness center and 18,000-square-foot spa will set the stage for a dizzying array of experiences at the hands of expert nutritionists, integrative medicine doctors, meditation guides and more. To make the most of a visit, consider booking a multiday retreat with tailored programs—along with a stay in one of the 18 retreat guest rooms complete with circadian lighting, sleep-tracking technology and in-room sage-burning ceremonies.

Crans Montana, Valais, Switzerland

Expected launch: February 2023

Rates: Doubles from $700

This year-round, 45-room Swiss resort will have snow bunny appeal—ski-in and -out, of course, and a location in the Valais at the heart of the Swiss Alps, nestled in a glorious pine forest for maximum mountain coziness. Intriguingly, though, it’s more than just a cold-season cliché: come here in summer and enjoy the rooftop pool, sun terraces and outdoor cinema, as well as paddle boarding, pedalos and even water skiing. All that plus several golf courses right on hand, including a Sevy Ballesteros-designed 18-holer, where the Omega Masters event is held every year.

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Expected launch: Summer 2023

Rates: Villas from $1,000

A touch of Maldivian flair arrives on Arabian Gulf shores when Anantara unveils its 174-key resort in the quieter emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Just 45 minutes from the sparkle and flash of Dubai, this eco-retreat is going for a more tranquil experience amid the mangroves in a private lagoon. While activities on and around the water are a big draw—think kayaking, turtle-spotting and yachting—guests will also want to use the property as a base to explore Ras Al Khaimah’s other natural splendors: vast swaths of rolling desert dunes and the soaring peak of Jebel Jais mountain are a stone’s throw away. Afterward, return to gaze at flamingos at the lagoonside Mekong restaurant at sunset.

Sydney, Australia

Expected launch: March 2023

Rates: Doubles from $650

After blazing a trail across Asia with resorts in Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam, Capella heads Down Under with its Sydney debut. Set in a landmark sandstone building spanning a city block in the heart of the Central Business District, Capella Sydney opens this March with 192 rooms and 32 suites. The foyer of century-old Edwardian Baroque building has been revived for this new chapter with a soaring glass ceiling, contemporary art and a 21-foot green wall woven with more than 70 species of local flora; steps away are the McRae Bar, a Victorian-inspired drinking den, and Brasserie 1930, a temple to fresh Australian fare.

Venice, Italy

Expected launch: May 2023

Rates: Doubles from $1,250

Who wouldn’t want a pal who owns a palazzo in one of the world’s most glamorous cities, who’s inviting you to crash there amid their sumptuous art collection minutes from San Marco? That’s the gist of this new luxe, 32-room hotel operated by the Maestrelli family, who’ve cut their teeth in five-star hospitality in the glitzy Tuscan answer to Palm Beach, Forte dei Marmi. They’ve spent handsomely on rehabbing the property—look at the floors, for example, which are Venetian seminato, that marble-look concrete that’s a signature of the city, and which were handmade by one of the few remaining artisanal families focusing on this skill. Just remember to take a water taxi here right from the airport: It has its own private canalside entrance.

Tswalu, South Africa

Expected launch: Q2 2023

Rates: From $1,700

The Kalahari desert, with its distinctive rust-colored sands and expansive arid savannahs, boasts one of the most unique landscapes in southern Africa. Now safari-goers looking to go farther off the beaten track have a new place to settle in between game drives at Tswalu, South Africa’s biggest private game reserve. Loapi—which means “the space below the clouds” in Setswana—will open in early 2023 with six individual tented homes that operate as independent micro-camps, each with its own private chef, butler, ranger, pool and bar stocked with South African wines. Designed for just two or four people, these are the ultimate secluded hideaway tucked away in a valley in the Korannaberg mountains—where encounters with the black-maned Kalahari lion, cheetah, and black rhino await.

Cyclades, Greece

Expected launch: Q4 2023

Rates: Doubles from $2,069

Kéa feels a bit like a secret posh Athenians have been keeping to themselves all this time: an alluring isle with steep oak-clad hills that’s just a stone’s throw from the capital, yet largely off the radar for the Cyclades-bound hordes each summer. That’s poised to change with One&Only’s arrival: 73 villas are woven into a soaring cliff, each awash in gleaming Greek marble and featuring private decks with cantilevered swimming pools and endless sea views. For those who decide to stick around for awhile, there are also 40 private residences. Looks like the secret’s out.

Dubai, UAE

Expected launch: Q2 2023

Rates: From $3,500

The Dorchester Collection’s first foray into the Middle East promises to bring some of the gilded glamour of its iconic portfolio—including stalwarts like the Beverly Hills Hotel, Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris and Rome’s Hotel Eden—to the UAE. The Foster + Partners-designed tower, which adds a striking jigsaw silhouette to the city’s dizzying skyline, sits at the edge of the Dubai Canal in the central Business Bay district, with 225 rooms appointed in desert-inspired shades of amber and orange facing the Burj Khalifa or an endless expanse of ochre sands.