Chasing snow or sunshine

As the winter season approaches, the world's most discerning travellers are seeking more than just a holiday—they are in search of a journey that resonates with their aspirations for adventure, luxury and profound experiences. From the winter wonderland feels of Baden-Baden to the vast savannahs of the Masai Mara, a spectacular array of new and reimagined properties is redefining what a winter escape can be. This curated list explores the most anticipated new luxury hotels, resorts, and lodges opening around the world, offering travel advisors the inspiration and inventory to craft a perfect winter getaway, whether their clients are chasing snow or sunshine.

 

LXR debuts in 7th Arrondissement

Hilton has opened Sax Paris, LXR Hotels & Resorts, marking the brand’s debut in France and Hilton’s first luxury hotel in the heart of Paris. Located in the elegant 7th arrondissement, the 118-room property occupies a restored 1899 neo-Gothic landmark, offering panoramic rooftop views and blending Parisian heritage with modern luxury. Expect interiors by Karine Journo, Baccarat chandeliers, 200 mirrors, and contemporary art installations.

Highlights include dining at Restaurant Le SAX, an all-day venue; Kinugawa Rive Gauche, a two-story rooftop Franco-Japanese fine dining experience; and a stylish cocktail bar. An outdoor heated pool, SAX Le Club spa, fitness centre, curated garden, and designer bicycles round up wellness and lifestyle offerings.

Sax Paris delivers immersive Left Bank experiences, uniting refined hospitality, culture and modern Parisian elegance.

 

Awasi lodges in Brazil, Argentina

Awasi, South America’s award-winning collection of private lodges, is entering its most ambitious chapter with the addition of Awasi Santa Catarina in Brazil and Awasi Mendoza in Argentina, unveiling their full identity on November 1, 2025.

With five lodges now — Patagonia, Atacama, Iguazu, Santa Catarina and Mendoza — Awasi offers private villas, personal guides, 4WDs, and bespoke itineraries, focusing on privacy, authenticity and immersive travel.

Awasi Santa Catarina overlooks Brazil’s Emerald Coast, features 25 ocean-view villas, a Sisley Paris spa, new wellness pavilion, thermal pools, sound healing, and curated experiences like island dinners, beach picnics, and speedboat outings.

Awasi Mendoza is set among 35 acres of vineyards, offers 17 villas, horseback adventures, open-air cooking classes, harvest rituals, wine tastings, and an expanded spa and dining experience.

 

Minor Hotels debuts nhow Lima in Peru

Minor Hotels has opened its first property in Peru with the launch of nhow Lima, introducing its bold lifestyle hotel concept to the capital. Located in Lima’s vibrant Miraflores district, the 243-room hotel blends innovative design, local culture, gastronomy, and technology to deliver immersive guest experiences.

Highlights include Zönico Restaurant, a fine-dining venue celebrating Amazonian and Peruvian culinary traditions with a modern Latin American twist; Pagano Bar, a chic 13th-floor hotspot redefining Lima’s nightlife through design, music, and mixology; and a rooftop pool bar.

Just 35 minutes from Jorge Chávez International Airport, nhow Lima sets a new benchmark for lifestyle hospitality in Peru, combining art, design, culture and gastronomy in one dynamic destination.

 

Park Hyatt Johannesburg opens

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has opened Park Hyatt Johannesburg, marking the luxury brand’s third destination in Africa. Located in the vibrant Rosebank district, the 31-key boutique hotel offers an intimate, residential-style experience blending heritage, modern design, art and personalised luxury.

Originally a 1930s colonial mansion, restored with arches, verandahs and jacaranda-shaded courtyards, the property features locally curated art inspired by South Africa’s landscapes and botanical history. Thirty-one elegant rooms with king beds, marble bathrooms, private patios, and bespoke South African artwork celebrating diverse biospheres.

Room 32 restaurant offers immersive live-fire gastronomy; The Lounge serves handcrafted cocktails, fine wines, and premium cigars. Rooibos- and marula-infused spa therapies, a heated outdoor pool, fitness centre, and landscaped gardens up the wellness quotient.

 

Baden-Baden welcomes iconic reopening

The Steigenberger Icon Europäischer Hof Baden-Baden has reopened after an extensive renovation, marking the return of a European hotel legend. Located in the heart of Baden-Baden, Europe’s most renowned spa town, the historic hotel seamlessly blends heritage and modern sophistication while setting new standards of cultivated luxury.

The hotel features 126 elegantly designed rooms, suites and apartments, preserving its historic character with noble materials, custom furnishings, and nature-inspired interiors. Culinary highlights include Luiza Rooftop Terrace & Bar with Mediterranean cuisine and panoramic views, the Auerhuhn Lounge Bar with a speakeasy vibe, and refined French European dining.

Guests can indulge in the 1,300 sqm Vault Spa & Suites, inspired by Roman bathing culture, featuring saunas, steam rooms, an indoor pool, private spa suites, and curated treatments.

With five high-tech event spaces and Germany’s first Porsche Studio, the hotel redefines luxury hospitality in Baden-Baden.

 

The Dylan Amsterdam unveils renovations

The Dylan Amsterdam, a five-star boutique hotel on the Keizersgracht canal, has completed a multi-phase renovation of 21 rooms and suites, blending understated elegance, heritage and sustainability. Housed within Amsterdam’s first stone theatre (built in 1638), the transformation honours the building’s 17th-century architecture while redefining quiet luxury for modern travellers.

Led by Studio Linse and Format Furniture, the redesign introduces custom oak cabinetry, freestanding Vallone bathtubs, tactile materials, and vintage design pieces, reflecting a philosophy of timeless restraint. Sustainability upgrades include high-performance insulation glass, interior façade insulation, heat recovery ventilation, and a seasonal thermal energy storage system, aligning heritage preservation with future-proof hospitality.

Recent enhancements include a refreshed lounge, renovated meeting spaces, and até, an intimate six-seat chef’s table concept complementing the 2-Michelin-starred Vinkeles restaurant.

With further upgrades, including a Technogym-equipped gym opening in 2026, The Dylan continues to set benchmarks in boutique luxury and conscious design.

 

Ritz-Carlton opens in Masai Mara

The Ritz-Carlton, Masai Mara Safari Camp has opened in the heart of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, offering an exclusive treetop retreat with 20 luxury tented suites and a Presidential Villa overlooking the Sand River and Savannah.

Designed by LW Design, the camp combines modern architecture with Kenyan craftsmanship, featuring private plunge pools, stargazing decks, and interiors with local materials, Maasai beadwork, and artisanal touches.

Guests can enjoy private safaris, hot air balloon rides, bush breakfasts, and cultural experiences like Maasai storytelling and beadwork workshops at the Discovery Hub. Dining highlights include Nest restaurant, Canopy bar, Upeo Sky Deck for starlit dinners, and a sommelier-led Wine Cellar.

The Whispering Tree Spa, yoga, and pools offer wellness, while the solar-powered camp supports sustainability, conservation, and local communities, with 70 per cent of staff from nearby villages.

 

W New York – Union Square returns

W Hotels announces the highly anticipated grand transformation of W New York – Union Square, following an impressive $100 million reimagination. The iconic 256-room hotel in the heart of New York City now emerges from a full room-to-rooftop reinvention and reclaims its place as a cultural cornerstone in the city where the brand was born over two decades ago.

Rooted in New York City’s rich history, W New York – Union Square is housed in the former Guardian Life Building, a magnificent Beaux-Arts style property completed in 1911. As part of the hotel’s transformation, its historic architecture steps into the spotlight, most notably in the Living Room, the brand’s signature take on the hotel lobby.

Inspired in part by the grandeur and symmetry of Grand Central Station, the space showcases soaring ceilings, intricate mouldings, and early twentieth-century charm. Yet it’s more than a Living Room in a hotel, it’s a Living Room for New York City itself, a magnetic downtown hideaway where locals, travellers and creatives converge, and where timeless design hums with a distinctly modern pulse that ignites curiosity and expands worlds.

 

One to wait for: The Chedi Niseko

Chedi Hospitality, renowned for its refined luxury and design-led destinations, has announced its entry into the Japanese market with The Chedi Niseko, an exclusive alpine boutique hotel set to open in June 2029. Located in the heart of Hirafu, Niseko, one of Japan’s premier ski and nature regions, the property will offer seamless access to world-class slopes, vibrant dining, and year-round outdoor pursuits.

The Chedi Niseko reflects the brand’s signature philosophy of elevated, experience-led hospitality rooted in cultural authenticity and global sophistication. Ahead of its opening, Chedi will host seasonal culinary activations over the next three winters, offering a preview of its gastronomic vision blending global culinary excellence with Japanese traditions.

Building on its alpine legacy in Andermatt and forthcoming presence in Trojena, The Chedi Niseko reinforces the brand’s status as a leader in curated mountain experiences, prioritising substance, design, and timeless value.