While some hotels are slowly re-opening their doors, these hotels are opening their doors for the first time. 

Despite the adversity and the obstacles the hospitality industry has faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new hotels have managed to open around the world this 2021 nonetheless. From Thailand to Spain and from the Maldives to New York, here are 12 new luxury hotels that have opened – or are slated to open – this 2021.

J Hotel Shanghai Tower, China 

Located in the heart of Shanghai’s financial district, this five-star hotel rests atop the Shanghai Tower, making it the highest hotel in the world. Boasting a 24-hour butler service, a restaurant on the 120th floor, fine dining in the clouds, and an 84th-floor swimming pool, the J Hotel Shanghai Tower exceeds being merely a luxury hotel by becoming more of a landmark. An exclusive travel experience crafted with an authentic Chinese flair, the hotel boasts 165 rooms, 34 suites, 7 restaurants and bars, spas, reiki treatments, and complete Chinese tea sets in all rooms amongst other amenities. Sitting on top of China’s tallest building and the world’s second-tallest building, this hotel really is ‘above all else.’

Opening date: June 19, 2021 

The Woodward, Switzerland 

German hotel management company Oetker Collection opens their 10th hotel in the vibrant city that is Geneva. Dating back to the 1900s, The Woodward property is now a luxury lakeside hotel designed by world-renowned French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, making it the city’s first all-suite hotel. Classic yet contemporary, the Woodward’s 26 suites all differ in design, making each suite its own exclusive experience. The standout suites include the Presidential Suite, inclusive of a private dining room and a loggia, and the Royal Suite which is reached by a private elevator and resembles a Parisian apartment. To top it off, visitors can indulge in restaurants led by Michelin-Starred chef Olivier Jean. Located on the shores of Lake Geneva, the suite-only hotel offers panoramic views of Mont Blanc, perfect for travellers with a fondness for picturesque landscapes. 

Opening date: September 1, 2021 

Cheval Blanc Paris, France 

The iconic Cheval Blanc opened its Paris outpost within a historical building with an à la mode spirit envisaged by American architect Peter Marino, featuring a strong sense of art deco heritage and a tribute to French savoir-faire and artisanship. This less-than-a-month-old hotel consists of 26 rooms and 46 suites, 4 restaurants offering multifaceted gastronomic cuisines, a terrace with panoramic vistas overlooking the capital city, a Dior spa equipped with 6 treatment rooms for bespoke rituals, state-of-the-art exercise facilities, and a carrousel designed for the younger visitors.

Opening date: September 7, 2021 

Raffles Udaipur, India 

Raffles Hotels & Resorts proceeds with their global expansion with several new 2021 hotel openings, one of the distinguished locations being Udaipur, India. Situated on a 21-acre private island in Udai Sagar Lake, this pristine Raffles property can be classified as a private oasis. Surrounded by scenic hills and nestled amid lush greenery, this family-friendly hotel has 100 rooms, each one furnished with its own private pool. Boasting the enchanting views of one of India’s most scenic destinations, guests can feel rejuvenated with the Raffles Spa experience, and indulge in a gastronomical journey available through curated dining experiences at the 8 dining outlets. This property makes for an ideal venue for events and weddings too, boasting the largest indoor ballroom in all of the city of lakes. 

Opening date: August 2, 2021 

Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, Maldives

Another five-star property joins the existing luxe hotel scene in the Maldivian archipelago. Kuda Villingi Resort Maldives is home to 95 luxury villas, a line-up of fine gourmet dining options, a paradisal beachfront spa, a 150m pool, an elevated yoga pavilion, and an intricate recreation centre. Guests of this idyllic resort can engage in a wide range of in-house activities including snorkelling, kayaking, wakeboarding, windsurfing, sushi masterclasses, mixology courses, tennis tournaments, and more. With the number of facilities available, guests are spoilt for choice. Out of the 95 villas, 36 are overwater and 59 are beachside, all offering panoramic views of the stunning clear blue ocean. 

Opening date: June 6, 2021 

Aman New York, USA

Aman brings serenity to New York by unveiling an urban sanctuary in the very heart of Manhattan. Internationally acclaimed designer Jean-Michel Gathy pays homage to the history of The Crown Building while celebrating Aman’s philosophy of creating retreats beyond commonplace notions of luxury. The soon-to-open hotel creates the ultimate luxury experience with its indoor swimming pool encircled by fire pits, a three-floor Aman Spa, outdoor terrace with cabanas, jazz club, wine room, and a private members club exclusive to guests of the private Aman Residences. The hotel comes with 83 hotel rooms, 22 of which are private Aman Residences. An escapade like no other located in the Big Apple, this New York City property fully imbues the spirit of Aman. 

Opening date: Late 2021 

Regent Phu Quoc, Vietnam 

The Regent Phu Quoc is cocooned in the white sands of Long Beach in southwest Phu Quoc, a beloved holiday island among tourists visiting Vietnam. The all-villa and all-suite resort features different types of villas: Beach Pool, Sky Pool, Lagoon Pool, and Terrace Pool, and two types of suites: Garden pool and Ocean View. The hotel also offers options ranging from one-bedroom villas to seven-bedroom villas. Home to a selection of six culinary venues by the ‘Regent Taste Gallery,’ guests can also enjoy private destination dining – a personal haven in an undisturbed, intimate location. Stunning sunsets, white sand beaches, and deserted islets – Regent Phu Quoc is an idyllic island escape. 

Opening date: Late 2021 

Hyatt Regency Koh Samui, Thailand 

Hyatt debuts their first property on the island with the Hyatt Regency Koh Samui, a five-star resort expanding on a private coastline located on the island’s hub for gastronomic attractions and electrifying nightlife. The new hotel is composed of 140 rooms, of which 24 are suites and villas, and 7 are beachfront villas. The 7 beachfront villas are furnished with deep-soak bathtubs, pet-friendly private plunge pools, floor-to-ceiling windows, and ultramodern interiors to complement the design-forward concept of the property. With four pools in total, the resort has the biggest pool zone on the entire island, along with notable onsite restaurants and bars, a grand ballroom, a fitness centre, photogenic hotspots, and a spa.

Opening date: July 2021 

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, Maldives 

This Ritz-Carlton property fully embodies the beauty of the incomparable Maldives. Based on and inspired by late Australian architect Kerry Hill, an annular theme is implemented across the property. This one-of-a-kind accommodation boasts 100 villas, with a mix of overwater, beachfront, and hybrid villas. Boasting unbeatable views of the horizon, an impressive gastronomy line-up, a halo of activities, and a bespoke journey into wellness with the Ritz-Carlton Spa, the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is where island living meets modern design. An unparalleled property for an unparalleled destination.

Opening date: June 2021 

InterContinental Khao Yai National park, Thailand 

The award-winning Bill Bensley strikes again. This time, the Bangkok-based architect and interior designer has upcycled abandoned train carriages into a railway-themed five-star resort for the InterContinental Khao Yai National Park. The 100-acre site blessed with 50,000 trees and views over seven lakes is an inviting escape back to the glamorous age of train travel. The landmark resort will feature 45 rooms and 16 suites, all of which are housed inside converted train carriages or designed with repurposed salvaged train cars. Located within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the design concept of the property is inspired by a fictional tale of a local train conductor, and beautifully adds to Bill Bensley’s idiosyncratic, sustainable, individualistic collection. 

Opening date: Late 2021 

Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid, Spain 

An opulent Belle Époque palace, the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid is set to become the capital city’s most luxurious hotel. The biggest renovation of the building in its 110-year history, the hotel reopened its doors back in April 2021. The alluring, palatial interiors are the product of Spanish architect Rafael de La-Hoz and French design studio Gilles & Boissier. The 153-key property is a quintessential example of new-meets-old with a chic aesthetic that pays homage to the character of the historical building. It is home to 13 different room types, five distinctive dining concepts, a wellness program, spas, a heated indoor swimming pool, a steam room, and a fitness centre, amongst other deluxe amenities.

Opening date: April 2021 

Rosewood Villa Magna, Spain 

After an extensive renovation, the Rosewood Villa Magna reopens as a grandiose, elegant property a month from now. With an elegant design ethos, all 154 rooms and suites are a serene haven of understated luxury in cosmopolitan surroundings. There are four room types, four suite types, and two signature suite types. The hotel provides a compelling destination for culinary experiences with its diverse selection of restaurants and bars curated to impress every taste. As for the amenities, the property features a spa and a state-of-the-art fitness centre. Centrally located at the vibrant core of the Spanish capital, guests can explore the neighbourhood and local attractions within casual walking distance, too.

Opening date: October 22, 2021