As we enter a new decade, Hills Balfour have rounded up a diverse selection of 2020 hotel developments across the globe to help travellers plan their next bucket list trip.
Here we explore different hotels for a range of travellers, including affordable options in Washington D.C and Thailand, luxury getaway spots in Sri Lanka and Illinois, as well as wellness retreats in Namibia and Florida.
New hotels for 2020…
- Hotel Drover, Fort Worth, Texas (opening January 2020)
- ALOFT Hotel at District San Juan, Puerto Rico (opening spring 2020)
- The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu, Kyoto, Japan (opening March 2020)
- OZO North Pattaya, Thailand (opening March 2020)
- Generator Washington, D.C. (opening April 2020)
- Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences, Singer Island, Florida (opening spring 2020)
- Nobu Hotel, Chicago, Illinois (opening spring 2020)
- The Pittman Hotel, Dallas, Texas (opening mid 2020)
- Four Seasons, Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida (opening November 2020)
- Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (opening late 2020)
- HOHO, Vienna, Austria (opening late 2020)
- Amari Colombo, Sri Lanka (opening late 2020)
- Habitas, Namibia (opening late 2020)
- Hotel scene in Washington D.C and Los Angeles continues to thrive (throughout 2020)
Hotel Drover, Fort Worth, Texas (opening January 2020)
Hotel Drover, a new Autograph Collection boutique hotel, is opening in the historic Stockyards district of Fort Worth, Texas, in January 2020. The four-star hotel will feature 200 guestrooms and a signature restaurant, 97 West, where executive chef Jenna Kinard will prepare fresh regional cuisine. Hotel Drover will celebrate the district’s history, and honour the legendary cowboys who drove cattle across the plains to market in Fort Worth.
ALOFT Hotel at District San Juan, Puerto Rico (opening spring 2020)
ALOFT Hotel at the Convention Centre at District San Juan is tipped to be one of Puerto Rico’s most exciting new accommodation offerings, with the benefit of being located in the heart of the city. Promising to inject the local scene with style, innovation and energy, this modern hotel will offer a buzzing atmosphere for a new generation of travellers – young in age and young at heart – looking for social experiences at competitive rates. ALOFT will offer 175 loft-like guest rooms set over seven stories, a rooftop infinity pool, a 1,152 square-foot fitness centre and a range of open spaces which encapsulate the vibrant atmosphere of District San Juan and integrate the latest innovative technology; the perfect getaway for those looking to be in the centre of the city and the heart of its social scene.
The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu, Kyoto, Japan (opening March 2020)
The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu will open in Kyoto, Japan’s former capital city, in March. The hotel is a conversion of the once Kyoto Kiyomizu Elementary School, which opened in 1869 and played a huge role in Kyoto’s history and traditions. The school will be reborn as a luxury hotel comprising of 48 guest rooms, restaurants, private baths and a gym. Guests of the hotel can explore the culture of Kyoto with shrines, temples and historic landmarks close by. The hotel will be a 10-minute walk from the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto’.
OZO North Pattaya, Thailand (opening March 2020)
Known for beautiful beaches, the cosmopolitan coastal city of Pattaya in Thailand will be welcoming the new OZO North Pattaya come March 2020. This mid-scale hotel offers travellers a cost-effective option for the popular region, with multiple dining options, high-tech facilities and comfortable surroundings, making it the ideal hotel option for those seeking convenience and affordability.
Generator Washington, D.C. (opening in April 2020)
Generator, the award-winning, design-led, culturally affluent and socially driven accommodation provider with 12 locations across Europe and Miami, is set to open a new property in Washington D.C. in April 2020. After successfully breaking into the American market with its inaugural U.S. property in Miami Beach in 2018, acclaimed hospitality group Generator will launch its second stateside venture in the U.S. capital city. Situated in Washington D.C. between Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle, the property will boast the brand’s signature elements; comfortable private rooms and luxury suites, brilliantly designed shared accommodations, trendy F&B outlets and interactive programming, all at affordable price points. Generator is the perfect option for those who want to be in one of the hippest neighbourhoods in the nation’s capital, but don’t want to pay a fortune. With a mix of well designed, super-friendly and centrally located spaces, Generator Washington D.C. ensures all types of travellers feel welcome.
Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences, Singer Island, The Palm Beaches, Florida (opening spring 2020)
Scheduled for completion in spring 2020, Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences offers a new paradigm of mindful living on Singer Island, Florida for those who are pursuing wellness lifestyle or a relaxing spa getaway. Amrit, which is Sanskrit for “elixir of life,” totals 351 units (hotel and residences) between two towers (Tower P – Peace and Tower H – Happiness) and is developed in partnership with the Himalayan Institute, merging Eastern traditions and inner science with Western luxury, enhanced through modern technologies and personalised programming. The property will offer an outdoor spa, a meditation garden and outdoor yoga studios, including mood-enhancing aromatherapy and posture-supportive heat reflexology floors. The property will also feature an exterior sound intrusion block and dawn simulation lighting, as well as wellness programmes, helping its guests and residents to learn to live consciously, and educating them about how blue light and technology affect sleep quality.
Nobu Hotel, Chicago, Illinois (opening spring 2020)
Illinois is located in the Great Lakes region, in the beating heart of America’s Midwest. The gateway city of Chicago is home to jazz, blues, shopping on the Magnificent Mile, 26 Michelin star restaurants, and an array of world class hotels from boutique to historic, and from luxury to family focused. Visitors to Chicago can now plan their visit to stay the Nobu Hotel, located in the vibrant West Loop neighbourhood and opening in spring 2020. The hotel will include a Nobu restaurant and a rooftop bar, as well as 115 guest rooms and suites with a blend of old-world Japanese influences with ultra-modern design. Beyond the gateway city, Route 66 enables visitors to venture out on the ‘Mother Road’ to experience small towns with award-winning bed and breakfast properties, luxury log cabins and inns rich in presidential history.
Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, Paradise Valley, Arizona (opening spring 2020)
The much-awaited Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley resort in Scottsdale, Arizona will be opening in the spring of 2020. Overlooking the mesmerising Camelback Mountain, the resort will be inspired by its surroundings. While the restaurants will feature ingredients that have been carefully sourced from the resort’s orchard and garden, the spa will use treatments that have been inspired by the Arizona deserts. The 215-room, 20-acre resort will have it all with exemplary service, incredible interiors and a fantastic location just minutes away from Old Town Scottsdale. It will also feature a 16,000-square-foot spa and one of North America’s longest pools, measuring over 400 feet in length.
The Pittman Hotel, Dallas, Texas (opening summer 2020)
The Pittman Hotel, located adjacent to the vibrant community of Deep Ellum, is set to open its doors in summer 2020. Dallas is a city where Southern meets modern and legacy meets luxury, and Deep Ellum boasts a vibrant culture, art and music scene. The seven-story hotel will feature 164 luxuriously appointed guestrooms, a pool, an outdoor and indoor restaurant and bar, as well as a grand ballroom where the legendary American Blues and gospel musician, Lemon Henry ‘Blind Lemon’ Jefferson once performed.
Four Seasons, Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida (opening November 2020)
The new 23-story Four Seasons is anticipated to open in November 2020 with a staggering 150 hotel rooms and 95 residences. The new Four Seasons will be welcoming guests to a contemporary modern design positioned in the heart of Greater Fort Lauderdale. The hotel will be set on the spectacular southern coastline of South Florida, offering beachfront views for its guests. Additionally, the Four Seasons will be home to two new restaurants, a spa, fitness centre, children’s recreation room and ballroom, as well as meeting facilities.
Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (opening late 2020)
Guests can escape to Ras Al Khaimah for beach, desert and mountain adventures. The northernmost Emirate of the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah, enjoys a more peaceful and laid-back rhythm, yet is only 45 minutes from Dubai. The new Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort will offer overwater luxury on the Arabian Gulf in a pristine eco-sanctuary and is set to open at the end of 2020. Part of the new Mina Al Arab luxury development includes a beachfront playground with a marina, waterfront cafes and boutiques and the resort offers 300 guest rooms, suites and overwater villas in Maldivian resort style. Guests can wake up to the call of the waves and dive directly into the ocean below. Nature lovers will relish the open terrain of Ras Al Khaimah, from balmy waters to golden shoreline to the rugged desert. Guests can charter a yacht and sail off into the sunset or ride across rolling dunes and conquer the mountain peak of Jebel Jais, the largest peak in the UAE.
HOHO, Vienna, Austria (opening late 2020)
Located just a short distance from the heart of Vienna, from late 2020 guests can check into the all new HOHO hotel. Set to be the world’s tallest timber building, situated in the peaceful neighbourhood of Seestadt. HOHO takes inspiration from the elements of the earth which is incorporated into its slick and simplistic design. The wooden high riser will offer beauty, health, therapy and various recreational wellness activities situated right by the Danube River.
Amari Colombo, Sri Lanka (opening late 2020)
Set to open in Q3 2020, new Amari Colombo will be the perfect fit for both business and leisure travel. Set in the heart of Sri Lanka’s capital, where colonial architecture and winding back alleys are contrasted with contemporary buildings which have transformed the skyline. Colombo’s bohemia is evident throughout the galleries, museums and markets, all of which offer insight into the local lifestyle and culture. With an impressive 11 different room and suite categories, there will be something for everyone, and the new Ahara, an all-day restaurant which offers a huge range of pan-Asian cuisine in a live-cooking setting.
Habitas, Namibia (opening late 2020)
Over the last few years, Namibia’s hotel scene has had a major renaissance with world-famous brands opening throughout one of the world’s least densely populated countries. Keeping up the momentum is the second opening from Habitas, the first property being in Mexico. The property is focused on fostering personal development and connecting people to nature through shared experience. Habitas Namibia will open just half an hour from Namibia’s capital Windhoek, in a 35,000-acre private reserve in 2020. Its 15 rooms, constructed for minimum environmental impact, sit on a hilltop alongside a restaurant, a pool and a fire-pit area to lounge in. Activities will include nature walks and safari drives guided by San Bushmen to see specifics that are only found in Namibia, jam sessions led by local musicians and innovative meditation sessions.
Hotel scene in Washington D.C and Los Angeles continues to thrive
There are a huge number of hotel launches in major U.S. cities throughout 2020, particularly in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. In the next year alone, Washington D.C. will see the following luxury hotels open; Riggs, Thompson, and the Meringer Hotel, which will be joined by the likes of Generator and Citizen M which are adding to the city’s cool yet affordable accommodation options. Los Angeles will also see a flurry of new openings, particularly in Hollywood with the Godfrey Hotel, The Pendry, Thompson, and Tommie Hotel. Other 2020 openings in Los Angeles will include Fairmont Century Plaza, the W Los Angeles Downtown, The Cambria Hotel Los Angeles (Downtown), and Citizen M Los Angeles Downtown.
