A look at the latest hotel openings in the Caribbean and beyond

December 7, 2022 No Comments

A weekly look at the latest hotel and resort news.

Cayo Levantado Resort, a brand-new resort under the Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts portfolio, is now open for reservations and will start welcoming guests on June 1, 2023. Located on the island of Cayo Levantado in the Dominican Republic, just a few miles away from Samaná Bay, this rebranded, and extensively renovated property marks Bahia’s evolution into the luxury hotel management segment with the aim of improving its offer and adding value to the tourism sector. 

The island is made up of three sandy and palm-fringed beaches, one being open to the public and two that are exclusively for guests staying at Cayo Levantado Resort. The resort offers two swimming pools, two spas (including a jungle spa), an outdoor CrossFit area, a beach club, a personal training studio, a beauty salon, botanic garden, a wide range of entertainment activities and an exclusive area focused on wellness. Guests will be able to choose from three à la carte restaurants, one buffet restaurant, four bars and a coffee shop. Two additional specialty restaurants give visitors exciting dining options outside the all-inclusive offerings.

Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya officially opened its doors in Riviera Maya, Mexico, surrounded by lush mangroves. The exclusive adult oasis boasts 291 sophisticated suites with elegant amenities, modern décor and sweeping views of the resort grounds and sea. The all-inclusive resort is situated on 1.5 acres of pure white sand beach with easy access to the Cancun International Airport and only six miles from Playa del Carmen.

All rooms and suites feature spa-like bathrooms with rainfall showers, turndown service, LCD satellite TV’s, Wi-Fi internet access and complimentary minibars with soft drinks and premium beer along with 24-hour in-suite dining featuring chef specialties. Each guestroom offers a furnished balcony or patio with views of the ocean or garden.

Inspired by the art and architecture of pre-Hispanic Maya culture, Zen Spa provides a serene atmosphere for relaxation and wellness, featuring soothing and restorative treatments with ten indoor treatment rooms. Zen Spa also offers a master suite with a hydrotherapy tub, sauna and steam rooms, a fitness centre with group classes, strength zone and cardio area, and a full-service beauty salon.

Hilton is expanding its luxury portfolio in the US with plans carved in stone to develop the all-season Waldorf Astoria Lake Tahoe. Expected to debut in 2027, the mixed-use development will introduce 76 guest rooms and 61 best-in-class Waldorf Astoria branded residences.

Managed by Hilton, the new build luxury hotel will mark Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts’ first property in the treasured Sierra Nevada mountain range. Lake Tahoe is North America’s largest alpine lake recognized globally for its blue water, 72-mile shoreline and renowned ski resorts and terrain. It is no surprise that in 1960, Tahoe was home to the Winter Olympics. Boating, biking, hiking, climbing and golfing are just a taste of what draws athletes and adventurers to this locale today.

RIU Hotels & Resorts has inaugurated a new 5-star establishment with 428 rooms on the beach in Cancun, Riu Palace Kukulkan. The new adults only hotel offers 24-hour all-inclusive service.

The new hotel offers a wide array of culinary choices with a total of seven restaurants: the main Don Julio, a buffet with terrace; the Japanese restaurant Sunakku; the Krystal, with fusion food; the Mexican restaurant la Casa de las Flores; the Italian restaurant Rossini; a poolside steakhouse fit for meat lovers; and the grill Pepe’s Food with barbecue delights served throughout the day. It also has five bars: the lobby bar Daiquiri, with a mixology specialist and daily signature cocktail; Capuchino patisserie and ice cream shop; la Latina lounge; Mamasita pool bar; and the Lounge bar.

Outside, guests will be able to enjoy up to four pools in addition to direct beach access from the hotel. They will also have wellness and beauty services available at Renova Spa. One of the hotel’s special features is that interested guests are able to book Elite Club by RIU rooms. Guests selecting this exclusive service will have access to separate and personalized check-in  and late check-out, a welcome gift, aromatherapy and a Premium beverage dispenser, among many other perks.

Villa Ponta Melagrana, an ultra-exclusive villa located in Montenegro’s charming fishing village of Pržno, has launched globally.

With picturesque views of the turquoise Adriatic Sea, the Sveti Stefan Peninsula and Sveti Nikola Island; Villa Ponta Melagrana is one of Montenegro’s most luxurious villas and is available for exclusive hire only to ensure the utmost privacy.

Catering for up to 22 guests across eleven spacious bedrooms, Villa Ponta Melagrana includes amenities like a sauna, gym, beauty and massage room as well as an indoor swimming pool, and outdoor infinity pool for guests to enjoy a hotel experience in the privacy of their own villa. There is also a full-service spa, with therapists on demand, to offer bespoke massage and other wellness treatments.

Prices for exclusive hire of up to six bedrooms start at £5,980 per night.

New 70-acre adults-only hotel opens in Riviera Maya

December 5, 2022 No Comments

Nestled in the secluded region of Riviera Maya, Mexico, Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya is a new property that is close to the Cancun International Airport and Playa del Carmen.

This sophisticated, all-inclusive resort is situated on 1.5 acres of pure white sand beach combining state-of-the-art amenities with heartfelt service and inviting accommodations.

Stunning suites

The exclusive adult oasis has 291 sophisticated suites with elegant amenities, modern décor and beautiful views of the resort grounds and sea. All rooms and suites feature spa-like bathrooms with rainfall showers, turndown service, LCD satellite TV’s, Wi-Fi internet access and complimentary minibars with soft drinks and premium beer along with 24-hour in-suite dining featuring chef specialties. Each guestroom offers a furnished balcony or patio, views of the ocean or garden, marble bathrooms and double vanities, all exuding the tranquility and peacefulness of the Riviera Maya region.

Guests of Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya can enjoy adult-oriented amenities, including a sprawling ocean-view pool with an adjacent hot tub, nine globally inspired restaurants, bars and lounges, and unique daily and nightly activities, such as aqua aerobics, water sports, cooking lessons, live performances and more.

Wellness and relaxation

Inspired by the art and architecture of pre-Hispanic Maya culture, Zen Spa provides a serene atmosphere for relaxation and wellness, featuring soothing and restorative treatments with ten indoor treatment rooms. Zen Spa also offers a master suite with a hydrotherapy tub, sauna and steam rooms, a fitness center with group classes, strength zone and cardio area, and a full-service beauty salon.

Ideal for large gatherings, Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya offers the perfect venues for meetings and conferences with more than 6,000 square feet of modern facilities designed for success. Elegant outdoor spaces and gardens allow for dreamy destination weddings with a blissful backdrop.

Here’s where to find the world’s tallest, wooden hotel

December 2, 2022 No Comments

After a soft local opening, the world’s tallest hotel made almost exclusively from wood, has now opened for guests everywhere at the birthplace of cross-country skiing, Skellefteå in Swedish Lapland.

The new hotel is part of a five-day/four-night Wood Hotel Experience from Off the Map Travel adventure travel specialists, offering a mix of sustainability and nature in a beautiful setting.

Designed for enjoyment in the forested area of northern Sweden, couples as well as families will experience the hotel along with local adventure and gastronomy.  Available from December to March, the Wood Hotel Experience begins with an overnight stay in Stockholm before a flight to Skellefteå where guests will be transferred by electric car to the Wood Hotel.

About the hotel

The new Wood Hotel stands 75 meters tall with 20 storeys and is made almost entirely from spruce and pine sourced from the neighboring forests. Dominating the skyline but fitting into the town’s natural beauty with its wood construction, the hotel has 205 contemporary rooms filled with the rich, warm smell of the trees they are built from. In addition to a rooftop spa, the hotel has three stunning restaurants including an Italian café, an Asian restaurant and one with locally sourced, Sami-inspired food.

“This is an opportunity for sustainability-minded visitors who search out “neo luxury,” looking for culture and escapism all wrapped into one comfortable, climate-sensitive package,” noted, Alex Minnis, Chief Operations Officer of Off the Map Travel. “Being made out of wood contributes to the building’s being climate-positive as the structure absorbs more CO2 than it uses. It also contributes to comfort and personal well-being, reducing stress and improving sleep,” he added.

A unique experience

As part of the experience, guests will create their own gin at Skellefteå’s award-winning distillery using locally foraged ingredients.

Guests can also choose to go snowshoeing to take in the sights of this beautiful part of Swedish Lapland and then relax in the hotel’s Vana Spa with its saunas and outdoor pool offering panoramic views over Skellefteå and its forests.  In winter, the new itinerary is ideally located for guests to experience the Northern Lights on a self-guided walk with well-marked trails leaving directly from the hotel.

For cross-country skiers, Skellefteå is a dream, offering choices for all levels of enthusiasts, with optional excursions possible according to guests’ interests and levels.

Priced from £2045 per person ($2500 USD at the time of this writing), the five-day/four-night Wood Hotel Experience itinerary includes all accomodations, daily breakfast, one lunch and gin making, snowshoeing and the rooftop spa. Flights and travel insurance are additional, and the package can be customized to include excursions such as cross-country skiing.