The Best (and Worst) New Luxury Hotels Of 2014

LTI is in the best position to give the inside track on this year's well-documented luxury hotel openings with nine highly experienced and discerning experts covering the globe.

So, who got it right this year and who got it so wrong?

THE BEST:

10. Cromlix House, Scotland
Many thought tennis star Andy Murray and his family would struggle with this venture. But they have got most things right and thereby created a stand out country house hotel experience, enhanced by warm and caring staff, who are mostly locals.

9. Waldorf Astoria, Amsterdam
With just 93 rooms, this is positively 'boutique' for the Waldorf Astoria brand. We love these six 17th and 18th century townhouses splendidly converted into what is now Amsterdam's top luxury hotel.

8. Four Seasons, Dubai (Jumeirah Beach)
Just weeks old, this is a master class lesson in how to open a luxury hotel. Everything is in tune, with more dining and entertainment options to follow soon. We think this is destined to become Dubai's top luxury hotel and dining destination.

7. Raffles, Istanbul
This caught us by surprise. A routine stop over in Istanbul revealed an impressive new property that has so much to love: staff and management, nice design aspects, excellent shopping (the hotel is an integral part of an upscale shopping mall) and…….. wonderful beds.

6. Cape Weligama, Sri Lanka
A hot ‘all villa' property in what is currently a hot destination. GM Michele Giraudo is our kind of manager – always on hand and always looking to improve the guest experience. The great dining, superb location and impressive swimming pool also won us over.

5. Maalifushi, Maldives
A little isolated, compared to most of the top resorts, and on a tiny piece of atoll real estate, just 800 metres by 200 metres, thereby delivering a real Maldives experience. Wonderful island chic accommodations, a great spa and plentiful in/on water activities make this our new favourite Maldives destination.

4. Four Seasons, Moscow
As Four Seasons continue their prolific global expansion, it would be easy for the brand (and LTI) to become a little blasé. But they rarely put a foot wrong. Here, they have created a wonderful, warm and luxurious hotel in a stunning location. It's a shame that they couldn't get the spa (set to be one of the best in Moscow) ready in time for the opening – an oversight, which marks them down in our books.

3. Loews Regency, New York
OK, so this is not really a new hotel as such – but the lengthy and well-executed refurbishment has revealed a property that is new in many regards. This iconic property still offers a superb location and some of the largest rooms and suites in the city. We love the lighter, cleaner lines of the décor.

2. Portrait, Florence
This luxury boutique hotel has unbeatable views of the Ponte Vecchio. And we love the huge rooms and suites. Couture shoemakers Salvatore Ferragamo own it – and the family have poured heart, soul and money into this wonderful property.

And our top choice for best new luxury hotel of 2014 is …

1. Beaumont, London (pictured at top)
We are long-time fans of Chris Corbin and Jeremy King. Their ‘dining room' empire in London never fails to impress, so we have been well aware of their longstanding ambition to open a hotel. It was no surprise that the hotel opening was pushed back several times, so that everything would be perfect. And perfect it is – in fact it feels like it has been there forever, and the Art Deco inspired rooms and suites are warm and welcoming. The Colony Grill Room is outstanding and deservedly one of the hottest reservations in town.

THE WORST:

10. Waldorf Astoria, Dubai
Since opening, this is struggling to meet the standards expected, particularly given the intensive competition in Dubai. This has the potential to be an impressive property, but for the moment we have a long list of shortcomings and concerns.

9. Peninsula, Paris
Admittedly there is a lot to love about this property, but we have found fault with so many aspects that we are left a little bewildered. Maybe it needs more time to settle, but they have some ground to make up before we could ever consider this as one of our top five hotels in Paris.

8. The Brando, French Polynesia
This bizarre and remote property sends a very mixed message. And it's a long way to travel to be disappointed. Its eco claims are questionable and the ‘Robinson Crusoe' effect is dubious, due to the mass of hi tech gadgetry present. No doubt many will find it sensational, but to LTI it is a strange and ill-conceived concept.

7. One and Only, Hayman Island
Following a much-published major refurbishment and re-branding of an existing property, we had high expectations for this new resort. The location is magnificent, but the hotel's failings on so many aspects mean that they fall far short of delivering a true luxury experience. A big disappointment.

6. ME, Mallorca
For the moment, the ME brand just makes it through as a luxury option with LTI, but we have yet to find an ME property that really impresses us. This one fails in so many ways. The location is questionable and service standards are well below the level we would expect.

5. ME, Ibiza
The ME brand disappoints yet again. We have real issues here with poor management, service and food. And we are also surprised at how such a major financial investment could be followed by such low standards.

4. Park Hyatt, New York
There is much to like about this property, but after three visits we have one important issue, which seems to have gone unaddressed (so far) – and that is noise levels. Traffic and construction noise, from insufficient glazing, is a major design flaw at this 24-hour location – with huge implications.

3. Ham Yard, London
We are long-standing fans of the wonderful hotels created by Tim and Kit Kemp. But this one sadly falls well short of their usual high standards. It has a feel of a pop up and appears unfinished and lacking in warmth and character. The overall exterior look is very corporate and jars with the unique character of Soho. In time it could blossom – and if anyone can achieve this it is the Kemp duo. They have their work cut out on this occasion.

2. SLS, Las Vegas
SLS Miami failed to impress us, but after three days at SLS Las Vegas we would have returned to the Miami location in a heartbeat. There is so much wrong here – including poor location, poor management and many of the hotel's dining and entertainment options failing to draw the crowds, meaning shutdowns (or limited opening hours) and a seemingly never ending decline.

And, it's with a heavy heart that we declare the worst new luxury hotel of 2014 to be ……..

1. Shangri-La, London
What views! And we are not talking about those of the amazing London skyline stretched out below you – but rather those direct or reflective views into neighbouring rooms. And when you can see them, they no doubt can also see you. This disastrous design fault has already been well documented by the global media, but we have witnessed it firsthand on two occasions and it is very disconcerting. The hotel's solution has been to fit blinds, but then you are in just another hotel room, which completely erodes the whole purpose of staying here, as room décor and size is only on par with the average London 4/5 star hotel.

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