Luxury & Boutique Hot Hotel Openings for 2012-2013

Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund – Opening October 2012

Located in the northern Bund area, near the historic landmarks of old Shanghai and within easy access to modern cultural and commercial centers, Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund is also the first hotel in the city to provide river views from every suite. Each of the 130 suites is equipped with large French windows which open out onto the broad Bund thoroughfare. A variety of room types are available, including a signature suite which features panoramic views and a private dipping pool. In addition, the Banyan Suite will include a generously-sized swimming pool, a unique offering among Shanghai hotels. From Western seafood restaurant Oceans to Cantonese-style restaurant Ming Yuan, along with a high-end Japanese sashimi and sushi counter, Tai Hei, guests have a plethora of dining venues to choose from. Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund also marks the debut of a new concept called “Banyan Tree Host,” which consists of a dozen senior concierges of different nationalities who provide the highest level of customized service, beginning just after a guest's reservation is made, ensuring a truly customized, gratifying stay.

InterContinental London Westminster – Opening November 2012

This November, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts will open InterContinental London Westminster – the first InterContinental property to open in the UK in 36 years. Located in the Royal and political heartland of Britain, this landmark hotel will feature 256 guestrooms including an impressive Penthouse, 14 one bedroom suites, and 30 studio suites. Despite being just steps away from British landmarks like Parliament and Westminster Abbey, guests will likely prefer to stay on property to experience Blue Boar Smokehouse & Grill, an authentic barbecue-style restaurant inspired by America's best pit masters. Using true smokehouse techniques and on-site charcoal and smoking ovens, Blue Boar will offer classic, rustic comfort food dishes prepared with local, high quality British produce. For a more refined evening, Emmeline's is set to be the hotel's ethereal retreat offering an exquisite selection of champagne and cocktails. The hotel will also feature a Club InterContinental Executive Lounge, eight state-of-the-art meeting and event rooms and a comprehensive business center.

Banyan Tree Lang Co – Opening November 2012

Banyan Tree Group will launch Vietnam's first world-class integrated resort, Laguna Lăng Cô, on November 1, 2012. The development is nestled in a unique crescent bay on the coast of Central Vietnam and will include Banyan Tree and Angsana branded hotels and spas. Banyan Tree Lăng Cô offers a luxurious retreat from which to explore the culturally rich destination of Central Vietnam. Inspired by the artistic heritage of Vietnamese dynasties past, the resort features 32 one-bedroom lagoon villas and 17 one-bedroom beach villas, set on the shores of Canh Duong beach. A spa highlights Banyan Tree's award-winning treatments and services, while a Marine Center provides opportunities to learn about and explore the vibrant waters of the East Sea.

Angsana Lang Co – Opening November 2012
Banyan Tree's sister hotel, Angsana Lăng Cô, is a contemporary getaway featuring 229 stylish suites, 100 of which come equipped with their own private pools. All suites in every room category feature picturesque mountain, lagoon or sea views, and incorporate local materials such as bamboo and Mother of Pearl, along with traditional arts with a contemporary twist, lanterns and elegant framed calligraphy.

Banyan Tree Riverside Tianjin – Opening November 2012
Located on the east bank of the Hai River which runs through downtown Tianjin, China's sixth largest city in the north of the country, Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside offers 159 elegant suites, a diverse range of dining venues and the first Banyan Tree Spa in north China based on regional Asian healing therapies. Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside fuses local history and cultural references into the resort's aesthetic. Sophisticated suites draw inspiration from the muted tones and refined lines of traditional Chinese ink paintings. Most rooms feature a large French window overlooking the Hai River, while many bathrooms have an oversized round bathtub offering a similar river view.

Thompson Ocean Drive – Opening Early 2013

Thompson Hotels, an international collection of luxury hotels in major urban centers, proudly announced the addition of Hotel Victor in Miami Beach to its elite portfolio in 2011. Located in Miami's South Beach, Thompson Hotels is rebranding the historic hotel as the Thompson Ocean Drive through a multi-million dollar renovation by world renowned interior designers, Yabu Pushelberg, to both guest rooms and public spaces, to be completed in 2013. The celebrated hotel located in the heart of Miami Beach's famed Art Deco District features: 90 stylish guestrooms, most with ocean views; a stunning infinity pool; a 6,000 square foot Spa V; the fine Northern Italian BICE Ristorante and BICE Café; three lounges and bars; as well as 6,000 square feet of unique indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces.

The Oberoi, Dubai - Opening Early 2013
Situated on Sheikh Zayed Road and located on an island site, The Oberoi, Dubai, will boast 2.5 acres overlooking a scenic city view. The 250-room hotel will include a full-service spa, a 6,000 square foot ballroom along with state-of-the-art meeting facilities featuring an entire floor dedicated to meeting rooms for business savvy travelers. The Oberoi, Dubai will offer a range of gourmet experiences with three restaurants accompanied by both lobby and rooftop bars available to guests and locals alike.

Banyan Tree Kerala – Opening February 2013
Set on the private island of Nediyathuruthu, Kerala, the exclusive all pool-villa Banyan Tree Kerala is surrounded by the tranquil backwaters of the quaint Alleppey district and swathed in swaying tropical palm groves. With panoramic views and exquisitely appointed villas, the resort is the perfect place to enjoy the spoils of nature and scenic beauty of Kerala. Featuring 59 all-pool villas and one luxury houseboat, Banyan Tree Kerala is resort group's first Indian outpost.

El Encanto – Opening March 2013

Located in Santa Barbara's American Riviera, the meticulously restored El Encanto reopens in March 2013 as part of the luxurious Orient-Express portfolio. The iconic early 20th-century property is situated atop a hillside, offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Nestled amid seven acres of gloriously landscaped gardens with a historic trellised lined arbor and lily pond, El Encanto's 92 bungalows offer a secluded retreat. Designed in quintessential California bungalow styles, El Encanto offers an authentic setting for romance and rediscovery. Following its reopening, guests will enjoy a beautifully appointed boutique spa, signature restaurant featuring California coastal cuisine and a Santa Barbara dedicated wine list, a sumptuous outdoor swimming pool, a window-lined ballroom with private terrace, three meeting rooms with panoramic ocean views, and an array of outdoor event venues.

InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu – Opening April 2013
After a two year renovation of the former Hotel Dieu, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is proud to unveil InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu, a 194 room hotel in the city's most historical neighborhood. Set to open in April 2013, the property boasts breathtaking views of the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde, as well as an expansive terrace overlooking the serene Vieux Port. Inside, guests will enjoy a gourmet restaurant, access to the Deep Nature Spa, and a dedicated Cultural Space filled with artifacts uncovered during the excavation of the 18th century hotel.

Ace Hotel Los Angeles – Opening Fall 2013

Hipsters rejoice! Downtown Los Angeles will soon be home to the trendy Ace Hotel, debuting in fall 2013 in the historic United Artists theater building on Broadway, originally built by Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith. The boutique property will feature 180 rooms, a pool, restaurant, bar and an overhauled and renovated theater. This will be the second Ace Hotel in the state of California. Bustling business center by day, vibrant metropolis by night, Downtown Los Angeles has transformed into a premier entertainment district featuring restaurants and bars, museums and galleries and sports venues to amuse and delight any visitor.

Jewel Gold Coast – Opening TBD 2013

Located on the corner of Wharf and Old Burleigh Roads in Surfers Paradise – the iconic beach community on Australia's Gold Coast – the $950 million Jewel development is to be surrounded by a sub-tropical garden and will comprise three 45-level multi-faceted towers designed to resemble a trio of crystals in a rainforest. Jewel will also include resort facilities and over 10,000 sq. ft. of office and retail space.

The PuYu Hotel & Spa – Opening TBD 2013

Set within the heart of Wuhan's Wuchang commercial district within easy reach of East Lake and the city's attractions, The PuYu Hotel & Spa blends the contextual authenticity of a contemporary urban space with the soothing qualities of a luxury resort. The handsome and elegeantly designed 332 guest rooms and suites draw subtle references from the destination's past, combining acient charm with sleek state of the art technology. The PuYu's three signature restaurants as well as its comprehensive wellness offering are sure to set new standards for Wuhan and the region.