Luxury hotel openings coming in 2020, as well as some top destinations for travel next year.
Rosewood Little Dix Bay (Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands)
Long regarded as one of the world’s greatest getaways founded by conservationist Laurance Rockefeller over half a century ago, Rosewood Little Dix Bay will open in January 2020 following a four-year closure. The monumental opening of Rosewood Little Dix Bay will not only relaunch the timeless retreat, but it will also bring a new age to the destination of Virgin Gorda and the British Virgin Islands. Inspired by its natural setting with structures positioned to follow the lines of the landscape, the exclusive resort has been reimagined for today’s ultra-luxury traveler by New York-based design team Meyer Davis. 80 new guestrooms, suites and villas, including Tree House Suites and One-Bedroom Pool Suites, will offer a level of refinement unrivaled in the Caribbean. Spanning 500 acres on half a mile of beach, the resort will include four distinct dining venues, two pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center and Sense®, A Rosewood Spa set high on a bluff at the cliff's edge. A family-friendly destination, Rosewood Little Dix Bay will offer a wide array of activities including a tennis center, Rosewood Explorers Club, hiking trails, watersports and beach drops.
Miraval Berkshires (Lenox, Massachusetts)
Miraval Berkshires will open May 2020 atop 380 protected acres in Lenox, Massachusetts. The third full-fledged Miraval resort, Miraval Berkshires will be fully designed by New York City-based designer Clodagh, who is known for embracing “life-enhancing minimalism,” a belief that good design supports well-being and can transform people’s lives. Located in the heart of Berkshire Country, the resort’s beautifully landscaped grounds and 148 uniquely appointed guest rooms incorporate the breathtaking natural surroundings of Lenox to create a one-of-a-kind restorative haven for its guests. The new Miraval will feature many of the brand’s signature programs and treatments that are available at all properties (i.e. Shamana Karma, Naga Thai, equine programming), but with brand new programs and treatments that are reflective of the destination and indoor walkways to ensure that guests can enjoy the property year-round.
Rosewood São Paulo (São Paulo, Brazil)
Rosewood São Paulo’s 2020 opening will mark the first South American property for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. Located in the heart of São Paulo’s Cidade Matarazzo, a complex of elegant buildings dating back to the twentieth century, the new hotel will be situated in a former hospital. Architecture and design for the new property will be led by figures including the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the designer Philippe Starck, as well as the renowned Brazilian artists Vik Muniz and Saint-Clair Cemin. Rosewood São Paulo will feature 151 guestrooms and 114 owners’ suites, which will be situated within a vertical park created by Nouvel. Two restaurants, including one located on a veranda overlooking the lush hotel gardens, will be complemented by a bar and a caviar lounge. Recreational facilities will include two swimming pools with one rooftop pool and the other set amongst the landscaped grounds and a large spa with six treatment rooms and a fitness area.
Lexington, Kentucky
Known as the ‘Horse Capital Of The World’, Lexington, Kentucky has been attracting the who’s who of the Thoroughbred racing industry for years. Recently, however, Lexington has introduced an incredible array of innovative restaurants, awe-inspiring exhibitions and luxurious accommodations – 2019 alone saw the monumental unveilings of Origin and The Sire Hotel – evolving the city as a bucket list destination for those far outside of the core equestrian crowd. In 2020, Lexington will continue its rise into the mainstream with a number of exciting international events, including the 37th annual Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will return to the city’s storied Keeneland for only the second time in its history. One of Thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious international events, the Breeders’ Cup combines the best horses, jockeys and trainers with world-class hospitality, cuisine and entertainment for an unparalleled luxury lifestyle experience that attracts visitors from all around the world. For the more musically-inclined, the Festival of the Bluegrass, a three-day outdoor traditional bluegrass music festival, will also return to Lexington, ushering in thousands of bluegrass fans to enjoy the best of the genre in the most beautiful of settings. And for the perfect way to explore the city, the RuntheBluegrass Half Marathon, dubbed “America’s Prettiest Half-Marathon” will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2020, offering an enhanced race day experience for runners and the local community alike. While in town for either event, visitors shouldn’t skip a visit to one of the many distinctive distilleries and breweries, including Blue Grass Distillers, known for its production of some of the finest whiskey in the world, and the centuries-old Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.
Bangkok, Thailand
Coming off of its fourth consecutive year as the most-visited city in the world, Bangkok, Thailand has long been considered a cultural capital capable of entertaining every kind of traveler. But in 2019, the metropolis upped the ante even further with a number of exciting openings and developments, making it the opportune moment for a first-time or return visit. In March, Rosewood Bangkok kicked off an upcoming surge of extravagant accommodations entering the city, simultaneously evolving Bangkok’s existing hospitality landscape to stretch into its buzzing central business and retail district. Soon to be followed by openings from Four Seasons, Capella, Langham and Aman, the Rosewood opening solidified Bangkok as a destination of note for nearly every luxury hotel brand. And with the new accommodations comes a newly enhanced airport: in 2020, total passenger capacity at Bangkok’s BKK airport will increase from 75 million to 103 million, allowing more and more visitors to flock to the metropolis. In addition to an emerging arts scene – Bangkok joined the international art ranks this year with the Bangkok Art Biennale, which featured acclaimed artists including Marina Abramovic and Yayoi Kusama – and culinary collection – newcomers 100 Mahaseth and Sorn are worth a taste for their traditional Thai offerings – the city is also home to a class of dynamic, design-minded entrepreneurs who will continue to bring their endeavors to the city in 2019 and beyond.
