The resort report: what's new in the hotel world
ANN RUPPENSTEIN
Checking out the latest hotel and resort news from fresh renovations to brand new and upcoming properties ready to welcome your clients.
The desert oasis of Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara in the United Arab Emirates is now offering travellers the chance to stay amid the dunes at the all-new four-bedroom Sahra Villa and two-bedroom Al Sarab Villa, complete with its own private majlis (sitting room).
Located a few minutes’ drive from the resort in a secluded area offering unobstructed views of the fiery-red dunes of the Empty Quarter, both villas are part of the exclusive villa compound. The 5,263 square-foot Sahra Villa can accommodate up to eight adults in its master bedroom and three twin bedrooms, each with their own private terrace. The villa also boasts a private swimming pool with a cabana and sprawling indoor and outdoor living spaces.
At the expansive and opulent 9,181 square-foot Al Sarab Villa, guests are surrounded by palm trees. In addition to two elegant bedrooms accommodating a maximum of four guests, the lavish villa comes with ample space to entertain both indoors and outdoors, including a grand reception majlis and a fireplace to enjoy starry desert nights. The outdoor terrace includes a dining table alongside a fully equipped barbecue area, with sun loungers circling a private pool overlooking the dunes.
Club Med Buccaneer’s Creek in Martinique will be undergoing extensive renovations highlighting significant changes to the rooms, reception area, main restaurant, and bar slated for Fall 2023. The property originally opened in 1969, making the property the first Club Med village to open in “the Americas.”
Tucked away in the large coconut groves of Martinique facing Diamond Rock, the property will undergo a significant refresh to rejuvenate the resort and enhance the overall guest experience which represents an important step in Club Med’s global commitment to evolving the brand to a more upscale experience. The resort will debut the first phase of this renovation by the end of 2023 with all-new interiors organically inspired by the vibrant colours of the surrounding nature and rich Creole culture.
Songtsam, an award winning collection of boutique luxury Hotels, Resorts & Destination Management Company has officially opened Songtsam Glamping Palpa, its first glamping property in Tibet. Located in Baiba Village situated on the Niyang River in Nyingchi, the glamping property provides guests with a luxury outdoor camping experience, where they are surrounded by snow-capped mountains, forests and pastures.
Songtsam Glamping Palpa has 30 accommodation tents, four dining tents and one public leisure tent. All tents in the camp are made of Tentipi, the top outdoor brand in Nordic. Tentipi tents have a unique patented ventilation design which features an opening and closing of the top ventilation cap that can also be adjusted according to the weather conditions, the wind resistant level can reach to level 9.
Each tent is equipped with an outdoor table and two outdoor chairs on the balcony outside the tent, a private bathroom, 24 hours of continuous hot water, an exquisite copper wash basin, and the toilet not only automatically flushes, but also has heating and other functions. Each tent is also equipped with a camping night light on the bedside table, a B&O portable Bluetooth speaker, multiple charging sockets, textured brass switches, matcha-colored soft leather sofas, Lhasa handmade wool carpets, and cozy bedding.
Clients heading to the Peruvian Amazon can now experience Eywa Lodge Amazonas, a newly opened property near the city of Iquitos, next to the source of the Amazon River.
With a strategic location next to the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Eywa Lodge Amazonas offers an immersive experience in the Amazon rainforest. The hotel is well connected through the Iquitos airport, where the Eywa Lodge team will great travellers to take them to the accommodations in the heart of the jungle.
The wellness-centric Aleenta Retreat Chiang Mai is now open in northern Thailand, marking the third Aleenta branded property from Thailand-based luxury boutique hotel specialist AKARYN Hotel Group. Offering 44 rooms and suites, a restaurant, bar, spa and wellness centre featuring tailor-made wellness programs and retreats, the resort focuses on providing authentic, premium, sustainable experiences.
The spacious rooms, one-and-two-bedroom pool residences and a four-bedroom teak villa with a private swimming pool merge traditional Thai design with a soothing palette of natural hues, sophisticated furnishings and tech-savvy facilities. Embracing its spiritual location in the ancient city of Chiang Mai, the resort is home to one of the brand’s signature Ayurah Wellness Centres. Alongside complementary daily yoga, Qi Gong, meditation and mindfulness classes, there’s a menu of holistic wellness retreats and tailor-made programs available for clients.
