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 or upcoming properties to entice your clients.
Sandals Resorts’ newest all-inclusive resort, Sandals Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, will mark the ninth Caribbean destination and 18th Sandals resort for Sandals Resorts International when it welcomes its first guests on March 27, 2024. Now open for reservations, the property will feature 301 rooms and the portfolio’s most expansive suites to date, with Two-Bedroom Butler Villas spanning across the waterfront. The resort will feature 16 food and beverage concepts. A focal point from the open-air lobby, a 300-foot linear pool appears to meet the horizon, flanked by posh cabanas and Swim-Up Bar access. An adjacent crescent-shaped pool invites guests to lounge and swim, while Parisol’s double crescent infinity-edge pool hugs the sand and overlooks the bay. Built along the riverside, the sound of flowing water will surround Red Lane Spa cabanas to really connect guests with the serene outdoors.
To further celebrate the launch of the new resort, the top two Canadian travel advisors with the highest earnings from bookings made with Unique Vacations Canada Inc. or with a Canadian tour operator (and registered bookings on the Sandals Travel Agent Portal) to Sandals Saint Vincent and The Grenadines from September 27 – October 31, 2023 (and for travel March 27, 2024 – December 31, 2025) will be rewarded with a remarkable 6-day/5-night stay in an alluring Butler Suite at the all-new destination.
Luxury travel company &Beyond has officially launched its first lodge in Asia, &Beyond Punakha River Lodge, situated in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. Situated on the banks of the Mo Chu River in the Punakha Valley, the lodge features six tented suites, as well as a two-bedroom villa with a private pool and a one-bedroom villa, which boasts a plunge pool or hot tub, depending on the season.
Boasting uninterrupted views of the Himalayas, the lodge site offers easy access to the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a site that is a major drawcard for visitors to Punakha. A suspension bridge leads over the river and a selection of walking trails is situated nearby. The riverside setting is ideal for al fresco lunches and beach activities, such as yoga, massages and swimming. The site also allows &Beyond to offer a variety of activities and experiences that is unmatched in the area, including cycling, river rafting and kayaking, as well as exceptional nature hikes and birding opportunities.
Clients heading to the Eternal City can now experience the intimate 91-room Rome EDITION. The hotel has three unique bars, a rooftop lounge, bar and pool, a show-kitchen restaurant, a well-appointed urban wellness space with gym and treatment rooms, a courtyard garden and 17 suites for those who desire more space.
Built in the 1940s and formerly occupied by one of the main Italian banks, the building is an example of the rationalist style and features a central staircase of rare cipollino marble from the quarries of Apuane. Original features are retained throughout, including the central courtyards and original statues and lamps. In a first for the city, the hotel has an expansive lush garden that will be both piazza and dining space.
Amari Raaya Maldives
The newly opened Amari Raaya Maldives offers a total of 187 villas with a range of accommodations including private beach villas, overwater pool villas, and adjoining family villas. Located on a private island in the Raa Atoll, the resort is a 45-minute seaplane journey away from Velana International Airport. Each villa is thoughtfully designed to offer unobstructed views of the ocean, stretching as far as the eye can see.
Amari Raaya Maldives offers a diverse range of activities from snorkelling to witness coral reefs to water skiing, jet skiing and wakeboarding. For guests looking for a leisurely yet engaging experience, the resort offers options like mini-golf, paddle tennis, archery and badminton. Nature enthusiasts can opt for a discovery walk through the serene mangrove forest on a designated nature trail. The resort also offers a zip line, a spa and eight restaurants.
Kanuhura Maldives is now flying the Six Senses flag. The newly re-imagined property encompasses three private islands and is a short seaplane ride from Malé International Airport or speedboat transfer from the pristine Lhaviyani Atoll.
With 91 beachfront and overwater villas, including 12 new one- and two-bedroom Beach Retreats and the three-bedroom Beach Reserve, with private pools and steps from the ocean, Six Senses Kanuhura is on point for both families and couples seeking quality time together.
With the opening of Moxy Sydney Airport, Moxy Hotels has debuted in Australia. True to the brand’s experiential voice, the hotel boldly reinvents the traditional hotel stay with vibrant guest experiences and lively, sociable service. Located in Mascot, a convenient suburb in the Inner-South of Sydney, the new 301-bedroom hotel is 10 minutes from Sydney International Airport via Moxy’s pink airport shuttle bus.
The lobby’s exposed ceilings, wrought iron beams, and natural materials capture the open, airy feel of a converted warehouse, paying homage to Mascot’s historic factory buildings. Designed as a multi-functional work and interactive social space, the lobby is centred around the hotel bar where guests check in with a complimentary “Get Moxy” signature cocktail. Within the lobby, guests can also enjoy the hotel’s Living Room, a laid-back communal space where guests can relax surrounded by a curated collection of eclectic and nostalgic pieces, including a 1970s photobooth and reclaimed vintage lounge chairs. The industrial-chic bedrooms feature tech-savvy touches including motion-activated LED lights, keyless entry, 55-inch flat-screen TVs, and complimentary Wi-Fi help, in addition to a retro phone where guests can listen to a themed bedtime story to doze off in style.
