The resort report: what's new in the hotel world
ANN RUPPENSTEIN
A look at the latest hotel and resort news from fresh renovations to brand new properties.
Travellers headed to Atlanta, Georgia looking for a unique way to stay can check into the 111-room The Darwin Hotel. The boutique hotel in the city’s historic Old Fourth Ward features specialty themed suites like the Audiophile Room complete with a record player and a crate of vinyl records or the Y’allywood Room designed for movie buffs with a large TV, surround sound and popcorn machine.
Hotel amenities include a marketplace with locally made drinks and snacks, local ice cream, and clothing and gifts from local artisans; pour-over coffee service for delivery to the room; bike racks and electric bikes made in Atlanta for rental; a fitness room with a treadmill, Peloton bike, and Rogue fitness unit and more. The hotel also has Atlanta’s only dog park for its canine guests. Rates start at US$169 for guest rooms and US$269 for suites.
Aloft Hotels, a hotel brand designed for music fans and design-driven travellers, has opened the doors to Aloft Playa del Carmen. Marking the third Aloft hotel in the Mexican Caribbean, Aloft Playa del Carmen, which is part of Marriott Bonvoy, features 167 rooms and is located one street from Fifth Avenue.
Public spaces at the hotel include the Splash Rooftop featuring two infinity pools with ocean and city views and several bars, eateries and lounges. For digital nomads and remote workers, Aloft Playa del Carmen has dedicated workspaces, three rooms equipped with audiovisual technology and high-speed WiFi, a capacity for 20 people, and two private spaces ideal for videoconferencing. For added guest convenience, the property offers several high-tech features, including a mobile key program for keyless entry to guestrooms. The hotel also offers special amenities such as the Camp Aloft kids’ program, the ARF (Animals R Fun) pet-friendly program, and the Live at Aloft space showcasing local musicians.
Located in Balçova, a charming district of Izmir and one of the oldest cities in the Mediterranean, Hyatt Regency Izmir IstinyePark is a new option for clients visiting Turkey. The hotel’s 160 spacious guestrooms and suites feature views over the Gulf of Izmir. Guests have access to premium meetings and event spaces, an on-site spa, 24-hour fitness centre, and outdoor pool. For those looking to enjoy authentic Aegean and Mediterranean cuisine, Hyatt Regency Izmir IstinyePark also features an all-day dining restaurant with a partial sea view, and an airy bar and lounge.
Located next to the IstinyePark Shopping Mall, the hotel provides convenient access to the city’s rich and fascinating points of interest, including the region’s healing thermal springs, Konak Square, the main square of the city, and incredible aerial views from the Balçova Cable Car.
The hotel’s 160 contemporary guestrooms include 16 well-appointed suites, with open layouts, dedicated work and relaxation spaces, as well as large windows or balconies that offer panoramic sea views. Guestrooms also showcase marble bathrooms with rainfall showers and a host of intuitive services and amenities for both business and leisure travellers.
Located on the 19th floor, the Penthouse includes a fully equipped kitchen, a multi-functional living room and an expansive terrace to relax, work and entertain.
Carriage Ridge Resort
Choice Hotels Canada has added to its Ascend Hotel Collection with the opening of Carriage Ridge Resort in the township of Oro-Medonte. Located within the Horseshoe Valley, the resort spans 28 acres and is the 26th Canadian member of the global Ascend Hotel Collection. The Ascend Hotel Collection is a network of upscale resorts, historic properties and boutique hotels that offer guests a uniquely local experience.
The resort features many outdoor spaces like a patio, BBQ area, firepit, children’s playground and games including shuffleboard and horseshoes. Indoors, guests can enjoy the pool and hot tub, fitness centre and games room. Accommodations at Carriage Ridge Resort include one and two-bedroom suites that can comfortably sleep groups up to eight. Select suites also include kitchens, fireplaces and balconies.
Carriage Ridge Resort is located across the street from Vettä Nordic Spa which opened earlier this year. The spa offers an authentic Finnish hydrotherapy cycle of heat, cold and relaxation. For travellers looking for adventure, there are nearby trails for hiking and mountain biking, golf courses in the summer and skiing at Horseshoe Resort and Mount St. Louis Moonstone.
With a prime location on Cable Beach, Goldwynn Resort & Residences is set to open in Nassau, Bahamas on Feb. 1. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the boutique resort will feature 81 studios, one- two- and three-bedroom suites, and three expansive Edge suites. The three-bedroom signature Goldwynn Suite spans across 1,940 square feet of interior space with three balconies, two terraces and 270 degrees of unobstructed ocean views. All studios and suites feature full kitchens or kitchenettes, private balconies and views of the Bahamian ocean or golf course. And for those in need of a bit of pampering can visit the Rhizophora Spa or opt for a massage in an outdoor cabana.
avid hotel Toronto – Vaughan Southwest
IHG Hotels & Resorts is ready for guests to experience the first Canadian avid hotels property in Vaughan. Located 15 minutes from Toronto Pearson International Airport, the avid hotel Toronto – Vaughan Southwest introduces the brand’s “basics done exceptionally well – at a fair price” concept. Each of the hotel’s 119 rooms comes equipped with blackout roller shades and a choice of firm or soft pillows. Guests can enjoy grab-and-go options and fresh bean-to-cup coffee from avid hotels’ signature “Good all Round” breakfast bar. The hotel is the first of four planned properties across Canada for IHG’s newest Essentials brand.
Waldorf Astoria San Miguel de Allende
Set to welcome guests in 2025, the new-build Waldorf Astoria San Miguel de Allende marks the brand’s third property in Mexico. Part of Hilton’s luxury portfolio, the hotel will offer 120 hotel guest rooms and 24 Waldorf Astoria branded residences. Waldorf Astoria San Miguel de Allende will be located in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage site, surrounded by the destination’s signature cobblestone streets and brightly coloured Spanish-colonial buildings and is within walking distance to the renowned neo-Gothic church Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel.
Hotel guests and residence owners will be able to utilize wellness-inspired amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness centre with yoga and meditation areas, a destination-inspired spa, and a rooftop space with pools and relaxation areas providing great views of the city. There will also be on-site art gallery and local artisan crafts store, while family travellers will have access to the hotel’s kids and teens club.
