Hotel Openings

🏨 In 2022, Andy and Lindsey Lampard transformed a 19th-century merchant's house in Driffield, East Yorkshire into The Highfield House. Originally a wedding venue, it now includes the 2 AA Rosette restaurant 1864, The Library Bar, and Yarn. Spanning eight acres, it boasts restored features and local arts. Won Remarkable Hotel of the Year twice at the REYTAs. Driven by sustainability and personal touches, the hotel embodies luxury intertwined with heritage and community.

📰 UK: Entries for the 2025 Independent Hotel Show Awards are open. When? October 6, at Olympia London. Categories include Hotel Rising Star, Hotel Design of the Year, and Independent Hotel of the Year. How? Hosted with Preferred Hotels & Resorts. In 2024, Grove of Narberth won Independent Hotel of the Year, highlighting team dedication. Glenn Wallace and Brenda Collins emphasize innovation and excellence in independent hotels. Submit entries [here](https://www.independenthotelshow.co.uk/awards).

💪 Meliá White House in London unveils a state-of-the-art gym in partnership with TechnoGym, as part of a £40 million renovation completed in 2023. Strategically located near Regent’s Park and Oxford Street, it features advanced fitness equipment, free weights, and yoga spaces. Jakob Gowin, General Manager, emphasizes the hotel's commitment to wellness and luxury. The new gym enhances the hotel’s premium offerings, catering to diverse fitness needs and preferences.

🏨 Líbere Hospitality Group (LHG) will launch its first UK property, a 44-unit hotel on Edgware Road, London, in May 2025. LHG, founded in 2019, operates over 1,900 units across 50+ properties in Southern Europe, expanding to 1,200 units by 2025, a 135% increase from 2024. LHG's asset-light model focuses on tech-driven, design-led accommodations. The company targets strategic urban markets, expecting a 66% annual growth, aiming for a 3,000-unit pipeline.

🏖 Shinta Mani Mustang, located in Nepal’s Lower Mustang, opened in August 2023 with 29 suites designed by Bill Bensley. The architecture by Prabal Shumsher Thapa uses local stone, blending with the Himalayan landscape. Featuring Nepalese handcrafted interiors, the resort incorporates sustainable practices by upcycling materials. The design includes 2,000 apple and apricot trees, offering activities like trekking and yoga, while maintaining harmony with local culture and the environment.

🏨 InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, near Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, designed by BENSLEY, repurposes decommissioned train carriages for luxury accommodations and public spaces, reflecting King Rama V's railway era. Eco-friendly practices include upcycling, using local materials, and integrating natural surroundings. Features like a train-themed spa, vintage railway memorabilia, and collaborations with Thai artisans enhance the guest experience. This project exemplifies how luxury and sustainability can harmoniously coexist in hospitality design.

🏖️ Located on Nai Yang Beach, The Slate in Phuket, Thailand, designed by Bensley, reimagines the island's tin-mining past. The resort combines industrial aesthetics with lush landscapes, featuring materials like steel, concrete, and raw timber, creating a steampunk and tropical modernism fusion. Highlights include the Black Ginger restaurant accessible by raft, multiple pools, and the Coqoon Spa's tree-wrapped treatment rooms. Bensley's narrative-driven design tells Phuket's history through space, texture, and atmosphere.

🌴 Rosewood Luang Prabang, Laos, designed by BENSLEY, features 23 accommodations, including waterfall pool villas and hilltop tents. It blends traditional Laotian architecture with sustainable luxury. Using local materials like teak and bamboo, the resort supports local artisans. Eco-friendly techniques, water conservation, and waste management minimize its environmental impact. Communal areas like the Great House restaurant offer panoramic views. The resort narrates French explorer history through eclectic design elements, offering an immersive guest experience.

🍺 Sheraton Grand London Park Lane partners with "The Great Gatsby: A New Musical" at the London Coliseum for an exclusive afternoon tea and cocktail experience from 16 May to 7 September 2025. Located in Mayfair, the hotel offers a themed dining experience in its 1920s Palm Court, with prices starting at £65. The musical runs from 11 April to 7 September 2025, featuring stars like Jamie Muscato and Frances Mayli McCann.

🏝️ May 16, 2025, South Florida, USA: Ben Wolff, co-founder of Onera and CEO of Oasi, plans to develop a modular tropical landscape resort. This venture is highlighted in the Hospitality Daily Podcast, providing insights into his strategic expansion within the hospitality industry.