Hotel Openings

🏡 SH Hotels & Resorts will open 1 Hotel Tokyo, their first in Japan, in partnership with Mori Trust in 2025. The 211-room hotel will be part of the Tokyo World Gate Akasaka project, featuring retail and office spaces. Located in Akasaka, the hotel aims to be a green oasis in the city and has secured Rank S CASBEE certification for outstanding environmental performance. The hotel will include a biophilic design, energy and water conservation systems, a main restaurant, spa, fitness center, indoor pool, and 473 square meters of event space.

🎨 Designer Helle Mardahl opens flagship store in Copenhagen's historic Frederiksstaden district, formerly a royal jeweller's shop. The interior combines the building's traditional architectural elements with Mardahl's modern, candy-inspired glassware. Mardahl collaborated with File Under Pop for the store's color palette, featuring soft shades and dusty blue curtains contrasted by flamingo-pink double doors. The dark mahogany flooring was replaced with soft beige linoleum by Tarkett. The space showcases the studio's glass containers, candlestick holders, drinkware, and bonbon-shaped pendant lamps.

🏕 Ennismore and Sun Hospitality Group announced the signing of Rixos Phu Quoc, set to open in mid-2026 as the first all-inclusive Rixos resort in Asia. Located on Hon Thom Island, Vietnam, the resort will boast over 1300 guest rooms with ocean views, 22 dining options, and a range of facilities including a wellness spa, kids club, and water sports. Phu Quoc was recently voted the second-best island in the world by Travel+Leisure's World’s Best Awards 2024. Guests can access the resort via a 15-minute cable car ride from the mainland.

🍽 In 2024, the U.S. witnessed numerous restaurant and bar openings, featuring Italian eateries and unique concepts like astrology-themed cocktails and mushroom-based dishes. New York City, Miami, Austin, D.C., Denver, and Nashville saw these openings, with Nashville hosting Fancypants, offering a "choose your own adventure" experience, and D.C.'s Ama transforming from a café to a dinner spot. The article showcases 11 special restaurants from this year.

🏦 The Ritz-Carlton is set to open in Belgrade, Serbia, by 2027 as part of the Danube Riverside project. Occupying the site of the former Hotel Jugoslavija, the hotel will offer 193 rooms and suites, two dining venues, a club experience, an indoor pool, fitness center, spa, and over 1,700 square meters of event space. The Danube Riverside, previously known as Hotel Jugoslavija, opened in 1969, hosted notable figures, and was privatized in 2006. Marriott International currently runs four other properties in Serbia.

🎄 Hilton Lake Como offers a seasonal experience for Christmas and New Year 2024/25 with activities like ice curling, live candlelight concerts, cocktail masterclasses, festive feasting, and a special NYE celebration. Ice curling is available from 1st December 2024 to 31st January, daily 12pm-7pm. Candlelight Concerts start at €34pp on dates including 8th, 15th, and 20th December. The Spritz Masterclass costs €25pp, offered daily from 12pm-5pm. Festive dining by Executive Chef Stefano Ghielmetti starts at €75pp for groups of 15+. NYE dinner is €295 per adult, €147 per child. Rooms at Hilton Lake Como start at €350 per night with breakfast. Book at https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/mxpcohi-hilton-lake-como/.

🍴 Chef Evan Funke expanded his culinary empire with the opening of Mother Wolf in Miami’s Design District on October 5. This marks the third Mother Wolf locale, following Los Angeles' early 2022 debut and a Las Vegas branch opened later the same year. Mother Wolf Miami boasts a 10,000-square-foot space featuring a pasta lab, and offers a Roman-inspired menu with handmade pastas, brick-oven pizzas, and a selection of seafood and meat dishes. The bar complements the dining experience with over 400 wine labels, focusing on organic and sustainable options, and a cocktail menu with Italian influences.

🏡 Angelo Cappellini, known for classic and contemporary furniture designs, inaugurated a 100 square meter showroom space in Baku, Azerbaijan, showcasing products in three settings: living room, dining room, and bedroom. The Avenue showroom features the Louis XVI dining room Cezanne with a 3.2-meter table, Esedra sofas, Louis XVI coffee tables, and the Sissi Bedroom collection. This expansion strengthens Angelo Cappellini's market presence and facilitates connections with local architects, designers, and private clients.

🍸 St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel's The Hansom presents "A Taste of Timelessness" cocktail collection, inspired by Victorian era & modern London. New signature cocktails include St. Pancras Royale, Mariachi Paloma, Rum Rita, Raffinato Bianco, and The Empress, starting at £17. Venue Manager Alex Kovac highlights the fusion of history and modern flavors. Collection available to public and guests at https://www.thehansom.co.uk/.

🏕 Jumeirah partners with Thanda Group to open two properties in Africa: Jumeirah Thanda Island (Tanzania) and Jumeirah Thanda Safari (South Africa). Exclusive-use villa on Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve and residences in KwaZulu Natal's Big Five nature reserve respectively. First guests expected later this year. Thanda Island, accessible via helicopter or speedboat, features a five-suite villa, Swahili Bandas, and water activities. Thanda Safari offers 386 acres of wilderness, concierge service, and wildlife adventures on 16,500 hectares. Bookings open later this month, with future lodge and tented camp by 2027. Jumeirah's portfolio includes 28 properties worldwide since 1999.