The Mergui Archipelago off the western coast of southern Myanmar
has remained largely uninhabited until now. In spring, the Wa Ale
luxury eco-resort will settle on a kilometre of pristine white
beach, comprising of a modest 11 luxury villas – three of which are
squirrelled away in the jungle canopy. Providing unobstructed sea
views, the castaway lodgings will offer more than just an idyllic
hideaway, with 20% of the resort’s annual profit going to the Lampi
Foundation which funds conservation projects in and around the
national marine park that the hotel is situated in.

La Peer is the latest addition to the Kimpton Hotel group’s
ever-growing portfolio. Situated in West Hollywood’s design
district,
Icelandic designer Gulla Jónsdóttir has fused bespoke artwork
with earthy tones and European furnishings, mirroring the
neighbourhood’s on-trend aesthetic. The decidedly bold interiors,
complete with leather cocoon wall, six-foot round light sconces in
the lobby and vintage bass fixtures emphasise
LA‘s token laid-back vibe. Paying homage to the city’s
health-conscious lifestyle, each room is equipped with eco-friendly
Jade Yoga mats and a morning mediation soundtrack.

As Soho House’s seventh London establishment, the reborn
Kettner’s Townhouse neighbours the group’s original Soho House on
Greek Street. Inside, the 33 room residence is decidedly grand with
sizeable bedrooms finished in 1920s style furnishings. As one of
London’s first restaurants to serve French food, the simple menu at
the townhouse is decidedly satiating and the champagne bar is set
to be a surefire Soho hotspot. Its hedonistic heyday precedes it
with former guests including Sir Winston Churchill, Agatha Christie
and Oscar Wilde; newcomers are expected to follow in their
rambunctious footsteps.

Climate change campaigner and Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo
DiCaprio is joining the celebrity-cum-hotel-owner-ranks ranks this
year. Located off of the coast of northern Belize near the world’s
second-largest reef, Blackadore Caye will pave the way in
eco-tourism as the world’s first restorative island. After a decade
of planning, the 104-acre island is being divided into two
composite parts. One half will serve as a wildlife reserve and
research centre, while the other half will house 36 luxury
bungalows and off-grid homes. Designed by the inimitable
Jean-Michel Gathy – the man behind some of the world’s most
sumptuous hotels, including Aman
Venice, Chedi Andermatt and Cheval Blanc Randheli – expect
next-level luxury and flair.

Not many hotels can say they travelled over 700km before taking
root. In one of China’s boldest conservation projects, over 10,000
trees – including a 1000 year old Emperor tree – were transported
to Minhang to create Aman’s fourth sanctuary on Chinese oil.
Amanyangyun, the Aman group’s first property in Shanghai, is the
result of philanthropist Ma Dadong and Kerry Hill Architects’ (the
team behind
Aman Tokyo) endeavour to relocate thousands of camphor trees
and relics of Chinese history that were under threat from
developers. Of Amanyangyun’s 26 antiquated villas, many still bear
ornate stone carvings and inscriptions. Seamlessly fusing ancient
history with minimalist design, the Ming courtyard suites offer
guests sleek, refined-wood interiors, light-flooded bedrooms and
private courtyards in an ethereal hideaway.

After opening their beautiful
Paris enclave last year, we’re eagerly awaiting the arrival of
the Hoxton’s first North American outpost. With the area’s eclectic
mix of indie bookstores, waterfront flea markets and buzzing
rooftop bars, it was always going to be Williamsburg that the
Hoxton took root. Rooms will feature bespoke bed linen designed by
Dusen Dusen, plush velvet furnishings, locally crafted ceramics and
bookshelves filled with the work of neighbourhood artists. The
former Rosenwach Factory will house three restaurants, meeting
rooms and a rooftop bar offering glittering
Manhattan views. Downtown Los Angeles and Portland will also
receive their own Hoxton hustle later in the year.

Following the success of the Treetop hotel, another whacky
concept has emerged from the endlessly innovative Bertil Harström
and Johan Kauppi (two of Sweden’s most renowned architects). In the
far reaches of Swedish Lapland, this six-bedroom hotel and spa will
float atop the Lule river during summer and as winter sets in will
freeze into place. The main building has a hot bath, several saunas
and spa, where the brave can plunge into the central ice bath.

The former BBC headquarters is undergoing a transformative
facelift. Comprising of 950 apartments, a new Soho House
member’s-only club and a second Bluebird restaurant, expectations
for the campus have reached mighty heights, almost outshining
The
Ned which was the most talked about hotel opening of 2017.
Unlike the shabby surroundings of BBC classic Fawlty Towers, expect
the White City 50-room hotel to decked to the highest standards
with sumptuous velvets and instantly Instragrammable floor
tiles.

Perched on the edge of a working tea plantation are the
grass-thatched lodges of One&Only’s newest nature resort.
Cocooned in the foothills of the
Virunga volcano range the One&Only Gorilla’s Nest vows to
offer the closest encounter to some of the rarest primates on
earth. Lush jungle landscapes surround wooden villas where guests
can watch mountain gorillas roaming freely in their natural
habitat. With the secluded experience of watching these majestic
primates from your own private balcony,
jeep-safaris suddenly seem so 2017.

Following a magnificent three-phase restoration project,

Singapore icon Raffle’s is set to reopen its doors. Retaining
its signature white exterior, the historic haunt of Joseph Conrad
and Charlie Chaplin will benefit from a new range of residence
suites named and styled after local cinemas. Home to the Singapore
Sling cocktail, the Long Bar’s plantation-inspired décor has been
revamped, though the novelty tradition of throwing peanut shells on
the floor while sipping on the notorious cocktail has been
endures.

Forget chauffeur-driven transfers; zip-lining is the most direct
route into this extravagantly luxe camp. Located in the nature
corridor that joins three Cambodian national parks, the lodge’s
style teeters on colonial safari chic. Pitched up in the
mountainous terrain, tent-like structures are suspended above
cascading waterfalls. These design-led accommodations are adorned
with vintage luggage trunks, retro brass phones and freestanding
bathtubs on the veranda. Guests can accompany rangers and
researchers as they study the wild forests and its inhabitants –
namely gorillas.

As the 2018 European Capital of Culture, Valletta is stepping
into the spotlight, and it’s the second venture from Mark Weingard
that all eyes are on. Made up of two houses, a former bank and
several vaults, the 24-room boutique is an eclectic space of
varying designs. For those seeking contemporary aesthetics, the
stone-clad penthouse suite with rooftop plunge pool is the top
contender. The boho brigade will love the vaulted rooms with
basement jacuzzis, while those wishing to immerse themselves in the
baroque architecture characteristic of the city should plump for
the two-bedroom suite with harbour views.

Created by the people behind Ace Hotel, Sister City is taking a minimalist approach to travelling by focusing on guests core needs. A respite from urban life, the Ace’s latest Manhattan posting is “an experiment in essentialism.” Shaving off the excess, the hotel’s zenified aesthetic is influenced by Japanese and Scandinavian design, with rooms offering little more than compact shelving space, a comfortable bed and hardwood flooring. Inspired by a “less, but better” philosophy guest will find satisfaction in the simple sleekness of the rooftop bar and in-house restaurant right on Bowery.