Still to come: the best new luxury hotels opening in 2024

There are so many great reasons to travel. Exploring new cities and diverse cultures, expanding your knowledge and understanding of the world, to name just a couple. Another is trying out all the new and reimagined hotels.

2024 is shaping up to be a stellar year for new luxury hotel and resort openings, with numerous properties opening their doors in Australia, the United States, Thailand and beyond.

From laid-back island hangouts to show-stopping architectural marvels in the most iconic cities, these upcoming hotels will allow you to discover classic destinations (or emerging ones) in fresh, unforgettable ways.

Raffles Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore

Opening: August 1, 2024

Singapore’s original Raffles Hotel put the city on the map as a destination worthy of the six weeks travel needed to reach it from London back in 1887. Now, it’s another Raffles’ turn to make an impression on the Lion City.

All-suite Raffles Sentosa Resort & Spa is ready to make a splash.

However, rather than looking to the past for design inspiration, the new hotel is firmly in the now, with all 62 villas embracing an ultra-modern aesthetic with clean lines and seamless transitions from indoor to outdoor life.

Extensive gardens guarantee the hotel will be a thing of beauty.

Overlooking Tanjong Beach on the southern tip of Sentosa Island, only a short distance from downtown Singapore, the resort boasts an enchanting day spa and fitness centre, multi bar and dining options, and a private pool in every villa.

The Star Grand, Brisbane

Opening: August 29, 2024

Queen’s Wharf is arguably one of Brisbane’s most anticipated developments – it’s been in the works since mid-2019. At its core of the waterfront mecca is The Star Brisbane mixed-use hotel, casino and dining precinct.

The Star has a leisure deck with not one by three gorgeous swimming pools.

Spanning two arc-shaped towers, The Star Grand is vast – a dazzling hotel featuring a headline restaurant from celebrity chef Luke Nguyen and 360-degree signature cocktail bar, all topped by showpiece Sky Deck.

Raise a glass to the sunset from the Sky Deck.

Views to South Bank and beyond will be enjoyed from many of the hotel’s 340 rooms which, though sharing a similar DNA to its Star Grand siblings in Sydney and the Gold Coast, feature a more contemporary, coastal chic design. 

The StandardX, Melbourne

Opening: August 8, 2024

Melbourne has attracted some stellar properties in recent years: The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne and Le Méridien, to name a couple. The Victorian capital has now added another to the list: The StandardX in Fitzroy. 

All-day restaurant BANG is a showcase for the bold street flavours of Thailand.

A fresh brand for The Standard – a group known for its vintage-styled hotels in Miami, Hollywood and Ibiza, to name a few – The StandardX is inspired by the artistic roots of its location and imbued with ‘the rebellious spirit of the 70s and 80s’. 

Interiors are delightfully-eccentric in all the right places.

Designed by architectural firm Woods Bagot, with interiors created by The Standard and Hecker Guthrie, the 125-room hotel is also home to a trio of dining options: The Roof (exclusive to guests), alongside Thai diner BANG and BOX, a go-to for snacks and drinks. 

Thompson Palm Springs, California

Opening: September 2024

Palm Springs has long enticed travellers. Living it up poolside at its mid-century modern motels is almost a rite of passage, yet there are new additions worth checking out (and into). Thompson Palm Springs is one of them.

The hotel takes the place of the originally-planned Andaz Palm Springs.

Taking residence in a prime spot amid restaurants and galleries, the hotel boasts 168 beautifully-styled rooms, many of which are located in an adults only wing, plus two gorgeous pools lined with sun lounges and cabanas.

Interiors are fun and playful in all the right places.

As for the dining, that takes the form of a signature Middle Eastern restaurant, Lola Rose Grand Mezze and a wine tasting room pouring drops from Hall Napa Valley. A Mediterranean restaurant is set to join them later in the year.

Regent Santa Monica Beach, California

Opening: September 2024

California’s Santa Monica is all about sunshine, sand and surf, right? Far from it. There’s so much more to uncover in this coastal city, including over 60 museums and galleries, 170 murals, over 400 restaurants. The new Regent Santa Monica Beach is your base to uncover it all.

The white-washed atrium of Regent Santa Monica Beach.

Featuring an oceanfront pool deck, beach butler service and an extraordinary Guerlain Spa, the 167 room and suite hotel embraces laid-back California vibes at every turn, with some elevated dining options for good measure.

Check into a Pacific Corner Suite at Regent Santa Monica Beach.

For the ultimate indulgence, book one of its Signature Suites, which are available in six layouts including a two-storey Atrium Suite, Poolside and Presidential. No matter which you choose though, you’re in for a treat.

The Eve Hotel Sydney, Surry Hills

Opening: September 2024

Sydney’s hotel scene is arguably one of the most exciting in the country – for every property that opens or is announced there are countless more waiting in the wings. The Eve Hotel Sydney is among the latest hoping to make its stamp on the city. 

A first-look at the all-new hotel, The Eve.

Nestled in the new Wunderlich Lane precinct linking Surry Hills and Redfern, the 102-room hideaway from TFE Hotels (of The Hotel Britomart and The Calile fame) will feature a lush rooftop deck, swimming pool, bar and restaurant with a fully operable glass roof and walls.

Wunderlich Lane is set beneath a soaring arched ceiling.

Designed by local Adam Haddow, the wider precinct is intended to be a community centre, with a mix of retail outlets, al-fresco dining and design-led commercial and event spaces.

By all accounts, it’ll be a stunning local addition. 

Melbourne Place

Opening: October 2024

Quality design never goes out of fashion. That rings especially true for interior design, which regularly looks to the past as it reaches to the future. At Melbourne Place, a new hotel in central Melbourne, era-straddling vibes are definitely the mode du jour.

Vintage styling runs deep at Melbourne Place.

Unlocking its doors in the height of spring, the 191-room boutique hotel has a distinctly retro feel thanks to bold colour choices like mustard and peach, accented by dark timbers and subtle lighting.

Restaurant Marmelo is centred aroiund an open kitchen with charcoal grill and wood oven.

Level one plays host to a variety of meeting and event spaces, including an open-air terrace overlooking Russell Street, plus a ground floor dining and basement bar, Marmelo.

Adelaide Marriott

Opening: October 1, 2024

Everything old is new again. In the case of Adelaide General Post Office, the historic landmark is being given an entirely new lease on life with an ambitious redevelopment not only restoring it to its former glory but adding a $200 million luxury hotel: Adelaide Marriott.

The distinctive GPO has been part of Adelaide's fabric for over 150 years.

Soaring 15 storeys above the corner of King William and Franklin Streets, the 285-room abode will house two dining options – an all-day restaurant and relaxed lobby lounge – plus a well-equipped fitness studio and an 18m indoor pool.

The lobby at Adelaide Marriott.

Marriott Bonvoy status holders will be pleased to know an M Club executive lounge will unlock its doors to eligible guests. And if it’s cut from the same cloth as its siblings, breakfast and refreshments, cocktails and canapes will likely all make an appearance.

Park Hyatt London River Thames

Opening: late 2024

The Park Hyatt brand is known the globe over for elegance and refinement. You only need to look to outposts in Sydney and Auckland to see this in practice. However, the brand calls all the world’s greatest cities home, it’s yet to take up residence in London – until now.

The hotel is nestled within a 41-storey mixed use tower.

Housed in one of the two One Nine Elms towers, Park Hyatt London River Thames boasts 203 spacious guest rooms (including 31 lavish suites, 2 ambassador suites and 1 presidential suite) plus a pool, spa and two restaurants and bars.

The Nine Elms Kitchen takes its cues from the cultural diversity of London.

The Nine Elms Kitchen is your all-day dining go-to, while an Asian restaurant will plate up delicious Cantonese flavours. For a drink, head to TAMISé wine library and tea lounge or lobby bar The Nine Elms.

Aman Nai Lert Bangkok

Opening: Q3 2024

Elegant, understated, minimalist. These are all good descriptions of luxury hotel group Aman, whose outposts in New York and Tokyo are frequently cited as touch points for the beauty of simplicity. Bangkok will soon welcome an Aman of its own

The central atrium is a thing of rare beauty.

Close to the hustle and bustle of the city centre, Aman Nai Lert Bangkok will rise 36 storeys above its namesake park and house 52 tasteful suites and around 50 residences. The building itself will be a glittering addition to the city too.

The hotel will also house a Japanese restaurant on the 19th floor.

Naturally, there will be a rooftop infinity pool from which to float and soak in the view (or lounge poolside, if you prefer), with plenty of additional features to be announced closer to its debut.

Capella Taipei

Opening: late 2024

Hotel openings of this calibre don’t happen often, which makes the debut of Capella Taipei – an exquisite ‘urban sanctuary’ on the doorstep of arts districts of Taze-Neihu and Songshan Culture Park – all the more exciting.

Suite dreams are guaranteed at Capella Taipei.

Much like its freshly-opened sibling in Sydney, Capella Taipei is elegant from top to bottom, featuring supple furnishings and delicate glass chandeliers, balcony cabanas and unforgettable views. And that’s just in one of its 86 rooms and suites.

The lobby is as grand as you'd expect from Capella.

True to form for Capella, wellness and dining are both essential parts of the experience. Guests have no less than four treatment rooms, a fitness studio and outdoor pool at their disposal to help them detox and refresh, in addition to a French-inspired grill, Japanese omakase restaurant and more.

Hotel Indigo Palau

Opening: December 2024

Palau is so hot right now, particularly with non-stop flights now regularly jetting between Brisbane and Palau. And now, there’s a stunning luxury addition to the island nation’s hotelscape.

Micronesian culture is firmly on show at Hotel Indigo Palau.

Destined to be a mecca for divers and snorkellers, Hotel Indigo Palau on Malakal Island fronts a coral reef teaming with marine life, while the majority of its 200 rooms enjoy ocean views.

One of the hotel's gorgeous rooms.

Complementing these are Neighbourhood Café and a specialty restaurant, a pool bar for sunset drinks plus a swimming pool, spa and gymnasium. There are function spaces too, making it an ideal destination venue.

25 Hours Paddington Sydney

Opening: December 2024

Paddington’s historic West Olympia Theatre site is undergoing an ambitious transformation in the year ahead, with the local icon first opened in 1911 soon to re-emerge as a fresh and sophisticated addition to the 25 Hours Hotels stable.

The hotel's soaring social courtyard.

Renders are indeed stunning. At its heart is a beautifully landscaped garden, while elsewhere in the 109-room boutique hotel you’ll find a ground floor café, restaurant and bar, in addition to a spectacular rooftop bar overlooking Oxford Street.

Rooms pay homage to the site's theatrical origin.

25 Hours Paddington will sit within the Accor portfolio of hotels – meaning ALL loyalty members will be welcomed with open arms. And when it’s time to explore, a smorgasbord of dining options and retail outlets are at your fingertips.

1 Hotel Melbourne

Opening: December 2024

What do Paris, San Francisco and Toronto all have in common? They’re all home to a 1 Hotel – a brand where sustainability is front of mind, from its design to the facilities provided within. Melbourne will soon be added to that list.

The hotel incorporates salvaged timber from the site's original wharf.

Housed in the Seafarers development on the Yarra River, the 277-room 1 Hotel Melbourne is set to feature a distinctly local feel with multiple dining venues and a sleek lobby bar.

1 Hotel Melbourne sits at the south-western edge of the CBD.

Beyond that, hotel guests and residents of the 114 apartments onsite can take advantage of the indoor pool and Bamford Wellness Spa, as well as access to a vast public park.

Fairmont Breakers, California

Opening: 2024 TBC

Everything old is new again. At least, that’s the case for Fairmont Breakers Long Beach, which first opened in the roaring 20s and is now primed to welcome a new generation following a $150 million restoration and reinvention.

Fairmont Breakers is Long Beach's first luxury boutique hotel.

Timeless elegance flows throughout the hotel’s 185 rooms and 25 suites, all of which are adorned in a soothing palette and fitted with all the mod cons travellers have come to expect.

Sky Room takes inspiration from Italy and its Californian setting.

Said to ‘reflect the vibrant tapestry of Long Beach itself’, the culinary offering includes authentic Italian fare at Sky Room, crowned by a rooftop pool and bar for embracing the LA weather.

Can’t wait for this next wave of luxury hotels to open? Take a look at some of the notable new hotels from 2023. Or, if you’re looking to plan adventures in the not-too-distant future, here are some of the best hotels opening in 2025. 

Now open: the best luxury hotels of 2024

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is arguably one of London’s most celebrated hotels – a perfect fusion of the old and new. Now, it has a younger sibling: the sleek Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, which is home to 50 rooms and suites, plus 77 private residences.

The hotel is situated on fashionable Hanover Square.

In true MO style, rooms are impeccably-designed and fitted out, replete with hand-painted wallpaper, marble bathrooms and all the high-tech essentials. And The Spa? By all accounts that’s a thing of beauty too.

Akira Black restaurant plates up modern Japanese with a Korean twist.

Visitors will also get a chance to treat their taste buds at a restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Akira Black, as well as settle in for a drink or two at the chef’s vibey lounge and rooftop bar.

Gundari Folegandros, Greece

The Greek Isles require little introduction – the blue-domed chapels and whitewashed houses of Santorini, the entrancing living history of Rhodes, to name only a couple. Folegandros is another, and you aren’t alone if you’ve never heard of it. That’s about to change. 

Hand-crafted timber detailing and marble floors adorns every room.

Described as ‘the next big thing’, the ruggedly-beautiful island between Paros and Santorini has thus far flown under the radar of international travellers, but the opening of Gundari Resort may be the very thing that puts it on the map.

Villas are an entertainer's dream.

Whether gazing out over an endless blue Aegean from a Junior Suite, relaxing poolside in a stone-clad villa or embracing ‘subterranean chic’ in one of romantic Cave Suites, you’ll be floating on cloud nine from check-in to check out.

Basq House, Byron Bay

From one-time hippie haven to high-end hideaway, Byron Bay’s reinvention in recent decades has been extraordinary, in particular its hotelscape. Basq House is the latest hoping to entice travellers seeking an escape of sunshine, surf and sophistication.

Take a dip then while away the hours in a poolside cabana, before exploring the town.

During the day, the hotel’s rooftop features zones for yoga, meditation and personal training sessions, while evenings see it switch into a chilled space for sunset drinks and star gazing,  exclusively for hotel guests.

Decor is simple, elegant and stylish.

As for the 32 rooms, each is adorned in a vintage-modern aesthetic – think curved walls and burnt orange tiles, fluted glass and simple yet eye-catching artworks – and features large sliding doors to create a seamless indoor-outdoor flow.

Janu Tokyo

Saudi Arabia, Montenegro, Japan… each of these vastly different countries will soon have something in common, as hotel, residence and lifestyle brand ‘Janu’ – an offshoot of Aman Hotels and Resorts – takes up residence in its esteemed capitals.

The hotel features eight restaurants, including Iigura sushi and Janu Grill.

Janu Tokyo is the first cab off the rank. Centred in the vibrant Azabudai Hills neighbourhood, the 122-room hotel houses two boutiques, a 4,000 sqm state-of-the-art Wellness Centre and no less than eight dining venues. (There is no chance of going hungry here.)

The serene Janu Suite is the hotel's star offering.

Rooms span from 55 sqm to 284 sqm – all boast minimalist decor, rain showers and bespoke soaking tubs separated from their bedrooms by sliding partition walls, alongside spacious walk-in wardrobes and inviting living areas.

Nujuma, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Saudi Arabia

The Maldives may be synonymous with overwater bungalows, but Saudi Arabia could soon give the island destination a run for its money, particularly with the recent debut of Nujuma, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

The hotel is one of just five Ritz-Carlton Reserves in the world.

Part of the ambitious Red Sea project, the resort features 63 one- to four-bedroom beach and water villas, the latter fringing an impressive circular boardwalk, together with 18 branded residences.

Tabrah restaurant is "a modern interpretation of a fisherman's home".

Besides snorkelling through clear waters or losing themselves to the view, guests will be able to take a dip in the pool, swing by the spa or take their pick of several delicious dining options.

Six Senses Kyoto

Six Senses has at last made its grand entrance in Japan – and the brand is right at home in the former imperial capital of Kyoto, with its design taking inspiration from the past but with plenty of nods to the modern era.

Interiors are adorned in earthy tones of timber and stone.

Situated in front of the Myoho-in temple and Tokyokuni-Jinja shrine, the hotel’s 81 rooms are organised around a central courtyard. As a result, each will enjoy a view that changes with the seasons.

Be sure to stop by the moody cocktail bar for a drink and a chat.

Beyond the chic living quarters, guests will be able to take part in tea ceremonies and spa treatments, as well as feast at the signature sushi restaurant, bar and all-day dining venue.

Little National Newcastle

Size matters in the heady landscape of luxury hotels – space to move and room to breathe are worth their weight in gold, with hotel rooms often priced to suit. Yet there are exceptions.

Enter: Little National, which delivers five-star service without the price tag, with outposts in Sydney, Canberra and now Newcastle.

The exterior of Little National Newcastle.

Each of its 181 rooms is fitted with a superking bed (though the rather lean footprint means you won’t be able to dangle your feet over the end), plus Byredo amenities, T2Tea and a coffee machine, plus free WiFi and movies.

Rooms are light and bright.

Beyond the rooms is a 24hr wellness centre housing Technogym equipment plus a lounge bar and library, where guests will find private working spaces as well as inviting communal areas for a chat.

Pelorus Private Island, Queensland

There’s something undeniably alluring about having an entire island all to yourself – we’ve all dreamed of it one time or another. And though Tom Hanks certainly found a beautiful specimen in Cast Away, that sort of island escape is best left to the silver screen.

Pelorus Private Island from Morris Escapes.
Jason Ierace

Instead, here’s another worth setting your sights on: Pelorus Private Island, the latest addition to the Morris Escapes stable of exclusive properties. As you can see, it’s stunning, and completely yours for the duration of your stay.

A drone's eye view of the exclusive retreat.
Jason Ierace

Accessible by a 30 to 90-minute chopper ride from Cairns or Townsville, Pelorus boasts a single isolated residence by Melbourne design firm Dubois – home to five luxurious suites – surrounded by 400-hectares amid the Great Barrier Reef.

One&Only One Za’abeel Dubai

Dubai is no stranger to high end (and high reaching) hotels. One&Only One Za’abeel is the latest entrant seeking to make a mark on the city, and not just for its rather impressive location in One Za’abeel – a dual tower development featuring the world’s largest cantilever.

You'll feel like a visiting monarch in the Royal Suite.

In addition to exquisitely-furnished rooms and signature suites, the hotel’s home to 11 dining options, six of which are from Michelin chefs including Dabiz Muñoz (of world #3 restaurant DiverXO), Sophie-Anne Pic and Japanese-Australian hero Tetsuya Wakuda.

The Link cantilever is artfully poised between One Za'abeel's dual towers.

Beyond rooms and restaurants, guests will find the UAE’s longest infinity pool perched 27 storeys up, together with a lagoon-style pool with swim-up bar down on level four.

InterContinental Auckland

The City of Sails recently welcomed the all-new InterContinental Auckland, a 139-room and suite hotel boasting direct access to the trendy Commercial Bay precinct. Oh, and the views are next level.

The hotel is part of the IHG Hotels & Resorts family.

Overlooking Waitemata Harbour, rooms and suites all feature a warm palette with liberal use of timber and glass, along with now-essential staples like free WiFi, smart TVs with Bluetooth soundbars and casting technology.

You'll feel like a head of state you moment you enter the Presidential Suite.

The signature restaurant Advieh from chef Gareth Stewart is said to offer “a world-class experience with a contemporary twist on Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine, championing New Zealand’s finest produce.” In other words, a delicious feast.

Todos Santos Boutique Hotel

There’s a lot to be said for ‘quality over quantity’. And quality is something Todos Santos Boutique Hotel, an intimate 10-room escape around an hour north of Los Cabos on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, delivers in spades.

The hotel has brought an 1890s heritage landmark back to life.

Part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World family, it’s a place where every detail, no matter how small, has been carefully considered and expertly executed, from the rust-red brick arches to hand-painted frescoes echoing the colours of the surrounding desert.

One of its upper level villas.

It’s amenities are all top notch too, namely the globally-inspired 1890 restaurant and timeless elegance of La Copa bar, in addition to a heated pool and rooftop terrace.

SIRO Dubai

Housed within the captivating One Za’abeel complex alongside the One&Only Za’abeel resort, SIRO Dubai is a premium hotel focused around holistic fitness and wellbeing.

Hosted activities include cycling, hiking, boxing, climbing, and parkour.

A near-1,000 square metre gym and recovery lab (physiotherapy, acupuncture, oxygen therapy) spanning two floors is the star attraction, while rooms will have a strong wellness focus. The views are next level also.

The Recovery Suite goes far beyond your hotel room inclusions.

Rather than just leaving guests to work out solo, a team of fitness and wellbeing experts are on hand to provide guidance and coaching. Programs will focus on five experience pillars for guests: fitness, nutrition, sleep, recovery and mindfulness.

SOHO Hotel Auckland

Auckland is home to a concise but supremely lavish selection of luxury hotels. Its ranks have recently swelled by one, with SOHO Hotel Auckland now inviting guests to sleep, dine or pamper themselves at the spa.

An artist's impression of what awaits inside SOHO Hotel Auckland.

Inspired by the giddy Art Deco decor of the early 20th century, it’s a hotel where clean lines and gleaming metallic trims set the scene, leading through to rooms adorned in soft furnishings you just want to reach out and touch.

This Deluxe Room contains everything needed for a relaxed stay.

Of course, it’s not just about the rooms – Tiger Bar & Restaurant dishes up delicious Asian fusion fare, while Café Luxe provides a casual option for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Atami Izusan KARAKU, Japan

Sitting pretty on a hilltop overlooking Sagami Bay, a mere 45 minutes by rail from Tokyo, Atami Izusan KARAKU is paradise for onsen lovers. In addition to infinity-edge communal baths that seamlessly blend into the sea view, every room has its own open-air tub.

An open-air bath overlooking Sagami Bay.

Around 7 minutes by car from JR Atami Station, the Shizuoka Prefecture hotel is ideal for repeat visitors to Japan – those who’ve ticked off the famed sights of Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka and now want to explore further afield. And there’s a lot to discover in Shizuoka.

One of the hotel's 57 rooms.

Izusan Jinja Shrine (a site of pilgrimage for lovers) is just five minutes away, while the similarly-distanced MOA Museum of Art is impressive both inside and out.