Top 5 Hotel Openings
Trends for 2023 include authentic experiences and sustainability, and these five hotels are at the forefront of what's to come.
If 2022 was the year of post-pandemic comeback travel, then 2023 is shaping up to be the year where travel focuses on making authentic connections. That could mean either traveling to far-flung places away from the tourist crowds or rediscovering timeless destinations through the eyes of a local. If there’s a pattern emerging in the upcoming top hotels, it’s that “luxury accommodation” isn’t just about opulent rooms and fancy spas anymore but the genuine experiences that your hotel can foster.
That’s one of two major trends: the other is traveling in a sustainable manner. Origin is always looking for properties that are pioneers in ecotourism and we’re thrilled to see that each year the options get better and better. “Going green” has to be much more than just recycling or providing bikes, and Origin’s favorite locations always find ways to go above and beyond.
Check out five of the properties opening their doors in 2023 that Origin’s curators can’t wait to plan a trip to.
Capella resorts always bring something imaginatively unique to their environment, and the first Capella property outside of Asia is no exception. Capella Sydney is opening in the historic Department of Education building in the central business district, within walking distance of the Sydney Harbour, Opera House, and other iconic landmarks. The sandstone facade and storied interior of the building have earned it a spot on the state heritage list, and Capella has meticulously worked to blend those rich details in its signature design.
Like all Capella resorts, the Sydney staff includes a team of “Capella Culturists” who are your living and breathing guidebooks to exploring the city. The Culturists often seem more akin to mind readers than a concierge, with the uncanny ability to socialize with guests and use that to design personalized itineraries. When it comes to the cool new restaurant opening or underground art tour you didn’t know you needed, that’s where your Culturist steps in.
Continuing on the theme of new hotels that are revitalizing historic buildings, the newest property from Six Senses—and its first in Italy—is opening its doors in the 15th-century Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini in the center of Rome. The traditional cocciopesto plaster and travertine limestone exterior, which is typical of old Rome, is juxtaposed with the very atypical lush and verdant interior, giving the hotel the feel of a tropical oasis in the middle of the Eternal City.
Six Senses properties always take wellness to a new level, so it should come as no surprise that the spa is a focal point. The spa is a reimagined version of a Roman bath, dipping into ancient practices and blending them with modern-day treatments. Sightseeing around Rome can be exhausting, but an afternoon in the Six Senses spa will have you feeling like you just spent a week luxuriating on a faraway island.
Six Senses has an on-site Earth Lab for guests to step in and take part in protecting the ancient city of Rome. Learn about how the hotel uses no plastic, buys from local vendors, and is powered 100% by green energy.
Traveling to the island of Sumba in Indonesia is like going to Bali before Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love turned it into a tourist destination. It’s twice the size of Bali but with a fraction of the visitors, and the new Cap Karoso on Sumba’s western tip is just the place to soak up the island’s undiscovered appeal. The property—opening in early 2023—is set up like an Indonesian village, with studios, suites, and villas lining the beachfront. Sumba is just a 50-minute plane ride from Bali’s international airport, but you’ll feel like you’ve landed in a fictional world.
Whereas many other luxury hotels in remote destinations purposely remove the need to leave the property, Cap Karoso encourages guests to venture outside of the village using on-site electric vehicles or bikes. You’ll be guided by the expert staff members—who are all Sumbanese locals—without the hand-holding, letting guests experience the thrill of feeling like a modern-day explorer.
In addition to growing its own produce, Cap Karoso also has an open invitation to community members who want to learn about biological farming and permaculture.
The family of Aman resorts is growing in 2023 not just with more properties, but with an entirely new sister brand called Janu. The inaugural resort is opening in Tokyo, with additional properties planned for 2024 in Montenegro and Saudi Arabia—which is just the beginning. While guests can expect the same level of luxury that Aman is famous for, there is a distinct pivot in the Janu experience. Simply put, “if Aman is sanctuary, then Janu is connectedness,” according to the Janu founder Vlad Dorinin.
The opening is especially exciting since Japan just re-opened its borders in October 2022 after being closed to international tourists for over two and a half years, so 2023 will be the year that tourism makes a full return in Japan. A city the size of Tokyo can be an overwhelming place to visit but, under the theme of “connectedness,” Janu promises to be the bridge between guests and authentic discoveries in Tokyo.
Every new hotel opening offers something unique, but nothing is quite as ambitious as Atlantis the Royal in Dubai. The new Royal will be located just next door to its Atlantis sister property, The Palm, which was already one of the most recognizable hotels in the world. However, when The Royal opens in early 2023, it will immediately join the ranks of the most extravagant places to stay in one of the world’s most luxurious destinations.
If it feels like your jaw is constantly falling to the floor while you wander the hotel, that was by design. Every detail has “wow factor” intentionally built in to cement Atlantis the Royal as one of the most unforgettable travel experiences on the market. From the Vegas-style water fountains and multiple celebrity chef restaurants to the sky bridge pool overlooking the Persian Gulf, the new Atlantis feels like a dream even while you’re there.
Atlantis has committed to getting rid of all single-use plastic by the end of 2023. One way they've committed to that is by installing their own water purification system, removing nearly 3 million plastic water bottles per year.
Chat with a curator today to start planning your personalized end-to-end trip to any one of these exciting destinations.