Globetrotting luxury enthusiasts have plenty to look forward to before the end of 2014. Following the grand opening of the Raffles Istanbul, we take a look at other high-profile hotels due to open for business this season, from Moscow to Dubai.
Raffles Istanbul - opened this week
One of the world's most luxurious hotel groups has just made its debut in Turkey. The newest member of the Raffles family has 132 rooms and 49 suites, each decorated in a contemporary style with touches of traditional Turkish influence. The interior architecture is the work of Hirsch Bedner Associates, the firm behind the design at the Alpina Gstaad in Switzerland and the Jing An Shangri-La in Shanghai, among other preeminent international hotels. On the gastronomy front, Michelin-starred chef Sergi Arola heads up one of the hotel's two restaurants. Nine massage rooms and a wellness center, complete with a sauna and steam room, will allow guests to relax while enjoying a view over the Bosphorus Strait.
From around €600 ($790) per night.
Details and reservations: www.raffles.com/istanbul
Four Seasons Hotel Moscow - opening October 30
For the inspiration behind its new property in the Russian capital, the Four Seasons looked to the historic Hotel Moskva. Commissioned in the 1930s by Stalin's government, the building served as unofficial headquarters for a number of the Soviet Union's political and cultural leaders and was frequented by international stars. Today, the building's famous facade is seen worldwide on the label for Stolichnaya vodka. A modern replica of the historic building, the Four Seasons Hotel Moscow was developed in collaboration with the interior architecture firm Richmond International. Tourists will find 180 rooms and suites, including the Pozharsky Royal Suite (520 square meters or 5,597 square feet), as well as a restaurant headed up by David Hemmerle, the former chef at the Cristal Room Baccarat in Paris and at Moscow's Carré Blanc restaurant.
From around €711 ($930) per night.
Details and reservations: www.fourseasons.com/moscow
The Beaumont London - opening in October
Jeremy King and Chris Corbin, the duo behind some of London's most renowned eateries (Le Caprice, The Wolseley in Piccadilly, Zédel in Soho, Colbert in Chelsea, to name a few), are opening their first hotel this fall. Located in Mayfair, The Beaumont is a contemporary hotel with 73 guestrooms in total, including 23 suites. Among them is "The ROOM," a suite with a surprising design and an exterior sculpture by the artist Antony Gormley. There is also the option of the presidential suite with its five rooms. Multiple restaurants, a spa and a gym also await guests.
From around €496 ($660) per night.
Details and reservations: www.thebeaumont.com
La Réserve Paris Hotel and Spa - opening in December
Like the two preexisting La Réserve properties in Geneva and the South of France and the firm's collection of Paris apartments, the new Parisian hotel emphasizes luxury and elegance. Located near the Champs-Elysées, La Réserve Paris features an interior design by Jacques Garcia. The owner, Swiss investor Michel Reybier, aimed to keep the hotel relatively "confidential," so there will be only 40 guestrooms, including 25 suites ranging in size from 50 square meters to 225 square meters (538 square feet to 2,422 square feet). Four presidential suites and 15 rooms with a minimum size of 40 square meters (430 square meters) are also part of the five-star hotel's offering. Guests will enjoy views over the Jardins de l'Elysée (the grounds of the French president's palace) and the Grand Palais. The spa rounds out the offer with its 16 meter (52 foot) indoor pool, steam room, fitness area and three massage rooms.
Rates remain unannounced.
Details: www.lareserve-paris.com
W Bogota Hotel - opening December 12
Starwood Hotels hopes to ride the wave of the destination's return to favor with international tourists by opening its new designer hotel in the Colombian capital. Travelers will find 168 guestrooms, including 33 suites and the so-called "Extreme Wow" presidential suite. The interior design has been entrusted to Studio Gaia, the New York-based firm that has created interiors for several other prestigious properties around the globe, including the Ritz-Carlton Herzliya in Israel. Drawing inspiration from the legend of El Dorado, the designers created a distinctly Colombian atmosphere, where traditional details such as gold leafing and precious stones are seen alongside elements of more contemporary style. Guests can take advantage of an impressive fitness center spanning 3,000 square meters (32,292 squre feet), a restaurant, a spa, a lounge and several conference rooms.
From around €257 ($338) per night.
Details and reservations: www.starwoodhotels.com
Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach - opening December 1
With its first hotel in the United Arab Emirates, the Four Seasons group aims to break with the over-the-top extravagance that characterizes many of the destination's hotels. The property has only four floors, in spite of being in the shadow of the world's highest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa (163 floors and 828 meters / 2716 feet high). But on the inside, the hotel is every bit as luxurious as its larger competitors. The architecture firm WATG developed the resort in a Spanish-Mediterranean architectural style complemented by Arabic design accents. To name just one example of the luxurious details, the staircase handrails are made with Murano glass. The resort includes 237 guestrooms and suites, including two presidential suites of 510 square meters (5,490 square feet). A villa tucked away among the gardens of the property will be opened at a later date.
From around €454 ($597) per night.
Details and reservations: www.fourseasons.com/dubaijb
Source: Relaxnews