Dorsia Travel’s 2026 luxury hotel hit list

With summer over and autumn well on its way to ruining my mood, I’ve decided 2025 is already finished. Let’s call it — we had a good run. I’m living in Spring 2026 already, where life is good and England are only a few months away from winning the World Cup. So, in that optimistic spirit, what’s new in the world of luxury hotel openings? What just launched, what’s about to, and what’s allegedly coming…one day….hopefully…..maybe.

Here’s what I’m watching, where we’ve been, and what’s already triggered a “looks shit” in the Dorsia group chat.

First up, what’s new that we’ve been to this year?

I always try and get to some new openings.  There’s always something of interest.

So this year, I ticked off the following, which opened in the last few years:  The Lana, Tawana and North Island Okavango.  Well done me.  And then in terms of new openings, only the following:

• andBeyond Suyian Lodge, Kenya – andBeyond’s stab at being an ultra-luxury safari company.  And they did it.
• Cheval Blanc Seychelles – It’s Cheval Blanc. In the Seychelles. Do I even need to say anything else? Well, yeah, I do, which is why I wrote a 5,000 word review about it.

And here’s what’s new, that I’m still heading to in the remaining months of the year.

• Rosewood Chancery, London – Rosewood’s long-awaited ultra-luxury addition to London. I’ve already been for a show around and it looks great.  Looking forward to staying in a few months.  Any reason I’m waiting?  Just because I’m keen not to ruin a new opening.  Don’t make me hate this hotel!
• HERE Maldives – I’m still not convinced this is a real name and not a placeholder someone forgot to update, but it’s allegedly a new private island resort opening in the Maldives in December. Insert the usual keywords: “transformational,” “sustainable,” “revolutionary” and “if we don’t open on time, you are homeless”.  Yes, that’s right, I am all set to be here on opening day.

I was going through all the “Top Hotel Openings of 2025” lists again while writing this, and most of them fall into one of two categories: either delayed until 2026, or just deeply uninteresting. I’d love to have more than four properties to be excited about, but I don’t feel like I’ve missed much. Still, there are technically a few left on the schedule for this year. Allegedly.

Still to come 2025 Projects

• The Vineta Hotel (Oetker), Palm Beach – Delayed, delayed and more delays.  Still no set opening date, even though it was meant to open in 2024.  It’s not a hotel I will go out of my way to visit, but I am intrigued by what Oetker are going to do here.
• Corinthia Maldives – This could go either way. There’s potential, but so far, the marketing has given very little away. Not even a hint of an opening date.
• One&Only Big Sky, Montana – One&Only are involved in some rather cool properties of late.  Not all winners, for sure, but this one looks most intriguing.  And with Amangani reopening after a refurb, for those of us that have to go on a massive trek to get here, traveling another few hours to combine the two isn’t such a bad idea.

Openings That Looked Good For Five Seconds

• Few & Far Luvhondo, South Africa – I was intrigued until a publication mentioned the teeny tiny detail that there aren’t many animals around.  Which is a bit of a pain at a safari lodge.  Ok, so this is an issue for the majority of lodges opening in new areas, and they’re not going to get any better without people going.  But I’m in a generous mood and I’ll let the rest of you wear it in first.  You get to call dibs and be first on this one.
• Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica – Now that it’s actually opened, the verdict is… meh.  I guess Four Seasons is still the king in some places.

What’s coming in 2026?

I can’t remember being this excited about a single year of luxury hotel openings.

• Fregate – The reboot has taken longer than a Cory Booker speech, but it’s coming — and it’s going to be amazing.  Do we all truly believe it’s opening next year?  Are we all going to bet money on it?  Yes we are, just send all your money to PO Box Dorsia Travel, England.
• Bulgari Maldives – I have faith this may finally bring about two things: having serious competition to Velaa and Cheval Blanc Randheli owning the top-tier of the Maldives, and giving Velaa an arse kick to upgrade their villas.  Win win.
• Singita Elela – Their first forray into Botswana.  Already announced an opening date of December 2026.
• Waldorf Astoria London – London has not opened a new luxury hotel in fifteen minutes, so one was due.
• Airelles Venice – Their first city hotel in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  I cannot wait.
• Mandarin Oriental Maldives – Is it actually happening?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  Which is a shame, because I only have one hundred other reasons to go to the Maldives.
• Amanvari, Baja – Also apparently not happening. But they keep saying it is, so I will keep faith until they finally pull the plug and put it, and us, out of our misery.