Openings and Delays: The 2025 Mid-Year Check-In

As we approach the halfway point of the year, it’s time for my favourite mid-year tradition: pointing and laughing at the ambitious opening timelines hoteliers announced in January, and seeing what’s actually happened. Delays are more a hospitality rite of passage; I assume they bake them into their planning stages, right next to purchasing concrete and commissioning the soundproof crystal-healing yurt with bespoke chakra-realignment apparatus.

Delayed (obviously)

Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch

Just delayed. Again. Because a project over a decade in the making shouldn’t be rushed.  What’s another year or two?

Fregate Island

Of course it was delayed.  At one stage it was looking like it might just hit the end of the year, then it slipped to Easter 2026.  The only way that’s happening is if some Roman Emperor takes over the calendar and starts adding months named after themselves.

Mandarin Oriental Maldives

No official update, which is always encouraging, but a few sources have told me it’s coming in 2026. Some have even told tell me it may not be happening at all. I still think it is, but not before 2026. Possibly 2027. Possibly never. Hope is a dangerous thing.

Airelles Venice

Originally Autumn, then end-of-year, now practically guaranteed for 2026.

Still (allegedly) coming in 2025

One&Only Moonlight Basin

You can book this, which is a good sign.  It’s the one I’m most looking forward to, even though I’m skipping it this year. It’s not too far from Amangani, which is getting a major refurb and reopening next year, so I may as well roll them into a Summer vacation.

Rosewood Chancery Lane

I’ve been invited to the pre-opening in a few weeks, and will review it properly once it opens later in the year. Early signs suggest it might be London’s best Rosewood.

HERE Maldives

Apparently on track for October, and I’m booked for December. Let’s see if they can pull it off, or if I’ll be spending Christmas rattling a tin cup outside Male International Airport.

Siwa, Egypt

They’re still saying it’ll open before year-end. The question is which year.

andBeyond Suyian

Opening in July, and I’ll be there just a few weeks after it launches.  Let’s see if andBeyond have it in them to create a great property, and ideally launch it on time, otherwise my tin cup is going to get a lot of use this year.

The Vineta Hotel

It’s allegedly coming this year, after multiple delays. I remain sceptical, but will grant them this: they’re very good at press releases.

Already Launched

Rosewood’s Global Conquest

Someone’s been busy.  Rosewood Mandarina, Amsterdam, and Miyakojima have all opened, proving that all it takes to make your dreams come true is a bit of inspiration and billions of dollars.

Norman’s Cay, Bahamas

Anything with a backstory that includes both the Medellín cartel and the Fyre Festival already earns a closer look. If this island could talk…it’d probably demand a lawyer.

Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica

Four Seasons finally has some competition.  Yay for capitalism.

Few & Far Luvhondo

Not everyone’s radar yet, but it’s certainly on mine.  Looks cool.  I’ll go at some point.

Anything else?

Way, way off, but potentially a big one: Bulgari announced they’re launching in Bahamas. In 2029.  A 220-acre private island in the Exumas, with 64 suites and villas, plus another 48 privately-owned Bulgari Mansions, as they call them.

Anything announced that far away has a good chance of never happening, but even if it does not, there’s hope, as not one wanting to be outplayed, Aman also announced their arrival into the Bahamas, with just 36 rooms, plus residences, at a property called Amancaya.  They’ve gone for the more realistic approach of never telling us when it will open.  But after my regular complaints about the lack of new quality openings in the Caribbean, I shall take this news, even if it’s so far away they’ll probably be no humans left at the time and we’ll all the slaves of our AI overlords.  Oh, and Rosewood are also due to be opening up in 2028 too.  If we are still around as a species, this is good news, and even better for our many US based clients, where getting here will be remarkably convenient.