Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques
Madrid, Spain
Spanish hotel chain Meliá may be celebrating 60 years of business but it certainly isn’t done debuting five-star properties in its native land. If you include the TRYPP, INNSIDE and ME brands, there are more than 20 hotels in Madrid alone, but Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques is all about luxury, located just minutes from the Teatro Royal (Royal Theatre), Puerta del Sol, Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace.
A fusion of contemporary and classic styles, the hotel was once a palace and remains an homage to the intelligentsia of the mid-nineteenth century, with works by renowned Spanish artist Velázquez adorning the walls. The 180-room and suite hotel has original features, such as the spectacular central staircase and a small private lounge, neatly contrasting the Asian elements in the Thai Room, the hotel’s serene wellness area.
Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa
Ambalantota, Sri Lanka
Following the trend of firsts this month, this Indian Ocean opening is the first Shangri-La resort in in Sri Lanka and signifies the surge of luxury tourism on the island. The 300-room, 145-acre beachfront resort opened just last month with tropical gardens, an 18-hole golf course, an artisan village and pure relaxation at CHI The Spa at Shangri-La, with 12 treatment rooms, outdoor pavilions and Chinese and Ayurvedic therapies.
The range of guestrooms includes 26 suites of up to 240 square metres, all with a dedicated butler service and cool turquoise hues to accent the typically Sri Lankan carved-wood fixtures. Suites also have a secluded balcony or terrace but if you prefer to mingle, The Lobby Lounge is accessible day and night, from morning yoga sessions to sunset bubbles and cocktails into the night.
www.shangri-la.com/hambantota/shangrila
Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta
South Jakarta City, Indonesia
This isn’t the first time Four Seasons has ventured into the Indonesian capital, but this all-new all-suite hotel builds on the brand’s two-decade heritage in Jakarta with this stunning César Pelli-designed gem. The light-filled property is a trove of curated art and tropical plants and is the centrepiece of a new mixed-use development in Capital Place, designed as a city within a city.
With 125 suites, there’s a sanctuary-style spa, fitness centre and four restaurants, as well as guestrooms with chinoiserie wall panels, original Indonesian artwork, and all-marble bathrooms. The crowning accommodation is The Presidential Suite, which spans 330 square metres along one side of the 19th floor, with magnificent views from the living room, a separate dining room and kitchen, a private study and two bedrooms.
Alila Anji
Zhejiang, China
Alila has made its first foray into China with lashings of style and sustainable savvy. Not only is the 74-villa property a reflection of a traditional Zhejiang village, it’s built within China’s first national ecological county, and one of the nation’s sustainable environmental development zones.
At 1,600 metres, guests can expect crisp mountain air and greenery extending to the horizon, perfectly complemented by the resort’s own peaceful oasis, decked in native woods, bamboo and stone – smoothed by soft furnishings and plush fabrics. The authentic restaurant serves sustainable farm-to-table dishes, showcasing the best ingredients Anji country has to offer. And, for special occasions, guests can enjoy a gourmet picnic or a candlelit dinner at a venue of choice including by the lake, on the jetty or even in the lush bamboo forest.