Events, Happenings and Hotel Openings Around The World For 2021
January 17, 2021 ctn_admin
Travel industry folks around the world are counting on 2021 for a better year than 2020. Not that that’s saying much.
Here’s a look at some happenings and hotel openings schedule for the year. Today we’ll look at places outside the U.S. and Canada.
SPAIN
Next year is set to be a remarkable one for those interested in culture and for pilgrims from all over the world, as 2021 brings the celebration of the next Xacobeo Holy Year on the Way of St. James.
Also known as the “Camino de Santiago”, this ancient route is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. For centuries, thousands have walked the Way, reaching the city of Santiago de Compostela and entering its iconic cathedral at the end of their journey to visit the tomb of St. James.
The Xacobeo Holy Year is an event of exceptional public interest, as it is only celebrated when the feast of St. James (July 25) falls on a Sunday. This happens at varying intervals and occasionally we have to wait up to 11 years to celebrate the next Holy Year.
To commemorate it, the route of St James will be full of events, including concerts, art exhibitions, films, conferences and educational activities for all ages. The celebrations will kick off with a unique event: the opening of the “Holy Door” of the Cathedral of Santiago.
In October 2021, Madrid’s storied Hotel Villa Magna will reopen under the Rosewood flag as Rosewood Villa Magna. Ideally situated in the heart of the metropolis on the iconic Paseo de la Castellana, and touting prime access to the boulevard’s prestigious shopping, culinary and cultural attractions and historical landmarks, the hotel will mark the brand’s first property in Spain and fourth in Europe. Upon its 2021 debut, the new Rosewood Villa Magna will reveal a complete refurbishment to the original property that will incorporate a contemporary design ethos displaying an inspired interpretation of Spain’s capital city throughout.
SCOTLAND
Gleneagles Townhouse is supposed to start up in the fall, with 33 guest rooms on St. Andrews Square in the former home of the British Linen Company. v oco debuts in Scotland in early 2021, with twonew openings. voco Grand Central,Glasgow adjoins the city’s historic train Central Station and is one of the most prestigious buildings in Glasgow. Built in 1883, the hotel oozes Victorian glamour, notable details and voco’s modern charm. voco Edinburgh – Haymarket will bring the brand’s signature guest experience to the popular capital city of Scotland. This hotel offers a fitness centre and rooms with plush bedding and luxe amenities.
FRANCE
L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, a temporary artwork for Paris, will be on view for 16 days from Saturday, September 18 to Sunday, October 3, 2021.
Realized in close collaboration with the Centre des Monuments Nationaux and the Centre Pompidou, the Arc de Triomphe will be wrapped in 25,000 square meters of recyclable polypropylene fabric in silvery blue, and 7,000 meters of red rope.
The Cheval Blanc in Paris is due to open in the spring. It will boast a Dior spa, a restaurant helmed by a three-Michelin-starred chef and 72 ultra-luxurious rooms and suites.
For the first time in more than two centuries, the Marine hotel will open its doors to the public on July 2020 “with an innovative scenography.” The objective of this exhibition is to show the French Art de vivre inherited from the 18th century through two main courses.
The Airelles Chateau de Versailles (hotel) is set to open early this year. It’s a remarkable property that’s been built on the grounds of the opulent Palace of Versailles, former home for the French monarchy and one of the top sights of Europe. There will be just 14 rooms, plus a restaurant by Alain Ducasse, a Valmont spa and, according to Forbes.com “unparalleled access to Versailles.”
Mama Shelter – Mama Paris Litwin – A bubble of serenity, happiness and humor for business guests and locals to enjoy together at this Paris hotel from the Accor Group.
ITALY
The new Casa di Langa is a boutique property that’s supposed to open in spring in the rolling hills of the Piedmont region of northern Italy, with 39 rooms and 42 acres of vineyards, gardens and hazelnut groves.
Pompei Habita 79 – MGallery – Residing in a grand 19th Century villa with a rooftop view of the fascinating ancient ruins of Pompei.
25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino, Florence – Playfully taking guests on a journey through the dichotomous forces of Dante’s Inferno and Paradiso.
Mama Shelter Rome – Mama will take care of everything at the brand’s first address in Italy, a beautiful and modern urban refuge.
BELGIUM
Holiday InnExpress Brussels – Grand-Place will open early next year near Brussels’ central square. A UNESCO World Heritage Site that is considered one of the most beautiful squares in all of Europe, Grand Place is home to the Town Hall and the Brussels City Museum.
GREECE
The Cayo Resort, pictured, in the small town of Elounda on Crete. will open fully in April. It has 74 villas and suites.
ENGLAND
On Leicester Square in London, the Londoner will open in April with 350 rooms and a 16th-floor restaurant with an outdoor fire pit (how cool is that?).
Graduate Hotels, which has a handful of hotels in US college towns, has is reinventing the Randolph hotel in Oxford and also will open a hotel on the banks of the River Cam in Cambridge.
Mondrian Shoreditch London – The brand’s sixth property will be a European flagship and marks an exciting return to London
London’s Savoy Hotel gets a country cousin when Fairmont Windsor Park opens in early 2021.
The Harper, housed in a former glass factory in the village of Langham (near the Norfolk coast) opens March 5.
SWITZERLAND
The 900th anniversary of the Monestary in Engelberg was last year, but all the celebrations have been postponed until 2021.
The famous Lion Monument in Lucerne is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.
In transportation, Switzerland is celebrating 150 years of the Rigi Railways, Europe’s first mountain railway.
The Woodward Geneva hotel is slated to open in the second quarter of this year and comes from the high-end Oetker Collection of hotels. Look for 26 suites with tons of marble, a Joel Robuchon restaurant and Maison Guerlain spa that will stretch 70 feet; supposed the longest pool in the city.
IRELAND
Carton House, a Fairmont managed hotel, Dublin – Fairmont’s first hotel in Ireland, set on a historic estate dating back to 1176.
AUSTRIA
JO&JOE (Accor Group) Vienna Westbahnhof, Austria – Will open on the two upper floors of the future IKEA store at Westbahnhof.
MEXICO
Paradero Todos Santos is being labeled a bohemian hideaway in Baja California, with 35 rooms, handcrafted furniture and views of the desert and ocean. Rooftop Suites have an oversized rooftop hammock for sun-tanning or stargazing.
AUSTRALIA
Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, Australia – The first Mövenpick hotel in Australia is a warm, contemporary hotel with culinary history and a cosmopolitan vibe.
The Porter House Hotel – MGallery, Sydney Australia – An 1870s heritage-listed building turned luxury boutique hotel in the downtown district.
Sofitel Adelaide, Australia – World-class hotel with a refined sense of modern luxury and a touch of French decadence.
voco Melbourne Central, expected to open in late 2021, is Australia’s third voco hotel. The 252-room hotel will form part of the ‘380 Melbourne’ skyscraper and present all the unique and playful hallmarks of the voco brand. The hotel will feature a pool, gym, meeting space, all-day dining restaurant and bar, and – importantly for Melbourne – fantastic Barista served coffee.
The eye-catching Oval Hotel in Adelaide will be wrapped around one side of the city’s famous cricket stadium, with views on to the pitch from its restaurants
Holiday Inn Werribee(Melbourne, Australia), opening in early 2021, will be the first hotel in Australia to introduce the brand’s Open Lobby concept that combines the reception area, lobby restaurant, bar & lounge into one, design-led open space.
NEW ZEALAND
Set to be a flagship for Holiday Inn in New Zealand, the new build Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park is expected to open by the end of 2021. With 182 contemporary guest rooms, all-day dining and bar venue, gym, and large meeting facilities – the location is sure to make this hotel a Queenstown staple.
The Sebel Wellington Lower Hutt, New Zealand – Warm, stylish and homey
furnishings make guests feel welcome at this apartment style hotel from Accor.
ASIA
Fairmont Ambassador Seoul – The first Fairmont hotel in South Korea featuring a Fairmont Gold Lounge and Fairmont Fit luxury services.
V Villas Phuket – MGallery – Private villas offering exclusivity and seclusion with a spectacular vista of the Ao Yon Bay in Southern Phuket.
Admiral Hotel Manila – MGallery – A portal to the city’s golden era with a blend of modern Spanish and Art Deco design.
Orchard Hills Residences Singapore – MGallery – The first MGallery address in Singapore is an urban wellness retreat designed by an award-winning team.
Raffles Udaipur – The brand’s first hotel in India, styled as a romantic palace, set on a private island of Udaisagar Lake.
Raffles Jeddah – Inspired by the richness of Arabian heritage, the hotel offers opulent luxury with extravagant wedding and entertainment suites.
Banyan Tree Doha, Qatar – The brand’s first hotel in Qatar, with an ideal location in the sparkling city of Mushaireb.
The Ace Hotel in Kyoto is slated to open later this year. There’s another coming to Toronto that we’ll mention in our Canadian 2021 roundup.
Zannier Hotels Bai San Ho resort in Vietnam opens this year with 71 villas, made using the country’s traditional building methods.
The Ritz-Carlton in the Maldives has both overwater and beach villas The Xigera safari lodge in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, which is set to open in the New Year.
Holiday Inn Resort Samui Bophut (Thailand), will be the first Holiday Inn Resort in the area.
Fairmont Sanya Haitang Bay – The first flagship Fairmont Resort in Greater China, featuring the world’s first sea water canal running through a hotel.
Sofitel Hangzhou Yingguan – Located next to Xianghu Lake among China’s City of Lakes and near the popular Songcheng Theme Park.
The Silveri Hong Kong – MGallery – The brand’s first hotel in Hong Kong is a stylish manor set in the tranquil greenery of Lantau Island.
AFRICA
voco – The Bank Johannesburg, the brand’s debut in South Africa, is expected to open in early 2021 and will be a short walk from the Gautrain station and surrounded by galleries, gourmet restaurants and buzzing nightlife.
Fairmont Tagazhout Bay, Morocco – Serene oceanside destination surrounded by olive groves and Argan gardens.
Rixos Premium Magawish, Egypt – Exclusive all-inclusive resort located on the Red Sea Coast.
BERMUDA
Seventeenth-century history will come knocking at your suite door when the St. Regis Hotel makes its debut in the spring of 2021. Nestled on the beachfront below Bermuda’s biggest fortification, Fort St. Catherine, this new build combination of hotel and privately-owned residences will usher in a renovated, Robert Trent Jones-designed, 18-hole golf course, restaurant, spa and a luxurious lift to the historic Town of St. George, located only a stone’s throw away.
CARIBBEAN
Originally opened in 1986 as Le Guanahani and subsequently closed in 2017 following Hurricanes Maria and Irma, Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth will debut in Summer 2021 to reveal a complete renovation that preserves the unique spirit of the original resort while incorporating Rosewood’s signature A Sense of Place philosophy. Ideally situated over eighteen lush and secluded acres on a private peninsula overlooking two stunning beaches, Marigot Bay and Grand Cul-de-Sac, the resort will include 66 guestrooms, suites and villas, many with private pools, each reflecting the unique history, heritage and style of the French Caribbean.
The Ritz-Carlton St. Kitts will include 125 suites plus 25 branded villas and residences on the beautiful, rugged Southeast Peninsula of the island, facing the Caribbean Sea.
Following the successful pilot launch of Discover Jamaica by Bike in October 2020, organizers have laid out a calendar of events to further develop the cycling program and establish the island as a premier destination for cycling and fitness enthusiasts. In April of 2021, a four-day event titled the Ultimate Ride, will take participants on a scenic ride from Port Antonio to Kingston. More information can be found at www.discoverjamaicabybike.com.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced that it will manage a luxury resort and residences on Grand Cayman in the Caribbean, currently scheduled to open in 2021. Margaritaville Beach Resort Opens to Visitors – The highly anticipated resort, located near Junkanoo Beach and downtown Nassau, held a soft opening in late December and is now accepting reservations. During this time, guests can enjoy the One Particular Harbor building and its amenities, including Joe Merchant’s Bakery, JWB Prime Steak and Seafood, luxurious infinity pool and more. Margaritaville Beach Resort plans to open the main building and all other amenities this spring.
Hotel Re-openings Across The Bahamas – A number of hotels across The Bahamas have reopened in time to ring in the New Year. Currently, Atlantis Paradise Island, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Grand Isle Resort & Spa, Resort World Bimini and more have reopened and are accepting guests while Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort will reopen January 28 and Sandals Emerald Bay will reopen February 1. Additionally, The Cove at Atlantis will reopen February 11.
Increased Airlift to The Out Islands – For those eager for a more secluded vacation, a number of international carriers have resumed service to the Out Islands. Delta Airlines is operating daily flights between Atlanta, GA and North Eleuthera and Atlanta, GA and George Town, Exuma. American Airlines is also operating daily flights between Charlotte, NC and North Eleuthera and George Town, Exuma. Additionally, American Airlines offers daily flights between Miami, Florida and Freeport, Grand Bahama Island.
SOUTH AMERICA
Rosewood São Paulo’s June 2021 opening will mark a major milestone for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts as the brand’s first South American property.Located in the heart of São Paulo’s Cidade Matarazzo, a complex of elegant buildings dating back to the twentieth century, the hotel will be housed in a historic, landmark building which was formerly a maternity hospital called Matarazzo Maternity. 150 guestrooms and suites and 124 owner apartments will spread across the fully restored hospital building and a new tower designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel. Within this vertical park, interior design led by notables in the space including Philippe Starck and renowned Brazilian artists Vik Muniz and Saint-Clair Cemin will present a sophisticated fusion of old and new through inspired design elements and effects such as rich Brazilian woods, lush garden walls and fine furnishings. In concert with the accommodations, Rosewood São Paolo’s extensive amenities – including six restaurants and bars and Asaya, Rosewood’s integrative wellness concept – will also evoke the brand’s signature A Sense of Place® philosophy, wherein the local culture and history serves as the inspiration for the entire guest experience.
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