FAB HOTELS ASIA 100

With each new year, new trends will emerge, so what are some of the most significant ones coursing through the world of luxury hospitality in Asia in 2026? We take a closer look.

1. Faith-based travel
 

Since antiquity, humanity has remained hopelessly lost and perennially looking for hope and meanings in life. This intricate facet is not lost to clever hoteliers across the globe. Asia has long been a continent of diverse faiths and beliefs, and more than that, many faith-based practices here, like meditation and mindfulness, are not too mired with religiosity, thus giving practitioners a more liberal front for outreach.

luxury hospitality trends in 2026
 

Many resorts in serene places, especially those in destinations like Nepal, Bali and Bhutan, where devotion is a major cultural aspect, come replete with meditation rooms and other faith-based programmes, where in lieu of a yoga class, trips to local temples can be planned for guests to facilitate further explorations with local practitioners.

 

Some of the best resorts to head to for faith-based discoveries are:

 

Dwarika’s Sanctuary, Dhulikhel, Nepal

 

Dwarika’s Sanctuary is an intimate retreat carved from an ancient forest dripping with views and verdure. Here there are elaborate facilities for ‘one to connect’ with nature and higher powers, with yoga and meditation teachers, spa specialists, astrologers, Hindu priests, and visiting Buddhist monks waiting to assist in the wing. There is a Himalayan Salt House, a Himalayan Crystal House, a Shiva Lingam Meditation Maze, a Brahmanda Indoor Pool, a Garden of the Nine Planets (Navagraha Batika), and a meditation cave, amongst other reflective spaces dotting the expansive grounds here. The views of the majestic Himalayan ranges alone are mighty inspirational, and in plain sight, we might be somewhat persuaded that the earthly realm is only just the beginning of our understanding of life.

 

Dwarika’s Sanctuary, Battisputali Rd, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal

 

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bali

 

Located in Bali’s cultural and spiritual heart of Ubud where the lush jungle meets the Ayung River, Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is an exclusive journey inside an indigenous Balinese village, providing a sensory discovery for wellness and nature. Guests are invited to explore the deep mystical connections to nature and the indigenous healing wisdom of spiritual Ubud. The Disconnect to Reconnect program is designed to help individuals detach from the doldrums of daily life and transform themselves through Ubud’s spiritual energy.

Some of the programme’s highlights are Homa Yajna‚ a fire blessing ritual originating from the ancient Vedic texts, Melukat Geni, a transformative Balinese ritual that unites the cleansing power of holy water (Tirta) with the purifying energy of fire (Geni),  and Vipassana, a form of Buddhist meditation that focuses on cultivating mindfulness through breathing and other sensorial observations. The resort can also arrange for healing sessions with indigenous blind healers, amongst whom is Ibu Ketut Mursi, an extraordinary blind healer renowned for her profound intuitive awareness and healing touches.

 

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Jalan Kedewatan, Banjar Kedewatan, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia, 80571

 

Six Senses Thimphu Bhutan

 

This serene spot in Bhutan was raised above the capital with a placid meditation pavilion amidst a splendid outdoor reflection pool. Here the resort can arrange for classes with learned Buddhist monks who can teach guests how to meaningfully meditate in the midst of modern existence through breathing exercises and proper understanding of the meaning of balance. Besides trips to local shrines and monasteries where pujas and rituals can be performed, a local astrologer can also be summoned to give very detailed readings of one’s past and future in the comfort of the resort.

 

Six Senses Thimphu​, Chunimeding, Babesa, Chang Gewog​, Thimphu, 11001 Bhutan​

 

2. Hospitality-linked medical tourism
 

Besides the quest for meanings, the quest for good health is the other perennial preoccupation for people through the ages. Wellness resorts are not new in the field, and those with a host of amenities, from yoga studios to full fledged spas, litter the continent.

 

What is relatively new, and fast catching pace, are hospitality-linked medical facilities manned by medical doctors, therapists and other practitioners that cater to more than stretching. It all started with visiting Ayurvedic practitioners dispensing herbs and remedies to enhance one’s dosha, to the present day where impressive, state-of-the-art oxygen tanks, isolation chambers, cryogenic chambers and a host of other medical equipment are available for resort guests. The trend to amalgamate health and hospitality is rising rapidly in Asia and here are some facilities that might be closer than you think.

 

Layan Life by Anantara, Phuket

 

Holistic wellness is the name of the game at its 1,767-sqm, double-storey biophilic structure surrounded by pristine green elements in Phuket. The facilities here include a state of the art Technogym, a yoga studio for meditation and movement practices, a Pilates Studio with Reformers, Cadillac and other equipment for postural perfection, aromatherapy steam rooms, Himalayan salt dry saunas, hot and cold vitality pools with massage jets, Cryotherapy Icepods, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, a colonic hydrotherapy chamber and even a herbal dispensary.

 

A comprehensive range of medical treatments available here include sleep test with Berung ring, hormone screening, micronutrient test, food intolerance test, toxic heavy metal test, spot mass (cancer screening), NK-Cell test (inflammatory marker), and genetic testing.

 

Anantara Layan Phuket Resort, 168 Moo 6, Layan Beach Soi 4, Cherngtalay, Thalang 83110

 

Chi Longevity Clinic, Four Seasons Singapore

 

Founded in March 2023, Chi Longevity is the first private clinic in Singapore dedicated to slowing the biological ageing process. The new 112 sqm Chi Longevity clinic at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore offers clients tailored health assessments, incorporating advanced diagnostic tools such as blood tests, cognitive testing and genetic profiling from the comfort of the hotel.  The clinic’s multidisciplinary team — including doctors, dieticians, psychologists, and health coaches — work together to provide comprehensive and preventative care, a unique approach rarely seen in conventional healthcare settings.

 

There are specialised programmes (Gene Insights: Nutrition & Health, Biological Age Reveal, Body Recomposition, Glucose Navigator: Blood Sugar Analysis, Gut Health Optimisation, Sleep and Stress, and Physical Performance) and other medical screenings. The clinic also features equipment that can detect early markers of cardiovascular risk and conduct cardiopulmonary exercise testing to assess metabolic rate and oxygen consumption for respiratory health.

 

Chi Longevity Clinic at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, 190 Orchard Boulevard, #03-04, Singapore 248646

 

3. Dive deeper with grassroots travel
 

For a long time, tourists taking a break from their routine lives tend to avoid the mundane realities of the foreign lands they visit. Even with highly bankable local cultures like Thai or Balinese, tourists tend to be content with the touch-and-go approach to local culture, confining their contact with just the tried and tested tourist attractions.

 

Of late, there appears to be a push for deeper, more meaningful explorations into distinctly local neighbourhoods away from the tourist haunts and traps, and the hospitality sector has lost no time delving into the trend. For sure these efforts are not so much anthropologically driven than businesses trying to muster renewed interests from jaded travellers by extending ‘authentic’ local hospitality beyond the hotel’s doors. But still, it is a refreshing change for tourists yearning to break new grounds in popular destinations, revisiting the familiar, but with surprising new facets awaiting.

 

Capella Taipei

 

Capella Taipei is a contemporary mansion overflowing with familiar luxuries. The gist of playing house in such a resplendent mansion is of course to get acquainted with the neighbourhood and Capella Taipei is taking local exploration fairly seriously. Culturists will be delighted to show guests the heritage precincts around the city, for example strolling down Dihua Street, Taipei’s famed Chinese New Year market widely considered to be the city’s oldest street, to understanding its history and attractions.

 

Closer to home would be the Songshan district, one part charming old residential enclave and one part rising commercial heart. And if the stars are aligned, General Manager Dennis Laubenstein may even play guide on a walking tour through the quaint streets harbouring surprising cafes, tranquil parks and retail boutiques old and new, all part of the charming patchwork of social fabric in this relatively unexplored neighbourhood in Taipei.

 

Capella Taipei, No. 139 Dunhua North Road, Songshan District, Taipei 105021

 

The Shinmonzen

 

Tucked away in a serene corner just off the grids of Kyoto’s immensely popular Gion district, this Tadao Ando designed hospitality address is an intimate hideaway a stone’s throw off from heavy foot traffic and prying eyes within the imperial city, a perfect launch pad for explorations in the city centre yet a world unto itself. Guided walking tours by hotel staff around Gion offer meaningful insights into the historic heart of Kyoto with details guidebooks tend to gloss over or miss altogether.

 

The Shinmonzen also has ‘privileged access’ to an array of temples and cultural experiences – from private Zen and mindfulness meditation at Ryosoku-in Temple located within the grounds of Japan’s oldest Zen temple “Kenninji”, to exclusive tea ceremonies at Korin-in Temple, to scoring coveted invitations to Tea Houses to experience the legendary elegance and hospitality of Kyoto’s enigmatic Geikos and Maikos.

 

The Shinmonzen, 235 Nishino-cho, Shinmonzen-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605 0088

 

Theatre Residence Bangkok

 

In a perennially popular tourist city like Bangkok, what was new will grow old with haste and what was old will eventually become new. When the Theatre Residence was converted into a riverside hotel from an open air theatre close to 10 years ago, its owners must have caught an upwind of the trend way before others did. The erstwhile Patravadi Theatre, founded by the illustrious Patravadi Mejudhon (also affectionately known as Khru Lek), a renowned Thai actress, director, and playwright who made her international debut as the luminous Sritala in The White Lotus Season 3, was raised in one of Bangkok‘s oldest neighbourhoods, across the Chao Phraya River from the Grand Palace.

 

Sandwiched between local schools, royal temples and nostalgic old streets that branch out into a bustling market, Patravadi’s family still owns and operates this charming hotel where the old scenes of Bangkok Noi unfold for tourist eyes like nowhere else in the city. A short boat or car ride away, depending on how local one elects to be, is the always-vibrant old quarter of Yaowarat or Chinatown, where a good purchase or something interesting is always awaiting the keen eye of a passerby.

 

Theatre Residence, 69/4-8 Soi Wat Rakang, Arunarmarin rd., Siriraj, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok 10700

 

4. Heritage hideaways
 

Given Asia’s long collective history, it isn’t a least bit surprising to find heritage hotels littered across the continent. For better or worse, the hospitality sector is one of the main outlets to upcycling old buildings. Maybe it is the sense of history and grandeur they evoke, or that people simply delight in hanging on to nostalgia, but some of the best hotels on the continent were carved from heritage edifices and this is a trend that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

 

In Bangkok alone, we will be expecting some exciting new projects involving historic addresses, like the soon-to-be-launched Langham Bangkok, a luxury address fronted by the historic Old Customs House by the River of Kings, and just mere steps away, the newly renovated Garden Wing of the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, the grand old dame of hospitality grandees, will also be unveiled in time for her 150th anniversary. Here are some other interesting Asia hotels rich in heritage.

 

Siri Sala Bangkok

 

The making of a heritage hotel is a lot more complicated than just inhabiting an architectural shell because old buildings are often ruined by the ravages of time, the very same quality that imbues character and fascination. When present owners Irma Go and Kirati “Arti” Thepsoparn saw a cluster of 100-year-old Thai stilt houses along a river inlet close to Bangkok’s famous River of Kings, they were immediately entranced by the history and culture emanating from the wooden edifices and spent the next five years painstakingly restoring and redesigning what could be meaningfully salvaged.

 

With the pair of accidental hoteliers hard at work, the transformation is nothing short of miraculous, and visitors to this serene riverside escape can now experience the charms of local life within the relatively under-explored cultural precincts of Bangkok Noi from this gloriously restored Thai villa filled with enigmatic old furniture and objets in their pride of place. From here, there are bustling river scenes tied to intricate local customs, pockets of mangrove swamplands home to the city’s remaining wildlife, and culturally important Thai temples standing just across the waterways. So resplendent is Siri Sala that the producers of The White Lotus featured it in season 3 of the popular series, cementing its reputation as a rising hospitality address in the city filled with hospitality addresses.

 

Siri Sala Bangkok, 28/8 Soi Charan Sanitwong 34, Arun Amarin Bangkok Noi Bangkok 10700 Thailand

 

The Barracks Hotel Sentosa

 

Singapore as a colonial outpost has inherited a swathe of ornate British raised black and white houses littered across the island — well, islands, when one considers the one-time military outpost of Sentosa as well. Today a glitzy enclave with a string of luxury residences and resorts, many of the colonial edifices here have been restored as resorts catering to the well-heeled with a predilection for taste and history. And the history tied to one particular establishment is pretty hard-hitting — built in 1904 as the Blakang Mati Artillery Barracks, this complex housed British soldiers with cookhouses, messes, recreation rooms and a parade square during

British rule in Singapore.

 

After Japan’s surrender in 1945, the British reoccupied the barracks and restored it as a key artillery base. In 1948, its parade ground witnessed the formation of the 1st Singapore Regiment, Royal Artillery (1SRRA) — Singapore’s first locally raised artillery unit, marking the advent of the island’s eventual independence. In December 2019, the site began a new life as The Barracks Hotel Sentosa, a sumptuous resort with stately facade and lawns fringed by handsome palms. With 40 luxuriously designed rooms and suites, the hotel blends heritage elegance with modern hospitality, preserving features like louvered windows, timber doors, and wide verandahs. The colonial air still lingers amidst the moody dark toned furnishings while luxurious amenities from British perfumers Miller Harris and award-winning Singaporean gourmet tea artisan Pryce Tea exude glamour and sophistication.

 

The Barracks Hotel Sentosa, 2 Gunner Lane, Palawan Ridge, Sentosa Island, Singapore 099567

 

5. Rise of the ‘Lifestyle Hotels’
 

Across Asia, a class of hotels is sprouting up with haste under the ‘lifestyle’ banner, a term which carries some ambiguity. Perceptibly, clever hoteliers have deciphered a niche market that craves luxury but isn’t quite ready to fork out what the top tier establishments are commanding, and have deemed the sector lucrative enough to direct an entire tier of hotels to chase after this crowd. What ‘Lifestyle Hotel’ means may be subject to interpretation, but based on available evidence, it is invariably tied to the notion of affordable luxury and loosely translates to a younger clientele, cheaper building materials, smaller rooms, louder designer accents, general cut-back on operations (no turndown service, no bedroom slippers etc), and reduced F&B offerings.

The business plan is clever, especially since so many of these ‘Lifestyle Hotels’ are fronted by behemoth operators like IHG, Marriott, Hilton et al, which are simultaneously trying to blur the lines between their luxury stables and their lower tiers while differentiating what is luxury and what isn’t. And the proof is in the pudding — one can simply check out the labyrinth of brands and corresponding redemption literature of rewards plans like Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors to get the picture. Two of the prominent lifestyle hotel brands on the rise in Asia are:

 

The Standard Hotels

 

The Standard Hotels was founded in 1999 by hotelier Andre Balazs, with the first location opening on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. Developed from a remodelled 1962 Thunderbird Motel, the brand was designed as an “anti-hotel” with a playful, retro-chic, and irreverent aesthetic, quickly becoming a popular spot for the Hollywood creative scene. The Standard Maldives opened in 2019, followed by The Standard Hua Hin in 2021.

 

The brand’s most high-profile opening in Asia was The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon in 2022, housed in the dramatic spire that is the Mahanakorn Building. The Standard, Singapore followed suit in 2024, the same year the brand was acquired by Hyatt Hotels.

 

The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, 114 Narathiwas Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
The Standard, Singapore, 12 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258353

 

Canopy by Hilton

 

Canopy by Hilton is a lifestyle hospitality brand known for its stylish, locally-connected stays that reflect the spirit of the locale. With more than 40 hotels opened across 14 countries and territories and over 40 more in the pipeline, each Canopy hotel is different by design, thoughtfully tailored to its setting.

The first Canopy property in the Asia Pacific region opened in Chengdu in 2019 while Canopy Umeda Osaka was recently launched in 2024. Southeast Asia’s first Canopy Hotel is slated to open in Bangkok this year, adding to the stable of design-centric hotels making waves in the Thai capital.

 

Canopy by Hilton Chengdu City Centre, 5 Xiyu Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu, 610031, China

 

6. Apartels as homes away from home
 

For quite a few years now, the quiet upgrading of apartels, home-hotel hybrids once reserved for budget travellers, has been signalling a notable shift of preferences in luxury travel. While there are now more luxury hotels than ever, there are also significant alternatives for travellers who have grown accustomed to the conveniences of a temporary home, with kitchenettes, full sized fridges and washing machines, on top of the services and amenities of a conventional hotel, like 24 hour front desk, swimming pools and gyms, and daily housekeeping services.

 

In a way this is a rising class of accommodation that offers the best of both worlds, where travellers can tap into the ease of familiar routines (like doing laundry or whipping up a fast meal) even while 5000 miles away from home. Far from the rigidity of serviced apartments more targeted at business travellers, a new wave of apartels in Asia have evolved to become comfortable and trendy designer pads replete with social spaces and interesting F&B concepts that resonate with a younger generation. Here are some apartels by Asian hospitality operators:

 

Lanson Place

 

The first Lanson Place property was raised in Causeway Bay in 1995 with a focus on providing high-end serviced apartments/hotels with a “home” experience. There are currently nine Lanson Place properties across the Asia Pacific region offering a mix of short-term and extended-stay options. Lanson Place Bukit Ceylon is set in one of Kuala Lumpur’s busiest neighbourhoods near KLCC and Jalan Bintang while at the end of the famous Orchard shopping belt is Lanson Place Winsland Singapore, a vibrant serviced suite that caters to long-staying leisure or corporate guests (for seven days or more).

 

The very model of a contemporary apartel, most of the accommodations at Lanson Place Winsland are designed with the comforts of a home and the amenities of a hotel. A self-service laundrette and a communal kitchen (Cookhouse @ 9) are the hybridised facilities reinforcing conventional hospitality services like housekeeping (three times a week), recreational spaces (rooftop swimming pool and jacuzzis), and a 24-hour concierge desk to meld the conveniences of a hotel with the soothing feel of home along Singapore’s prime Orchard Road belt just minutes from the CBD. The studio executive suites have been recently renovated to incorporate in-room washer/dryer and built-in work desk for greater convenience.

 

Lanson Place Winsland, 167 Penang Road, Singapore 238462

 

Capri by Fraser

 

Capri by Fraser is a hospitality brand raised within the premises of the apartel mould with hospitality spaces designed for modern conveniences. The brand currently has 16 installations across the globe with the latest in Penang scheduled for a 2026 opening. Encapsulating all the brand virtues is Capri by Fraser, China Square, a contemporary hotel-residence on South Bridge Road raised just moments from the vibrant streets of Chinatown.

 

Thoughtfully designed for today’s urban traveller, the property caters equally to business and leisure guests, seamlessly blending smart apartment living with social spaces and lifestyle-driven facilities. Subtle design elements inspired by the area’s rich cultural heritage add a distinctive sense of place to the snazzy interiors decorated with modern works by local artists. Rising 16 storeys, the hotel residence features 304 stylishly appointed rooms, ideal for both short visits and extended stays. Guests can unwind at the rooftop swimming pool, stay active at the 24-hour gym, relax in the steam room, or make use of the meeting rooms and communal spaces designed for both work and social interaction. Rooms here hover close to 30sqm and are designed with built-in dry or full kitchenettes.

 

Capri by Fraser, China Square, 181 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058743

 

COMO Metropolitan Singapore

 

COMO is a hospitality brand tied to intrinsic wellness and launched in September 2023, the 156-room COMO Metropolitan Singapore has recently set a new benchmark in hospitality care with the inclusion of SleepHub technology, a scientifically designed system that enhances rest by regulating sleep cycles through low-frequency sound, allowing guests to wake at the most natural and restorative point, in each room. The modishly designed hotel also boasts a rooftop pool, internationally renowned culinary addresses like Cedric Grolet and COTE (Korean steakhouse by Simon Kim) as well as a trendy retail space by Club 21. The location is patently unbeatable, situated across from Paragon Shopping Mall on Orchard Road and mere minutes from the upmarket medical facilities of the area.

 

COMO Metropolitan Singapore has also caught the rising trend of melding luxury hotels with apartment-like conveniences by designing its suites with wall-to-wall downtown views and a side of domesticity. The Metropolitan suites here are fitted with simple kitchenettes next to the dining area, while the two-bedroom COMO Suites come replete with glass induction hob, preparation sink, microwave, full-size refrigerator, as well as cutlery, plates and pots, allowing guests, especially those with dietary restrictions, to prepare their own meals conveniently over stays long and short.

 

COMO Metropolitan Singapore, 30 Bideford Road Singapore, COMO Orchard, Singapore 229922

 

7. Ultra luxury reigns supreme
 

Despite so much going on in 2026, the steer remains strong with the ultra luxe camp in Asia. Top-tier luxury class hotels continue to lead in the way of hospitality, proffering distinctive designs, ultra luxe furnishings, thoughtfully curated experiences, rarefied services and the most delectable gourmet experiences under one roof. Well, at least that is the general direction.

 

Bolstered by the opening of Mandarin Oriental Qianmen Beijing, China’s most expensive hotel to date with an average daily rate of over USD 2,000 in 2024, a string of other high profile openings has followed, with Waldorf Astoria Osaka, Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur and Capella Taipei all launched in 2025. Moving ahead, the long-awaited Capella Kyoto and Four Seasons Hanoi are slated to open in 2026 with Regent Sanya’s opening expected in 2027 These are the very brands whose operations and reputations are grounded in the tenets of

ultra luxe hospitality, and their openings are proof that growth and optimism in the sector is far from slumping.

 

Raffles Sentosa Singapore

 

One of the most anticipated openings in recent years was Raffles Sentosa Singapore, a brand new luxury address that launched on March 1 2025, just a 15-minute drive from the Singapore’s Central Business District (which also harbours the original Raffles Hotel), Designed by design powerhouse Yabu Pushelberg, the all-villa resort is perched on a hilltop surrounded by the lush greenery of Sentosa Island, There are just 62 villas, ranging from a 211 sqm one-bedroom villa to the 650 sqm four-bedroom Royal Villa, each with a private pool and lush outdoor terrace.

 

Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping views of the verdant landscaping, while a harmonious blend of natural materials and intricate textures creates a seamless tie between indoor and outdoor spaces. The resort is also set to be a new dining destination in the city, with five exceptional restaurants and lounges, showcasing a diverse array of global cuisines proffering modern Italian, refined Cantonese, gastronomic Japanese as well as the brand’s signature afternoon tea. Beyond inspiring designs and culinary offerings, the Raffles imprint on distinguished service sets this new entrant snuggly upon the upper echelons of the ultra-luxe firmament in Singapore.

 

Raffles Sentosa Singapore, 4 Bukit Manis Road, Sentosa, Singapore 099947

 

Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

 

Located between levels 75 and 114 of the iconic Merdeka 118, currently the world’s second tallest skyscraper, Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur was finally launched in August 2025 after years of keen anticipation. This new hospitality landmark boasts of 252 guest rooms and suites where floor-to-ceiling windows reveal sweeping views of the city from an unbeatable vantage within the Malaysian capital. Besides the stunning vistas, the design of Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur is also singularly striking, a masterful melding of handsome hard lines with comfortable plush furnishings, incorporating sculptural centrepieces, perforated brass screens, an abundance of natural timber both in the rooms and open spaces, as well as a generous splash of Malaysian art, adding vibrant touches to the spectacular property.

 

Located on the 99th floor is The Spa at Park Hyatt, an impressive wellness sanctuary featuring a light-filled yoga movement studio, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, sumptuous treatment suites, serene relaxation lounges with aromatherapy steam baths and Himalayan Salt Alcoves, and a 30-metre indoor pool, all overlooking Kuala Lumpur’s dramatic cityscape from above. Afternoon tea amidst the clouds at Park Lounge is fast becoming a cherished ritual in Kuala Lumpur, as are gourmet moments at Merdeka Grill, a rising culinary hotspot with its inventive yet traditional renditions of grillhouse staples.

 

Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, Menara Merdeka 118, Presint Merdeka 118, Wilayah Persekutuan, 50118 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Capella Kyoto

 

In the spring of 2026, Capella Kyoto will finally open after years of anticipation since the project was announced in 2022. Raised as a reimagined machiya by prolific architect Kengo Kuma, the property is likened to a contemplative composition of light and materials that, like the city itself, unfolds through layered thresholds, intimate reveals, and moments of discovery.

 

Situated in the Miyagawa-chō of central Kyoto, the location retains a tranquil, unspoilt air centred around the venerable temple Kenninji. Kuma’s architecture respects the intimate scale and rhythm of Kyoto’s characterful latticework lanes, creating a low-rise form that harmonises with the surrounding streets. Collaborating with local artisans, traditional craft techniques wrought through contemporary lenses are featured throughout the property, bringing together lacquer, washi, ceramic, bronze and timber in ways that celebrate texture and touch.

 

Capella Kyoto, 130 Komatsu-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

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Hotel Indigo Sanya Haitang Bay and Regent Sanya Haitang Bay

The upcoming hotel features a futuristic design and oceanic vistas. (Image: Regent Sanya Haitang Bay)
A monumental hospitality complex is slated for opening in the first quarter of 2027 on China’s resort island of Hainan. Anchored in Haitang Bay linked to the new Tai Koo Li Sanya, the complex will feature a 220-room Hotel Indigo Sanya Haitang Bay designed by Robyn Carter, and a luxurious 351-room Regent Sanya Haitang Bay (with 10 Sky Villas) designed by Yabu Pushelburg occupying the upper floors. The complex will feature more than 10 F&B outlets within a futuristic architectural shell overlooking Sanya’s spectacular oceanic vistas.

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