Editor’s Note: Monthly Ticket is a CNN Travel series that spotlights some of the most fascinating topics in the travel world. In January, we’re shining the spotlight on the new experiences 2023 has to offer.
We have a feeling 2023 is going to be a big year for travel in Asia.
Most countries in the region have done away with Covid-19 entry restrictions or are in the process of fully reopening to foreigners. International flights are regaining frequency. And an array of stunning new hotels are opening left and right.
From a remote luxury lodge in the Himalayas to urban sanctuaries sporting ambitious designs, we’ve rounded up 10 hotels and resorts scheduled to open in 2023.
Some feel relaxing and serene, others playful and creative – and a few are destinations in themselves.
Without further ado, we hope this list of notable hotels opening in Asia inspires a world of adventures in the new year.
Hotels are listed in alphabetical order and include opening rates when available.
Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach
About a 90-minute drive south of Bangkok, South Pattaya is getting ready to welcome a fresh new face.
Set to open in February 2023, the Andaz Pattaya should have all the ingredients for a fantastic getaway, from beach access to Thai-inspired architecture, six restaurants and an authentic Panpuri spa.
Whether staying in a teakwood villa or beachfront suite, all 204 rooms feature light and airy interiors and a spacious balcony with a daybed.
For larger families or groups, the four-bedroom Manor House or six-bedroom Heritage House will provide more room to stretch out.
While staying at the property, guests can swim in three pools, relax at the beach and eat their way across the property’s farm-to-table menus.
Beachfront seafood grill Fish Club will offer ocean views and weekend performances while Ruen Thai tea house will turn up the charm inside a renovated heritage building.
And then there’s the “village square,” which combines three restaurants and a lounge in a nod to traditional Thai villages.
Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach, 345, Moo 3, Na JomtienSub-District, Sattahip, Chon Buri, Thailand. Opening rates start at $220 per night.
Bulgari Hotel Tokyo
Tokyo’s hotel scene is about to get even swankier. Opening in spring 2023, the Bulgari Hotel Tokyo will stretch across the top seven floors of a new skyscraper that will sit near the glitzy Ginza district and the Imperial Palace.
Designed by Italian architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, the hotel will have 98 rooms and suites – including the opulent 45th-floor Bvlgari Suite, promising sweeping views across the city – that channel la dolce vita with exquisite craftsmanship, art and decor.
In another nod to the sophisticated Italian lifestyle, Bulgari Hotel Tokyo will be home to a 25-meter-long indoor pool and a few delicious dining concepts.
Among the highlights, gourmets will appreciate the fireplace Lounge and an Il Cioccolato boutique alongside the brand’s signature Il Bar and Il Ristorante concepts.
Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, Yaesu 2-Chome North District, Tokyo, Japan
Cap Karoso, Indonesia
For those who love Bali but crave a slower pace of life and a less commercial atmosphere, Sumba may be the ideal destination.
Located about an hour east of Bali by air, this pristine island boasts stunning lagoons and coral reefs, jungles, mountains and soon, a striking new resort: Cap Karoso, set to open early 2023.
Championing community and nature, founders Fabrice and Evguenia Ivara hope to make a positive impact with the project.
For example, the couple has sought input from Sumba’s indigenous community throughout the process. They have also committed to hiring 80% of the staff locally, using 50% solar power for energy, and reducing air-conditioning needs with intelligent design and greenery.
With GFAB Architects in charge of design, the hotel will feature 47 rooms and 20 villas that blend harmoniously into the landscape and incorporate lots of local touches – think contemporary Indonesian art, handmade teaware, hand-carved wood furniture and Sumbanese sculptures.
There’s also an organic farm that hosts a farming school for the local community, while cultural excursions turn a spotlight on the island’s fishing, horseback riding and spiritual traditions.
Cap Karoso, Pantai Karoso, Ate Dalo, Sumba Barat Daya, Sumba, Indonesia. Rates start at $305.
Four Seasons Hotel Suzhou
Mainland China may not be open to foreign tourism yet, but the central government recently eased Covid-19 measures domestically, which may signal a full reopening later this year.
If and when China reopens to tourism, travelers will once again be able to explore the country’s vast cultural treasures and three years’ worth of hotel openings, with more to come.
In late 2023, the Four Seasons will add a glamorous option in Suzhou, about a half hour by train from Shanghai.
One of eastern China’s famous canal cities, Suzhou is known for its extensive network of ancient stone bridges arching over calm canals, UNESCO-listed classical gardens and historic pagodas.
Showing off the city’s modern side, the Four Seasons will sit on a 22-acre private island in the heart of Jinji Lake in the flourishing business district.
In addition to the 200 rooms, suites and villas, the hotel will ensure guests want for nothing with a sumptuous spa, lush gardens, indoor and outdoor pools, a kids’ club and a jogging track that encircles the isle.
The Four Seasons brand is known for its gourmet experiences. And true to style, the Suzhou hotel plans to open a high-end Chinese restaurant and a lobby bar with uninterrupted lake views.
Four Seasons Hotel Suzhou, Suzhou, China
Innit Lombok
For those looking for tropical beach living merged with sophisticated modern design, Innit Lombok might inspire a journey to Indonesia.
Set on a 250-meter-long private beach on Ekas Bay along the Bali-adjacent island’s southeastern coast, the resort aims to provide an oceanfront sanctuary with quintessential Lombok experiences at its doorstep.
Hike up to Segara Anak Crater Lake atop Mount Rinjani, discover remarkable waterfalls or stay by the coast for surfing, paddle boarding, fishing and visits to local villages.
Slated to open in phases starting in early 2023, Innit Lombok will feature three distinct areas: seven beach front houses, an elevated “Bridge Hotel” with 26 ocean view suites set between two hills, and 27 private residences atop one of the hills.
The first to open will be the two-bedroom beach houses, along with a 35-meter-long pool and waterfront restaurant Anakampung, with a menu centering on freshly caught seafood from local fishermen.
When complete, all rooms and villas will showcase a tropical-luxe design by Indonesian architects Andra Martin and Gregorius Supie Yolodi, incorporating a wide range of natural materials.
For example, the villa facades feature vertical wooden slats and open-plan living rooms on the sand.
Terrazzo floors, Indonesian teakwood, bespoke rattan furnishings and Lombok stones complete the nature-centric design.
Providing no shortage of things to do, Innit Lombok will also offer an outdoor cinema, spa, gym, art pavilion, cooking classes and organic farm, which plans to supply the restaurant with fruits and vegetables.
Innit Lombok, Pemongkong, Jerowaru, West Nusa Tenggara, 83672, Indonesia. Rates start at $750.
Regent Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, a luxury hotel will soon return to its roots. Regent Hong Kong opened on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in 1980 and was considered one of the territory’s best hotels for the next two decades.
The hotel rebranded to InterContinental Hong Kong in 2001, and for many years, continued to thrive in its prestigious location, steps away from major landmarks like Avenue of the Stars, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Victoria Dockside art and design district, and the luxury shops along Nathan Road.
Two years ago, the hotel closed for refurbishments to return the property to its former glory with an understated and uplifting aesthetic envisioned by Hong Kong-born architect and designer Chi Wing Lo.
And in 2023, the hotel will emerge anew and return to its roots as Regent Hong Kong.
The 497 rooms and harborview suites should feel restful and peaceful thanks to neutral tones, deep-soak bathtubs and relaxing windowfront daybeds to soak up the Hong Kong Island skyline or watch the nightly “Symphony of Lights” show.
Regarding dining, two-Michelin-starred Yan Toh Heen, one of the city’s top Cantonese restaurants, is here to stay, although it will revert to its original name: Lai Ching Heen.
When renovations are complete, a few more favorites, like The Steak House and Nobu, will return with updated looks and menus. Meanwhile, a new cocktail spot, Destination Bar, will pair excellent harbor views with retro-inspired decor and custom drinks.
Regent Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Shinta Mani Mustang – A Bensley Collection, Nepal
