Be one of the first few to check in
There's nothing like being the first to try something new, especially when it comes to hotels. From New York to Tuscany and Stockholm, Sweden, we recommend putting these five new independent luxury hotels on your hit list, stat.
Mountain Shadows in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
Photo: Courtesy of Mountain Shadows
Opened: March 2017
Set among breathtaking desert landscapes with views on to the iconic Camelback Mountain, Mountain Shadows served as a hideaway for the well-heeled travellers and celebrities of the 1960s and 1970s.
Upon its relaunch, the new-build 180-room resort, which features floor-to-ceiling glass throughout, will reflect both its former glory and a reimagining for the 21st century blending mid-century modernist and contemporary design. Guests will appreciate thoughtful touches such as in-room cocktail carts, an organic juice bar, two 75 ft. swimming pools and an 18-hole golf course.
Hotel At Six, Stockholm, Sweden
Photo: Courtesy of At Six
Opened: March 2017
Located on Brunkebergstorg Square, once the favourite haunt of 19th-century high society, At Six promises to reinstate this central Stockholm district as the hub for bon vivants. Conceptualised by Nordic Hotels & Resorts and London's Universal Design Studio, At Six offers 343 immaculately-designed and spacious guestrooms, including 41 suites and a presidential suite covering 915 square feet with private rooftop terrace.
See also: 7 opulent hotels for the Cannes Film Festival
Communal facilities to be enjoyed by hotel and city guests alike include modern art collections and exhibitions curated by Sune Nordgren, wine bar, cocktail bar, brasserie and gym. The adjacent two-story rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace serve cuisine by award-winning local chef Frida Ronge alongside sweeping views of the capital.
Pendry San Diego, USA
Photo: Courtesy of Pendry San Diego
Opened: February 2017
Located in the historic Gaslamp Quarter, Pendry San Diego sets a new standard for hotels with an ethos culturally connected to the local experience.
Comprising 281 guestrooms and 36 suites, the property marries aspects of traditional SoCal décor such as haint blueprints and Spanish colonial tiles with an Instagram-worthy checklist of luxury facilities such as a rooftop pool with private cabanas, a destination spa and an on-site mercantile selling handicrafts and apothecary.
The property will also offer 35,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space.
Il Castelfalfi - TUI BLUE Selection, Tuscany, Italy
Photo: Courtesy of Il Castelfalfi
Opened: March 2017
This 120-room retreat on a 2,700-acre Tuscan estate is the first new-build, five-star resort to open in the region for 25 years. With a focus on the great outdoors, food and wine, wellness, and sustainability, Il Castelfalfi – TUI BLUE Selection is designed for travellers who want to revel in a guilt-free version of la dolce vita.
Highlights include an expansive spa, a fine dining restaurant serving Italian classics made with ingredients produced on the estate grounds, and eco-friendly biomass heating.
See also: Inside the Tuscan home of the Ferragamo family
Baccarat Hotel New York, USA
Photo: Courtesy of Baccarat Hotel New York
Baccarat Hotel New York delights both guests and residents by combining the noble heritage and perfect craft of the legendary French crystal company with enchanting moments and unique elements of unexpected magic.
Conceived in the style of a sumptuous hôtel particulier, its newly built Midtown Manhattan glass tower comprises 114 refined guestrooms designed by Parisian firm Gilles & Boissier; 59 elegant residences from New York interiors master Tony Ingrao; a series of fanciful salon-style public spaces, and a soothing La Mer spa, the first of its kind in the United States.
All hotels featured can be booked online or through the iPrefer mobile app, a newly launched application by Preferred Hotels & Resorts.