We know you've been busy jetting around the world this summer, so maybe you've missed the buzz on hot new hotels slated for the end of 2013. Fear not. We are here with a roundup of the 10 most anticipated hotels and resorts that are set to open before the close of the year. And now, without further ado...
1. Ritz-Carlton, Aruba
2. W Verbier
Starwood's W brand will finally get its first-ever alpine ski resort when the W Verbier and The Residences at W Verbier opens in December. W Verbier will have 123 rooms in four adjacent characteristic chalets on the Place Blanche, the heart of the Medran Project. Coolest touch (pun intended): The hotel will be located next to the main gondola offering immediate access to the resort's ski slopes, ideal for a ski-in and ski-out experience. Good to know: W Verbier will offer W's Whatever/Whenever service, the hotel's 24-hour concierge that can provide whatever guests want -- from state-of-the-art ski equipment to private jet service. (And who wouldn't want a private jet to fly over the Swiss Alps? Exactly.)
3. Andaz Maui at Wailea
Though a bit behind schedule, jetsetters are still eagerly awaiting the debut of Andaz Maui at Wailea. The resort occupies the 15-acre site that was previously home to the Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort, which closed in 2007. The hotel will have 297 rooms and suites as well as seven villas. Nice touch: A series of cascading infinity pools will provide views of the Pacific. There will also be two restaurants, including Morimoto Maui.
4. Andaz Papagayo
Located on Costa Rica's north Pacific coast, the Papagayo Peninsula is known for its beaches and forests populated by howler monkeys. The Andaz Papagayo will open its doors in December. There will be 153 rooms, including 21 suites, along with a spa, 24-hour gym, meeting rooms, two infinity pools with cascades, and three "concept restaurants" overlooking the sea.
5. Raffles Hainan
There's a new riviera in town and it's right off the coast of Southern China. If Hainan Island isn't on your luxury radar, it ought to be. Why? The destination is booming with luxury hotels. Most recently Raffles Hotels & Resorts announced that it will open its 10th property on Hainan. Raffles Hainan will open in Clearwater Bay with 299 rooms (starting at 861 square feet). There will also be 32 villas, all with private balconies and views of the ocean or golf course. The resort will also have a Raffles Spa, seven restaurants and bars and more.
6. Metropolitan by COMO, Miami
As if Miami needed to get any hotter, just you wait. The first US property for COMO, Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach will open with 74 rooms in an original 1930s building. Inside, the hotel will have two restaurants. The Traymore will be its signature dining venue, serving up Floridian seafood. For casual fare, visit the poolside restaurant with wood-baked pizzas and to-go options. Things get sexier at the Met Bar, which serves spirits and Champagnes. We are excited to see the COMO Shambhala juice bar on the roof. Other amenities include the COMO Shambhala Urban Escape, which will have four treatment rooms and a rooftop hydrotherapy pool.
7. Montage Kapalua Bay
The resort, presently operated as The Residences at Kapalua Bay, will undergo a multi-million dollar improvement plan beginning this fall, with plans including 56 Montage branded residences offered for sale and the introduction of a 50 room all-suite Montage hotel. Like its fellow Montage hotels, Montage Kapalua Bay will celebrate art and artisanship in many forms, including visually, and through culinary and spa offerings. Montage Hotels & Resorts will assume management of the property immediately. While the improvement program is being completed, the property will continue to operate as The Residences at Kapalua Bay on an interim basis.
8. Thompson Chicago
Thompson Chicago will be the company's 11th property. The first phase of the hotel opening will happen in October with reservations being accepted as of October 1. The hotel will feature 247 rooms, with views of Lake Michigan. Tip: Ask about the six two-level penthouses. Gourmands will love NICO restaurant at the hotel, which is the brain child of One Off Hospitality Group (think avec, The Publican, The Violet Hour and more). NICO will serve Italian cuisine with a focus on fresh pastas.
9. Edition London
October 15 marks a big day in London, when Ian Schrager will officially return to the hotel scene with the Edition Hotel. (Schrager is the hotelier behind the Sanderson and St. Martins Lane Hotel.) Located on the site of the former Berners Hotel in Fitzrovia, the London Edition will have 173 wood-panelled rooms, a 24/7 fitness center, a lounge called the Punch Room, and a restaurant called Berner's Tavern run by Jason Atherton, who created Maze for Gordon Ramsay Holdings. "We will be using British ingredients and will let the seasons sing," he says.
10. Chedi Sakala
The 261-room Chedi Sakala will be GHM's third property on Bali. There will be 247 suites and 14 private one- and two-bedroom pool villas, as well as two swimming pools, a wellness spa, health club and lagoon bar. Good for families: A Kids' Club will also be on property. French fare in Bali? Next to the resort is Sakala Bali, a 150-seat modern French fine dining restaurant. The restaurant is already in service and offers an outdoor tapas area with direct access to the beach.