Suite Buzz: Top New & Upcoming Suites

Luxury hotels around the world are finding new and inventive ways to recreate the suite experience. With lots of included perks and 
Here are just a few notable upcoming and new top hotel suites from around the world...

Paris:

In the fall, interior designer Régis Dho unveiled a suite at the Hotel Lutetia in Paris. Called “Night and Day” (below), the suite is Art Deco in spirit, with a turquoise, black and gray palette. The designer recruited the “Mis en Demeure” store to supply the fabulous décor; a pinewood Bastide Commode was turned into the Mini Bar; a Solférino banquette, made out of beech wood, now serves as the bedside table. 

Also in the City of Light, the Hotel de Crillon tapped star fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld to decorate two of its suites and turn them into “grand apartments” (his words). Currently the palace hotel on the Place de la Concorde is closed for a major overhaul, and will reopen in Summer 2015. In December, ultra-luxe hotel company Rosewood took over management of the hotel. 
 

Milan: 
The Four Seasons Hotel Milano recently renovated its Fashion and Royal Suites with oversight from interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon (who also redesigned hotels like the Goring and the Savoy in London). Both suites are located in the Hotel’s casa ringhiera wing and arranged around open balconies that overlook a glass-covered atrium. As the Hotel’s top accommodation, the Royal Suite takes up the entire fifth floor of the hotel. Rochon gave the space a home-like atmosphere by adding a library and using different styles of furniture—"like people do in private apartments,” he said. With a decidedly contemporary look, the Fashion Suite (Suite 444, below) on the fourth floor of the Hotel evokes the 1950s and 60s with furniture pieces by Saarinen and a color scheme of bright kelly green with black and white accents. It has a long terrace bordered with hedges.  

Gstaad:
In Switzerland, the Alpina Gstaad opened a new five-bedroom, six-bath suite in December. We're waiting for pictures (stay tuned!), but ski fans can expect a ground-floor space (no stairs to climb! No waiting for elevators!) with two terraces and top views of the surrounding mountains. The 9,150-square-foot Alpina Suite has its own private gardens with whirlpools. (It also has direct access to the hotel and to the Six Senses Spa.) A large foyer opens on to a 65-foot long gallery that leads to a living room with a bar and lounge. It also has a library with fireplace and a kitchen with a dining area (good for private family dinners, we say). 

Abu Dhabi: 

The brand-new (well, fairly new) Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal opened a new Royal Suite (below) with some of the top views in town. The suite takes up the full top floor of one of the luxury hotel’s Venetian-inspired buildings. Even better, the 2,700-square-foot suite also has an adjacent security room (making it ideal for VIPs and government travelers), butler quarters, two bedrooms and living and dining rooms. The dining area can accommodate up to ten guests and connects to a kitchenette for easy meals. The master bedroom's balcony overlooks the hotel's gardens and a sandy beach. And the bathroom has a color therapy rain shower combining water, color and light features for the ultimate relaxation experience.

The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort also recently released its flagship Royal Suite, reportedly the largest hotel suite in the United Arab Emirates. We say it would be hard to beat: It sprawls out over 22,600 square feet with four bedrooms, a private study, cinema and game room, spa treatment room and sauna as well as full living and dining room. All this space doesn't come cheap, of course: The suite, which takes up the top two floors of the resort’s west wing, runs approximately $35,000 per night.

Bangkok: 

The St. Regis Bangkok opened a new Penthouse Suite located on the hotel’s highest floor, 44 stories above street level. The space combines signature St. Regis bespoke services and Asian décor with floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a double-story three-bedroom residence with panoramic views of the city. Cool touch: Throughout both floors, memorabilia from “The King And I”, the Broadway musical set in Bangkok, adorns the walls, including costumes worn by Yul Brynner. On the balcony, a private 22-foot infinity pool overlooks the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and the city skyline, while a private home theatre includes a 65-inch TV and larger pull-down projector screen.


Mexico:

In Mexico's Riviera Maya region, the Rosewood Mayakoba opened Casa Laguna in September, which combines the privacy of a personal villa with all the amenities of the resort. The villa covers an impressive 9,400 square feet and is accessed by private boat. We hear guests arrive via their private dock and are greeted by their own dedicated staff of five (think culinary team, personal butler and housekeepers). The villa has a living and dining room on the lagoon level, as well as three bedrooms with two master suites with en suite bathrooms. There is also a media room with a 70-inch screen and a library of movies. Outside, 3,000 square feet of outdoor space includes a private pool, a boat dock, an outdoor shower and a private dining deck. 

Washington, D.C.:

With bullet-resistant glass, a private entrance and a security system, the Royal Suite (below) is reportedly the largest at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C.—and it's probably one of the safest, too. And while the safety features are great, we're impressed by the swank side: The entry foyer has plenty of Swarovski crystal fixtures, macassar ebony wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl and a scalloped pattern of stone mosaic. The bedroom has his-and-hers walk-in closets, a ladies’ dressing and sitting area, a private office and an exercise room with an elliptical trainer, a treadmill, yoga mats, weights, medicine balls and two Bang & Olufsen LCD screens. Coolest of all: A landscaped 1,000-square-foot terrace has seating areas with lounge chairs, a fire pit and a dining table for 10 overlooking Georgetown.

New York:

The New York Palace opened two specialty triplex suites this past November, including The Jewel Suite by Martin Katz and The Champagne Suite (below). The two 5,000 square foot suites sit 53 stories above Manhattan at the top of The Towers. The Champagne Suite has a Grand Parlor, a wine cave designed for hosting exclusive tastings led by trained sommeliers. The suite's Dining Room can accommodate seating for up to 10 people. Guests can also take advantage of the outdoor terrace complete with a custom-designed Jacuzzispa. For larger celebrations, the top floor has the capacity to host sky-view receptions complete with a private bar, wood burning fireplace and an outdoor reception area. Bonus: Each guest who books The Jewel Suite by Martin Katz at its nightly rate will receive an original Martin Katz Diamond Microband Ring, with a retail value of $2,500. Guests can also arrange for access to Katz for private showings, design consultation, and custom jewelry creations.