The following hotels opened in 2016 or will be opening in early 2017, and should be at the top of any traveler's Asian wish list.
Amanemu, Japan – Located in Ise-Shima National Park in the southwestern region on Honshu, this resort is centered around its spa and wellness facilities. The 20,000-square-foot spa is designed around a large onsen with mineral-rich water. The spa also has two private onsen pavilions, a watsu pool, four treatment suites, and a fitness center. Each of Amenumu’s 24 suites and four villas come with their own private onsens; the villas additionally come with woven textile shutters that can be opened and a kitchen. The Restaurant focuses on Japanese cuisine and offers the renowned Matusaka wagyu beef.
Cassia Phuket – Cassia Phuket comprises 218 apartment-style rooms inclusive of Wi-Fi, IPTV, fully equipped kitchen, and rain shower. Each day, if the guest chooses, starts with a Tiffin breakfast, ingredients packed in a Tiffin case and delivered to their door. The “uber chic” resort aims to bring together like-minded travelers to hang out and experience a new location. “Cassia Friends” are guides who help travelers find their way through the city to find the best food, bars, and anything else they might want to see. Market 23 Café has a selection of fresh and prepared foods, and Street Bar offers guests a place to grab drinks and dance.
Chedi Mumbai – Situated close to the Powai region, an up-and-coming neighborhood that’s becoming increasingly favored among the locals to due to its infrastructure developments, connectivity, and social groundwork, Chedi Mumbai will also be close to the Bandra Kurla Complete, which is set to become a hub for work and leisure, and will house an exhibition center, art auditorium, cultural plaza, residences, and offices. The property itself will have 316 guest rooms, five F&B options, meetings and event space, a swimming pool, and a spa.
Mandarin Oriental, Chengdu, China – The hotel will occupy the top 33 floors of a 1,092-foot-tall mixed-use skyscraper in Chengdu. Mandarin Oriental Chengdu will have 320 guest rooms, including 41 suites (with views of the Jin-jiang River, the city skyline, and Wang-jiang Park), a rooftop bar and tea lounge, a Sichuan-style restaurant, three specialty dining venues, a signature Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop, a 1,200-seat ballroom and a 500-seat junior ballroom, a nearly 30,000-square-foot spa with 10 treatment rooms, a fitness facility, and indoor swimming pool. The spa menu is derived from Chinese traditions and customs.
Meghauli Serai Jungle Lodge, Nepal – With a backdrop of the Himalayas, guests can enjoy walking or Jeep safaris to see rhinos, tigers, leopards, and more; canoeing in the Rapti river; elephant bathing and feeding; and visits to Tharu villages. They also have the option of remaining on the resort and relaxing in a riverside villa with private plunge pool and butler service. The resort also offers an “anywhere, anytime” dining concept, Jiva spa therapies (with private massage decks), an outdoor pool, fitness center, library, children’s play room, and an organic garden. The resort comprises 13 guest rooms, 16 villas, and one Presidential Suite.
Rosewood Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Located on the top 14 floors of the 39-story Vattanac Capital Tower One in the heart of the Central Business District, Rosewood Phnom Penh will be composed of 175 of the largest guest rooms in the city, including 27 long-stay residencies, and five F&B options. Of the F&B options, the most notable is the cantilevered sky bar; the remaining options are a 120-seat bistro, a lobby lounge, and two specialty restaurants. The spa includes five treatment rooms and the fitness center has a 20-meter-long pool on the 33rd floor. The building will also include Cambodia’s first luxury retail mall.
Shangri-La Hambantota Resort, Sri Lanka – Situated on a 130-acre lot, Shangri-La Hambantota Resort is Sri Lanka’s largest resort. The 300-room resort will be a must-visit for active travelers. Guests will have their choice of an 18-hole golf course, archery, lawn bowling, beach volleyball, jogging trails, bike rentals, trapeze, yoga, an aquagym, and health and fitness classes, among other options. The spa treatments include Chinese and Ayurvedic treatments and all-natural products. Two dining options are Bojunhala, which serves local food, and Sera, which serves comfort foods and was inspired by the hawker stalls of Southeast Asia. The 21 suites receive butler service.
The Anam, Cam Ranh, Vietnam – The first five-star colonial resort in Vietnam, The Anam has 105 private villas, each offering a variety of amenities. Several villas have sunken baths, private gardens, rain showers, or beachfront access. The two Spa Villas nestled in the hillside have their own private pools, sunken granite Jacuzzis, and spa therapy areas; included with the stay are two complimentary treatments per guest per day. The dining concept offer both main courses and Cicchetti-styled plates, which allows guests to try a range of the Western and Asian cuisines. The resort also has 300 meters of beach, a three-tiered pool, a fitness center, yoga classes, water sports, and multiple Balinese massage treatments.
The Parisian Macao, China – Complete with a half-scale Eifel Tower, the 3,000-room Parisian Macao is an Eastern copy of the French capital. The resort has nine restaurants and a food court. The two signature restaurants are Brasserie and Lotus Palace, with French and Chinese cuisine, respectively. The hotel’s Eifel Tower has observation decks on the 7th and 37th floors, and puts on light shows nightly. Additionally, guests can visit Aqua World & Hotel Pool, complete with water slides, a wading pool (for little kids), and a pirate ship-themed feature with water guns (for older kids). Sands Shoppes, the largest indoor mall in Macao, has 850 outlets.
Wanda Reign on the Bund, Shanghai – Located in Shanghai’s historic city center, the 179 guest rooms and 14 suites come in two offerings and offer views of The Bund, Huangpu River, Pudong skyline, or ancient Yu Garden. “Trendy” rooms blend Art Deco design glamour with modernity, while the “Noble” rooms incorporate mahogany burl wood, and magnolia embroideries. The rooftop club MARC is led by Michelin-starred French chef Marc Meneau. There are three other restaurants: Café Reign, River Drunk, and HE Japanese Restaurant. Club Reign offers guests additional amenities, which include a Wine & Cigar Bar, the SHUI Spa, and Universe KTV (private luxury party rooms).
W Retreat and Spa Goa, India – Spread across W’s section of Goa coastline are 160 guest rooms, suites, chalets, and villas, each with floor-to-ceiling windows, custom furniture, state-of-the-art in-room technology, 49” LED TVs, and more. W Retreat and Spa Goa has many of the classics that other W Hotels possess, including the WET Outdoor Pool, a Living Room-styled lobby, and DJs for “W Happenings.” The hotel has four dining options: The Kitchen Table, Spice Taders, Rock Pool, and Woo Bar, as well as a FIT gym and Spa by Clarins. The brand’s “Whatever/Whenever” service delivers anything a guest might want/need, whenever they want/need it.