ACCOR'S luxury brands are seeing growth around the world. Here is a snippet of what is to come over the next few months.
The world’s first Orient Express hotel – Orient Express Mahanakhon Bangkok – is set to open this year. The legendary Orient Express brand will be revived as a collection of prestigious hotels, steeped in tradition, legend and luxurious adventure. Esteemed designer Tristan Auer is reimagining the Art Deco stylings and botanical motifs of the original Orient Express carriages. Amid the glittering interiors of the new hotel, guests will experience luxurious well-being at the signature Orient Express Spa by Guerlain.
Fairmont Century Plaza, located in Century City in Los Angeles, will open this year following a top-to-bottom renovation. This mid-century marvel has hosted generations of Hollywood celebrities, foreign dignitaries and every United States president since its opening in 1966. Surrounded by restaurants and retail boutiques, the hotel features two acres of gardens, connecting to neighbourhood plazas and fountains. With 394 newly renovated guestrooms, 63 branded residences plus two adjacent 46-storey luxury residential towers, Fairmont Century Plaza is anticipated to be a blockbuster.
Opening in Spring 2020 upon a hill in Jimbaran Bay, Raffles Bali will offer unparalleled ocean views for just 32 private villas. Each villa will feature a private pool for the ultimate in luxurious seclusion. Owned by PT Jimbaran Greenhill, the resort has been designed to blend seamlessly with its tropical surroundings. Sprawling over 23 hectares, Raffles will bring new levels of bespoke service among a seductive setting enhanced by the famous Jimbaran sunsets.
More than 135 years after the original Raffles opened its doors, Raffles Sentosa Resort & Spa will become the brand’s second property in Singapore when it opens in 2022. The all-villa hotel will be set among 100,000 square metres of sprawling tropical gardens with beautiful views over the South China Sea.
The Golden Prague Hotel, currently operating as the InterContinental Prague, will join the Fairmont portfolio as the Golden Prague Hotel, Managed by Fairmont as of May 2020. The hotel will undergo an extensive renovation in 2022 and is expected to reopen as Fairmont Golden Prague in early 2023. Located along the prestigious Parizska Boulevard and on the banks of the Vltava River in the Old Town of Prague, the hotel is poised to become an exclusive hotspot.
Sofitel Dubai Wafi will soon be the largest Sofitel in the Middle East, featuring 501 luxury guestrooms, including suites, studios and serviced residences for extended stays. Located next to the iconic Raffles Dubai in Wafi, the two properties will share a broad range of luxurious amenities and services.
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, now in its 53rd year, is ready to unveil a sophisticated yet understated makeover. The six-month revitalisation process is now complete, with all 436 guestrooms and glamorous suites refreshed. The hotel’s new technology advancements are ready to rival any of Sydney’s newest hotels, while the lobby and adjoining library are freshly designed for a classic, stylish and inviting experience.
Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena has completed its year-long restoration project. This historically important building originates from 1621 and sits in a privileged location within the old town of Cartagena, known as Cartagena de Indias, a Unesco World Heritage Site. The hotel offers the perfect combination of colonial tradition, local hospitality and French luxury, with 103 expansive rooms and an exclusive collection of 20 suites, including four Iconic Suites that pay tribute to some of the most prominent Colombian leaders of art and culture, including Fernando Botero, Amaral, Ana Mercedes Hoyos and Enrique Grau.
In celebration of Fairmont Royal York’s 90th anniversary, the hotel completed a majestic transformation. The renovation honours the icon’s timeless grandeur, while elevating it into a new era of luxury. The final round of transformative changes included the reimagining of the hotel’s common areas, meeting spaces, Fairmont Gold offering and culinary venues and dining experiences.
Another stylish beauty is Hotel Scribe Paris Opéra by Sofitel, a venerable Paris institution that joined forces with Wilson Associates and its artistic director, Tristan Auer, to restore the hotel to its former glory. The project aims to embody the spirit of Paris and the Opéra district, through its new design and through the vivid dining experiences of Le Lumière and Bar’Obscur.
A multi-million-dollar refurbishment project has kicked off at Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, Denarau Island Fiji. The glamorous Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills recently announced their fully refreshed, renewed and reimagined 10,000 square feet of event spaces.