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Tanner Saunders is a Webby Award-winning senior hotels reporter for TPG based in Brooklyn. He covers everything from breaking hotel news to in-depth features on the world’s best hotels.
December 17, 2021 • 24 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
A new wave of hotel openings is set for 2022, spanning luxury and boutique properties across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Highlights include immersive experiences like the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, luxury resorts in Cancun and Tulum, and design-forward hotels in cities such as Los Angeles, Austin, Nashville and Toronto.
Many properties can be booked using major hotel loyalty programs, offering opportunities to redeem points for stays at anticipated destinations.
Some hotels, such as the Four Seasons Nashville and Atlantis The Royal in Dubai, introduce new levels of luxury and unique amenities to their respective markets.
What to consider
Some offers and booking options mentioned may no longer be available, as noted in the article update.
Award night availability, redemption rates and booking procedures vary widely by property and loyalty program, with dynamic pricing or category changes possible.
Certain hotels require direct booking or have limited room types and experiences, such as the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed insights into standout features, booking tips and unique amenities for each new hotel opening worldwide.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Believe it or not, a new year is here. We're one year further away from 2020, a time we can only describe as indescribable. But with a new year comes new hope, new trips to plan and a whole lot of new hotel openings around the world.
While it's still uncertain how we'll continue to weather on through the pandemic, it seems like, at least for now, travel is continuing to go strong. Believe it or not, over the last few years, despite lockdowns, closed borders, new variants and supply chain disruptions, hotel construction is still going (mostly) full speed ahead.
Hotels that were delayed early on have finally opened, new projects are being announced daily and, honestly, this hotel reporter feels we're on the verge of a hotel renaissance, one where brands are listening to travelers as we evaluate what it is we want — and need — from a hotel in the first place.
While there are literally hundreds of hotels opening over the next year, the reality is that some excite us more than others. Though this list could easily include dozens, we've narrowed it down to a handful of properties that truly feel special. From hotels you can book with points to once-in-a-lifetime resorts that require a little more planning, here are a few of the most anticipated hotels to keep an eye on over the next 12 months.
U.S. and Canada
Conrad Los Angeles
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(Image courtesy of Hilton)
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(Image courtesy of Hilton)
Los Angeles has been on a hotel boom in the last few years — and the momentum is still going strong with the upcoming opening of the Conrad Los Angeles. The first Conrad property in California, the hotel will be part of the Grand LA complex, a building designed by architect Frank Gehry that’s being dubbed “Downtown Los Angeles’ cultural epicenter” featuring shops, restaurants, living spaces and the new Hilton hotel.
With 305 rooms, some with views of the mesmerizing Walt Disney Concert Hall, the 28-story hotel will bring a new sense of luxury to the area. Guests will surely love the 16,000-square-foot rooftop with a private pool deck offering views of downtown. Other exciting features include a spa, a handful of soon-to-be-announced restaurants, an elevated indoor/outdoor lobby and a state-of-the-art fitness center. And if that’s not enough, the building will also feature a large public plaza with intricate landscaping that will host year-round concerts open to the public.
How to book: Points availability is not currently available for the Conrad Los Angeles, but considering Conrad is one of Hilton’s most luxe brands, expect to shell out a fair share of Hilton Honors points for a stay here.
One of the most anticipated Disney projects in years, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a hotel, sort of, located at Walt Disney World. Really, it’s an immersive experience that transports guests out of this world and into as close of a real-life "Star Wars" adventure as one can get. Set on the “Halcyon starcruiser,” this two-night, three-day experience only offers 100 “cabins” for predetermined booking slots to create an intimate feeling during the journey that “launches” guests out of Central Florida and right into space.
During the journey, guests stay in high-tech pods that truly feel like they’re out of the movies and participate in activities that follow in the footsteps of Luke Skywalker. Each Jedi, as guests are called, get the chance to do training tasks, like learning how to command the ship or properly wield a lightsaber. Pretty much everything, including food and drink, is included in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Jedis even have the chance to venture off the ship on a special journey to Black Spire Outpost on Batuu (also known as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge).
How to book: Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a complicated experience to book. Right now, the only way to make a reservation is by calling Disney directly, but it’s still not quite that simple so we have a handy guide you should read to fully understand the experience, what’s included, what to expect and how to navigate the tricky booking process.
Thompson Austin
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(Image courtesy of Hyatt)
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(Image courtesy of Hyatt)
Austin, Texas, is America’s boom city right now, an unexpected tech hub, the live music capital of the world and home to some of the best barbecue on the planet. Soon it’ll also be home to the Thompson Austin, a stylish take on the much-loved Hyatt brand. A great spot for World of Hyatt members to earn and redeem points, the hotel promises to be the perfect spot to get a little “Austin-tatious.”
With 229 rooms, including seven San Jacinto suites, this hotel promises bold design, with black and gold elements, concrete walls and bold design created Chicago’s Simeone Deary Design group. One real standout feature here is that the food and beverage options are created by beloved culinary partners Mashama Bailey and Johno Morisano of The Grey in Savannah. At the Thompson Austin, the pair are opening The Diner Bar, an all-day, full-service restaurant, as well as The Grey Market, a grab-and-go option.
Guests can also enjoy an outdoor infinity pool with a restaurant and bar, a coffee shop serving wine and beer, and a state-of-the-art fitness center with yoga classes and private rooms, all in a prime downtown location.
How to book: Thompson Austin is a World of Hyatt Category 6 hotel, meaning award nights can be booked for between 21,000 and 29,000 points.
The Thompson Austin’s sister hotel, Tommie Austin is an efficient but sleek hotel that caters to those who enjoy the community aspects of a hotel, with their room being a simple respite from the hustle and bustle of travel. Designed with efficiency in mind, Tommie Austin has 193 king rooms that are high on design and created to “empower guests by providing the space to shape their stay and encourage creativity.” Contactless check-in, mobile keys, an all-day coffee shop and lobby wine bar add to the youthful feel of the hotel.
It’s also created to be a little lighter on the wallet while still having access to most of the great amenities — like dining options and the fitness center — available at the more robust Thompson Austin, which is connected to Tommie Austin.
How to book: Cash rates start at $199 for this prime downtown location. A World of Hyatt Category 3 hotel, award nights can be found for between 9,000 and 15,000 points.
Four Seasons Nashville
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(Image courtesy of Four Seasons)
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(Image courtesy of Four Seasons)
Major hotel brands are opening in Nashville faster than most people can keep track of, but the entrance of Four Seasons into Music City marks a significant turning point. One of the first international five-star luxury resorts to make a home in Middle Tennessee, the Four Seasons Nashville will be an elevated contrast (literally — once completed the building will be one of the tallest in the area) to the rowdy party culture on Lower Broadway.
When it officially opens, the Four Seasons Nashville is expected to have 236 rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking different areas of Nashville. Set in SoBro, an area close to the city’s most popular live music venues, bars, restaurants and convention center, the hotel will also have a state-of-the-art fitness center, spa and other ultraluxurious amenities travelers can always expect from the Canadian brand. And if you really fall in love with the place, the building is also home to private residences you can purchase to live in Nashville all year long.
How to book: While Four Seasons is yet to introduce a loyalty program or pricing for this hotel, when the time comes you could always book using points with a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve.
With locations in scene-y locations like Brooklyn in New York City; Kyoto, Japan; downtown Los Angeles; and beyond, it’s not a surprise that Ace Hotel is setting up shop in Toronto, a place we think is perfect for a 2022 trip. Situated in Toronto’s Fashion District, the building itself was designed by Shim-Sutcliffe Architects and the hotel was created to feel welcoming, playful and “always in dialogue with its context.” And that makes sense considering a hotel is a central character in a neighborhood’s identity and the trip you’re on.
Industrial in feel, Ace Hotel Toronto will have 124 rooms overlooking a much-loved park in the community, and raw elements like exposed joints and bricks. The hotel’s lobby will serve as a cultural hub for both guests and the community, and the architect calls the space “truly civic.” While we’re waiting to hear more about what’s to come from the hotel, based on other locations we know we can expect a standout bar, mouthwatering food and a trendy vibe perfect for a stay in Toronto, one of North America’s most vibrant and multicultural cities.
How to book: Cash rates are not currently available for the Ace Hotel Toronto and unfortunately the Ace brand is not part of any loyalty program. That said, a stay here might be a great way to cash in American Express Membership Rewards points by booking directly through the American Express Travel portal. Or, start working toward a free stay by booking through Hotels.com where you get a free night after your 10th stay booked through the website.
You can take advantage of the Waldorf Astoria offer to book this new property in Cancun that opens in September. HILTON
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(Image courtesy of Hilton)
Cancun has no shortage of hotels but we’re glad the Mexican resort town is making room for a new one, and a hyperluxe one at that. Opening in the fall of 2022, the Waldorf Astoria Cancun is just one of a handful of new luxury resorts Hilton is opening in Mexico. It’s also one we can’t wait to visit.
Set on over 100 acres of coastline on the Riviera Maya, this new resort will provide Hilton Honors members with a great new place to earn and redeem points on a private strip of idyllic beach. With 173 guest rooms, including oceanfront rooms and suites plus a corner swim-up suite, there’s a room type for everyone’s preference. And hey, five restaurants, including a seafood grill and Waldorf Astoria’s signature Peacock Alley bar, a spa and beachfront infinity pool aren’t bad either.
How to book: The Waldorf Astoria Cancun is currently accepting reservations starting Sept 29. Oceanfront king rooms start at $573 per night, plus taxes and fees, or 95,000 Hilton Honors points for a standard room reward. If you have a free night certificate begging to be used, this might just be the place to do it.
At this resort, guests can enjoy the white sand beaches of Tulum along the property’s secluded bay. As far as all-inclusive resorts go, food usually gets a bad reputation — but that’s starting to change. At this Hilton, 13 restaurants and bars are included in the visit, with cuisine styles ranging from Japanese to Italian and plenty of local Mexican favorites. While some people might come for the food, others come for resort amenities, and this resort has them all, including nine swimming pools and a spa. And off the resort, guests are less than a 30-minute drive from the Tulum city center, waterparks and even underwater caves to explore.
Sharing some facilities with the Conrad Tulum, this megaresort truly has something for everyone — and then some.
How to book: The resort is accepting reservations from June 12, and we’re finding cash prices starting around $500 a night for two adult guests in a king resort-view room. Hilton Honors redemptions start at 90,000 points per night.
Over the last few years, Portugal has really become a country high on people’s must-visit lists. While places like Porto and Lisbon cannot be missed, we’re excited for a new points resort opening in Algarve, the southernmost point of the country and home to breathtaking seaside rock formations, beaches and picturesque fishing villages.
Scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2022, the W Algarve will bring a “playful spin” to the area's more traditional resort culture. The W brand itself is known to be bold and vibrant, if not over the top at times, and this property will be no exception. With six bars and restaurants, there will be plenty to eat and drink, including a new outpost of Paper Moon, an Italian restaurant with locations around the world.
Guests at the 134-room hotel can also enjoy sweeping views of the area from a rooftop terrace, hit up one of the spa’s six treatment rooms or lounge by the pool at Wet Deck.
How to book: A Category 7 hotel, this resort will cost you between 50,000 and 70,000 points per night, at least until Marriott’s dynamic pricing goes into effect in March of 2022. Or, if you have an annual Marriott up to 85,000-point certificate — a great perk of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card — you'll have more than enough to use for an off-peak night.
Edition hotels are popping up left and right, and they are usually so great it’s hard not to include them all in this list. But if we had to include just one we’re most excited about for 2022, it’s the one planned to open in Madrid. First, the hotel looks absolutely palatial, with an entrance fit for royalty. Second, the location itself is the perfect home base for a trip to Spain’s capital city, with its close proximity to Puerta del Sol and Madrid’s three most famous art museums, known as the Golden Triangle of Art.
As for the hotel itself, 200 rooms and suites make up the Madrid Edition, along with the ridiculously delicious scent of the brand’s signature Le Labo fragrance drifting through the air. The hotel, set to open in the first half of the year, will have a restaurant, cocktail bar, the Sky Bar and a rooftop terrace as well as an outdoor pool, fitness center and spa.
How to book:Marriott Bonvoy members will be able to earn and redeem points here. Historically, Edition hotels have been in the higher tier Marriot Bonvoy categories, like the Barcelona Edition, which is a Category 8 hotel.
Norway, another top destination we’re looking forward to visiting in 2022, has plenty to offer everyone, whether you’re into dark, snowy winters or an outdoors-focused summer adventure. In the capital city Oslo, you can find a luxe new home base next year when Sommerro, part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, begins to welcome guests.
Set in a restored building from the 1930s that formerly housed the city’s electric company, this hotel is Norway’s largest-ever preservation project. Located in Frogner, a popular and historic neighborhood, the renovation project is breathing new life into the building with the hotel shining a light on the community’s local heritage. Inside, guests can find art created by popular Norwegian artist Per Krohg, as well as 231 rooms (including 56 residences), four restaurants, three bars, a 100-seat gilded theater and a “wellness paradise.” To top it off, literally, Sommerro will also be home to Oslo’s first year-round rooftop pool, sauna, terrace and restaurant.
How to book: Part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, potential guests can study up on the brand’s I Prefer loyalty program to see how to earn and redeem points for future stays at Sommerro. Scheduled to open in September, cash rates can be found around $160 for a loft room, plus taxes and fees.
If there’s one thing we love to see at TPG, it’s when a hotel brand takes an older property and turns it into something new and magical. In Rome, IHG is doing exactly that by taking a 160-room property on the iconic Via Veneto and transforming it into the InterContinental Rome. Originally built by architect Carlo Busiri Vici in the early 1900s to serve as the home of ambassadors, the building became the library of the U.S. Embassy in 1946 and eventually a hotel in 1993.
Now, the InterContinental will serve as a new hub for IHG Rewards members visiting Rome, especially those looking to be close to the action as the hotel is less than a 15-minute walk to attractions like Villa Borghese and the Trevi Fountain. Keeping to its original floorplan, the hotel will have 160 rooms and suites, a restaurant, bar, spa and public areas that allude to the area’s storied history in the heart of the embassy district.
To book: Booking for the InterContinental Rome is currently open from Oct. 1 onward. Cash rates start around $581 while reward nights are currently showing up from 90,000 IHG Rewards points.
If sleeping in one of the tallest buildings in Bangkok sounds like something you need to check off your travel to-do list, it might be time to book a room at The Standard, Bangkok, the boutique hotel brand's second Thailand hotel after The Standard, Hua Hin.
Located in the massive 78-story King Power Mahanakhon building, The Standard, Bangkok will feature 155 rooms when it opens in 2022. Once open, the hotel will be home to the country’s first Mott 32, a Cantonese restaurant, as well as a whimsical tea parlor, The Tea Box, and another rooftop restaurant. An outdoor pool deck will draw Bangkok’s “it” crowd to the city’s latest spot to see and be seen.
To book: Pricing information for The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon isn’t available just yet, but we’ll keep you updated as we hear more. Since the brand doesn’t have its own loyalty program, this hotel might be a great place to cash in American Express membership points earned with The Platinum Card® from American Express.
We know that TPG readers love, love, love Alila hotels and resorts. In fact, the Alila Ventana Big Sur is one of our very favorite hotels for earning and redeeming World of Hyatt points. That said, we’re super stoked that a new Alila property is opening in early 2022 in Sabah, on the northern tip of Borneo in Malaysia.
Overlooking the South China Sea, the Alila Dalit Bay will be a beachfront resort with 152 guestrooms and suites, plus an additional 74 one- and two-bedroom villas for guests to spread out and relax in. Created as a tribute to the local Dusun Lotud tribe, the resort’s design is inspired by the tribe’s traditional longhouses. In addition to beach access and panoramic views of the Mengkabong River, the resort will have a slew of dining options, a sky lounge and bar, a kids club, shopping, an outdoor wedding chapel and a swimming pool.
How to book: A World of Hyatt property, Alila Dalit Bay will be available to book using points, though its category and cash rates have yet to be released.
A revolutionary brand, Atlantis resorts and their iconic buildings, waterparks and over-the-top (or under-the-water) restaurants redefined what it means to take a vacation. Now, in Dubai, Atlantis The Royal is doing it again — but better. Set to open in 2022, Atlantis The Royal can be found on The Palm, right next to the original United Arab Emirates Atlantis resort — but besides location, don’t expect much else to be the same. After all, we know that Dubai is always one-upping itself.
At Atlantis The Royal, 795 rooms are spaced out in an ultramodern 43-story building on the far side of the manmade island structure jetting out into the Arabian Sea. Here, more is more, as proven by the fact the resort has over 90 pools within the property, including a lap pool, adults-only pools, a 90-meter infinity sky pool and 44 pools in suites and private residences. Need a bite? Don’t fret, there are a whopping 18 bars and restaurants, including eight led by celebrity chefs like José Andrés. Still not enough? What about nightclubs, sky gardens and even a tank of over 4,000 jellyfish waiting to greet you in the lobby?
Oh, and did I mention the world’s first fire-and-water fountain show?
How to book: Booking information isn’t available yet for the Atlantis The Royal, but we’ll keep you updated as we hear more about this spectacular new resort.
You know Dubai, but have you heard of Ras Al Khaimah, the rugged neighboring emirate home to mountain adventures and world-class beach resorts? If you haven’t, the upcoming Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah should be on your radar because it’s bringing an entirely new sense of luxury to the UAE.
Just a 45-minute drive from the heart of Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah is where locals escape the hustle and bustle of city life for something more tranquil. And with 174 guest rooms, suites and even overwater bungalows, this new resort will make guests feel like they’ve been transported to the Maldives, not a desert oasis down the street. While you probably won’t want to leave your overwater bungalow, hopefully with a private infinity pool, there are plenty of reasons to. Start with the resort’s waterfront cafes before hitting up the “beachfront playground” or joining in on some watersport adventures or even an eco-lesson to learn about the ecology of the region. And if you still need more, trade in the beach to hit up the world’s largest zip line then head back for dinner at the signature Thai restaurant located over the water.
How to book: Booking information is not yet available for this Anantara property but we’ll keep you posted as we learn more.
Going on a safari is a life-changing experience. So if you’re going to do it, do it in style — preferably at the totally revamped and soon-to-reopen andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge, a luxury safari camp found in the farthest reaches of the Serengeti. Getting to the lodge is not a simple task, as it requires getting to Arusha, Tanzania, and then a flight to the Grumeti airstrip — but don’t worry about that, andBeyond will help you figure it all out.
Once you’ve arrived, you’re transported to a totally different world, one with 10 suites offering comfy beds, private plunge pools and a larger pool that sometimes allows guests to catch a quick glimpse of lazy hippos. Here, twice-daily game drives give folks the chance to get face-to-face with lions, hyenas and even black-and-white colobus monkeys, a rare species found only in this part of the Serengeti. To see it all from above, sign up for a hot air balloon safari.
As far as food goes, guests are invited to join in on some culinary fun by assisting chefs in an interactive kitchen before sitting down to “uncomplicated” menus celebrating the area’s local foods, like whole baked fish straight from the region’s lakes. Of course, no truly luxury stay skips out on a spa day, and here, after a long day trying to spot the Big Five, you can have a massage right in your suite.
How to book: Rates for andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge start at $1,080 per person per night during the low season (Sept. 1 to Dec. 20) and $2,050 per person per night the rest of the year. That fee includes accommodation, three meals a day, most drinks (save some higher-end spirits), game drives, laundry, airstrip transfer, loaner binoculars and emergency evacuation insurance.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
