Did the most anticipated hotel openings of 2024 live up to their design hype?

Words by Hamish Kilburn

When it comes to luxury travel, design has long been more than a visual indulgence – it’s a narrative, an experience, a promise. In 2024, the most awaited hotel openings aimed to ‘redefine hospitality’ with spaces that challenge conventions and immerse guests in artistry and place. From urban hideaways to remote island escapes, this year’s debuts brought plenty of ambition, but did they truly deliver? Here’s a curated take on the hotels that dazzled in both design and intent.

St. Regis Red Sea: a symphony of wind and wonder

Saudi Arabia’s bold development drive has, in the past, spurred a wave of scepticism about whether scale can coexist with soul. Cue the arrival of St. Regis Red Sea, a hotel that silences doubters with a design narrative as evocative as the region's creative approach itself. Conceived by Kengo Kuma and Associates, the property is an ode to the wind, a force both elemental and eternal.

From sweeping architectural lines that mimic wind-carved dunes to Kristina Zanic Consultants' textured interiors that echo desert rhythms, every detail is steeped in thoughtful materiality. The lighting – ethereal patterns of shadow and light – adds a kinetic quality to the spaces, while native landscaping roots the property firmly in its Red Sea surroundings. Yes, this is a hotel, but it is also a manifesto for how high-speed development can, indeed, honour its context while embracing the avant-garde.

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London: subtle opulence in the city

Opening a modern Mandarin Oriental in the heart of Mayfair, so close to its iconic older sibling, is a bold and daring move. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, long regarded as a grand dame of London’s luxury scene, set the standard for timeless opulence and understated glamour. To introduce a new Mandarin Oriental, therefore, just a stone's throw away was a challenge that demanded a fresh, yet equally distinguished approach. A design studio such as Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, the same team behind the 'Cheesegrater' in London, as well as the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

Within the carefully curated rooms, Studio Indigo took on its first hospitality project – a natural choice, considering the brief was to create a seamless blend of comfort and elegance, evoking the warmth of a home away from home. This debut venture showcases their flair for marrying impeccable design with an intimate, lived-in charm, redefining the art of hospitality.

This new addition to the family isn’t merely a sister property – it’s a reimagining of the brand’s heritage, blending the grace of tradition with the vibrancy of modern luxury, in design as well as its uniform. Inside the hotel, with a more intimate and contemporary sensibility, travellers can expect a sophisticated counterpoint to the classic allure of its predecessor, creating a dialogue between two generations of luxury that feels both audacious and harmonious.

Six Senses Kyoto: A zen awakening

In April, Japan’s cultural heart welcomed a new sanctuary in the form of Six Senses Kyoto, a hotel that marries tradition with a whisper of modernity.

Nestled in the Higashiyama district, BLINK Design Group’s interiors are a masterclass in restraint and refinement. Earthy palettes and tactile materials honour Kyoto’s heritage, while wellness-driven spaces invite introspection. Whether you’re marvelling at nearby temples or retreating to the spa, every moment in this hotel feels imbued with a sense of place and, more importantly, purpose.

Kimpton BEM Budapest: a star amongst the cosmos

In Budapest, meanwhile, Kimpton BEM reinvented a 19th-century mansion into a celebration of texture, colour, and playfulness. Designed by Marcel Wanders, – in the most Marcel Wanders of ways – the hotel refuses to blend in.

Every nook – every detail – is a celebration of eclectic design, from the grand, sweeping interiors to the striking rooftop garden oasis that offers an unexpected view over the city. The hotel pulses with the energy of Budapest itself, fusing playful opulence with a sense of place. The result is a destination where indulgence meets exploration, offering guests a place that feels lived in, where their experience is visually stimulating and unforgettable. 

The Standard, Singapore: where garden glamour meets urban luxe

Tucked amid Singapore’s UNESCO Botanic Gardens, The Standard brings its signature playful sophistication to Orange Grove Road. The design, led by Verena Haller in collaboration with the Ministry of Design, frames Singapore’s 'City in a Garden' ethos with floor-to-ceiling windows and lush indoor-outdoor transitions.

The detail of the design speaks to a duality: the sleek, cosmopolitan feel of The Standard brand meets the calming beauty of Singapore’s natural landscape, creating a compelling juxtaposition of old-world charm and modern exuberance. This hotel is a celebration of the city itself—where tradition and innovation coexist in a lively, ever-changing dialogue.

This hotel offers a refreshing reinterpretation of urban luxury, seamlessly blending the timeless charm of its historic surroundings with the vibrant, boundary-pushing energy of The Standard brand. Always evolving, The Standard’s latest venture, Standard X, is making a statement with a new breed of rebellious and mischievous hotels, claiming its territory on the global hospitality scene one city at a time – starting in Melbourne and Bangkok.

Soneva Secret, Maldives: barefoot utopia

After decades of re-characterising barefoot luxury in the Maldives, Soneva Secret emerges as the brand’s most ambitious and secluded project yet, positioning itself as 'the next era of hospitality'. Located in the remote Haa Dhaalu Atoll, the ultra-exclusive enclave of overwater and island villas is designed to offer the ultimate in privacy and serenity, where the beauty of the natural world is both immersive and intimate

Each villa is a sanctuary, with expansive open-plan interiors that blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment. The design uses natural, sustainable materials that echo the soft tones of the sand and sea – think polished wood, tactile stone, and woven textiles. There’s an emphasis on open spaces and uninterrupted views, ensuring that guests feel both connected to and at peace with the stunning landscape. Expansive decks open onto infinity pools, while lush tropical gardens provide a gentle barrier between private spaces and the expansive ocean beyond.

SIRO One Za’abeel, Dubai: wellness has a new address

In February, Dubai’s shimmering skyline welcomed a new landmark with the debut of SIRO One Za’abeel, a hotel that seamlessly merges the worlds of hospitality and wellness. More than just a place to stay, SIRO redefines the concept of the hotel as a space for holistic optimization, blending cutting-edge wellness with sleek, modern luxury. Designed in collaboration with Kerzner’s in-house team and LW Design Group, the interiors exude a refined minimalism, while the programming taps into the latest fitness and recovery trends. In a city renowned for reinvention, SIRO marks a bold new chapter in the evolution of luxury travel.

While the hotel’s innovative concept is undeniably impressive, its location presents an curious contrast. Set away from the beach, it departs from the coastal wellness lifestyle Dubai is often known for, subtly reinforcing its identity as a business, lifestyle and urban hotel. That said, the 120-meter-long pool atop The Link – the world’s longest cantilever – more than makes up for the journey to the beach. Offering an extraordinary experience (swimming above the city’s bustling traffic is a crazy thought), it sets a new tone of luxury from a vantage point unmatched anywhere else in the city.

2024’s hotel design landscape revealed a truth as clear as the waters of the Red Sea or the skies over Kyoto: the world of hospitality is in constant dialogue with culture, nature and innovation. The best designs are not just beautiful but resonant, offering guests an emotional connection to a place, a story and a moment in time.