As luxury and experiential travel continue to captivate today’s savvy traveler, new hotel openings around the globe are rapidly expanding client options. From China to the Dominican Republic and beyond, these properties cater to globetrotters seeking culture, wellness, adventure and premium amenities. The latest international debuts offer compelling new reasons to explore the world.
Africa
A&K Reopens Gorilla Forest Lodge After Complete Rebuild
Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) has officially reopened Gorilla Forest Lodge, An A&K Sanctuary, following a complete rebuild and redesign earlier this fall. The 10-suite lodge sits deep within Uganda’s UNESCO-listed Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.
Gorilla Forest Lodge remains the only luxury accommodation located inside Bwindi’s park gates, giving guests access to Uganda Wildlife Authority–guided treks and direct proximity to gorillas. The rebuilt lodge introduces spacious suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, large private decks and deep soaking tubs.
The property features rainwater harvesting systems, composting programs, repurposed materials and construction selected to minimize waste and ecological impact. While gorilla encounters remain the headline attraction, the lodge now offers a wider range of guided experiences showcasing Bwindi’s biodiversity. Expert-led forest walks along the Munyaga Waterfall Trail highlight varied landscapes—from dense jungle to bamboo groves—while wildlife such as red-tailed monkeys and giant forest hogs appear along the way.
For more information, visit abercrombiekent.com.
Asia
Banyan Group Expands with Banyan Tree Zhuhai Phoenix Bay
Banyan Group has expanded its luxury footprint in China’s Greater Bay Area with the debut of Banyan Tree Zhuhai Phoenix Bay. Located in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, the new resort features 83 guestrooms and suites set within terraced gardens and landscaped courtyards. Each room opens toward either the mountains or the bay. Select suites include onsen-style hot springs or private pools.
Banyan Tree Zhuhai Phoenix Bay debuts several dining concepts shaped by regional flavors. Overlooking the coast, the Banyan Tree Spa includes seven ocean-view treatment rooms. Wellness programming continues outdoors with Wing Chun martial arts, beach meditation and singing bowl sessions. The cliffside hot spring features indoor and outdoor pools, sauna and steam rooms, while the ocean-view gym—equipped with Life Fitness machines and a dedicated yoga studio—offers space for movement and balance. An infinity pool along the coastline completes the resort’s wellness offerings.
For more information, visit banyantree.com.
Caribbean
Autograph Collection Debuts Donoma Las Terrenas Beach Resort & Spa
Autograph Collection Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio, has opened Donoma Las Terrenas Beach Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, in the Dominican Republic.
Donoma features 94 accommodations—including private villas. The guestrooms feature indoor-outdoor layouts, handcrafted local artwork and a neutral color tone. Interior designer Liza Ortega of Ortega Arquitectos curated the spaces with a focus on artisanal details and a strong connection to the surrounding landscape.
Donoma’s dining approach includes Dominican flavors, while the resort’s Arena Sense Spa features four treatment suites and rituals using local ingredients such as cacao, coconut and sea salt.
For more information, visit marriott.com.
Europe
METT Barcelona Debuts in Spain, the latest flagship from METT Hotels & Resorts, marks the complete reinvention of the historic 1925 Gran Hotel La Florida—originally designed by Catalan architect Ramon Raventos.
The hotel’s Signature Suites, spanning up to 750 square feet, offer separate living areas, exclusive-access spaces and expansive views framed by oversized windows. Select suites also include private plunge pools. For guests seeking nature-inspired intimacy, Lifestyle Rooms feature private terraces overlooking the hotel’s infinity pool.
The property’s Valmont Red Carpet Spa offers personalized therapies and high-performance treatments. True to the METT brand ethos, the hotel places a strong emphasis on culinary experiences. Its dining program includes Albarada, a contemporary restaurant with a modern Mediterranean approach; 1925 Vermuteria, serving tapas; The Florida Lounge by Lladro, a social hub for light bites; and The Pool Club, offering a breezy terrace setting and heated outdoor pool.
For more information, visit metthotelsandresorts.com.
North America
One&Only Moonlight Basin Debuts in Montana
One&Only has officially opened One&Only Moonlight Basin. Set on 240 acres in Big Sky’s Moonlight Basin enclave—and bordered by 17,000 acres of protected wilderness—the new property features alpine-inspired guestrooms, suites, freestanding cabins and four- to six-bedroom private homes.
Guests will find three lodges—Main, East, and West—with family-friendly layouts and the Big Sky Suite, which includes a wraparound terrace and outdoor soaking tub. Dining is overseen by Executive Chef Matt Dahlkemper, with venues that include The Landing at Sky Lodge, ranch-to-table Wildwood and a new modern Japanese restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Akira Back.
One&Only Moonlight Basin offers curated outdoor experiences and a ski tuning center with direct access to Big Sky Resort via a heated gondola. Guests can explore 15 miles of on-property trails for Nordic skiing, biking and snowshoeing, as well as summer activities such as hiking, fly fishing, paddleboarding and guided Yellowstone excursions. A KidsOnly program provides nature-focused programming.
The 17,000-square-foot One&Only Spa features eight treatment rooms, an indoor-outdoor lap pool, an onsen tub, a cold plunge, an oxygen bar, a fitness center, a yoga deck and treatments.
For more information, visit oneandonlyresorts.com.
The Middle East
Melia Hotels International to Open First Bahrain Property
Melia Hotels International is set to make its Bahrain debut with a new Melia Hotels & Resorts property scheduled to open in 2027 on Amwaj Island. The milestone marks a strategic expansion of the company’s Middle East portfolio.
The project will comprise 256 units—150 guestrooms and 106 residences—managed fully by Melia. The upcoming property is being designed around Melia’s modern emphasis on wellness, elevated design and personalized service. Plans call for extensive amenities, including five swimming pools, a variety of dining and retail venues, expansive wellness spaces and landscaped gardens.
Located just 15 minutes from Bahrain International Airport, Amwaj Island offers a relaxed coastal setting with private beaches, sea views, a mix of upscale dining, wellness and nautical lifestyle offerings.
For more information, visit melia.com.
