Macau’s Wynn Palace
Photo Courtesy of Wynn Resorts Holdings
Whether you seek one last summer escape or an early autumn getaway, a crop of hot new hotels will deliver. From a glamorous Parisian-influenced showstopper in Macau to a luxe D.C. hotel with a sordid political past to a Hawaiian newcomer offering one-of-a-kind adventures, these new hotels are destinations unto themselves.
Let our Forbes Travel Guide editors show you the hottest spots to check into right now.
Wynn Palace, Macau
Opens: August 22
Among the most anticipated openings of the year, Wynn Palace promises to stand out from hotelier Steve Wynn’s other Macau properties. Unlike Five-Stars Encore Macau and Wynn Macau, this 28-story hotel resides right on the glitzy Cotai Strip.
Another difference is that Wynn Palace embraces a floral theme. Expect over-the-top floral sculptures, like an animated carousel and a hot-air balloon covered in bright blossoms. Another flowery touch is that Jeff Koons’ massive steel Tulips will be planted at the hotel.
The Beekman, Photo Courtesy of Thompson Hotels
The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel, New York City
Opens: August 23
Originally built in 1881 as one of the city’s first skyscrapers, this 287-room Lower Manhattan hotel doesn’t wipe away its historical beauty. The striking original nine-story atrium and pyramidal skylight, adorned with Victorian cast-iron railings and balustrades, thankfully remain.
New amenities, of course, are on offer: Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio serves modern American fare at Fowler & Wells and cocktails at The Bar Room, while Keith McNally features French cuisine at Augustine.
Try to snag one of the two penthouses; set inside The Beekman’s turrets, they come with private rooftop terraces overlooking 1 World Trade Center.
The Watergate Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Now open
The Watergate Hotel became synonymous with the 1972 Nixon scandal. But rather than shy from its infamous past, the hotel played it up when it reopened in June, after being closed since 2007. You’ll find cheeky touches like pens that say, “Stolen from The Watergate Hotel” and key cards emblazoned with, “No Need to Break In.”
More important are the many luxurious details: Nearly all 336 guest rooms feature Potomac River views, and you can hit the Top of the Gate rooftop bar for uninterrupted 360-degree vistas. The Next Whisky Bar shines with an undulating sculpture of gleaming gold and whisky bottles.
Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown
Opens: September 19
In case you needed further evidence that downtown New York is being revitalized, Four Seasons unveils its second city location in an 82-story skyscraper. One coup is snagging CUT steakhouse, Wolfgang Puck’s first Manhattan restaurant. Another is the spa, a haven with seven treatment rooms awash in white wood walls, and oak and travertine floors, and a 75-foot lap pool with its own secluded sundeck.
But let’s not forget the main reason to stay: Yabu Pushelberg designed the contemporary-chic 189 rooms and suites with residential touches like large closets, 55-inch smart TVs, Bose stereo systems and doorbells.
Archer Hotel Austin, Photo Courtesy of Archer Hotel
Archer Hotel Austin
Opens: Early September
We’re fond of Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Archer Hotel New York and look forward to the second outpost of this boutique brand. The newly built hotel sits on Austin’s Domain Northside — a 600,000-square-foot development with nightlife, shopping and restaurants — but it’s distinctly Texas with a modern rustic vibe.
Austin-inspired murals, showcasing everything from a Sixth Street scene to handmade cowboy boots, plaster walls behind headboards in king guest rooms, and reclaimed leather belts form the wall art at the front desk. Don’t miss the New American cuisine at acclaimed chef David Bull’s Second Bar + Kitchen.
The Parisian Macao
Opens: September 13
Another hotel fighting for space on Macau’s famed Cotai Strip, The Parisian outshines the rest with a half-scale re-creation of the Eiffel Tower at its entrance that lights up 6,600 bulbs at night. The hotel is betting that the tower will become an icon on the skyline (an observation deck affords views of the Cotai Strip and as far as mainland China).
The rest of the Parisian-inspired hotel matches this new landmark status with about 3,000 rooms; more than 150 luxury boutiques; daily entertainment from street artists, mimes and buskers; and a 1,200-seat theater.
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, Photo Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels Limited
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina
Now open
When you want a break from tourist-filled Waikiki, head to this refuge on Oahu’s western coast fronted by a trail of lagoons. For a proper Hawaiian holiday, enjoy its four pools, arrival and departure lounge (for those with flights at odd hours), 18-hole play at Ko Olina Golf Club, 371 rooms with furnished lanais and sprawling four-floor spa with 17 treatment rooms.
Our favorite amenity is the curators program, which lets you experience the island with local legends. For example, go big-wave surfing with Ha`a Keaulana, who is surfing royalty — literally, her roots go back to King Kamehameha I.
Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Opens:September 12
It remains to be seen if Donald Trump makes it to the White House, but the Trump name will have a presence in D.C. regardless with this hotel in the Old Post Office building. The result of the restoration includes 263 rooms with 14- to 16-foot ceilings, expansive windows and a color scheme of patriotic blues, creams and deep red; The Spa By Ivanka Trump; and BLT Prime by David Burke.
For a stately stay, our vote goes to the Trump Townhouse. It boasts its own entrance on Pennsylvania Avenue and the 6,300-square-foot suite is the largest in D.C.
