Sensei Porcupine Creek
Following the success of Sensei’s debut property in Lanai, the wellness-driven brand opens its much-awaited desert retreat this November, Sensei Porcupine Creek, in Rancho Mirage. The 230-acre private estate will feature a collection of hotel rooms and private villas, as well as a private golf course; pool and tennis facilities; spa, nutrition, and wellness programming; and culinary offerings from chef Nobu Matsuhisa.
Drift Santa Barbara
Slated to arrive in late 2022 on Santa Barbara’s downtown State Street, tech-driven Drift is aimed at the millennial market, featuring a modern, minimalist aesthetic and laidback California vibe; contactless check-in via text message; and a virtual concierge named Eve who can recommend the best local sights, suggest a place to grab a bite or cocktail, or simply give you the Wi-Fi password. Other Drift properties include San Jose del Cabo and a soon-to-open Nashville locale.
Villa Mara Carmel
Just a quick stroll from the sands of Carmel Beach, 16-room boutique hotel Villa Mara Carmel opened in July. Guests are encouraged to peruse the property’s library of California-influenced tomes, coastal travel guides, and arthouse magazines, as well as discover the in-house art collection that features more than 50 pieces, curated in partnership with San Francisco’s Lost Art Salon. Guest suites include king size beds; Le Labo toiletries; complimentary minibar with locally sourced refreshments; and a mix of vintage and custom-designed furnishings inspired by the hotel’s coastal surroundings.
Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach
This October, Southern California’s only all-suite oceanfront resort, Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach, will make its debut following a multimillion-dollar renovation and rebrand as part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. The reimagined Spanish hacienda-style, 250-suite resort will feature spacious accommodations, all with separate living space and two full bathrooms; locally inspired costal cuisine; expansive pool and whirlpool; and rentals for everything from bicycles to surfboards, boogie boards, and beach chairs.
Wildhaven Yosemite
The Sonoma mainstay for glamping, Wildhaven, is expanding with a second location just outside of Mariposa. A far cry from “roughing it,” Wildhaven guests sleep in spacious safari-style tents with access to hot showers, clean bathrooms, and outdoor communal kitchen area. Wildhaven Yosemite is slated to open in fall 2022 with limited recreational amenities and 40 tents, followed by an additional 40 tents within the next two years.
Kona Village Resort
Located on Hawaii’s Kona Coast, the Kona Village Resort will once again open its doors in 2023, now reimagined by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts after more than a decade of lying dormant. Sited on 81 acres, the hotel will debut 150 standalone guest hales and an array of distinct dining venues, including the original resort’s beloved Shipwreck Bar and Talk Story Bar.
The Reykjavik Edition
The Edition brand recently expanded to Iceland with The Reykjavik Edition, a modern social wellness concept. Designed in collaboration with Ian Schrager Company and Roman and Williams, the property includes 253 guest rooms, an outstanding lineup of bars, signature restaurant by chef Gunnar Karl Gíslason, and nightclub. The spa’s central lounge serves a fresh healthy menu of post-workout “Viking shakes,” champagnes, and moss vodka infusions alongside snacks like volcano bread with black lava salt.
Echo
Launching in December 2022, White Desert’s eco-camp Echo is inspired by space exploration, featuring six heated, futuristic bedroom “sky pods” created from composite fiberglass with floor-to-ceiling windows that allow guests to soak in Antarctica’s moon-like landscape. Guests can relax or explore at their leisure, with an experienced team of chefs, hosts, and expert guides standing by. Activities include fat biking, skiing, skidooing, and 4×4 arctic truck driving. Other highlights include visiting Atka Bay to see the 28,000-strong emperor penguin colony or take a bucket-list journey to the South Pole.
Hotel Union Øye
After an extensive renovation, 62°Nord’s Hotel Union Øye reopened in June in Norway’s remote Sunnmøre region. The rural mountain lodge’s update includes an additional three suites, six outhouses, conservatory, orangery, and barn. While there’s plenty to do on-site, those seeking a true adrenaline rush can take part in one of 62°Nord’s signature experiences (available now into 2023)—a series of six-day, set-departure, guided adventures. Guests can cycle through the fjords and Sunnmøre Alps on a top-of-the-range Fara bike, or drive like James Bond along the Atlantic Ocean Road, as showcased in No Time to Die, in the brand-new, all-electric Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.
Passalacqua
The De Santis family (owners of Grand Hotel Tremezzo) transformed a historic private villa into Passalacqua, a 24-suite, five-star hotel on the shores of Lake Como that began welcoming guests in June. Guests can partake in a farm-to-table tasting or cooking experience, or spend time aboard Passalacqua’s taxi boat, Giumello, or leisure craft, Didi. The grounds boast a vegetable garden and orchard; panoramic swimming pool; open-air gym; and tennis and bocce courts. Begin the day with a sunrise yoga session and cap it off with a movie night under the stars.
