The last few weeks have seen a raft of exciting hotel launches from industry heavyweights like Marriott International and Hilton Worldwide – here are our three top picks.

Local inspiration weaves through the design concepts of these three February-opened properties in Qatar, Melbourne and São Paulo.

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, Qatar

At the beginning of February 2021, Hilton Worldwide announced the opening of its new hotel accommodation and restaurant offering at the Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas development, which spans 3.5km of coastline of the Arabian Gulf on the southwestern tip of Qatar. The new 246-room hotel housing a range of dining venues joins the resort’s 84 beach villas and 31-villa Arabian Village, as well as Qatar’s largest theme park, Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park.

This hotel pairs a blue-and-white exterior with interiors exhibiting a contemporary take on Arabian decor – guestrooms come with terraces and balconies overlooking gardens and the sea. New dining venues here include the immersive Italian restaurant Dante Cucina Italiana; Levant dining spot Levantine; and Nesma Lounge, a lobby venue serving drinks and afternoon tea with a Middle East-inspired twist. Guests who stay here can enjoy the resort’s spa, along with several pools, and make use of the new property’s 5,000 sq m event space.

W Melbourne

February also saw the opening of the second W hotel in Australia, W Melbourne. Located at 408 Flinders Lane, this property lies at the heart of an eclectic dining and fashion district. The hotel reflects its surroundings with a host of luxurious venues, a packed calendar of W Happenings, and a striking aesthetic courtesy of interior design firm Hachem and architectural practices Shop Architects and Woods Bagot. Artwork throughout the property includes an installation by local painter and digital artist Rus Kitchin, which aims to immerse guests in a canopy of Australian flora and fauna.

The 294-room property is home to the all-day dining restaurant Lollo by celebrated chef Adam D’Sylva, the cocoon-like cocktail bar Curious, signature Japanese restaurant Warabi and a unique venue channelling Melbourne’s café culture through an original bar concept, Culprit.

Level 14, meanwhile, is the setting for the Fit and Wet wellness offerings, which feature a gold-roofed indoor pool, poolside bar and DJ booth with spectacular views. The property also boasts 830 sq m of event space, including the 426 sq m pillarless Great Room with LED wall.

Canopy by Hilton São Paulo Jardins

Another eagerly awaited opening from the past month is this new Canopy by Hilton hotel, designed to be a natural extension of the vibrant neighbourhood of Jardins. The property’s location in one of the city’s most affluent areas puts travellers within striking distance of a variety of high-end shops, fine-dining spots and cultural venues like São Paulo Museum of Image and Sound.

Canopy by Hilton São Paulo Jardins contains 98 guest rooms, each offering the lifestyle brand’s signature amenities. Moreover, its chic lobby leads visitors seamlessly to trendy upscale venues Barno Rooftop Bar and Stella Restaurant, as well as drinking and dining venue Canopy Central. Additional facilities within the hotel include 4,000 sq ft of flexible meeting space and a fitness centre.

Many TOPHOTELNEWS articles draw on exclusive information from the TOPHOTELPROJECTS construction database. This subscription-based product includes details of thousands of hotel projects around the world, along with the key decision-makers behind them. Please note, our data may differ from records held by other organisations. Generally, the database focuses on four- and five-star schemes of significant scale; tracks projects in either the vision, pre-planning, planning, under-construction, pre-opening or newly opened phase; and covers newbuilds, extensions, refurbishments and conversions.

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