According to the TOPHOTELPROJECTS construction database, three mammoth luxury hotels in Qatar, Mexico and Canada make the podium for the largest conversion projects completing this year.
The trio of top five star builds are all slated to add hundreds of keys to their respective hotel chains, with two due to open in the fourth quarter of the year, while the other will begin operations next month.
Sofitel Doha West Bay
Top of the five star conversion rankings is the 420-room Sofitel Doha West Bay in Qatar, located in one of the country’s most sought-after areas.
The Accor brand development is one of a pair of sister hotels taking over the Albaker Hotel Towers, which were initially designed as office buildings and a luxury hotel. The sister tower will house the four-star Novotel Doha West Bay.
A dynamic podium extension will be made at podium levels in both towers to create a space for the amenities. Multiple food and beverage outlets will include a rooftop bar and a lounge with panoramic views over the city, plus the site will incorporate a double height lobby and the basements will include kitchens and staff areas.
This Sofitel-operated building stands 203 m tall, has three basements, a ground floor, mezzanine and 47 floors. Available parking comprises 350 spaces in the basement and 55 on the ground floor.
Designed by Al Baker Architects and Bluu Design to reflect a modern and contemporary aesthetic, the property will also offer tailor-made meeting facilities, swimming pools, a SO Fit and a SO Spa.
Hotel Insurgentes 421
Close behind in second place is Mexico City’s Hotel Insurgentes 421, with 406 rooms.
Under the Hyatt umbrella, the property will be operated by Grupo Murano. The upscale business hotel will be located in the Condesa-Roma neighbourhood and is due to open in the fourth quarter this year.
The project called for the modernisation and conversion of the Conjunto Aristos building, recognised for its historic and artistic value by the National Institute of Fine Arts (INBA) and the Secretariat of Urban Development and Housing (SEDUVI). It was originally designed by Spanish architect Jose Luis Benlliure, and for several decades has been an architectural landmark of the city.
With a new design led by architect AoMa Estudio Mexico, Hotel Insurgentes 421 will feature 7,500 sq m of amenities such as a rooftop terrace, a spa, the highest pool in the city, a beauty salon and a gym.
W Toronto
The most imminent opening in our top three is W Toronto, which will start welcoming guests on 21 July.
The nine-storey property has undergone a $40-million design transformation from a Marriott-branded property to become the group’s latest W site with 255 rooms.
Located in Toronto’s fashionable Yorkville neighbourhood, W Toronto is surrounded by high-end boutiques, galleries and design studios as well as chic cafes, polished bars and fine-dining restaurants.
The design transformation is reimagining the property’s guest rooms, restaurants and amenities, taking inspiration from social, historical and physical insights and embedding elements of each into the rooms and public spaces. Upon entering the hotel, guests will be immersed in a modern biophilia and laboratory-style experience that leads to breathtaking indoor/outdoor spaces.
W Toronto is expected to feature multiple food and beverage venues including: an indoor/outdoor lobby bar and lounge equipped with a DJ booth/recording studio for collaborating, broadcasting and recording podcasts; a specialty restaurant and a ninth floor rooftop restaurant, accessible from street level with a glass exterior elevator; and a unique coffee and cocktail bar. The hotel will also feature a 3,300 sq ft fitness facility and 4,800 sq ft of meeting space to serve as a unique venue for social and corporate events.
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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