Every year, one of my favorite reads is Jack Ezon’s outlook report on hot destinations and the best openings of new luxury resorts and hotels.
Jack is one of the driving forces in making travel advisors relevant again, particularly for luxury travelers. He and his Embark Beyond team are always out of the office, scouting what’s next, getting a first-hand look, so they can expertly advise their clients.
In this issue, we look at Jack and team’s picks for best new openings – and re-openings – in the U.S. for 2023.
1. Ambiente – Sedona, Arizona
2. Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort – Kohala Coast, Hawaii
3. Mii amo – Sedona, Arizona
4. Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences – Boston, Massachusetts
5. Southall Farm & Inn – Franklin, Tennessee
6. The Boca Raton – Boca Raton, Florida
7. The Inn at Mettei’s Tavern – Los Olivos, California
8. The Fifth Avenue Hotel – New York, New York
9. The Ranch Hudson Valley – Tuxedo Park, New York
10. The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley – Paradise Valley, Arizona
11. The Ritz-Carlton, Portland – Portland, Arizona
1. Ambiente – Sedona, Arizona
Comprised of 40 ultra-modern cubed-shaped Atrium rooms set on steel beams rising from the ground, the Ambiente nestles into its surroundings without disrupting its natural topography. Floor to ceiling glass walls bring the dramatic Sedona red rocks into the minimalistic contemporary spaces. Sedona’s first new luxury hotel in more than two decades will have a focus on conservation and nature.
2. Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort – Kohala Coast, Hawaii
Located on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawai‘i, Rosewood reinterprets the tired, iconic Kona Village resort just in time for summer 2023. Spanning 81 acres of stunning geologic landscape and richness, the reimagined resort will feature 150 free-standing rooms celebrating the quintessential elements of the original Kona Village Resort while bringing it into modernity, including the original resort’s beloved Shipwreck Bar and Talk Story Bar: a full-service Asaya spa, Rosewood’s integrative wellness concept and an array of event spaces and outdoor activities.
3. Mii amo – Sedona, Arizona
Following a 3-year, $40 million renovation, Mii amo Spa at Enchantment Resort reopens in January, 2023 with 23 rooms set in one of the world’s most inspiring locations. Despite its resort setting, Mii amo is a serious destination spa, with 3-, 4-, 7- and 10-night set programs in spaces that include the Relaxation Lounge and Garden, Journey Plunge Pool and Garden, a Sensory Garden with a reflexology path, and expanded outdoor dining, an outdoor lounge and fireplace. Other landscape features include a labyrinth, a hammock grove and yoga lawn, all with views of the surrounding red rock walls.
4. Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences – Boston, Massachusetts
The 147-room Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences highlights include a mix of signature hotel services such as the Raffles Butler, and elegant and lively public spaces including a two-story sky lobby perched high above Copley Square, five distinct food and beverage venues, a state-of- the-art Raffles Spa with an indoor pool, and a stunning rooftop garden terrace and lounge at the corner of Stuart Street and Trinity Place. The project is destined to reinforce the Back Bay as a first-class international neighborhood.
5. Southall Farm & Inn – Franklin, Tennessee
Set on 325 acres of farmland just outside Nashville, Southall Farm & Inn focuses on farm-to-table culinary experiences and engaging programs include cooking demonstrations, honey tastings, apple picking, gardening classes, forest bathing, and more allow guests to experience nature— and the natural beauty and bounty of Middle Tennessee — in unique ways. The 62 rooms and cottages are designed with a chic farmhouse aesthetic with large porches, fireplaces, and bathrooms. Other on-site experiences range from falconry, mountain biking, and a ropes course plus a 15,000-square feet spa offering sound bath meditation, yoga, and morning hikes.
6. The Boca Raton – Boca Raton, Florida
The Boca Raton is unveiling its luxury hotel tower (one of five on property) in 2023 as the final piece of the property’s $250 million Phase One transformation. The same phase which also introduced multiple Major Food Group restaurants to the property along with the unveiling of the resort’s Harborside Pool Club and waterslide park. Following a $65 million transformation, the 27-story Tower will showcase 224 rooms and suites focused on family experiences.
7. The Inn at Mettei’s Tavern – Los Olivos, California
Set on a historic piece of land close to the many nearby vineyards, Auberge’s The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern will be the only true luxury resort in the Santa Ynez Wine Valley just outside Santa Barbara. The resort will feature 67 guest rooms and cottages with a modern farmhouse vibe.
8. The Fifth Avenue Hotel – New York, New York
This architectural darling joins the growing NoMad scene in New York. Set in the 1908 Gilded Age mansion of socialite Charlotte Goodridge with the addition of an adjacent tower, The Fifth Avenue Hotel will have 182 rooms and suites. There will also be a 5,000 square foot ballroom and a spectacular duplex restaurant with original 30-foot ceilings and arches.
9. The Ranch Hudson Valley – Tuxedo Park, New York
The acclaimed results-oriented weight-loss and fitness boot camp, The Ranch at Malibu, debuts its first East Coast outpost in the Lower Hudson Valley nestled amidst 200 acres, in an historic lakefront estate, just 45 minutes from New York City. What’s unique is that its three and four-day programs vary allowing guests to select the stay and intensity that suits their schedule and goals (hint – the four day is way more intense). You can even do a Ranch takeover for a private, personalized program. As in Malibu, the menu will consist of a nutrient-dense, plant-based diet, with much of the ingredients to be harvested from the onsite organic garden or supplied by local, organic farms.
10. The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley – Paradise Valley, Arizona
Set on 20 acres overlooking Camelback Mountain, The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley is the latest luxury resort in the Scottsdale area, with uber-sleek accommodations set around the valley’s largest infinity edge swimming pool.
11. The Ritz-Carlton, Portland – Portland, Arizona
Opening Q3 2023 as the first 5-star hotel in Portland with 251 rooms and an indoor pool on the 19th floor. The 35-floor tower will offer an indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar on the 20th floor with panoramic views of the Cascade Mountain Range and Portland’s cityscape.
VIP Contact
Contact Jack Ezon at Embark Beyond at Jack@EmbarkBeyond.com.
