Each year we turn to Jack Ezon, the CEO and Founder of EmbarkBeyond, a luxury travel agency that specializes in celebration travel. And each year Jack spotlights for us and you his picks for the top luxury hotel openings for the year.
After looking at the U.S. last week, this issue we turn our attention to the best new luxury hotels and resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.
Antigua
Hermitage Bay
After a two-year renovation, the once adult-only resort will look like a totally new hotel overlooking a beautiful bay in Antigua.
Aruba
The St. Regis Aruba
Opening on Aruba’s renowned Palm Beach, The St. Regis Aruba is a beachfront resort featuring 251 rooms and 52 suites with a rooftop restaurant and bar and a 9,000-square- foot casino.
Costa Rica
Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Ritz-Carlton Reserve opens its first resort in South America on the Peninsula Papagayo, the same development that houses the Four Seasons and Andaz. Set on 1,400 acres of the hilly oceanfront resort, Nekajui will focus on privacy (to compare, Four Seasons is our go-to for families; Andaz for couples looking for a more fun, communal experience) with just 107 rooms and 36 residences. We’re most excited about the three safari-style luxury tents overlooking the sea. The resort will also feature a private beach club and an expansive 27,000-square-foot spa.
Waldorf Astoria Punta Cacique
Situated on the cliffside peninsula of Cacique, overlooking the secluded Playa Penca, the resort will have 148 guest rooms and 40 suites. All rooms and public spaces will flaunt expansive ocean and tropical forest views, with a multi-level pool, six dining outlets, and a spa focused on local fitness routines, holistic therapies, and native rituals.
Dominican Republic
The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort
Set inside the Cap Cana gated community, the 200-room St. Regis will offer luxury resort amenities, including nine culinary entries, a St. Regis Spa, and the Punta Espada golf course.
Mexico
Amanvari, Los Cabos
Located on the East Cape adjacent to the Four Seasons, Amanvari will have just 20 pavilions and 24 private residences secluded by a sprawling white sand beach with a spa and infinity pool overlooking the Sea of Cortez.
Park Hyatt Los Cabos Hotel and Residences
Sitting along the Sea of Cortez, the Park Hyatt offers guests a view of the water from all 163 sand-hued accommodations and the three ocean-facing pools. But you will also want to visit to try the top-notch golf course, the beach club, and the 59,000-square-foot wellness center with a spa, yoga studio, and lap pool.
Casona Roma, Mexico City
Set in the residential, tree-lined Roma neighborhood, Casona is a 32-room Art Nouveau gem in a former mansion. Its strong focus on local art is reminiscent of Casa Polanco in Mexico City’s trendier “SoHo-esque” neighborhood.
Chablé, Sea of Cortez
Designed as what appears to be a series of luxury pods, Chablé’s new Pacific outpost will be located in La Paz. It will be spread out over nearly 700,000 square feet of desert for just 50 suites. Each suite will have its own garden, terrace space, and plunge pool. Amenities at the resort property will include a large spa facility, a deluxe event space, a private beach with an oceanfront pool, and three restaurants.
Waldorf Astoria San Miguel de Allende
The classical art city gets a jolt of modernity with this 120-room and 24-residence property, which will include a lavish spa, a meditation area, an on-site art gallery, and three restaurants.
St. Lucia
Ladera
One of the original pioneering St. Lucia resorts (the first with the open 4th wall design and the only set on a volcanic ridge in the UNESCO Piton Mountain range) will relaunch with new decor, new restaurant concepts, and a new wellness center amid tropical gardens.
Turks & Caicos
Southbank
This new 31-acre development has 92 waterfront homes, ranging from one-bedroom to seven bedrooms, all with individual private butlers and services by acclaimed Grace Bay Club. Amenities include a swimmable lagoon (ideal for children) and a full marina.
Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort
South Caicos Island welcomes its second luxury resort, featuring 100 rooms and suites with balconies, ocean views, and bespoke amenities. The resort will also offer a spa, a Kids’ Club, and six restaurants.
