Hilton signed Waldorf Astoria Miami Beach for a Winter 2027 relaunch, Aspen Hospitality launched Nell Hotels with The Nell New York opening fall 2027 in Rockefeller Center, and Six Senses opened a beachfront property in Saudi Arabia and reservations in Dubai. The week also brought restaurant openings in Santa Monica, Washington D.C., and New York, plus hotel debuts in Turkey, Scotland, and Mexico City. Track the Waldorf Miami conversion if you're planning South Florida trips in 2027, add The Nell New York to your Rockefeller Center shortlist, and book Six Senses AMAALA if Red Sea wellness travel is on your radar.
What We Published This Week
Waldorf Astoria Miami Beach Signs for Winter 2027 Relaunch
Hilton and Reuben Brothers signed a management agreement to convert a Miami Beach hotel into Waldorf Astoria Miami Beach, marking the brand's debut in the market. Owned by Reuben Brothers and managed by Hilton, the resort will undergo renovation and repositioning ahead of its planned Winter 2027 relaunch.
The signing follows Reuben Brothers' acquisition of the former W South Beach, which will close later this summer for what the owner describes as a meticulous renovation.
For travelers planning Miami Beach trips in 2027 or 2028, this is the Waldorf Astoria opening to track, the brand's first South Beach property and a repositioning that shifts the property from W's nightlife focus to Waldorf's luxury-hotel register.
Aspen Hospitality Launches Nell Hotels, Debuts The Nell New York in Rockefeller Center
Aspen Hospitality announced the launch of Nell Hotels, a new luxury hotel brand, marked by two milestones: The Nell New York, set to open fall 2027 as the first and only hotel within Rockefeller Center and New York City 's only Relais & Châteaux property, and the forthcoming reimagination of The Little Nell in Aspen, which will temporarily close in April 2027.
The Nell New York is the headline here, a Rockefeller Center location gives the property a midtown anchor that no other luxury hotel in the city can claim, and the Relais & Châteaux designation signals the brand's positioning above standard luxury chains.
Add this to your fall 2027 New York shortlist if you prioritize location and brand pedigree over room count or resort amenities.
Six Senses Opens One Property and Reservations: AMAALA in Saudi Arabia, The Palm in Dubai
Red Sea Global announced the opening of beachfront resort Six Senses AMAALA, which will welcome its first guests mid-July. The launch represents the next step in the AMAALA destination's development, as the Red Sea project continues to open properties against a backdrop of coastal cliffs, protected bays, pristine beaches, and mountainous desert. Six Senses AMAALA strengthens the destination's wellness positioning, if you're tracking Red Sea openings or planning Saudi Arabia wellness travel, this is the property to book now.
Six Senses The Palm, one of Dubai's most anticipated hotel openings, is nearing completion on Palm Jumeirah with reservations already open.
The resort will feature ROKA's second Dubai location, a rooftop outpost serving robatayaki from 6pm daily, and Earth Lab, an interactive space for workshops focused on recycling, upcycling, waste reduction, and responsible living.
The property has applied for LEED Silver certification and will feature drought-friendly landscaping, biodiverse green roofs, greywater recycling, and a zero single-use plastic policy. For Dubai travelers, this is the Palm Jumeirah opening to track if you prioritize sustainability credentials and rooftop dining over traditional resort amenities.
West Side Oyster Club Opens in Former Blue Plate Oysterette Space
West Side Oyster Club, the latest restaurant by Greg and Yunnie Morena, debuted June 26 in the former Blue Plate Oysterette space on Santa Monica's Ocean Avenue.
The Morenas are longtime Santa Monica business owners, Yunnie's parents founded SM Pier Seafood, which became the Albright on the Santa Monica Pier, and the couple took over operations after careers in fashion and finance.
The menu evokes the Northeast with reasonably priced fish and chips, blackened shrimp tacos, deep-fried oysters, and a clam chowder bread bowl, plus a dedicated section for rolls and po'boys including lobster two ways and Old Bay, dusted oyster po'boys. The restaurant seats 80 total, with 50 seats on the patio overlooking Palisades Park.
Greg has encouraged diners to order the caviar to-go pack with potato chips, crème fraîche, and chives to picnic in the park. Book now if you're tracking Santa Monica seafood openings, the space replaces Blue Plate Oysterette, which closed after 17 years citing tourism drops, rising costs, and safety concerns.
Oribu Opens at Grand Hyatt Washington, Bringing Japanese-Mediterranean Menu to Downtown D.C.
The Grand Hyatt Washington capped off its multi-million-dollar facelift this July with the opening of lobby-level restaurant Oribu. The kitchen focuses on what the team calls the maritime Silk Road, with dishes bouncing around the Mediterranean and Japan. First-time D.C. chef Joevel Magpantay comes from the Andaz Abu Dhabi.
Standouts include rock shrimp tempura with spiced chile aioli at $22, olive wood-smoked burrata topped with fleur de sel at $24, and kebab plates with hummus, tzatziki, pickled vegetables, and warm pita at $30. The eight-piece dynamite roll with torched scallops, snow crab, cucumber, avocado, and unagi sauce runs $23.
The sake espresso martini, called Gold Press, gets a powdery gold finish and costs $22. The restaurant's turquoise-toned furnishings sit on plush blue carpets in the hotel's cavernous atrium, which stretches up 12 stories with a cascading crystal chandelier. Book Oribu if you're staying at the Grand Hyatt or tracking new D.C.
hotel restaurant openings, it's the first major dining addition to the property since the Reagan administration.
Broome Hotel Reopens in SoHo, Plus European and Middle Eastern Openings
Broome, a 14-room-and-suite boutique hotel on Broome Street in SoHo, Manhattan, announces its next chapter beginning with the opening of its new restaurant and bar in July 2026, followed by newly reimagined rooms and suites in September 2026.
Centered around one of Manhattan's most distinctive inner courtyards, Broome has long offered a rare sense of calm in the heart of downtown New York. This next chapter transforms the intimate property into a gathering place for hotel guests, neighbors, and the broader SoHo community.
Track the September room reopening if you're planning SoHo stays in fall 2026, the restaurant opens first, the rooms follow two months later.
Fortuna of Cappadocia, Autograph Collection has opened in the heart of Cappadocia, the iconic region in central Turkey. The hotel joins Autograph Collection Hotels, Marriott Bonvoy 's portfolio of more than 300 independent hotels. Book now if you're planning Cappadocia trips and prefer Marriott Bonvoy points over independent boutique hotels.
Kimpton El Castelar, Mexico City's newest boutique hotel and part of IHG Hotels & Resorts' luxury and lifestyle portfolio, is now open at Emilio Castelar 107 Colonia Polanco. Located in the Polanquito neighborhood, the property sits just steps from Masarik Avenue, Auditorio Nacional, and Chapultepec Castle. Book now if you're planning Mexico City trips and prefer Kimpton's boutique format over larger luxury chains.
Gymkhana, the two-Michelin-star London restaurant, will open September 1, 2026 at its DIFC location in Gate Village, Building 7. The restaurant opened in Mayfair in 2013 and is the creation of siblings Jyotin, Karam, and Sunaina Sethi.
The JKS Restaurants concept takes Indian cuisine and presents it in exquisitely executed form, with chaat-style sharing plates, tandoori-grilled dishes, curries, and fragrant biryanis. Dubai will get its own selection of exclusive dishes. The DIFC edition unfolds across two levels with additional alfresco terrace seating.
Outposts in Riyadh (2023) and Las Vegas (2025) have already opened, and sister restaurant Ambassadors Clubhouse opened in New York earlier this year. Book Gymkhana Dubai if you're tracking two-Michelin-star restaurant openings in the Middle East, this is one of only four Indian restaurants in the world holding two Michelin stars.
Scotland, Italy, and Spain Welcome New Luxury Properties
Glenapp Castle, the 21-bedroom Relais & Châteaux hotel on the Ayrshire coast, has opened The Nest, a new standalone one-bedroom Garden Cottage Suite set within the estate's historic 1830s walled garden.
The suite features a separate bedroom with a super king-size bed that can be twinned, a sitting room with a sofa bed, and the largest bathroom at the Castle with a roll-top bath and walk-in shower.
The suite sits within a sheltered Victorian landscape with seasonal planting, birdsong, and coastal light, and includes a private sauna, natural barrel cold plunge, and outdoor shower. B&B rates start from £837.25 per night in low season, rising to £1,575 in peak season.
Book The Nest if you're planning Scotland stays and prioritize seclusion and wellness amenities over proximity to the main Castle.
Chapter Chianti officially opened in the rolling hills of Tuscany's Chianti region. Set within a restored 17th-century borgo spanning over 50 hectares of vineyards, olive groves, and landscaped gardens, the property marks the second opening in the Chapter Italia portfolio, developed by Marco Cilia following the success of Chapter Roma. The property brings the brand's signature energy, contemporary design, and social spirit beyond the city for the first time. Book Chapter Chianti if you're planning Tuscany trips and prefer contemporary design over traditional Tuscan villa aesthetics.
Palacio Bellas Artes, a 1914 Beaux Arts building that housed one of Spain's earliest cinemas, has been restored and reimagined as Hotel Palacio Bellas Artes San Sebastián, Curio Collection by Hilton. The 81-room hotel is home to Lotu, a new dining destination. Book now if you're planning San Sebastián trips and prioritize historic architecture over new-build hotels.
Thompson Seville is scheduled to debut late 2026 in Plaza de la Concordia, at the heart of Seville's historic centre. Located in the iconic La Gavidia building, the property marks the brand's first hotel in Andalusia and continues Thompson Hotels' growing presence in Spain following the successful opening of Thompson Madrid. The property will blend design, culture, gastronomy, and a contemporary hotel experience while honoring the city's history, traditions, and character.
Future Openings: Australia, Vermont, and Abu Dhabi
Beckons, a curated portfolio of luxury lodges, announced plans for a new lodge set amongst the red sand dunes of Uluru-Kata Tjuta. The retreat is the first new build for the portfolio since the brand's launch in March 2026. Plans have been approved following ecological, heritage, and sacred sites assessments and consultation with Traditional Custodians. The lodge is currently projected to open in early 2028. Add this to your 2028 Australia shortlist if you're tracking new luxury lodge openings at Uluru.
The Harborvale, Autograph Collection, opened in Burlington, Vermont. The 161-room property joined Marriott Bonvoy's Autograph Collection and offers locally rooted experiences with waterfront views on Lake Champlain. Managing director Hans van Wees of Westport Hospitality stated the opening marks an important new chapter for downtown Burlington. Book The Harborvale if you're planning Burlington trips and prefer Marriott Bonvoy points over independent hotels.
Oro Verde, a new Nikkei restaurant and bar from the team behind Asia Asia and Lock Stock, is opening on the waterfront at Yas Bay in Abu Dhabi. The restaurant will bring Nikkei cuisine to one of Abu Dhabi's newest dining destinations. Track this opening if you're planning Abu Dhabi trips and follow Nikkei restaurant openings in the Middle East.
Jungsik Yim opened MŪJE, charting an eight-course tour of Asia. The New York Times covered the opening alongside Cipriani Dolci's reopening after renovation and Maison Madison's Parisian-leaning debut. Book MŪJE if you're tracking Jungsik Yim's latest projects in New York.
