According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a record-breaking 5.2 billion travelers are expected to fly in 2025, which is a 6% increase year over year. Many U.S. travelers are skipping tour buses and passes to well-known attractions in major cities for under-the-radar excursions, and new hotels on the horizon are following suit. These seven highly anticipated accommodations opening their doors this year will celebrate the culture, natural surroundings, and history unique to their location.
Trailborn Surf & Sound – Wrightsville, North Carolina
Opening: Early 2025
The site of the new Trailborn Surf & Sound has a storied past in the coastal community of Wrightsville, North Carolina. Known for hosting grand balls and welcoming beachcombers, the Seashore Hotel and Ocean Terrace Hotel once stood on the property, before natural disasters hit and the Blockade Runner Beach Resort was built in its place in 1964.
In 2025, the Blockade Runner will be rebranded as Trailborn Surf & Sound. The coastal landmark was reimagined with massive upgrades to the lobby, suites, and facilities. Guests will be able to rent kayaks or paddleboards to island hop on the Intracoastal Waterway, sunbathe by the new pool, or take surf lessons on the beach.
The Trail Hotel – Bardstown, Kentucky
Opening: Early 2025
Thirsty patrons looking to explore Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail can soon check into this bourbon-themed hotel in Bardstown, known as the bourbon capital of the world.
With 95 rooms, including eight suites, the Trail Hotel encapsulates the history of Kentucky’s distilling past and present with a cozy bourbon library lounge and a “bourbon butler” who can arrange tours, tastings, and transportation for guests. The property will also include a golf simulator, speakeasy, and a swim club.
Orient Express La Minerva – Rome, Italy
Opening: April 2025
The luxurious Orient Express rail service connecting Paris and Istanbul captivated travelers from around the world in the late 19th and 20th centuries, inspiring Agatha Christie’s 1934 murder mystery novel and other books and films. Service was halted in 1977, but in spring 2025, the art deco-inspired train will be back up and running in Italy.
In addition to the rail relaunch, the first Orient Express luxury hotel will be opening in the historic Piazza della Minerva in Rome. The palatial former residence dates back to 1620 and originally belonged to the Portuguese Fonseca family.
Orient Express La Minerva will offer a Roman bath-inspired spa, an upscale rooftop restaurant serving Mediterranean fare, and marble-clad suites. A second Orient Express hotel is also planned to open in Venice, and the three-masted Orient Express Silenseas — set to become the world’s largest sailing ship — will take to the seas in 2026.
Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree – Singapore
Opening: April 2025
Nestled within the 126-hectare Mandai Wildlife Reserve in northern Singapore, Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree will feature 24 eco-friendly treehouses for an immersive wildlife and nature experience. Each treehouse has a private patio and was constructed with sustainability at its core.
Guests have the opportunity to sign up for guided nature walks, wellness retreats, and responsible animal encounters at the five wildlife parks nearby: Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, Bird Paradise, and Rainforest Wild Asia.
1 Hotel – Melbourne, Australia
Opening: May 2025
The sustainable vision behind 1 Hotel’s first Australian offering has garnered a lot of press, but the modern waterfront property also has an attractive exterior that’s hard not to notice. Situated on the Yarra River, 1 Hotel Melbourne features breathtaking views of the skyline and harbor, a 1,000-seat conference hall, and a high-tech wellness center.
The hotel will also incorporate original wharf timbers, roof trusses, purlins, and columns into its blueprint — a nod to the sustainable sourcing of building materials that Aussie designers believe is the future of eco-friendly architecture.
Faena New York – New York City
Opening: Spring 2025
Luxury hotel group Faena is well known for its colorful couture properties in Miami Beach and Buenos Aires, and in spring 2025, a swanky and sophisticated high-rise in West Chelsea joins the lineup.
The Faena New York will feature 120 rooms and suites decked to the nines in stylish wallpaper, gallery walls, chandeliers, and eclectic artwork. Around every corner, guests should expect showstopping pieces akin to Faena Miami Beach’s enormous 24-karat gold woolly mammoth installation by artist Damien Hirst. Buzzy dining offerings will also be the perfect place for guests to experience the thrill of New York nightlife, just steps from the famous High Line.
One&Only Moonlight Basin – Big Sky, Montana
Opening: Summer 2025
Travelers headed to Big Sky, Montana, to ski next winter can start reserving rooms at One&Only Moonlight Basin — the first One&Only resort in the United States. The hotel line carefully chooses sites for their natural beauty and cultural charm, but the Montana property will be the first winter resort in the mix — among sunnier locales in Mexico, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Africa.
The 8,100-acre Big Sky ski resort in the property’s backyard. Blanketed by snow for skiing in winter, it also offers world-renowned fly-fishing, hiking, biking, and kayaking in summer. After a day outdoors, guests can warm up by the indoor fireplaces while still enjoying the floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Rocky Mountains, taking a dip in the indoor pool, relaxing in the sauna, or indulging at one of six restaurants and bars on-site.
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