2024 is set to be a game changer in the world of hotels, with new properties opening across the world that promise to be environmentally sustainable, aesthetically stunning, and culturally enriching. From a luxe new chimpanzee and gorilla ecotourism lodge in Uganda to a private island resort in Greece, these are seven of the most anticipated new hotels slated to open in 2024.
Fairmont Breakers – Long Beach, California
An iconic mainstay of this Southern California beach city, the historic Breakers Hotel is finally slated to reopen in March 2024. In an account of Charles Lindburgh’s notable Long Beach landing in 1928, he told reporters he was able to spot the port city by the hotel’s famous electric sign, which will soon be relit. Stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant, and Clark Gable have all stayed at the historic property since it first opened in the 1920s. The hotel even survived an earthquake in 1933 before closing its doors in 1988.
Restoration began 30 years later and has been ongoing since 2018. The revamped 185-room Fairmont Breakers hotel will feature the remodeled Sky Room, which was used for strategic planning during World War II, and its accompanying rooftop bar. Further additions will include an upscale Italian restaurant, a terrace pool, a two-story spa, and a live music venue.
Kibale Lodge – Uganda
Since 1997, Volcanoes Safaris have been a pioneer of chimpanzee and gorilla ecotourism in Kibale National Park, located on the border of Uganda and Rwanda. In summer 2024, the tourism company will open a brand-new 150-acre lodge overlooking the Rwenzori Mountains (aka Mountains of the Moon).
Kibale Lodge will feature a spa, sauna, pool, eight deluxe rooms, and a villa surrounded by the lush vegetation, evergreen rainforest canopies, and grasslands of the stunning national park. With a population of about 1,500 chimpanzees, the park is one of the best places in Africa to view these amazing creatures. Fees from your stay go toward nonprofits promoting the conservation of the apes, reducing human-wildlife conflict, and restoring habitats.
Anantara Jaipur Hotel – Jaipur, India
Located in the bustling Indian city of Jaipur, the 150-room luxury Anantara Jaipur Hotel will be only a stone’s throw from UNESCO World Heritage-listed forts, Mughal palaces, bazaars, and temples. Offering spectacular views of this vibrant city from its rooftop bar, the hotel will also feature a signature Indian restaurant, luxury suites outfitted with traditional décor, private plunge pools, a grand banquet hall, and a luxe spa.
Mollie’s Manchester – Manchester, England
This cheeky British property will be housed inside the Old Granada Studios, an iconic recording studio in the northern English city of Manchester where the first television performance by the Beatles was broadcast on October 17, 1962. It’s also where British punk rock band the Sex Pistols had their TV debut in 1976. Mollie’s Hotel — dubbing itself as “budget-luxe” — will open in the refurbished office building and feature a pool and rooftop bar, as well as a two-story extension with an Americana-inspired diner and additional rooms. And rest assured, there will be plenty of neon signs and wood paneling to add to the artsy, funky vibe.
Graduate Princeton – Princeton, New Jersey
If you’ve ever wanted to live the Ivy League life, you’re in luck. Graduate Hotels — which operates a chain of boutique hotels in college towns — is launching its Princeton chapter in spring 2024. The 180-room property will approximately double the number of hotel rooms available in Princeton once it opens.
The Gothic-style building, originally constructed in 1918, will boast the Graduate chain’s signature maximalist interior with framed embroidered letterman jackets, trophies, and other objects with university insignia. The building once served as a dormitory and will soon also house a stunning library and 30-foot-long communal table.
Gundari Resort – Folegandros, Greece
Only a lucky few travelers have explored the private Greek island of Folegandros, but it will soon be easier to join them. In May 2024, Gundari Resort will open its doors to guests, allowing them to experience a “raw and wild” escape, with breezy suites and villas perched on cliffs overlooking the deep blue Aegean Sea.
The hotel is on track to become a zero-waste hotel, with a no single-use plastic policy, solar-powered water heating system, and a fleet of mini EV vehicles and electric bikes for exploring. Guests looking to get away from it all can also engage in the culture and nature of the island through intimate cooking classes, food tours, boat trips to nearby islands and beaches, and snorkeling excursions to Folegandros’ many sea caves and reefs.
Four Seasons Hotel Rabat at Kasr Al Bahr – Rabat, Morocco
The luxury Four Seasons hotel group is calling their latest Morocco addition — the Hotel Rabat at Kasr Al Bahr — a “palace by the sea,” where guests can experience what life was once like within this historic 12th-century walled city surrounding Kasbah des Oudaias fortress. Located on a hilltop overlooking the Atlantic, the property was built at the end of the 18th century as the summer residence of Sultan Moulay Slimane.
Featuring Moorish architecture with elaborate archways and domed roofs, the hotel (opening spring 2024) exudes Arabian grandeur and features restaurants serving Moroccan cuisine, a luxurious spa, and thoughtful amenities to embrace modernity while staying true to Morocco’s treasured past and traditions.
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