Morocco, China and Spain—we bring you three hotel properties opening in 2015.
four seasons in morocco
News about the soon-to-open Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca was hard to come by, but by press time, we were able to muster some important facts: The hotel will be located along the city’s oceanfront promenade near the upscale Corniche District; it will have 186 guestrooms; it’s the second Four Seasons property in Morocco; it’s expected to open in the first quarter of 2015; and it pays homage to the city’s colonial roots with a French Brasserie and Bar to be located on the second floor.
Says Olivier Thomas, the property’s general manager, “Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca is an incredible opportunity to expand our presence in the region. The urban property overlooking the ocean, will appeal to business and leisure travelers alike. I look forward to working with a strong team to deliver world-renowned, customized Four Seasons service and introduce a new standard of luxury to this growing market.”
The new hotel is also part of Anfa Place, a mixed-use, master-planned community that includes residential projects, businesses, shopping, and entertainment. The new Four Seasons hotel will also offer guests an onsite spa with a mix of Western and local therapies and treatments, including a traditional hammam; an interior and exterior dining area overlooking the Atlantic Ocean; a lobby lounge; and poolside dining. fourseasons.com
kempinski in china
Although Kempinski’s largest property in China had a soft inaugural launch last month, the official opening date for this 3-property complex is set for February of this upcoming year.
The massive hotel project, located on scenic Yanqui Lake at the foot of Yan Mountains in Beijing, is made up of three separate properties: The Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, a futuristic-looking structure that resembles the shape of a scallop with an entrance created to look like the mouth of a fish, symbolizing prosperity; the Yanqui Hotel, a 111-guestroom hotel with five restaurants and bars, and a marina; and 12 Boutique Hotels on a private island ranging in size from 19,000- to 29,000-sq.-ft. and housing from 10 to 19 guestrooms and suites in each building—in total, the Boutique Hotels offer 178 rooms.
Combined, all three hotel properties feature 595 guestrooms; 14 restaurants and bars, including a German restaurant and various types of Chinese cuisine; a fitness and recreational center; Kempinksi The Spa; and the Kempinski Kids Club where kids ages 4 to 12 can partake in morning exercises, face painting, cooking classes, treasure hunts, and more. kempinski.com
design hotels in spain
Boutique hotels are intimate jewels that clients with a love for the arts tend to be drawn to, so we decided to highlight one that was the former studio of Pablo Picasso.
The Serras, set to open in January 2015 and a member of Design Hotels, is a 29-room boutique property located in Barcelona along the Posseig de Colon. The hotel is undergoing a complete renovation, but will maintain its exterior facade to keep with the architecture of the surrounding city-center. The Serras will feature a rooftop terrace with an infinity pool and lounge area, as well as a restaurant led by a Michelin-star chef specializing in Catalan cuisine—tapas, anyone?
Guestrooms, with a few facing the Mediterranean, are spacious with large balconies and modern decor in a grey, silver, mustard and green color palette. Categories range from the 323-sq.-ft. Deluxe Room with a balcony and city views to the 700-sq.-ft. La Plata Suite featuring two balconies and two bathrooms, as well as one king or two twin beds (this suite sleeps four). The Serras is located only minutes from Barcelona’s beaches and the world-famous Las Ramblas pedestrian avenue (perfect for people-watching). Rates start at $275 a night. designhotels.com or designhotels.com/stories/travelpro
