JUNE ‘21
A. For a dose of pure opulence, book a room at Airelles’s new Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle which opened June 1 on the grounds of Versailles. Reconstituting the 17th century structure proved to be no small feat. With 1788 as the designers benchmark, a four year hunt ensued to find original furnishings and artifacts at antique shops and auction houses. The property now features 14 suites, an Alain Ducasse restaurant, a Valmont spa, and an indoor pool. Best of all, guests get special access to experience the grounds before and after opening hours. Quelle merveille!
B. On July 1, the Resort at Paw’s Up will open the doors to their new adults-only woodland hideaway, Green O, located on the Southern edge of the same 37,000 acre property. Green O’s 12 luxury glamping style cabins are now available to book for any season of the year, though it's already sold out for the summer! The all-inclusive property will entertain summer guests with horseback riding, fly-fishing, biking, shooting, hiking and water sports, while winters travelers can partake in snowmobiling, snowshoeing and skiing adventures.
C. On our radar are two new Four Seasons properties opening up in July. On July 1 San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel, will open up in Taormina, Sicily after an extensive renovation to San Domenico Hotel. The structure was originally built as a 14th century Dominican convent, and then later turned into a hotel in 1896 with the addition of a new building. Located right off of Taormina’s Main Street, with easy access to shopping and restaurants, the property also offers serene views of the Ionian Sea, lavish gardens and Mount Etna. On July 21, Four Seasons New Orleans will finally debut after a $500M transformation of a 1960s modernist building along the Mississippi River. The 341-room hotel sits near NOLA’s Central Business and Garden Districts as well as the French Quarter. The hotel’s restaurants offer menus by James Beard award winning chefs, Donald Link and Alon Shaya, one of which features an outdoor terrace with river views.
D. East Coasters looking for a breath of fresh air can cozy up in the Hudson Valley’s two newest properties. The town of Accord will soon see the summer opening of INNESS, an intimate country refuge and members club. Partners on the project include NYC restaurateur Taavo Somer as well as the development team behind Kingston’s Kinsley Hotel. Situated on 225 pastoral acres, INNESS’ expansive property includes 40 hotel rooms (28 cabins, and a 12 room farmhouse), a restaurant, a golf course, swimming pools, tennis courts, hiking trails, an events barn, as well as a 3-acre organic farm designed by Miranda Brooks. Later this year, a wellness building will debut. Also opening in the Hudson Valley is Piaule Catskill which welcomes guests July 6. The hotel was developed by NYC-creatives Nolan McHigh and Trevor Briggs whose homeware brand bears the same name. Piaule Catskill features 24 380-sqft standalone prefab cabins, a communal lobby, and a spa featuring treatment rooms, a movement space, steam room, sauna, and temperature-regulated pools.
E. Hotel St Vincent, located in New Orlean’s Garden District, started welcoming guests on June 20. Liz Lambert’s newly formed development group McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality designed the 18th century former orphanage with Art Deco and 20th century Italian aesthetics. The 75-room hotel features a pool, a restaurant, a bar, and outposts of the hospitality group’s Austin-based Vietnamese bakery Elizabeth Street Café and fashion concept ByGeorge.
F. A Parisian 19th century landmark building has undergone an $894M renovation (by none other than LVMH) to create the new luxury shopping destination La Samaritaine. Set across from Pont Neuf, between the Louvre, Notre Dame and the new Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection, La Samaritaine is perfectly situated to become a top destination for Parisians and visitors alike. The development will include a department store, a dozen restaurants, and the 5-star hotel Cheval Blanc Paris which debuts in September. The hotel itself will feature a Dior spa and 72 rooms and suites ALL overlooking the Seine. GAH!
G. Famous for its nightclubs, Pacha Group has ventured into a calmer kind of hospitality with the May launch of its first hotel, Casa Pacha Formentera. The Casa aims to pay homage to the Ibiza of 50 years ago with a more raw and relaxed energy. In the hotel’s 14 bedrooms, guests can find neutral tones, ceramics and grass baskets, offering a simple and understated kind of luxury. Set on the long and shallow Migjorn Beach, Casa Pacha is a good choice for families whose children love getting their feet wet.
H. Speaking of Spain. After its debut on July 31, Six Senses Ibiza will be the first sustainable BREEAM certified resort and residential community in the Balearics. The 20-acre property features 116 guestrooms, suites and beachfront caves, some with pools and rooftop garden terraces to enjoy yoga with an ocean view. Our favorite room? The Cave Royale Suite includes a full bar, grand piano, outdoor tub, and secret door to a recording studio below. The hotel will feature state-of-the-art amenities and programming in the fields of wellness, music, fashion and the arts. The best part? The hotel has 4 organic restaurants including the first European outpost for Israeli chef Eyal Shani (from Miznon fame).