Design Hotels

It's been a big year for new additions: In 2024, we welcomed nearly 30 new member hotels to our portfolio. These bold, personality-packed hotels have brought us to the heart of neighborhoods near and far. From the atmospheric Elizabeth Country House in Minerbio, Italy, to the breezy Drift San Jose del Cabo in Mexico, this new class of hotels brings energy and vision to their destinations and keeps us on the pulse of where to go now. Thank you for exploring these exciting additions with us this year. Stay tuned—2025 promises even more.

At this year’s HIX Event, our Managing Director, Stijn Oyen, joined Myriel Walter, Global Director of Culture & Membership at Sircle Collection, and Kerstin Zumstein of Design Anthology UK in conversation to explore the value of community and connection in hospitality. During the panel, Stijn shared our findings from the Further Forecast 2025—Community Capital, along with observations from our very own community. “We can clearly see that the purpose of travel is shifting for the next generation. We see individuals pursuing niche interests…and they are more willing than ever to travel to learn something. In fact, 79% of people [surveyed for the Further Forecast] said they’d travel somewhere specifically to learn a new skill.” Thank you to Myriel and Kerstin for the thought-provoking discussion, and to HIX Event for having us!

How can hotels go above and beyond to create spaces that are inclusive without compromising on style and experience? In our recent Virtual Roundtable on Designing for Inclusivity, we invited Ed Warner MBE, CEO and Co-Founder of award-winning inclusive design consultancy Motionspot, to discuss the principles of inclusive design, how to communicate accessibility services to potential guests, and the business case for making these changes. We also heard from members of our own community, Ineke van de Laak, General Manager of Kruisherenhotel Maastricht, and Gavin McGee Fraser, Head of Sustainability & Architect at Sircle Collection, who shared their experiences in creating inclusive spaces and experiences for guests. A big thank you to our special guests, the hoteliers who attended, and our hosts, Elin Kann, Director of Sustainability, and Allison Reiber DiLiegro of Design Hotels. Our ongoing Virtual Roundtable series seeks to bring our member hotels together with partners, industry experts, and each other to share insights and create actionable change together. Thank you to: Vasily Grogol/ from BURSA Hotel Kyiv Günter Weilguni from The Home Hotel Zürich, a member of Design Hotels™ Anuschka von der Heyden from Cugo Gran Macino Photini Constantinou from MANNA ARCADIA Michael M. from kaya-spa---tribe-hotel Jonathan Liu from Nobis Hotel Palma Alex Wassemann from The Mira Hong Kong Evangelia Karavasili from ROCABELLA MYKONOS HOTEL Vasiliki Mamidaki Venetopoulou from Bluegr Hotels & Resorts Christiane Wassmann from Rastrello Hotel & EVOO Feon Lee from The Prestige Hotel Penang A Member Of Design Hotels@Marriott Bonvoy Hanna Carlsson from Blique by Nobis Lina Freund from FREIgeist Hotels Pakkaporn Sukkasem from The Naka Phuket, a member of Design Hotels Magdalena Georgieva from Junó Hotel Sofia

Meet The Moore, an intimate new opening surrounded by the iconic brownstones, restaurants, galleries, and shops of New York’s beloved Chelsea. The classic brick façade opens up to a cozy living room that feels more like a neighborhood coffee shop than a traditional lobby. And upstairs, the rooftop—where you can take Pilates classes when the weather warms up—overlooks the city skyline. Discover this downtown gem here: https://bit.ly/the_moore

Say hello to the Granger Hotel Gaslamp Quarter, our new opening in San Diego, California. The intimate, guests-only hotel pays homage to its wilder days, when zoo animals stayed here en route to the legendary San Diego Zoo. Built in 1904, the Granger’s storied past comes to life with unexpected design, expressive art, and thoughtfully crafted comforts, blending history with a bit of wild charm. Explore the hotel here: https://lnkd.in/eADJvrJY

We have news: There’s a brand-new hotel by GrupoHabita. Hotel Humano is just steps away from Zicatela Beach, Oaxaca—a legendary surfing destination—and it’s all about the breezy beach life. With a color palette of wine, dark oranges, and off-whites, Humano’s interiors bring the outside in and let you relax after a day on the water. Here, you can take a deep breath, disconnect, and fall into the sound of the waves. See for yourself here: https://lnkd.in/eDX5snnN

The AHEAD 100, celebrating the best new hotel openings of 2024, has just been revealed—and we’re proud to announce that six of our member hotels have made the list: 21 Carpenter, Singapore MANNA ARCADIA Bikini Island & Mountain Hotels Otro Oaxaca by GRUPO HABITA Hotelito by MUSA Boca de Agua Congratulations to the incredible teams behind these standout properties! Here’s to even more milestones and well-deserved recognition.

A self-proclaimed “hotel junkie,” Kai Hollmann—the creator of The George Hotel Hamburg and Gastwerk Hotel Hamburg GmbH & Co. KG—became Germany’s youngest general manager at just 24. “Hotels are my passion, my profession, and even my hobby,” he says—a love he’s passed on to his daughter, Lea Hollmann. Together, they share what it’s like to work as a father-daughter team, what makes Hamburg irresistible, and why they’re always drawn back to the city they call home. Get to know the Originals here: https://lnkd.in/eaB4QRmY

Our annual Where to Go in 2025 list is here. Get ready for journeys that inspire, transform, and connect. From Baltimore’s creative micro-communities to Udaipur’s craft revival, Costa Brava’s artist havens to Guatemala’s do-good adventures—we’ve rounded up the ultimate travel goals for next year. Dive into the full list here: https://lnkd.in/eGYrVdUW

This week, we’re immersing ourselves in Miami Art Week—exploring what’s new and next in art and culture. From the timeless design at Alcova to Lexus’ immersive “Liminal Cycles” to the fearless creativity of Design Miami’s 20th edition, it’s a feast for the senses. For those curious about what caught our eye, or for the art lovers still in town—here is what’s on our radar this weekend: https://lnkd.in/eM2RsMAE