
Luxury hoteliers look to the east, for some of the most opulent new resort and business destinations. We present a round up of the latest lush properties
The exterior of Hilton’s Conrad hotel in Koh Samui, looking over the azure waters of the Gulf of Thailand
From up-and-coming resorts on the Adriatic to Miami’s infamous South Beach and the ubiquitous Gulf of Thailand, the latest round of hotel openings has been in some ways predictable, as illustrated by a slew of new entrants jostling for position with their competitors in tried and tested markets.
But others are braver and bolder in hot-spots of a very different kind – like a seaside city in Georgia which is located less than 80 kilometres from the war-torn Abkhazia region and a Kempinski in the heart of Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, where the government recently stoked fires over its own breakaway territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Conrad, Koh Samui
Consisting solely of private villas, each featuring their own infinity pool, nestled within 25 acres of hillside, Hilton’s latest Conrad hotel in Thailand boasts unobstructed ocean views overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Decorated in contemporary Thai style, each of the 80 villas include LCD flat-screen satellite television, CD/DVD players, IPod docking stations, as well as wired and wireless high speed Internet connection.
Website & Source: www.conradkohsamui.com

Jumeirah, Frankfurt
Located in the centre of Frankfurt at the Thurn-und-Taxis Square, the first European Jumeirah hotel is spread over 25 floors overlooking the city. The 218 rooms and suites have a minimum size of 35sqm, each featuring an original artwork by German contemporary artist Hartwig Ebersbach. Guests will also enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access, remote controlled lighting and curtains, and a 42" LCD television, BOSE surround system and iPod docking station in each room.
Website: www.jumeirah.com/frankfurt
Source: Zawya

Kempinski Hotel Badamar, Baku
The latest Kempinski Hotel is located in the heart of Badamdar district in Baku, Azerbaijan. The property features 283 rooms and suites alongside four restaurants, five bars, conference and banqueting facilities and a 3,500-sqm wellness centre. The hotel is located within a complex comprising private residences, offices and over 5000 sqm of entertainment and retail spaces.
Website: www.kempinski.com
Source: Hospitality Design

Hotel Lone, Rovinj
The first design hotel in Croatia, Hotel Lone, is located in the protected Monte Mulini forest park, within Rovinj’s tourist zone. The property boasts 236 rooms and twelve suites, three restaurants, two bars, a jazz club and a mini club. The state of the art high-quality conference centre incorporates four conference halls, several meeting rooms, and a VIP lounge and accompanying bar.
Source: Luxury Hospitality Daily

Dream South Beach, Miami
The latest offering from Vikram Chatwal Hotels, Dream South Beach incorporates 108 guestrooms and an array of premium amenities including a rooftop pool lounge with views of the Atlantic Ocean and an accessory spa. All rooms come equipped with oversized LCD TVs, Bluetooth-enabled smart phones, high-speed broadband Internet access and Wi-Fi, iPod docking systems, Egyptian bed linen, spa robes, Etro bath amenities, in-room safes and a private bar.
Website: www.dreamsouthbeach.com
Source: Superyachts.com

Radisson Blu Hotel Batumi, Georgia
Designed by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi, Radisson Blu Hotel Batumi has opened on the Black Sea in Georgia. The 168 guestrooms are equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, coast, and countryside. A wellness facility offers an Anne Semonin SPA, fitness centre, indoor and outdoor pools, a Finnish sauna and aroma steam bath. Whilst guests can also enjoy two restaurants , two bars and a meeting space with a grand ballroom.
Website: www.radissonblu.com/hotel-batumi
Source: Hospitality Design
For more in the series of The Latest Hotels, please see our most recent editions as follows:
– The Latest Hotels, Paris, Panama, Puerto Rico
– The Latest Hotels, Paris, Amsterdam & Marrakech
– The Latest Hotels, Rajasthan, Kashmir & St Petersburg