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9 best new luxury hotels in Asia: Joali gets its second Maldives spot, The Standard opens in Bangkok, and Regent Hong Kong returns to Tsim Sha Tsui harbourfront

The swimming pool at the new Regent Phu Quoc in Vietnam. Photo: Regent Phu Quoc
With borders slowly reopening and travel beginning to gain momentum around the region once more, Asia’s luxury hotels are not only reopening their doors – they’re opening new locations, too. Here are the best new hotels around the region, plus 2022’s most anticipated openings.

Regent Phu Quoc

A spacious one-bedroom terrace pool villa at Regent Phu Quoc. Photo: Regent Phu Quoc

Located a short distance from Long Beach and a Unesco World Biosphere Reserve, Regent Phu Quoc is the hotel group’s first outpost in Vietnam. Blink Design Group – the award-winning firm behind Roku Kyoto – have devised a tranquil haven on the island. Comprised solely of suites and villas – 176 suites and 126 villas, to be exact – the resort features a harmonious blend of contemporary and traditional design.

There is a wealth of on-site offerings to choose from, including Oku restaurant – home to the island’s only Omakase counter – and Fu Bar, which boasts an expansive sky pool terrace. Day trippers will delight in opportunities to set sail on the Regent’s own catamaran, Serenity.

Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape

A riverside jungle pool bale at Buahan. Photo: Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape

Set to open its doors in June 2022, this “no walls, no doors” concept comprises 16 bales (traditional villas) in Ubud, amid the region’s terraced fields and rainforest heartland. Each bale offers 180-degree views of the surrounding scenery.

Its cuisine is predominantly plant-based, drawing upon locally sourced ingredients, while the Botanist bar allows local ingredients to sing in its cocktails. Championing the island’s heritage, Toja Spa brings traditional Balinese practices into the contemporary luxury sphere. A roster of self-led and guided activities has been curated to enable guests to connect with nature and engage with the surrounding community.

Jumeirah Bali

A luxurious garden villa at Jumeirah Bali. Photo: Jumeirah Group
Located in Uluwatu on Bali’s southwestern reaches, Jumeirah Bali’s new all-villa resort carves out intimate spaces for discerning travellers. Built with locally sourced materials, the resort has been designed to blend into its natural surrounds, while five-star facilities – such as the award-winning Talise Spa and soon-to-open Akasa Gastro Grill which boasts a resident DJ – ensure a luxurious experience.

The property is made up of one and two-bedroom villas, plus a unique four-bedroom Royal Water Palace. Each villa comes with its own private pool and garden, while the resort boasts access to a private, secluded beach.

Raffles Udaipur

Raffles Udaipur opened in August 2021. Photo: Raffles Hotels and Resorts

Raffles Udaipur opened its doors late last year, and occupies over 900,000 sq ft of prime property on a private island set within Udai Sagar Lake.

There are 101 rooms and suites that overlook a centuries-old temple and the property’s expansive landscaped gardens, home to an abundance of wildlife and fauna. Restaurants pay tribute to royal cuisine, while the Rasoi cooking school offers guests the chance to recreate the experience for themselves. Afternoon teas nod to the rich heritage of its surrounding environment, with a tea sommelier guiding diners through the experience.

The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon

A spacious suite at The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon. Photo: The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon
The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon is set to be the group’s Asian flagship. Occupying 155 rooms within the King Power Mahanakhon – popularly known as the “pixel building” – the hotel takes pride of place on Bangkok’s skyline.

Well-appointed rooms are equipped with contemporary luxury amenities including smart TVs and Bang and Olufsen speakers. The hotel’s food and drink offerings include Sky Beach, soon-to-be the highest alfresco bar in the city, and an outpost of the award-winning Cantonese restaurant, Mott 32.

Six Senses Fort Barwara

The main facade of Six Senses Fort Barwara. Photo: Six Senses

The product of a painstaking restoration process, the Six Senses Fort Barwara property is housed in a 14th-century Rajasthani palace. Spacious suites give guests a taste of luxury fit for a king, while balconies provide front-row seats to Lake Barwara and its surrounding scenery.

Six Senses has aimed to conserve not just the integrity of the historic architecture, but also its surrounding environment. The resort has pledged to continue its commitment to the land with its rewilding initiatives, through the installation of rain collection tanks and solar panels and its commitment to sustainable dining across its three restaurants.

Joali Being

An overwater villa at Joali Being in the Maldives. Photo: @joalibeing/Instagram

With a smattering of luxury resorts adopting the “one island, one resort” concept, true luxury isn’t hard to come across in the Maldives. But Joali Being, the brand’s second resort in the region, stands out from the rest.

Opened in late 2021 on Bodufushi island in the Maldives’ Raa Atoll, Joali Being boasts 68 overwater and beachfront villas, each equipped with their own private pool. Guests are given a mobile phone to contact their personal butlers, ensuring their every need is met throughout their stay.

The resort re-enlisted architect Cuneyt Bukulmez and interior designer studio Autoban – the team behind the Joali resort on Muravandhoo island.

Regent Hong Kong

A private dining room at Yan Toh Heen, housed within the new Regent Hong Kong. Photo: Yan Toh Heen

InterContinental Hong Kong closed its doors in 2020 to undergo a full-scale rebrand and renovation. The hotel – which first opened as Regent Hong Kong in 1980 – will be opening later this year under its original name and prime position on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront promenade.

Designed by award-winning Hong Kong-born architect Chi Wing Lo, Regent Hong Kong is already a destination, home to two Michelin star Cantonese fine-dining institution Yan Toh Heen, which has remained open throughout the renovations.

Alila Kothaifaru Maldives

A beach villa at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives. Photo: Alila Kothaifaru Maldives

Situated on a private island in the Raa Atoll, Alila Kothaifaru lies just a 45-minute seaplane ride from the nation’s capital, Male.

The resort is in close proximity to Hanifaru Bay – home to a Unesco World Biosphere Reserve – and Vaadhoo island, where the bioluminescent phenomenon “Sea of Stars” is known to take place.

Choose from one of 44 beachfront and 36 overwater villas, and engage in a wealth of on-site activities, ranging from the resort’s watersports and dive centre to relaxing treatments at the Spa Alila, which lies just above the treetops.

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  • As travel restrictions ease, Bali sees a host of new luxury offerings, from rainforest retreat Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, to the all-villa beachfront property, Jumeirah Bali
  • Six Senses Fort Barwara revives a royal palace in Rajasthan, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives is a short plane trip from Male, and Regent Phu Quoc is near a Unesco site