Hotel openings and news to get excited about in 2026

Staying in a hotel, either on a city break or a longer holiday, is a treat for anyone. Companies are rolling out new resorts and hotels in Australia and around the world.

Here are some of the most exciting new hotels and resorts to dream about visiting in 2026.

voco Queenstown, New Zealand

A new branch of popular hotel brand Voco has opened in New Zealand’s adventure holiday hub.

voco Queenstown is dubbed a “warm alpine escape, that feels more like arriving at a friend’s place than checking into a hotel”.

Taking over the old Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown, it has 227 rooms.

There’s restaurant and bar, Mozzarella & Co as well as outdoor lounges and even a fire pit for winter nights.

The hotel even has a dedicated drying room and ski lockers to safely store skiing and outdoor gear. To stretch and soothe aching muscles, there’s a gym and sauna.

Rooms come with plush bedding made from recycled materials, rain showers, plant-based Antipodes bathroom amenities, smart TVs, high-speed Wi-Fi, and free filtered water.

Bounce Surfers, Queensland

What is being dubbed a “hybrid social hotel” has opened on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

Bounce Surfers in Surfers Paradise, has 470 beds across 94-rooms including studios and shared dorms. There are 44 queen ensuite studios and 50 share rooms ranging from four to 12-beds.

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Each has privacy curtains, USB chargers, and reading lights.

The hotel is set to become a party place, with a rooftop pool club complete with DJ, bar and restaurant.

A gym and café is also on offer.

Co-owner and co-developer Mark Baldwin said: “We wanted to move away from the traditional high-rise hotel model and create something that feels like a community.”

It’s the seventh branch in Australia. Prices start at $55.

Sandringham Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Luxury game reserve company Sabi Sabi Collection, famous for hotels like Earth Lodge has opened a new game reserve in South Africa.

Sandringham Private Game Reserve has been transformed from an old hunting reserve into a thriving wilderness area.

It’s at the convergence of four rivers and bordered by the Timbavati and Thornybush Game Reserves and par of the greater Kruger National Park.

“It’s been exciting, humbling and rewarding to see wildlife reclaim their rightful residence on the reserve as a protected species, no longer threatened,” Jacques Smit, Sabi Sabi Collection’s Director of Marketing said.

The reserve offers two luxury safari camps - N’weti Camp and Shisaka Camp - each with six suites, with Shisaka Camp also offering two villas.

Alva Hotel, Brisbane, Queensland

This hotel in trendy Fortitude Valley has a new look and name.

Formerly Hotel X, the property is now part of IHG’s Vignette Collection.

General Manager Daniel Gerritse said: “The Alva is much more than a new name. It’s a new hotel experience inspired by the creativity, energy and character of Fortitude Valley.”

Rooms are dubbed “contemporary” and there’s a rooftop pool, Iris Rooftop Bar & Restaurant and Bisou Bisou bistro.

The Alva Hotel also celebrates the brand’s Memorable Rituals scheme.

Free postcards in the lobby encourage guests to put pen to paper and share a moment from their Brisbane stay with loved ones back home.

The Merchant Hotel, Brisbane, Queensland

The Merchant Hotel has been unveiled in Brisbane.

Inspired by the trading heritage of the historic Roma Street markets, the modern-rustic styled hotel has 58 rooms.

Hotel venue The Lounge offers a space to drink and work, with hot desks on offer.

Radisson Hotel Group regional COO Tim Cordon, said: “Brisbane continues to grow as a dynamic destination for business, events and leisure travel.”

It’s the first for the brand in Queensland.

Clayfields Hunter Valley, Pokolbin NSW

Luxury adults-only villas have been unveiled in the Hunter Valley near Sydney.

Clayfields Hunter Valley is a secluded estate on the Around Hermitage Trail.

It even makes its own artisan honey.

Each one-bedroom villa has nearly 150 square meters of indoor-outdoor space with heated outdoor Jacuzzis, indoor spa baths, soaring wood-burning fireplaces.

Stanford Deveraux and partner and beekeeper Mike Wilkins, have created the luxury villas.

“We didn’t just want to build another place to sleep in the Hunter Valley; we wanted to create an authentic, grounded experience that reflects the true soul of this region,” Deveraux said.

The Grand Saddles Lodge, NSW Central Coast

Tycoon John Singleton is expanding his acclaimed restaurant and events venue north of Sydney to include luxury villas.

The Grand Saddles Lodge next to The Homestead at Saddles will be an “intimate retreat” bosses say, with 20 villas, fine dining, a piano bar called Ned’s and a day spa.

Each villa will have separate living spaces, an open fireplace, private terrace and plunge pool, while a communal infinity pool and pool bar overlook the surrounding bushland.

Restaurant The Homestead at Saddles was named by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the world’s most beautiful.

The precinct also includes The Barn, a dedicated weddings and events venue.

The new venture will open in this spring.

Orpheus Island Lodge, Queensland

Another super luxury Queensland hotel has reopened. Orpheus Island Lodge is welcoming guests again after a revamp.

The super luxury hotel on the Great Barrier Reef is dubbed by bosses as “the ultimate secluded tropical paradise.”

It has just 28 guests in its 14 rooms at a time to enjoy the all-inclusive hospitality.

The resort is set within more than 1,000 hectares of national park, stretching across 11km of turquoise coast including reef.

It can only be reached via a 30-minute helicopter flight from Townsville.

It’s a member of the Luxury Lodges of Australia collection.

Bonobo by Raes, Byron Bay, NSW

The Bonobo by Raes is now open on Jonson Street, Byron Bay, offering a new hotel and lifestyle precinct with dining, wellness, retail, and a rooftop pool.

The Bonobo offers 74 hotel rooms and hotel residences set across three levels, overlooking the courtyard, tropical gardens or Jonson Street.

It was designed by architecture firm Richards & Spence with interior furnishings by designers Studio Manifold, in collaboration with Birdy Catalano.

Alongside the hotel rooms there is also a Lobby Lounge for all-day dining and drinks, a rooftop pool, a wellness studio by Reset, and a curated menswear retail space from Byron-born brand Atlas Homme.

The hotel’s food and beverage offering is curated by Jason Saxby, executive chef of the two-hatted Raes Dining Room, alongside The Bonobo head chef Callum Gray.

“Opening The Bonobo marks a significant new chapter for Raes,” Marty McCaig, Raes group general manager, said.

“We’ve brought the same attention to detail, hospitality and guest experience that sits at the heart of the Raes brand, and applied it to a larger, more accessible setting in the centre of town.”

Ardour Lilianfels Blue Mountains, NSW

A historic Blue Mountains property has unveiled a new look. Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa, a heritage-listed estate originally built in 1889, has welcomed its first guests as an Ardour hotel, after a multimillion-dollar refurbishment. 

Award-winning Australian firm, Luchetti Krelle, has led the property’s new design, drawing inspiration from eccentric English garden estates, while adding distinct new colours, striking details and statement furniture.

The estate’s 89 guest rooms and suites have been redesigned featuring three unique colour palettes, each embracing a different mood.

There is a new central bar to be known as The Lounge offering unique cocktails, a curated selection of wines and elevated bar bites such as Four-Cheese & Truffle Sliders, Steak Frites, QLD Spanner Crab Brioche, and a Chef’s Charcuterie.

Plus guests can enjoy new experiential dining options such as Caviar Service, Cheese Experience, and a High Tea.

The estate’s original dining destinations – Darley’s Restaurant and Miss Lilian – also remain.

The property is now the second heritage estate to become an Ardour property, following in the footsteps of Ardour Milton Park Bowral that opened earlier in 2026.

The Whale Narooma, NSW

Pub king Justin Hemmes is about to open a hotel on the NSW south coast. The Whale Narooma, just under five hours drive south of Sydney, opens on June 19.

Merivale took three years to transform the old Whale Motor Inn into the chic new hotel, which has 18 rooms.

Designers have kept a nod to the original 1970s style but updated it for today’s travellers.

As well as regular rooms, the Oceanview Penthouse has a private rooftop garden a dining table for six, a curved vintage Featherston lounge, bar and raised custom king bed 

“With The Whale, we wanted to create something special where people can come and experience the beauty of Narooma and everything it has to offer, in a beautiful setting with great food, staff and service. But the hero is Narooma,” Merivale CEO, Justin said.

A magnesium pool, sauna, ice bath, landscaped gardens, sunset-facing fire pit, and pickleball court are also designed to bring guests together.

Dan Hong’s Queen Chow modern Cantonese restaurant is opening at the hotel.

Travellers can also fly to Merimbula Airport.

Laval Hunter Valley, NSW

A lavish new hotel is coming to the NSW Hunter Valley near Sydney. The $130m Laval Hunter Valley in Pokolbin will have 65 villas set within a vineyard.

It will also offer dining by Justin North, a spa, a 25-metre pool next to the Shiraz vines which will be tiled in red, and of course, great wine.

Bosses say it'll be "an international hotel, made in Australia", and will be built on the 165-acre, historic Lindeman Estate.

"Laval is more than the answer to a longstanding gap in the Hunter Valley's luxury accommodation segment," Dominic Lambrinos, Managing Director of HVL Hotels, says.

"It represents an ambition to do something that hasn't been done before, on the most magical piece of land within the valley."

It’ll even offer the option for helicopter transfers. However, you’ll need to wait until next year to stay.

voco Darwin Suites, NT

IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened voco Darwin Suites, marking the brand's first foray into the Northern Territory.

The 88-suite hotel is on Mitchell Street.

All suites have a kitchen or kitchenette, a work area and space to lounge, while the hotel lobby's Marketplace offers local items for guests to buy.

It also has The Aviary Bar & Brasserie and a plunge pool.

"Darwin is a city with incredible energy, from its events and business community to its natural landscapes, cultural experiences and Dry Season lifestyle," Sean DeSouza, Portfolio General Manager, says.

"Our goal is to give guests a premium, comfortable and memorable base from which to experience it all."

Hotel Panorama, Adelaide, South Australia

Adelaide has a modern new hotel. Hurley Hotel Group has opened Hotel Panorama.

It has 77 rooms and suites, a casual café bar and restaurant with sunken fire lounge, sports bar and a rooftop bar.

The hotel has three levels of accommodation, including studio, one- and two-bedroom rooms and two Panorama suites. Some have kitchenettes, baths and balconies.

General Manager, Scott Oakley, said the rooms are "designed to feel warm, modern and genuinely comfortable."

Moxy Niseko Village, Japan

If you're planning to ski at the end of the year, a new hotel is on offer in Japan.

Moxy Niseko Village, a new 310-room hotel opening is opening in time for the 2026/27 winter ski season.

It promises tech-equipped rooms, communal spaces and the brand's Moxy Bar.

It's beside the Niseko Village Gondola, offering ski‑in, ski‑out access.

Niseko Village Ski Resort will open a new eight‑person gondola in December, replacing the existing chairlift to double capacity.

One Global Resorts, Parramatta NSW

A new apartment hotel has opened in Parramatta in Sydney’s west.

One Global Resorts has 36 apartments and is five-minutes-walk from the train station.

It has a pool, gym and even a rooftop bar, Nick & Nora's, within the building formerly known as SKYE Parramatta.

The company also has a hotel in Sydney’s Green Square.

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach has unveiled the next phase of its multi-million dollar transformation.

After first opening in December, the property's transformation, designed by Woods Bagot, has been gradually revealed.

The hotel's ocean-facing infinity pool and terrace, Club InterContinental and pickleball courts are the latest additions.

The infinity-edge pool is heated year-round and surrounded by private cabanas, sun lounges and comfortable seating.

The adjoining poolside dining offering has been designed to mirror the ease of beachside living with a menu featuring classics as well as lighter dishes including new 'Nourish Bowls' available throughout the hotel at any time.

The opening of the Èliva Spa is set to follow in early May.

An official launch party for the property, which recently hosted an exclusive event featuring Meghan Markle, was held on Wednesday.

Monarto Safari Lodge, Adelaide

Journey Beyond has officially welcomed the first guests to Monarto Safari Lodge, Australia's first and only all-inclusive luxury safari lodge experience, located deep within South Australia's Malle Plains.

Less than an hour from Adelaide, the Safari Lodge has its own private entrance within the Monarto Safari Resort.

Each of the 20 luxury safari tents features a private outdoor deck, which borders the Wild Africa precinct.

Inside there is a spacious lounge area, king or twin beds, an ensuite bathroom, and private dressing room, with two accessibility tents also available.

The curated experience includes all meals and beverages, as well as General Admission access to Monarto Safari Park.

Guests can also enjoy an exclusive safari adventure aboard a custom-built open-sided 4WD Safari Landcruiser, traversing 550 hectares of the Wild Africa precinct.

The lodge adds a luxury tier to the existing Monarto Safari Resort, which has already welcomed nearly 30,000 visitors since opening in May 2025.

Saffire Jewel Private Villa

A new private villa at Saffire Freycinet is scheduled to open late 2026.

Set within spectacular Coles Bay, the Saffire Jewel Private Villa is framed by the pink granite peaks of The Hazards mountain range and overlooks Great Oyster Bay.

The luxury villa offers a private retreat immersed in Freycinet National Park.

Crowne Plaza Melbourne Carlton

Carlton welcomes its first internationally branded hotel with the opening of Crowne Plaza Melbourne Carlton.

Overlooking Lincoln Square, the 107-room property blends modern comfort with Carlton's café culture, Italian heritage and tree-lined streets, while its lobby and lounge offer spaces to work, relax or connect.

At street level, Fico Restaurant and Bar serves theatre-filled dining from homemade pasta and seasonal share plates to tableside sgroppino.

House of Gods, London

Forget minimalism, this new hotel in London aims to celebrate all things maximalism.

House of Gods already has hotels in Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland and is opening in Canary Wharf soon.

It'll have 79 sumptuous rooms.

Founder Mike Baxter, said: "Since 2019, House of Gods has been built on a simple promise, every guest should be treated like they're famous. At House of Gods, our guests aren't just visitors, they're the stars of the show."

It offers milk and cookies delivered to you before bed, mimosa breakfasts and late checkouts.

The hotel will have a rooftop bar and restaurant, Sacred Garden.

Mercure Melbourne La Trobe Street

A new 18-storey Mercure has opened in Melbourne. Mercure Melbourne La Trobe Street started welcoming guests a few weeks ago.

It's the largest purpose-built hotel to debut in the CBD this year. It has 195 rooms including six suites, bar and restaurant, Foundry and a gym.

Drawing on the site's former life as a tinsmith factory, bosses say the hotel "balances subtle industrial detailing with a calm, contemporary aesthetic."

Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and Suite 1603 features a two-person freestanding bathtub set against a window overlooking the skyline.

The hotel is next to Flagstaff Gardens and within walking distance of Southern Cross Station, Marvel Stadium and Queen Victoria Market.

Capella Kyoto, Japan

From the brand with hotels named the 'best' in the world, the latest offering has opened in Japan's cultural hotspot, Kyoto.

Capella Kyoto be in Gion's historic Miyagawa-cho district steps from the renowned Kaburenjo theatre which is famous for traditional Geisha performances.

The 89 room hotel reimagines the city's traditional machiya (townhouse) and leaders say it aims to reinterpret Kyoto's characteristic sequence of narrow alleys, hidden gardens, and interior spaces.

Upmarket restaurant SoNoMa by SingleThread, created in partnership with the Three-Michelin-starred restaurant in California will be opening.

SingleThread Entremets will also offer a patisserie and Yoi will be a late-night dining destination.

The new Auriga Spa will also include private onsens.

Drifter Melbourne Dream Pods

Hotel company Drifter will launch an upmarket version of hostel bunk beds in Australia.

Drifter Dream Pods will be rolled out as part of a renovation of Drifter Melbourne, set to be finished later this year.

The hotel/hostel on Franklin Street will have around 800 beds. They'll include 96 custom-designed 'pods', starting from $65 a night.

Each pod will have secure storage, a dedicated clothes rack and charging ports. Guests share multiple ensuite bathrooms.

CEO Luke Moran said: "Over the past year we've seen a 150 per cent increase in group travel bookings taking entire shared rooms, and the Dream Pods are perfectly positioned to meet that demand."

The complete renovation will introduce social lounges, co-working spaces, gym and wellness facilities and the Rambler Public Bar.

The brand has won awards for its modern take.

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Anantara Perth Hotel

Beloved luxury hotel Anantara is finally bringing its offerings down under, with the announcement of a brand-new hotel set to open in Perth.

Anantara brings Thai-inspired hospitality to its luxury properties across the globe, and in Perth, will form a centrepiece of the $3.8 billion Burswood Point precinct along the Swan River.

The hotel will feature 150 guest rooms and suites, two destination restaurants, a swimming pool, a fully equipped fitness centre and an Anantara Spa.

Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International, parent company of Minor Hotels, commented: "Perth is experiencing rapid development across its urban and tourism landscape, creating the ideal environment for a property of this standard."

Crowne Plaza, Geelong, Australia

Geelong in Victoria is becoming a bit of a hotspot, cemented by the brand-new Crowne Plaza which opened this week.

Located on the waterfront, the hotel has 200 rooms and suites with bay views.

The 10th-floor Skybar has stunning waterfront vistas and is a first for the area.

The hotel aims to showcase the best of the region, featuring local produce, wines, craft beer, and gin from Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula and Moorabool Valley.

Radisson RED Auckland, New Zealand

Radisson RED Auckland has opened in the city's CBD.

It marks Radisson Hotel Group's debut in New Zealand and the first Radisson RED in Australasia.

The 322-room property is in Auckland's Art District.

In the coming months it will unveil Australasia's largest outdoor rooftop space, a restaurant, bar and event venue overlooking the city skyline.

The company says "the opening introduces a new upper-upscale option for travellers heading to Auckland."

Aqualuna Apartment Hotel, New Caledonia

Australia's closest neighbour, New Caledonia, is welcoming the Aqualuna Apartment Hotel, due to open in April this year.

Bosses say the four-star hotel will have "some of the best views in Noumea", overlooking Anse Vata and Lemon Bay beaches.

With apartments of up to four bedrooms as well as a pool spa and gym, it'll be ideal for families.

Comfort Resort Leura Gardens, Blue Mountains

A hotel in the NSW Blue Mountains near Sydney is getting a revamp.

Comfort Resort Leura Gardens has 89 rooms and will add around 100 another more this year.

The Olive Tree restaurant is now Fairways Restaurant and Bar, an indoor-outdoor venue.

The hotel is set in historic gardens established in the 1920s by Lady Mabel Fairfax and renowned gardener Hector Hood. It's now part of Choice Hotels Asia-Pacific's Comfort brand.

Cruise Whitsundays Reefworld, QLD

A big change is coming to one of Australia's most unique stays.

Cruise Whitsundays Reefworld, the pontoon permanently moored on the Outer Great Barrier at Hardy Reef, is getting a revamp.

It is home to Australia's first underwater accommodation, Reefsuites, and the Reefsleep experience where guests spend the night on the pontoon.

Now, owners Journey Beyond are spending $30 million, and making the experience available for overnight guests only.

It'll be an all-inclusive stay, with food and drinks as well as snorkelling included.

Day tours will be able to visit the newly refurbished Heart Pontoon for Great Barrier Reef Adventure day tours from April.

Journey Beyond CEO Chris Tallent, says, "Overnight guests will feel like they have the Great Barrier Reef entirely to themselves from the first snorkel of the day to the final glass of Champagne beneath the stars."

HYDE Perth

Trendy brand HYDE is opening a hotel in Perth.

Next month will see the unveiling of the 121 room hotel in Pier Street in the CBD.

It'll be the first purpose-built hotel in the world from the firm, which has hotels in hip places including Miami and Ibiza as well as Melbourne.

Hotels bosses say the feel is "rooted in music, creative culture and connection", with local artists markers and musicians set to be involved.

"HYDE Perth brings something new to the city, it complements what's already here but offers something completely different, a five-star experience that blends lifestyle, music and culture, giving Perth something it hasn't experienced before," says manager Rhys Challenger.

It'll have a pool and Greek-inspired restaurant, FARRA.

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The Grand Hotel Vanuatu

This hotel in the Aussie holiday favourite reopened on March 6 after a revamp following the earthquake in the Pacific nation.

It's at Port Vila harbour, 15 minutes from the airport, making it ideal for heading out to island resorts.

There will be 74 rooms with harbour views, balconies and marble bathrooms.

Guests can eat at the Grand Dining Room, Cabana Pool Bar & Lobby Lounge,

The hotel's casino opened in December.

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Adina Hobart

Australian company, TFE Hotels, will open its first apartment-style hotel, Adina, in Hobart.

With 28-rooms the hotel plans to blend Tassie style with modern touches in the city which is becoming incredibly popular for holidays.

Amenities will be shared with Vibe Hobart, including Belvedere restaurant and bar, and a pool and gym.

TFE Hotels' Group Chief Operating Officer, Chris Sedgwick said apartment hotels are becoming increasingly popular.

There'll be studio one and one and two bedroom apartments with full kitchens and space to work.

"With Adina Hobart, we wanted to craft a hotel that feels intrinsically connected to Tasmania. As such, the palette, the textures, and the organic forms all draw from the quiet beauty of the eucalypt forests that define so much of the state's landscape," he said.

It'll open in the second half of 2026.

Ardour Milton Park Bowral, NSW

Ardour Milton Park Bowral has reopened after a multi-million-dollar renovation.

The luxury hotel in the Southern Highlands near Sydney is dates back to 1910.

The revamp includes new rooms which bosses say adds a modern touch while honouring the history.

The hotel's reopening introduces signature dining destinations; Horderns and The Polo Bar, with The Polo Bar's dedicated charcuterie room and spa and wellness offering, Èliva Bowral, to follow.

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Elysium Noosa Resort – MGallery Collection, Queensland

On vibrant Hastings Street in the centre of Queensland holiday haven Noosa, Elysium Noosa Resort – MGallery Collection officially opens this month.

It has 175 rooms, including 104 suites and eight villas.

When it comes to food, Cibaria, created in with acclaimed restaurateurs Alessandro and Anna Pavoni, invites guests into a warm, piazza-style setting celebrating the region's finest ingredients, from Noosa Reds tomatoes to Mooloolaba prawns.

By the pool, hotel bosses say Bar Capri brings the charm of Italian aperitivo under chic striped umbrellas.

Kamaliss MontAzure Phuket and Navera Phuket – MGallery Collection 

Thailand remains ever popular and McGallery Collection is opening two new hotels in holiday hotspot Phuket.

Kamaliss MontAzure Phuket – MGallery Collection is 150-room resort in Kamala's MontAzure community.

Hotel bosses say it will be 'rooted in contemporary design and framed by its signature lagoon,'.

It'll welcome guests from April 2026.

Perched on the hilltops of Surin Beach, Navera Phuket - MGallery Collection is in "one of Phuket's most desirable locations" says the company.

"Navera Phuket transcends the ordinary with its 19 individual-styled villas, each designed to provide guests with an intimate and personalised retreat that blends contemporary Thai culture with unexpected charm," it says.

Guests can stay from June.

lyf Elizabeth Melbourne, Victoria

A funky new hotel has been unveiled in Melbourne. lyf on Elizabeth Melbourne has 90 rooms with hip interiors and an all-day restaurant, Bonnibel.

The hotel encourages longer stays with a communal kitchen, laundry and gym. It also has an in-house art program.

It joins two other branches, lyf Collingwood Melbourne and lyf Bondi Junction Sydney.

Trentham Waters Resort, Mildura, Victoria

V8 Supercar Champion Rick Kelly and his family have opened a holiday resort.

Trentham Waters Resort is on the banks of the Murray River near Mildura.

Blending a Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic with the natural beauty of the Murray River and surrounding Mallee landscape, Trentham Waters Resort has a mix of accomodation.

It has one, two, and three-bedroom villas, ensuite caravan sites

There's also a 48-metre lagoon pool with splash park, tennis and basketball courts, table tennis, kids' rooms, function spaces, a poolside restaurant, boat ramp and jetty.

Paradisus by Meliá Bali

A new hotel has opened in Aussie Bali favourite, Nusa Dua.

Paradisus by Meliá Bali is a luxury, all-inclusive hotel and is the brand's first in the region.

The resort has 492 suites including seven private garden villas, four pools, eight dining venues and three bars, all surrounded by tropical gardens overlooking the Indian Ocean.

The all-inclusive offering includes accommodation, dining across all restaurants, daily poolside snacks, 24-hour room service, and a mini bar with certain drinks.

Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge, NSW

Emirates Wolgan Valley is reopening after its closure three years ago.

The sprawling 7000-acre conservation reserve in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area of NSW, will be revamped and become Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge - the first of its kind in the world.

A reopening date is set for mid-2026 following a $50 million investment by the Dubai-based owner Emirates.

The resort originally launched in October 2009 but was forced to close in 2023 following severe landslides caused by record rainfall. The only access via Wolgan Road was deemed unsafe.

Now the new investment will go towards a full-scale renovation, with plans to revamp the main homestead, recreational spaces, and insert a new Ritz-Carlton Spa.

The property will feature 40 lodges, each including private pools and bespoke amenities, as well as offering a signature sleep-out experience.

Canopy by Hilton Okinawa Miyako Island Resort, Japan

Set to open in the picturesque Twuriba area of Japan's tropical paradise, Okinawa, the 306-room resort is close to Miyako and Shimojishima airports.

Next to the existing Hilton Okinawa Miyako Island Resort, this new property will boast a rooftop pool and bar. It opens on April 1, 2026.

Vatu Talei, Fiji

There's a new upmarket place to stay on the ever-popular Denarau Island on the way.

Once it's opened, five-star resort Vatu Talei will boast the biggest pool in the South Pacific. There will even be direct 'dive in' access from pool rooms and suites, so you can go straight from bed into the water.

It includes an adults-only rooftop infinity pool, a lazy river, waterslides, and themed water zones.

The hotel will have 175 rooms and will open in late 2026.

NHAAN Resort & Spa Hoi An, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Vietnam

Vietnam remains an Aussie favourite, with Hoi An a must-do.

This hotel is along the banks of the Coco River in Cam Thanh Village,

An all-villa retreat it aims to blend local heritage with modern design and has the usual luxuries such as a pool and spa.

Crystalbrook Sam, Adelaide

Crystalbrook Sam is set to open in late 2026 on Halifax Street in Adelaide.

It'll be Crystalbrook Collection's first property in South Australia with 196 rooms and suites, a Level 12 restaurant with panoramic CBD and Adelaide Hills views, and the Eléme Day Spa

A ground-floor café and bar, gym, sauna, swimming pool and versatile meeting and event spaces are also coming.

Treehouse Hotel, Adelaide

A hotel with a difference will open in Adelaide at the end of the year. Treehouse Hotel will open its first place in Australia in the city.

The firm already has hotels in Manchester and London in the UK and Silicon Valley in California, USA.

The hotel will have 248 rooms, and will be part of the $400m Market Square development in the South Australian city.

Mpilo Lodge & Beach Resort from Club Med, South Africa

The newest hotel from the pioneer of all-inclusive holidays is set to open in July 2026.

A unique 'dual' resort is set to open from the all-inclusive holiday specialist.

Mpilo Lodge and Beach Resort is set to blend oceanside luxury with all the adventures of a safari holiday

While the upmarket beach resort is near Durban, the lodge is four and a half hours away.

Exclusive to guests, it's home to the big five: lions, leopards, rhino, elephant, and Cape buffalo.

Coronet Ridge Resort, Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown remains a popular spot and a luxurious new resort is now open.

Coronet Ridge Resort, is a 41-room 'retreat' perched above the Shotover River in the exclusive enclave of Arthur's Point, bosses say.

All the rooms have balconies or patios with mountain views.

The hotel also boasts Elevation Bar & Restaurant where guests can dine on local produce while gazing at panoramic views.

A Roman-inspired day spa, hot tubs, squash courts, and a private cinema are also on offer.

Hishonoya Nara Prison, Nara, Japan

Japan's 'first luxury prison hotel' is an unlikely claim but one coming in 2026 thanks to Hoshino Resorts.

The luxury accommodation will be in the former Nara Prison, completed in 1908, once of the five largest prisons in Japan.

It's due to open later this year in the city which is famous for its wild deer which roam around.

An extensive museum including the chance to visit some of the old cells will open in April.

Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch, UK

One of London's oldest and most historical landmarks is being transformed into a lavish hotel.

Set to open in mid 2026 the hotel will take over the grade one listed Admiralty Arch on The Mall which was completed in 1912.

It was commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of his mother, Queen Victoria

Two high end restaurants, Coreus by Clare Smyth and Café Boulud by Daniel Boulud have been announced.

Six Senses Milan, Italy

You'll need to wait until the end of the year, but Six Senses Milan aims to bring a "serene escape to the city's vibrant Brera quarter", steps from the Duomo, managers say.

The hotel promises to blend Milanese craftsmanship with modern elegance across 69 guestrooms and 16 suites.

Some will even have private terraces and plunge pools.

Guests can unwind in a hidden courtyard, savour seasonal dishes at the specialty restaurant and deli, or enjoy rooftop cocktails with skyline views.

A Six Senses Spa with a 15-metre indoor pool, another rooftop pool, saunas, steam rooms and therapies will be on offer.

Kimpton Suntaya Bali Ubud, Bali

Aussie favourite Bali is getting a new luxury hotel.

Kimpton Suntaya Bali Ubud will offer a "serene retreat in the heart of Ubud along the sacred WOS River." It'll be close to tourist attraction, Ubud Palace.

Anantara Xiling Snow Mountain Chengdu Resort, China

China is a hotspot for tourists and at the end of the year they'll be able to stay at this new hotel.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Xiling Snow Mountain, the first Anantara resort in China's Sichuan province will offer a "refined alpine escape just 90 minutes from the city centre of Chengdu." the company says.

The resort will have 150 rooms and suites, each "designed to reflect the surrounding natural beauty with warm textures and panoramic mountain views."

Anantara Kafue River Zambia Tented Camp, Kafue National Park, Zambia

Something special is coming to Zambia in the second quarter of the year,

Anantara Kafue River Zambia Tented Camp will open in Kafue National Park.

The company says its first tented camp "will immerse guests deep in the heart of Kafue National Park, Zambia's largest and oldest reserve, home to over 500 bird species."

Hilton Palm Cove Cairns Resort & Spa, Queensland

Hilton Palm Cove Cairns Resort and Spa will mark Hilton's debut in Palm Cove, Queensland.

The 140-room property is formerly the Hotel Grand Chancellor and after a huge revamp will reopen as an upscale resort moments from the beach.

Palm Cove is just north of Cairns and close to attractions including the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef.

The Bonobo by Raes, Byron Bay, NSW

Renowned hotel Raes on Wategos in Byron Bay will bring a new hotel-apartment to the area early in 2026.

The Bonobo by Raes aims to offer "the space and privacy of a luxurious apartment with the convenience, service and atmosphere of a five-star hotel," bosses say.

The Bonobo will be a in a modernist three-level building on at 116-118 Jonson Street in the centre of town, with a restaurant and shops downstairs.

It's being designed by Richards & Spence who worked on The Calile Hotel in Brisbane.

Songteller by Dolly Parton, Nashville, USA

A new hotel from legendary songstress Dolly Parton will open in spring 2026.

The new Songteller hotel in downtown Nashville, will have 245-rooms and aims to "celebrate Dolly's life, music, and legacy through an immersive, themed experience that only she could inspire."

The hotel will feature the Dolly's Life of Many Colours Museum rooftop bar, live entertainment.

Six 'sisters suites' are on offer for groups and girls getaways.

The hotel will also have two venues: Parton's Live, offering songwriter sessions with shared plates and cocktails, and Jolene's, a rooftop.

Umi Resort, Bali

New wellness retreat Umi Resort will be just 200m from Uluwatu Beach in Bali

The luxury all inclusive hotel will open in May 2026 and will have direct access to the beach with a sleek Japanese-inspired design.

It also aims to support "local communities and artisans", and use "eco-friendly practices," according to the website.

JW Marriott Ubud, Bali

A new resort from upmarket brand JW Marriott is opening in 2026 in Ubud.

Few details have been revealed but images show multiple pools and a design which blends modern style and jungle luxe.