March 2023

Resplendent Ceylon in Sri Lanka has a new arm called Reverie and has 2 new properties under this:

Kayaam House.

Kayaam House is a 10 room property in Ranna, Tangalle – one of the best beach stretches in Tangalle. They have a heavy focus on wellness but does FIT as well.

Ahu Bay

Ahu Bay is a 7-unit property (4 bay view rooms and 3 three bedroom villas) in Ahungalla on the Southwest coast. It is on a bit of a rocky point of the coast with two beaches on either side.

January 2022

New Hotels in South & Southeast Asia for 2022

2022 will see many new hotel openings across Asia.  Bigger, luxury ones include Anantara Ubud and Patina Ubud in Bali as well as The Standard Bangkok, The Edition Singapore, and Regent Phu Quoc in Vietnam.

But we’re particularly excited about 7 other openings, a couple of refreshed properties, and the chance to finally get to visit some that opened just before the pandemic. We’re talking about hotels that are a little bit truer to the Experience Travel Group ethos – usually smaller in size, locally designed, and full of character. Typically, they’re in harmony with their surroundings with great sustainable credentials. We’ll start the list with our top new hotel openings for 2022.  

Banyan Tree, Ubud – Indonesia

Set to open in April 2022 Buahan is the first hotel to launch for the new hospitality group Banyan Tree Escape (an extension of the Banyan Tree Group). Set in the jungle North of Ubud, Buahan offers 16 private villas with spectacular views of the volcanic mountains, tropical rainforest, and tranquil paddy fields. Designed by a local Balinese architect to maximise it’s amazing surroundings, the villas have a ‘no walls, no doors’ concept allowing for the indoor-outdoor living Asia is famous for. Local Balinese culture plays a big part in the design and experience of this hotel- the villas are set out to mimic a local Balinese village. The ethos of connecting with nature and discovering local traditions runs throughout the hotel experiences. In an island that can suffer from pockets of over-tourism, we are hopeful that this tranquil local retreat will offer a lovely off–the–beaten-track option. 

Cap Karaso, Sumba – Indonesia

With stunning wild landscapes, unique well-preserved culture, and ancient megaliths Sumba is the ideal island for a real adventurer. Though just a 50-minute flight from Bali very few tourists make it over to Sumba, and up until now accommodation options have been limited (the award-winning Nihi Sumba paved the way in 2015). We were excited when we heard that Cap Karoso was opening.  

The hotel has a mix of modern design and traditional Indonesian architecture. The thatched roofs of the villas pay homage to the local villages that surround it, but when you step inside the interiors are contemporary and chic. The resort itself has a wide selection of amenities including a kids club, open-air cinema, yoga pavilion and its very own farm that will provide the hotel with all its eggs, dairy, fruit, and vegetables. Throughout the year international chefs, DJs and artist will do short residencies providing visitors with unique one-off experiences. The property will have 47 rooms and 20 villas in total and is due to open towards the end of 2022. 

Explorar Pawapi, Koh Mook – Thailand

If you know where to look, you can still find some wonderful hidden island retreats in Thailand. The bungalows at Explorer Pawapi look relatively simple in style but the resort is under the management of Pavilion Hotels & Resorts, who have an excellent track record for unique hotels that have a true sense of place. This resort is on an idyllic beach on Koh Mook – a small off-the-beaten-track island just south of Koh Lanta on Thailand’s west coast. 

Given the Pavilion connection and the island-paradise location – we have high hopes that this will be an excellent option for anyone wanting to live the Thai dream. 

Alila Dalit Bay, Sabah – Borneo 

Finally, a luxury beach option to really get excited about in Borneo.  The exclusive Ocean Wing at the Shangri La Rasa Ria has always been a good option as has Gaya Island Resort for its fantastic value for money given the stunning island location. But we think Alila Dalit Bay could become the pick of the bunch. 

Due to open in February, this is a bigger property (152 rooms and 74 private villas) located in between Kota Kinabalu and Shangri La Rasa Ria. The location is the ideal mix of being away from it all but close enough to head into Kota Kinabalu in the evening to explore the Filipino market or the increasing array of restaurants. 

Jumeirah, Muscat Bay – Oman 

Scheduled to open on March 1st 2022, this newly built resort will feature 206 spacious rooms spread around this secluded cove of Bandar Jissah. Set to be a serene retreat between the dramatic Al Hajar mountains and Arabian sea, it feels close enough to Muscat centre to explore, but far enough away to feel removed from the hustle and bustle. They’ll be plenty of experiences to be had from exploring the incredible hiking routes to local diving sites and a water sports centre. The styling will be light, contemporary with sea views from every room and villa. They’ll be lots of room types to cater for the different markets from large junior suites to one-bedroom family suites for 2 adults and 2 children. Families will be well catered for with a kid’s club. There was significant excavation to build the resort, but there are plans for a lot of greenery to make it more lush and inviting but expect this to take at least 6 months to bed in.

Tilar Saro, Andaman Islands – India

Opened at the end of December 2021, Tilar Saro is CGH earths newest (and incredibly exciting) venture.  Moving away from the mainland they have developed a 25 stilted room property (including 16 villas) which is camouflaged by vegetation. On Vijaynagar beach, where there are cafes and local restaurants, the property adds to the competition on Havelock Island.  

The Andaman Islands are a wonderful location but decent accommodation is few and far between. Barefoot at Havelock is the go-to rustic option, there is the brash, relatively new Taj Exotica and the exclusive inland Jalakara Villa.  Given CGH Earths’ performance and sustainable approaches in South India, we fully expect Tilar Saro to be a front runner here.