As 2019 comes to a close and we look forward to the year ahead, jetsetters have plenty to be excited about when it comes to new hotels. Many of these properties, all by world-renowned design firm HKS, are destinations themselves: some may introduce you to a new neighborhood in one of your favorite cities, while others will bring you to far-flung locales waiting to be explored.
Here are 7 of the most anticipated hotel openings of next year:
— The Otis Hotel
Austin, Texas
2019 brings the unveiling the brand new, HKS-designed, Autograph Collection and AC: dual-branded luxury and lifestyle hotels that capture the spirit of Austin. As a member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, the new hotel will encourage guests to roam from the beaten path for an experience that is boldly independent and wholly luxurious. Highlights include a 4,000 square-foot rooftop deck — complete with outdoor pool, bar and terrace — that will deliver spectacular views of the University of Texas campus. AC will also add to the University of Texas area by providing a premium hotel experience that the community craves. It will serve business and leisure travelers alike with a lobby-level bar and lounge, multi-function space with light dining and coffee.
The hotel will provide a combined 347 rooms, 6,500 square feet of meeting space, and a full-service restaurant with outdoor seating and casual walk-up options.
Opening February 2020.
St. Louis Live! By Loews
St. Louis, Missouri
“OH! What a lovely shade of Cardinal” red thread that runs through the new Live! by Loews Hotel in the midst of Cardinal Nation, St Louis, Missouri. Like the red that runs through the veins of “the best fans in baseball”, the Hotel will have a deep line of Cardinal running throughout as the narrative that underlines the history of the place as well as the spirit of the people. We cannot underestimate the impact of a team that has injected the lives of fans almost every decade for 125 years with world series wins, firmly establishing the Cardinal’s Nation in the heart of Midwest and Southern United States.
The hotel by HKS takes inspiration from the “Gateway City” to the West, where Bootleggers, Speakeasy’s and Beer Gardens fed the culture of a gritty gang of ballplayers. These stories inform the vision for a unique location for loyal lifelong members as well as new initiates to the red bird nation. “Traces of the past” form a foundation of the new Live! by Loews as the hotel sits literally atop the foundation of the old ballpark.
Opening February 2020.
Austin Marriott Downtown
Austin, Texas
Serving the Local Community and Guests Alike, the Marriott is uniquely situated between Lady Bird Johnson Lake and downtown Austin, promoting an authentic and varied body of experiences for guests. This expression of diversity and eclecticism is represented in both the hotel experience and in the architectural language, which balances its urbanity with its connection to nature. Designed to be a shared experience for Austin’s diverse population, the hotel promotes a place where the public can come together to celebrate and immerse in the exceptional urban landscape of the city. As a natural connection between the city’s convention center and downtown, the Marriott is designed to promote and engage the public realm. The hotel is designed by HKS.
Opening Summer 2020.
Fairmont TaghazoutMorocco
Agadir, Morocco
Situated on a swathe of pristine beachfront along the Atlantic coast, the Fairmont Taghazout Morocco will be part of the 1,500-acre master planned seaside resort, 16km north of Agadir. Demonstrating a contemporary architectural expression new to this region of Morocco, the HKS-designed resort is opening Spring 2019. Its design tells a story about the transient nature of the site, from the time-honored farming and weaving communities of the Imazighen, also known as Berbers, who were the first known inhabitants of northwest Africa, to the modern-day ‘Agadirens’ seeking leisure and relaxation. The semi-nomadic Imazighen, which translates as ‘free people’, would seek shelter and water amongst the rugged natural surrounds according to the change in seasons, whereas today, holiday makers desire the solitude and thrill of surfing the waves year-round. The property will feature 150 spacious guest-rooms and suites with sea-facing views in addition to 52 Fairmont-branded luxury waterfront villas.
Opening Summer 2020.
Grand Hyatt Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
A Premier Downtown Hotel, Inspired by Music City’s History, the Grand Hyatt Nashville Hotel serves as an elegant gateway to downtown Music City, welcoming visitors from the main interstate highway. Located on the corner of 10th Avenue and Broadway, the property is the second-largest conference hotel in the city. So that it fits seamlessly among the existing historical references, such as Union Station and the Frist Art Museum, the HKS team implemented an architectural design that is elegant and timeless – using stone based and glass light materials. The interactive design of both public areas and event spaces sets it apart from other downtown hotels. The Grand Hyatt is the first parcel of Nashville Yards, a multi-phase, 15-acre mixed-use development aimed at pumping new life into an underutilized downtown area.
Opening Fall 2020.
Moxy Austin
Austin, Texas
Moxy Austin is a 158-Key, limited service hotel in Austin, Texas on the western edge of the University of Texas campus. Sited prominently on an abandon corner lot along Guadalupe Street, referred to as “The Drag” by locals, the project is an important part of the area’s revitalization. The massing takes its cues from the external arrival sequence – both vehicular and pedestrian – and echoes the efficient internal programming. Materials are selected based on the local Hill Country vernacular with a base of masonry and reclaimed wood at the ground floor dress the public zones, while metal panels of weathering steel wrap the guest room levels above. The masonry and wood provide a tactile experience down low, resist the abrasion and abuse expected with heavy traffic, and are representative of the community uses at the ground level. The metal panels above provide a natural, ever-evolving quality. The weathering steel changes over time, symbolic of the travelers who come and go at the hotel, evolving in how they experience the building from start of stay until the end. The hotel is designed by HKS.
Opening Fall 2020.
W Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
A New Stage for People to Play, the W Nashville takes center stage at the heart of the city’s historic Gulch District, a revitalized, upscale live-work-play neighborhood. Through iconic design, the hotel serves visitors and locals alike as a place to connect and socialize in a casual yet upscale environment, with a modern twist of Southern hospitality. The project optimizes social connectivity and interaction, not only at the street level, but at an elevated amenity level, inspired by Nashville’s love for the outdoors. The new hotel designed by HKS offers the city a unique destination where guests and locals can explore and experience Nashville’s social and music scene in a new and unexpected ways.
Opening December 2020.
