These are the very best new hotels and resorts in the United States that opened their doors to discerning guests and travelers in the past year.
2016 was a remarkable year for new hotels and resorts in the United States. Renowned hoteliers continue to innovate and thrill guests, while boutiques celebrated their independence with local experiences and panache. Each of these new properties is uniquely distinct to its location. They’re fresh, lively, and obsessively dedicated to exciting travelers with exclusive amenities. Relax in the lap of luxury at these properites, or explore the nearby surroundings and neighborhoods. Let’s go!
Presented alphabetically, Pursuitist highlights the best new hotels and resorts that opened in 2016. We proudly showcase these “Pursuitist Platinum” properties:
21c Museum Hotel
21c Museum Hotel Lexington, a new 88-room boutique property in Kentucky, is part hotel, part contemporary art museum and home to Lockbox restaurant. Guests enjoy free high-speed internet, cable TV, original art, Nespresso coffee makers and a fitness center, all in the heart of downtown Lexington.
Ace Hotel New Orleans
Situated in an art deco building in the Warehouse District of New Orleans, the new Ace Hotel New Orleans offers guests a variety of accommodation options, with amenities like free WiFi, pool and fitness center, near-nightly entertainment, a classic photo booth and, in select rooms, a vinyl turntable or acoustic Martin guitar.
Ace Hotel Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh travelers can now rest their heads at the Ace Hotel Pittsburgh, located in a century-old former YMCA building in East Liberty. This pet-friendly property offers extras like free WiFi, valet parking, locally made vintage furniture, hypoallergenic mattresses and even vinyl turntables with a curated collection of music in select rooms.
Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa
Inspired by the color and beauty of the deserts of the American Southwest, Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa features bungalow-style guest rooms, a full-service spa, three swimming pools and a glass-paneled restaurant with an open kitchen. The Cattle Tracks Art Compound, a nearby artists’ collective in Scottsdale, hosts workshops and studio tours for hotel guests.
EAST Miami
Guests at the new EAST, Miami enjoy keyless entry in the heart of Brickell City Centre in Downtown Miami. A native EAST app offers curated travel tips, including a calendar of art exhibits and fashion events happening throughout the city. Amenities in the 352 guest rooms include balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, walk-in rain showers and free WiFi.
Four Seasons New York Downtown
Four Seasons brings its signature luxury experience to Downtown NYC with a new property just a block from the World Trade Center. The Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown occupies the first 24 floors of a residential tower, where guests find 189 rooms (some with balconies), as well as CUT by Wolfgang Puck, the celebrity chef’s first restaurant in Manhattan.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai
Bordering a marine preserve, the Four Seasons Resort Lanai sits atop a red lava cliff right by the sea. Guests at the luxury resort have access to a signature Jack Nicklaus golf course with three cliffside fairways, eight bars and restaurants, tennis facilities, a full-service spa and complimentary amenities like a kids program, snorkeling equipment, WiFi and a local cultural program.
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, a five-star beach resort on Oahu’s western coast, features 371 guest rooms, a Ted Robinson-designed golf course, full-service day spa, Hawaii’s only deep-draft marina, tennis center, swimming pools and a beach where guests can go stand-up paddleboarding or take an outrigger canoe ride.
Hotel Emma
Hotel Emma, one of San Antonio’s most talked about new properties, occupies a 19th century brewhouse on the riverfront. The 146-room hotel offers extras like a La Babia margarita on arrival, Merit Roasting Co. coffee, a rooftop pool, 3,700-volume library and free Electra cruiser bikes for guest use.
Inn at Newport Ranch
Situated on a 2,000-acre coastal cattle ranch north of San Francisco, The Inn at Newport Ranch offers guests access to a mile of waterfront and 20 miles of riding and hiking trails through redwood forests and along the coast. Guests can enjoy whale watching, horseback riding, beach barbecues or relaxation in a fireside spa.
LondonHouse
The 452-room LondonHouse Chicago offers guests some of the best available in the Windy City. Amenities include free WiFi and SoniCast streaming, fitness center, LH Spa, digital key and check-in, walk-in showers and Chicago’s only tri-level rooftop bar and restaurant.
Marmara Park Ave
Located inside a building from 1927, Marmara Park Avenue offers luxe accommodations in the heart of Manhattan. Local artists are responsible for many of the hotel’s striking details, and guests staying on one of the 128 guest rooms and suites enjoy stellar views of New York, fully-equipped kitchens, hardwood floors and free WiFi.
Montage Palmetto Bluff
Situated along the banks of the May River in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Montage Palmetto Bluff offers guests access to four restaurants, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, full-service spa and access to equipment for fishing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.
Spicer Mansion
Housed in a historic property in Mystic dating back to 1853, Spicer Mansion has been reimagined and meticulously renovated as a luxury boutique inn with eight guest rooms, an exclusive fine dining restaurant and manicured gardens. Guests also have access to all the amenities of sister properties Ocean House and Weekapaug Inn.
The Asbury
Imagined as a hotel and social hub in Asbury Park, The Asbury features a grab-and-go kitchen, ground-floor lounge with ping pong and board games, a community table and a pool during the warmer months. Amenities in the 110 guest rooms include large closets, custom-made mattresses and stellar seaside views.
The Beekman
Located in Lower Manhattan, The Beekman is a boutique hotel featuring a restaurant by Keith McNally. Rooms boast high ceilings, bespoke and vintage furniture, aged oak floors and large marble bath tubs with rain showers.
The Restoration
The Restoration, a community-minded hotel in the heart of Charleston, blends luxury and Southern hospitality in its five historic buildings. Amenities include access to nearby Ecofitness Gym, complimentary bicycle rentals, curated breakfast boxes and a rooftop farm to table restaurant with excellent views of the city.
The Watergate Hotel
This year saw one of Washington’s most historic buildings, The Watergate Hotel, reopen to guests for the first time since 2007. The 336-room property offers guests waterfront accommodations on the Potomac River with extras like floor-to-ceiling marble bathrooms, private balconies and a year-round indoor pool.
The Williamsburg Hotel
Nestled in Brooklyn’s most popular neighborhood, The Williamsburg Hotel offers 150 rooms, a restaurant, three bars, and a rooftop pool. This hotel is in close proximity to many dining and shopping destinations, and it located right across the river from Manhattan.
Treasure Island Beach Resort
Located on the white sand beaches of the Florida Gulf, Treasure Island Beach Resort features on outdoor beachfront pool and sundeck, fitness center, beachfront dining, concierge staff and floor-to-ceiling windows with Gulf views from most rooms.
V Palm Springs Hotel
V Palm Springs, one of the newest luxury properties in the Palm Springs area, invites guests to relax amid the mountain scenery, surrounded by desert-inspired design. Guests enjoy free WiFi, a poolside bar and grill, outdoor fire pit, fitness center, Jacuzzi and complimentary bicycle rentals on request. A second outdoor heated pool, additional fire pit areas and a restaurant are in the works.
Honorable mention:
The Charmant Hotel
Even thought this property in the midwest opened in 2015, it was new to the Pursuitist. Located in a former candy factory in La Crosse, Wis., this 67-room boutique hotel offers amazing views of the Mississippi River. The delightfully designed property featured a rooftop terrace, lobby bar, and restaurant featuring locally sourced ingredients. After the extraordinary American Club in Kohler, this is the 2nd best hotel in Wisconsin. As we were only there briefly, we’re looking forward to a second visit!
What was your favorite new hotel or resort that opened in 2016? Please share below.
