This year, we are excited to see some of our favorite names in the hospitality business return to the scene. These come-backs are in the form of facelifts, expansions and some hot new looks. From sophisticated elegance in a glamorous city to a tropical island resort, we have put together a list of some of the most exciting and notable hotels to keep an eye out for this coming year.

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Cousine Island, Seychelles

An island like no other, Cousine Island lies in the Indian Ocean, just below the equator and 1000 miles east of Africa. This magnificent private island is one of the most untouched granitic islands of the Seychelles archipelago. Cousine Island will reopen in April of this year with the addition of a new Presidential Villa. To keep human impact on the island to a minimum, there are only five lodgings on the island including the new addition of the Presidential Villa, all situated just 30 meters from the beach. The villas are designed in an elegant French colonial style and each features their own private pool. Not only this, but the island has created a new tailored Guest Ambassador program to support the island’s ecosystem platform. After all, the island is recognized as one of the most ecologically important private islands on earth, with conservation being at the heart of the Cousine Island philosophy.

Guests are encouraged to take part in the conservation work on the island. These exciting activities and opportunities include a Turtle Monitoring Program, the Magpie Robin Recovery Program and planting endemic trees. Guests can dine bare-foot under a starry sky feasting on a unique menu including ingredients from Cousine Islands’ garden supply of fruit trees, herbs and vegetables as well as fish caught daily by fisherman on Praslin and Mahé Island.

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Ritz Paris

The Ritz Paris closed its doors for the first time since its opening in 1898, in August 2012 to undergo restoration. We are delighted to see that it will be opening its gates once again this year. So what can we expect after waiting curiously for three and a half years for the grand reopening? The renowned spa will now include an area dedicated solely to Chanel Skin Care in addition to an indoor swimming pool and modern fitness center; a shopping gallery which includes Prada, Chanel and Cartier, to name a few; and a secret tunnel under the Place Vendôme for guests who wish to arrive and depart discreetly.

The distinguished interior architect, Thierry W Despont, has been involved in overseeing the restoration of this iconic landmark, uncovering three restaurants, three bars and glamorous gardens and terraces.

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Hotel Pulitzer, Amsterdam

The newly restored Pulizter Amsterdam opened its doors again to guests last month, bringing with it a new interior design that draws on the building’s heritage and architecture.  Located in the chic World Heritage canal district, the 400 year old property has been a hotel for 45 years and was formally 25 Golden Age canal houses. The restoration has exposed the original and historic canal house features that have been combined with modern-day luxury elements to reposition the hotel as “one of Amsterdam’s leading luxury hotels”.
The rooms and suites will have their original elements, such as fireplaces and beams, and will be filled with rare and vintage miscellaneous and furniture. The unveiling of the first phase of the restoration brings a whole new look and feel to the Pulitzer’s Bar and also a new restaurant, Jansz. Four exceptionally- themed ‘Collectors Suites’ with private entrances and stunning views of the canal will be available to guests.

The unique designs of each of the suites are imaginatively decorated by the influence of characters that may have lived in these houses throughout the years; an art devotee; an eccentric book lover; a music composer and a grand antique collector. The second and final phase of the restoration to the beautiful old-world hotel will be complete in the fall of 2016. Once complete, both the Keizersgracht canal side and the Prinsengracht canal side will be joined and the hotel will feature a total of 225 guestrooms and suites, all unique and different from one another.