Waldorf Astoria Opens 2 Hotels, New IHG Brand Coming, and Other Hotel News This Week

The fourth week of October was a busy one in the hotel industry, seeing several high-end hotels opening in Helsinki, Shanghai, Rabat, and more.

To catch up on everything you’ve missed, read below for our roundup of the most exciting hotel news this week.

Hotel Openings

Waldorf Astoria Helsinki, Finland

There was some exciting news out of Finland this week. The Waldorf Astoria Helsinki has officially opened to guests, marking the debut of the Waldorf Astoria brand in the Nordic region. The hotel features 116 guest rooms, including 32 suites, some of which offer in-room saunas, steam rooms, and private terraces with Jacuzzis.

Amenities include a restaurant and bar, the famed Waldorf Astoria Spa, a fitness studio, a personal concierge, and meeting and event spaces.

• Opening date: Now open
• Typical cash price: From $350 per night
• Typical points cost: From 100,000 Hilton Honors points per night

Hyatt Place Dhaka Uttara, Bangladesh

Hyatt Place Dhaka Uttara has officially opened in Bangladesh. The hotel features 85 guest rooms, including 9 suites. For a Hyatt Place, this hotel is quite upscale, offering a rooftop pool, a fitness center, an all-day restaurant, and a sky bar.

• Opening date: Now open
• Typical cash price: From $125 per night
• Typical points cost: Category 1; Between 3,500 and 6,500 World of Hyatt points per night

Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan, China

Hilton has opened the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan in China. The hotel features 204 guest rooms and suites, some of which include private outdoor jacuzzis.

Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan offers several dining options, including the brand’s signature Peacock Alley, as well as amenities such as an indoor heated pool, a fitness center, and a spa. This will be the second Waldorf Astoria brand location to open in Shanghai, and it’s an important distinction: only 2 cities worldwide have multiple Waldorf Astoria hotels.

• Opening date: Now open
• Typical cash price: From $331 per night
• Typical points cost: From 80,000 Hilton Honors points per night

Four Seasons Hotel Rabat Kasr Al Bahr, Morocco

The ultra-luxe Four Seasons brand has opened a luxury hotel in a former palace. Four Seasons Hotel Rabat Kasr Al Bahr (which translates to “palace by the sea”) features 200 guest rooms and suites. 

Amenities include 7 food and beverage options, an outdoor pool, an ocean-view infinity pool, and a spa with an indoor pool.

• Opening date: Now open
• Typical cash price: From $600 per night
• Typical points cost: N/A

The Creekside Hotel Dubai, an Accor Hotel, United Arab Emirates

Accor has inked an agreement to manage The Creekside Hotel Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The hotel, which will join Accor’s MGallery Collection, features 292 guest rooms and suites. Amenities include 2 outdoor pools, a spa with more than a dozen treatment rooms, sauna and steam rooms, and access to a fitness center.

• Opening date: Now open
• Typical cash price: From $160 per night
• Typical points cost: Every 2,000 ALL – Accor Live Limitless points can cover €40 (roughly $46) of your bill

Upcoming Hotels

Six Senses Myoko, Japan (Unknown Opening Date)

The ultra-luxe Six Senses brand will open a new resort in Myoko, Japan. Six Senses Myoko will feature just 57 guest rooms and suites, many of which will have private onsens. 

Amenities will include 2 restaurants, a bar, and a spa with 8 treatment rooms. Construction for the hotel is expected to begin in April 2025; however, it’s unclear when the hotel will open for guests. 

Hilton Bahrain City Centre Hotel & Residences, Bahrain (December 2025)

Hilton Bahrain City Centre Hotel & Residences is scheduled to open in Bahrain on December 1. The hotel will have a whopping 594 residential-style studios, suites, and penthouses, all with fully equipped kitchens.

Amenities will include 4 restaurants and lounges, several swimming pools, a spa and wellness center, a gym, and kids and teens clubs. You can find rates as low as $111 per night or 42,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Hyatt Regency Nha Trang, Vietnam (January 2026)

Hyatt is set to open a 5-star hotel in Vietnam soon. Hyatt Regency Nha Trang, opening in early January, features 434 guest rooms and suites, all equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies. 

The beachfront hotel has several dining options, a fitness center, a spa, and a swimming pool.

You’ll find cash rates as low as $150 nightly. As a Category 3 property, award nights at Hyatt Regency Nha Trang will cost you between 9,000 and 15,000 World of Hyatt points per night. You can also apply a Hyatt Category 1-4 free night certificate to your stay. 

Hyatt Regency Lusaka The Pamodzi, Zambia (2026)

Hyatt Regency will make its debut in Zambia next year. Hyatt Regency Lusaka The Pamodzi, currently the Pamodzi Hotel, will undergo renovations and join the World of Hyatt family.

Hyatt Regency Lusaka The Pamodzi will offer 170 guest rooms and suites, featuring amenities such as multiple restaurants and bars, a pool, a spa, and a gym. While the hotel is bookable through World of Hyatt channels, award nights are not yet available.

Hilton Lopud Beach Resort & Spa, Croatia (2027)

Hilton has inked a deal for a new resort on the gorgeous Lopud Island, near Dubrovnik, Croatia. Hilton Lopud Beach Resort & Spa will have 111 guest rooms and suites, each with a balcony or terrace. 

Additionally, the resort will offer 7 apartments with their own terraces. Amenities include 5 restaurants and bars, a spa and wellness center, a heated infinity swimming pool, a beach house, beach gazebos, a gym, and more. Hilton Lopud Beach Resort & Spa is expected to open in 2027.

Hotel News

IHG To Launch New Premium Brand

There was some exciting news buried in IHG’s Q3 report. The hotel giant announced that it would launch a new premium brand “in the coming months” that will complement the voco and Vignette Collection brands. 

IHG didn’t provide many details, except to say the brand would initially focus on EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) and would offer an “upscale to upper upscale” experience.

Hyatt Will Open 50 Hyatt Studios Hotels in China

Hyatt announced this week that it would launch the Hyatt Studios brand in China, adding 50 new properties. If you aren’t familiar, Hyatt Studios is an extended-stay brand where all guest rooms feature kitchens, and the properties offer a complimentary grab-and-go breakfast and a 24-hour market. 

Hyatt says it plans to open the 50 Hyatt Studios hotels in China “in the next several years.”

Final Thoughts

From Finland to China and Morocco, it was another busy week in the hotel industry. We saw several ultra-luxe brands, such as Waldorf Astoria and Four Seasons, open new hotels. There was also news of other exciting hotels in the pipeline, including a new Six Senses opening in Japan and a Hyatt Regency opening in Vietnam.

As always, we’ll be back here next week with more news from across the hotel industry!