The Most Anticipated Luxury Hotel Openings in Asia & Australia: 2025 Edition
By Shannon Cloete | June 2025
Luxury travel is being redefined.
Gone are the days when opulence alone defined a five-star experience. In 2025, the most compelling hotel openings across Asia and Australia are prioritising wellness, sustainability, cultural immersion, and design-led storytelling.
They're not just places to stay. They're destinations designed to restore, inspire, and connect.
Whether you're planning your next indulgent escape or seeking insight into where the industry is heading, these standout new hotels are setting global benchmarks—quietly reshaping what modern luxury means.
The Experience Economy Arrives in Luxury Hospitality
The most compelling luxury hotels opening this year are not simply adding rooms to the market—they are reimagining what it means to be a guest. We're witnessing a shift from status-led hospitality to value-led hospitality, where luxury is defined by how a space makes you feel, the meaning it carries, and the way it reflects the world around it.
This evolution represents leadership in design excellence. The hotels opening this year are shaping the next decade of travel, moving beyond material excess toward intentional experiences that restore, educate, and connect guests to place and purpose.
Asia's Icons of New Luxury
Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, Thailand
Aman's first urban hotel in Thailand sits within the lush grounds of Nai Lert Park. Its 52 suites overlook Lumpini Park, while the two-level Aman Spa offers medical-grade wellness programs, hydrotherapy, and a private Banya Spa House. A tranquil haven amidst Bangkok's energy.
Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, Thailand
The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok, Thailand
Anchoring the One Bangkok tower, this new Ritz-Carlton delivers refined Thai-inspired interiors, cultural programming, and sweeping skyline views from 260 rooms and suites. Urban sophistication meets grounded elegance.
Image: Ritz Carlton bathroom, Floor-to-ceiling windows framing Bangkok's skyline
Capella Taipei, Taiwan
This 86-room retreat introduces a "modern mansion" concept to Taipei. Guests can expect refined service, four culinary venues, and a peaceful wellness sanctuary—perfect for both leisure and business travellers seeking sophistication and tranquility.
Waldorf Astoria Osaka, Japan
Located within the Grand Green Osaka precinct, this 252-room debut blends Art Deco with Japanese serenity. Designed by André Fu, it offers signature restaurants, immersive wellness, and the legendary Waldorf service.
The Dali EDITION, China
Set against Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, this 150-key hotel brings the EDITION brand's nature-meets-culture ethos to southwestern China. Guests enjoy guided hikes, artisan workshops, and villas with private pools.
image courtesy of The Edition
Australia's Game-Changing New Hotels
The Eve Hotel, Sydney
Located in the heart of Wunderlich Village, The Eve blends sharp design with cultural energy. Think rooftop pools, curated interiors, and seamless access to wellness, arts, and culinary hotspots. This property exemplifies how luxury hotels can become cultural catalysts for their neighborhoods.
Image: Rooftop pool with Sydney skyline backdrop Courtesy of EVE
1 Hotel Melbourne
The brand's first Australian location is a biophilic sanctuary on the Yarra River. With 277 rooms, 114 branded residences, and interiors crafted from recycled local materials, it's a standout for eco-luxe travellers who refuse to compromise on either sustainability or sophistication.
Image: Courtesy of 1 Hotel Melbourne
Hannah St. Hotel, Melbourne
A $150 million boutique property opening late 2025, this hotel offers 188 rooms, rooftop bar, and a wellness studio. Located between the Arts Precinct and the CBD, it's a hub for creatives, locals, and travellers seeking authentic Melbourne energy.
25hours Hotel The Olympia, Sydney
Set in a heritage building in Paddington, this 109-room hotel features a Levantine restaurant, rooftop bar, and playful interiors. A bold, community-first hotel with plenty of local character, proving that relaxed luxury can be both sophisticated and approachable.
Image Courtesy of The Olympia
Mondrian Gold Coast, Queensland
Overlooking Burleigh Beach, Mondrian brings Miami cool to the Australian coast. Private plunge pools, panoramic views, and standout event spaces deliver laid-back, high-style hospitality that captures the essence of coastal luxury.
What Sets These Properties Apart
Intentional Experiences
From AI-powered concierge services to hyper-personalised wellness journeys, these hotels prioritise meaning over excess. Every touchpoint is designed to create connection and memory.
Wellness as Core Value
Aman and Waldorf Astoria offer medical-grade treatments, while 1 Hotel Melbourne and W Kuala Lumpur place sustainability and holistic health at the centre of the guest experience. This isn't wellness as amenity—it's wellness as philosophy.
Cultural and Community Immersion
Hannah St. Hotel and 25hours Olympia celebrate local creatives, culture, and cuisine—bringing guests into the community, not just the lobby. These properties understand that authentic luxury comes from genuine connection to place.
Design that Tells a Story
Architecture and interiors are being used to create emotional resonance. Each hotel has a distinct voice, tied to its location and ethos, proving that luxury is increasingly about narrative and meaning.
The Bigger Picture
We're witnessing a fundamental shift in luxury hospitality. The properties opening in 2025 represent more than accommodation—they're platforms for transformation, connection, and meaningful experience.
Luxury in 2025 is about wellness that restores, sustainability that feels intuitive, and design that invites reflection. It's the recognition that today's sophisticated travelers seek substance alongside style, purpose alongside pleasure.
This evolution isn't about trends. It's about leadership in design excellence and a deep understanding of what modern luxury truly means.
Let's Connect
If you're in the business of shaping hospitality, placemaking, or wellness-driven destinations, I'd love to speak with you.
Whether it's strategic consulting, creative direction, or development leadership, I bring over two decades of insight at the intersection of luxury, property, and design.
Let's create what's next.
Warm regards,
Shannon Cloete
Luxury Hospitality & Property Strategist
www.shannoncloete.com
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