We Asked Luxury Travel Advisors About The Hottest Hotel Openings of 2022
There are no shortage of listicles highlighting hot new hotel openings in 2022. But, harder to find are the hotels that the world’s top luxury travel advisors are actually excited to book for their clients. Looking beyond big names with good PR and flashy renderings, our luxury travel advisor friends are turning their attention towards hotels that bring something new to their markets or allow their clients to experience a new, exciting destination.
Raoul Fokké
The founder of Act Of Travel, an affiliate of Smartflyer, Raoul is a modern-age travel designer who specializes in planning and curating travel to the places less visited. Born in Amsterdam but raised around the globe, Raoul has lived and worked across four continents — his mission as a luxury travel advisor over the last decade rooted in helping clients uncover underrated gems.
Instagram: @rgfokke
Hotel: Habitas Santa Teresa
Location: Costa Rica
Why now is the time to visit: The reason I think Costa Rica is going to take off is because it compliments Mexico so well. Many travelers have been in Mexico and are looking for a new destination or to pair alongside it. Costa Rica has a wealth of beautiful nature and is rich in local culture. It's a great destination because it combines the beauty of nature and the city life in the capital where you'll find great restaurants of up & coming chefs.
Jonathan Lerner
Founder of award-winning Tailored Tours Barcelona, Jonathan Lerner is on a mission to re-brand the concept of tourism as a thought-provoking and transformative experience. After studying International Relations & Spanish History at the University of Pennsylvania, Jonathan continued his studies at Fabra University in Barcelona and never left. Since 2007, Jonathan has led travel groups in Latin America and curated cultural experiences for brands & foundations across Spain and Europe.
Hotel: Torre del Marqués
Location: Monroyo, Spain
Why now is the time to visit: Set amid an ancient Mediterranean landscape, Torre del Marqués is an enclave of rural luxury in El Matarraña, a yet to be discovered pocket of Inner Spain. The newest and only 5 star hotel in the region, its 18 rooms & suites are built around a converted XVIII century estate, offering access to pristine nature, charming medieval villages and regional cuisine based around olive oil, black truffle, locally raised lamb and artisan honey. An oasis of tranquility in an older, still authentic Spain, just 2.5 hours from Barcelona.
Cara Sharratt
Cara Sharratt is a luxury travel advisor focused on hotels and curating luxury travel experiences in the US and Europe. An Independent Affiliate of Brownell Travel, a Virtuoso Member, Cara plans exclusive and luxe itineraries for her clients all over the world.
Instagram: @carasharratt_travel
Hotel Name: Cashel Palace Hotel
Location: Cashel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
Why is now the time to visit: Ireland is one of my favorite countries to visit because of its warm hospitality. Their newest five-star hotel, the Cashel Palace Hotel, is set to open on March 1st, 2022 following an extensive four year restoration project. A proud Relais & Chateaux property, this iconic residence dates back to 1732 and overlooks the magnificently medieval Rock of Cashel. Complete with 42 rooms and suites, a world-class Spa, a private Resident’s Cocktail Bar, The Guinness Bar, The Bishop’s Buttery Restaurant, Mikey Ryan’s Bar & Kitchen and more, the time to visit is now before the word of this truly special gem gets out.
John O'Ceallaigh
A luxury-travel journalist, editor and consultant who writes for titles such as the Telegraph, Robb Report and Travel + Leisure, John O'Ceallaigh is also the founder of the luxury-travel consultancy and content agency LUTE.
Instagram: @luxury_travel_editor / @lute_world
Hotel Name: Sommerro
Location: Oslo
Why now is the time to visit: It's an unreasonable ask, perhaps: expecting Norway's somewhat cold, conservative capital to hold onto visitors when just beyond it lie some of the world's most wondrous landscapes. But if I'm off to Bergen, Tromso or Svalbard from September onwards I'll be far happier to arrange a stopover if it allows for a night in Sommerro. Housed in a 1930s heritage building, it's plush, playful and colourful - a sugary riposte to the more customary Nordic minimalism - and crammed with amenities. Alongside the four restaurants, two bars and a vast wellness centre, it's the first hotel in the chilly city brave, or foolhardy, enough to incorporate an open-air pool terrace.
