Clearly, this is not a comprehensive list. There are possibly hundreds of new hotels opening each year, but 2024 marks openings that may be first of the brand in the region, like The Singapore EDITION was for Asia Pacific in 2023. Otherwise, portfolios in cities that make so much sense that we're excited to see how the rendition turns out. Here are a couple to put on your travel radar.
The edgy hospitality brand continues its expansion in the Southeast Asian market following two openings in Thailand. Located on Orange Grove Road, The Standard, Singapore will feature 143 rooms and is one of the rare ground-up hotels constructed within prime Orchard area.
Amanjunkies can look forward to the second half of 2024, where the brand will open in the Thai capital's embassy district. The unconventional skyscraper features 52 suites and 50 residences across 36 levels, as well as an infinity pool at its peak.
The boutique accommodation finds its thoughtful concept matched with the traditional landscape of the heritage city. Set to open the first half of the year, Six Senses Kyoto arranges its 81 rooms around a courtyard. From onsite spa to meeting rooms with fireplaces, guests can certainly expect a ryokan-style welcome.
The two prominent towers take aesthetic inspiration from coral reefs surrounding Qatar seas and comprise 155 guestrooms and suites, 162 serviced apartments and 276 residences for rent. The ultra-luxe destination will have a total collection of ten lifestyle outlets, including its signature Manor Club.
Alongside the recently opened One&Only Aesthesis, Athens, the second Greek outpost occupies 65 hectares worth of beachfront on the Cycladic island of Kéa. With private pools, terrace, courtyard and fireplace for each villa, the resort also offers private homes with nearly 360-degree views of the Aegean sea.
After the original in Naples, the sibling will open in spring by the city's Piazza del Popolo. In a palazzo dating all the way back to the 17th century, the hotel is also one of the last projects from the late Zaha Hadid, whose architectural touch you may observe in the furnishings and lashings of Italian marble.
Due to open this autumn, the hybrid hospitality pioneers of extended stay is developing the acquired historic property in a 145 room aparthotel across seven floors. The 18th century mansion on the Latin Quarter will see 1000 sqm of social spaces under a restored glass atrium.
On the heels and within the vicinity of Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, the sister hotel will sit its 50 rooms and suites in Hanover Square. Besides a rooftop bar and urban spa, amongst its lifestyle offerings is the first namesake restaurant of Chef Akira Back to open in UK.
If you're already feeling the blues about being officially back to work after a weekend of some intense New Year-partying (the hangover doesn't get any easier, does it?), RIMOWA is turning those emotions into something more pleasant. That's right, a few days in to 2024 and we're already getting a new colour for the RIMOWA Essential series.
Like the many other colours prior, Sea Blue takes inspiration from the myriad of destinations that a RIMOWA luggage could potentially bring one to. While the rest may have been more specific in their points of reference, Sea Blue takes a more generic approach but one that just about anyone can appreciate. The regenerative influence of the sea—pretty appropriate given the new year—inspired the soft, pastel-hued Sea Blue that's still richly saturated yet calming at the same time. It's best captured in the series of shorts lensed by Francesco Nazardo. Set against the interiors and poolside of a 1950s home located in the outskirts of Barcelona, the Sea Blue series is beautifully highlighted as a soothing accessory.
If you're already familiar with RIMOWA's Essential series, its interior remains dependable as ever albeit slightly reworked. What used to be two separate compartments divided by the brand's adjustable Flex Divider, one side is now equipped with fully zipped lining designed for more secure storage. The main compartment (where the telescopic handles are housed) is separated by the Flex Divider that's also fitted with a zipped compartment enough for small loose items.
Aside from the main trio of the Essential collection—Cabin, Check-In L, and Trunk Plus—Sea Blue is also available in a range of travel accompaniments. A toiletry pouch and packing cubes in three different sizes complete the offering meant to help make organisation a breeze.
Question now is: Where's the destination?
The RIMOWA Essential collection in Sea Blue will be available in boutiques and online from 4 January 2024.
I was told that I would not recognise Shenzhen on my arrival this time around. In four decades, what was once a quiet fishing town has since transformed into one of China’s top smart cities. Hometown to telecoms giant Huawei, amassing skyscrapers that share centralised air-conditioning systems for sustainability, the Silicon Valley of China currently stands as a modern miracle.
So, somewhat anti-climactic to admit that I would not be able to discern the difference regardless. I was barely a fledging the last time I visited, over half that duration ago. The only thing I recall is its proximity to Hong Kong, which has not changed. A health-declared hop, checkpoint-cleared skip and a 15-minute train ride away, I find myself in the thriving tech hub.
Then, at the foot of the reason I returned: the first Conrad hotel to open in the Qianhai area. The latest addition to Conrad’s portfolio overlooks the expanding business district on one side and Qianhai Bay on the other. All 300 rooms and 28 suites offer views of either, starting from a generous 56 square metres.
While it is common for hotels not to meet the tentative launch date generally used as a guide, Conrad Shenzhen had, in fact, surpassed the targeted timeline with its early completion. Not surprising, when construction here works around the clock in shifts. It may not be an exaggeration to say new towers pop up every month.
If the rapid rag-to-riches (or rather, village-to-metropolis) growth seems familiar, there are many other parallels with our own model development. “It’s like Singapore here,” the Conrad team enthuses, “Everything is constantly changing and moves very quickly. We call it ‘Shenzhen speed’.”
It is intriguing, thus, to see how the narrative of this evolution is woven into the hotel’s aesthetics. The first to greet guests at the entrance is “The Two Forms”; a pronounced sculpture rooted in yin and yang ethos that depicts the origin of the world. Symbolising the birth of Shenzhen and the nascence of the hotel, I personally saw it as a great signifier of the artful journey that begins upon entering.
I say that because there are over a hundred artworks on display throughout the 23 floors, with 17 major ones from notable local artists. All express traditional Chinese philosophies, the cultural ties of the city, or hopeful intent to the viewer in their individual ways and mediums. Most prominently, the two fishing village-inspired installations by Palace Museum’s antique restorer and young scholar Huang QiCheng, as well as his pièce de résistance above the reception.
These elegant motifs carry into the rooms. “The Fishing Boat in the Evening” (with a far more poetic name in Mandarin) by Austrian artist Rica Belna reimagines casted sunlight and fishing nets through a contemporary lens. Its placement is also an easter egg for guests, and that’s the only hint I will give
about it.
Accents like bathroom hardware and fixtures take decorative cues from the silhouettes and navigation elements of a ship. Together with palettes of muted tans and rose-copper tones to burnished gold and ambient browns, it’s impressive how cohesive the visual direction crafted by world-renowned design firm YABU Pushelberg is.
I’m particularly fond of the lobby’s layout which draws from a Chinese architectural principle key to Guangdong and Shuzhou heritage houses. The fifth floor is partitioned into three “in” and “out” sections, clearly demarcating the front desk, lifts and dining establishments into pockets whilst still sharing the main space.
Dining is another aspect that would be unfair to leave out. There’s Chinese restaurant CH’AO, in reference to what Teochews refer to as Chaozhou cuisine, showcasing locally sourced seasonal ingredients. The experience contrasts between beholding a bold spectacle of gastronomy in the open kitchen and savouring humble but meaningful homage to ancestral food.
Things take a different turn at The Common Room. By morning, a versatile purveyor of choices. You won’t regret the Shrimp-broth Seafood Congee from the a la carte menu, but the open buffet’s variety easily makes you anticipate every breakfast. Come noon till dark, it shapeshifts into a French degustation of courses like Velouté De Fenouil à La Normande, Truffle Fois Gras Mousse, and Halibut with artichoke barigoule served under a creative fish skeleton garnish of seaweed.
The restaurant shares its nine-meter ceilings with Azaleas lounge for light bites and signature afternoon tea. The outdoor terrace leads to Collective Bar, which awakens at dusk. This is where they prove the best thing to compliment an alfresco cocktail is amazing grilled delights and front-row seats to the sunset. As you settle into the patio’s plush velvet chairs, you may just spot the next big thing the speedy city is working on.
Conrad Shenzhen is located at No. 5001 Tinghai Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518066, Guangdong Province, China.
The dents and scuffs on an aluminium RIMOWA luggage tell stories. Like unintentional tattoos (unless you’re deliberately exerting force on your RIMOWA, which isn’t something anyone in their right mind does), they are truly individual and unique. They’re natural markings of the physical journeys it has gone through every time you boarded a coach, train, ship or plane.
“We consider scratches and dents that appear as the suitcase’s patina,” expresses RIMOWA. It’s almost unheard of that a luxury brand encourages the wear of its products, especially given how the price tag of luxury pieces conjures up a sense of preciousness. Yet, it’s a testament to the craftsmanship that the German brand applies to its landmark hardwearing luggage designs, including the industry-changing polycarbonate innovations that it pioneered in 2000.
RIMOWA’s journey of materiality is a reflection of the centuries-long evolution of travel itself. Its founding in 1898—then named after founder Paul Morszeck—was centred on luggage made of hardwearing wood cleverly constructed to be stable and lightweight. In 1937, RIMOWA launched its first aluminium trunk, an innovation inspired by the use of duralumin (a hardy and lightweight aluminium-copper alloy) in German aircraft. And with baggage weight restrictions becoming a modern travel concern, its introduction of polycarbonate as an engineered solution was nothing short of revolutionary.
There is almost an obsessive need for the brand to constantly craft out designs to solve industry-specific issues. RIMOWA, in 1976, developed waterproof cases to give photographers venturing out into unpredictable environmental conditions a reliable means to protect their equipment. One of the brand’s most iconic creations, the Pilot Case, was specifically designed with a hinge that allows it to be opened from the top to make its contents easily accessible by pilots in the cockpit. Then there were cases for violins, cases to fit one or 12 bottles of wine, poker attachés, watch cases and a slew of other pieces made for very specific functions—all to make one’s journey more seamless and elevated.
The proof is evident in the scores of individuals who have made RIMOWA part of their journeys. Its recent Seit 1898 touring exhibition showcased a number of well-used RIMOWA cases (owned mostly by noted international creatives), each marked by the numerous memories and experiences shared. Dents, scratches and even scuffed up stickers on the luggage add character to otherwise cold inanimate objects, not to mention stand as testimony to RIMOWA’s durable craftsmanship.
So serious is its commitment to ensuring each RIMOWA luggage builds a lifetime of memories, that the brand began offering a lifetime guarantee earlier this year. Luggage purchased from 25 July 2022 are now automatically protected by the brand for the entirety of its lifespan. Any functional issues that arise throughout a luggage’s life, henceforth, will be covered under this new directive. This means that aside from any cosmetic wear and tear, misuse or abuse, RIMOWA is dedicated to making sure that your luggage functions as originally intended, for as long as possible. Items outside of the brand’s regular luggage catalogue—from eyewear to tech accessories to special edition suitcases—are protected in a similar capacity for two years.
A RE-CRAFTED programme has also been introduced. While it is a sustainability-driven initiative by the brand to extend the life of pre-loved RIMOWA pieces, it can also be considered as an adoption of someone else’s memories. RE-CRAFTED pieces retain most of the original façade (dents and all) and depending on the condition of its other elements, they’re either cleaned and fixed or completely replaced to ensure that the piece is fully functional and just as reliable as a new RIMOWA piece.
There is no definitive answer to what a RE-CRAFTED piece might have gone through—the places it’s travelled, situations it’s caught in, or perhaps the number of times it’s made its way to an unintended destination (it happens). Therein lies the beauty.
What is next for RIMOWA? There’s no crystal ball to read. But if history tells us anything, the brand is probably already cooking up the next evolution of travel—experimenting and perfecting every nuance before officially releasing it to the public. It’s perhaps a seemingly endless journey for RIMOWA with its destination unknown. But then again, as they say: It’s not the destination that matters, it’s the journey.
Everyone is familiar with Samsonite. The luggage brand that's founded in Denver, Colorado is a juggernaut in the industry, having been around for 113 years now and with a presence in over 130 countries. If you're counting, that's an expansion into more than one country per year since its founding. Impressive.
Samsonite has achieved this by successfully striking a balance between style and functionality. It's one thing to survive any journey, but doing that while being easily recognisable on the baggage claim conveyor belt and looking like a luxurious piece of accessory is no meant feat.
In celebration of the brand's achievements thus far in the luggage space and beyond, Samsonite unveils Destination Samsonite: Voyaging Through Time. The Asia Pacific exhibition lands in Singapore for a limited time and promises to be an immersive experience in discovering the inner workings of the brand as well as its century-long heritage. With innovation constantly on the brand's horizon, Destination Samsonite: Voyaging Through Time also gives glimpses to what's next for Samsonite.
To understand Samsonite's values and how it has evolved with time, it only makes sense to revisit its heritage. Destination Samsonite: Voyaging Through Time features a number of archive pieces that date back to the 1930s, groundbreaking icons the like of the Streamlite, Silhouette, Oyster and 4-Wheel Spinner as well as present-day pieces such as the C-Lite, Proxis, and Evoa—all meant to serve as representations of Samsonite's evolution from luggage manufacturer to a creator of smart travel solutions. Innovation is key and visitors will discover that Samsonite has got it in spades.
Three thematic installations serve to highlight Samsonite's continued commitment to quality. The use of superior materials not only ensures that each Samsonite piece looks great and functions seamlessly, but also built to last. At "Zero Gravity", the Attrix and C-Lite models will be suspended to showcase their lightweight make—thanks to Roxkin™ and Curv® materials respectively—while "Discover Durability" invites visitors to put Samsonite luggage through a tumble test in order to view first-hand how they withstand force and pressure. Then there's "Abstract Terrains" where Samsonite wheels are tested on their durability and manoeuvrability over different terrains.
Through it all, the future is where Samsonite is constantly looking towards. Destination Samsonite: Voyaging Through Time ends with the introduction of the next stage of Samsonite's evolution through three new releases: the Evoa Z, SBL Major-Lite and New Streamlite. The Evoa Z is an evolution of one of the brand's best-selling models Evoa, with a new minimal and modern design. The SBL Major-Lite is crafted from the lightweight Curv® material and is designed especially for the modern traveller. A limited-edition collection, the New Streamlite is inspired by Samsonite's heritage Streamlite collection, combining modern stylings with timeless design.
Destination Samsonite: Voyaging Through Time opens to the public from 1 – 4 November 2023 at 72-13 Gallery, Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 239007. Sign up online to visit the exhibition.
So you like to travel, big whoop. The thing is; we all have different travel styles, and take vacations for different purposes. Whether you take exploring seriously, or are the kind to lament about another overseas conference you have to attend whilst secretly rejoicing at the business class tickets (oddly specific, we know), Samsonite is your best bet when it comes to what you need. A name practically synonymous with luggage, it has a selection offering remarkable durability, impeccable style and a limited 10-year global warranty. Take your pick.
You think the countries your peers visit are overrated. You consider travel half your millennial personality, and would rather spend on experiencing the world than saving up for a house. Then you'll need the remarkable resilience of an outer shells made from RoxkinTM, a proprietary multi-layered material developed by the brand to withstand a little roughing up. Made in Europe, it has that top-notch functionality with expandable capacity and TSA® lock with kissing sliders.
A fan of short getaways and inevitable work outposts, you're the type to flood Instagram stories with shots at the airport or on the plane. The perfect cabin companion here would be one that features a 360-degree multidirectional Aero-TracTM️ II Suspension Wheel System. With shock-absorbing suspension and built-in ball bearings mechanism, you get that seamless manoeuvrability alongside reduced noise and vibration. For eco-warriors, RECYCLEXTM️ material technology is used for the interior lining.
You enjoy traveling in style. Which is also a nice way of saying you're a high-maintenance traveler, but that's probably why you seek the best with Samsonite. Literally Best of the Best winner by RedDot Award, the timeless, minimalist design comes with corner protectors, Microban®️ antimicrobial technology, and anti-theft zipper with magnetic zipper puller. Besides a laptop compartment in the front for check-in sizes, the flat top opening construction and expander maximise packing space. And get this; the Aero-TracTM️ Whirl Suspension Wheel System's brake function allows it to halt easily even when heavily loaded.
Samsonite PROXIS, MINTER and UNIMAX are available online and in select stores.
There's a George Carlin joke, about how we tend to have too much stuff. The things that matter to you; the knick-knacks you've accrued in your life, they are stored in your house. As Carlin would say, "A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it." But when you travel, "you gotta take a smaller version of your house." That, mes amis, would be your luggage. But not any old baggage; it has to be one that suits you—and aren't we all unique snowflakes in a diverse world?
Lipault Paris, a brand that's the embodiment of positivity and unbridled inhibition. They are the silent companions, that steadfast porters. No matter where you go, no matter who you are, there is a Lipault Paris bag for you.
We just have to figure out which one. Let us help.
There’s no doubt that the Plume range is classic—but not at all boring. Sleek lines and padded handles signature to the brand sign to the very penchant for intuitive travel. The quietly unconventional models lack no original standard, surpassing a thoughtfully equipped TSA lock by undergoing seven tests to ensure quality akin to its Samsonite Group level. These life explorers satisfy self-expression and a keen eye for detail through timeless nuances, from personalised tags to luggage-pairing with any smart-sleeve Lipault item. Crafted in minimalist vision yet arrayed with the freedom of colours, the urban chameleons harmonise with any silhouette. Here, imagination is an unbridled statement—pick a colour that reflects your creative spirit and conquer the world.
The 24H Bag is the perfect sidekick for the fast-paced company man. Consider it as a modern briefcase primed to match an evolving workplace that would now be anything from the corporate address, the airport, a suite, or the makeshift beachfront office while allegedly working from home. The mobile carrier easily complements one constantly on the move. Where career becomes lifestyle, versatility is not up for compromise. The modern design features a main compartment that's organised into four pockets, and efficiently delivers on all tasks in 100 per cent recycled PET outer fabric and interior lining. Pro tip: pack in business essentials in the 24H Bag as a carry-on, drop-off your main luggage at the hotel concierge, and head off for meetings without missing a beat.
Like an emergency pack to dispel life’s routine monotony, the City Plume Weekender exists ready to accommodate last-minute adventures. With large pockets to encompass any destination and quick accessibility for a speedy getaway, this go-to kit breezes past conveyor belts straight out of custom gates. Suffice for the spontaneity is its reinforced twill nylon or polyurethane construct with a matte rubber finish—two strong, water-repellent fabrics that are simultaneously soft enough to maximise packing space. With a smooth shoe change made possible on its right side, no other travel buddy would be quite as flexible as the short jaunt’s itinerary.
Devoted, dependable, and a-dad-ptable, the Foldable Cabin Duffle is dedicated to the needs of the clan. The roomy piece is great for both storage and handling, transforming from a flat compact into functional baggage on two wheels in a snap. Arguably better than a backpack, the space saver effortlessly slides below the bed, over the wardrobe and even under a plane seat in compliance with airline regulations. This practical marvel comes with a sizable capacity to house items for the little or not-so-little ones, as well as a tailor-made cover to protect its portable form. Bad dad puns not included.
No better gear suited to the swift reflexes of virtual life than the Lost in Berlin Travel Backpack. Organised with smart compartments and an included packing cube, the lightweight bag is engineered with a laptop compartment that'll snugly fit a 17-incher. It is a lean, mean vehicle for various possessions, further enhanced with adjustable bandwidth at its peak. It is a coordinated team player, optimised for the mechanics of physical and digital realities. Taking inspiration from the underground, industrial mood of the Lost in Berlin collection, this is one style manoeuvre that’s not complex to execute. If anything, it’s only clever strategy.
Find the full range of Lipault's travel and lifestyle pieces here
Aesthetics matter—there's no doubt about that. We're all attracted to things that we find to be beautiful. And though that typically differs person to person, some things are pretty universal.
Like good design, for example. Tumi's 19 Degree collection exemplifies this with its distinct contours sculpted precisely at a 19-degree angle (hence the name). It's the kind of design aesthetic that's stunning on its own and unless it's an (highly) unlikely situation where the entire baggage carousel consists of variations of 19 Degree luggage, it grabs attention immediately.
But of course, aesthetics are not everything, especially when it relates to design.
"At Tumi we find beauty in elements that aren’t typically thought of as beautiful, from the smooth glide of the wheels to the resilience of 19 Degree's aluminium," says Tumi creative director Victor Sanz.
The design engineering behind the 19 Degree collection is highlighted in Tumi's latest campaign, 'Essentially Beautiful'. Fronted by Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-Min and Formula 1 driver Lando Norris, the campaign showcases the effortlessness of the collection in motion. Beyond that—and something not distinguishable by look alone—the campaign stills display the full collection's signature exterior that are consciously made from post-industrial recycled polycarbonate, with lining derived from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.
The latest Tumi 19 Degree collection also features a slew of seasonal colours. Red, hunter green, blush and deep plum offer more bold options, in addition to two new textured colourways.
So yes, aesthetics matter. But couple that with good design engineering and you'll probably end up with a luggage series that makes life a tad easier and aesthetically pleasing.
