Where to Stay: new hotels from Hyatt, Mandarin Oriental, Avani and more

Grand Hyatt Changsha

Location: In a 61-story tower overlooking Xiang River on Xiangjiang Road in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province
Grade: Luxury
Keys: 354
Facilities: Five restaurants and bars, including a Chinese barbecue, plus an indoor swimming pool and 24-hour fitness centre
Meeting space: More than 3,400m² of event space including a 1,160m² grand ballroom
They say: “The opening of Grand Hyatt Changsha echoes Hyatt’s development strategy, which is to focus on cities and markets where guests are travelling”
We say: The entry of the company’s top brand, Grand Hyatt, reflects the rising demand for travel to Changsha, which is becoming one of China’s leading second tier cities
Opening: Already open

Somerset Maslak Istanbul

Location: Part of the new Maslak 1453 complex on the European side of Istanbul, close to the offices of several multinational companies
Grade: Upper-midscale serviced residence
Keys: 165 apartments, ranging from studios to four-bedroom units
Facilities: Breakfast room, gym, residents’ lounge, swimming pool and children’s playroom
Meeting space: Unspecified
They say: “Turkey is an attractive market for foreign investors and we see significant potential to expand in the country with Ascott’s international brand of serviced residences”
We say: Part of the huge Maslak 1453 development, this property should be convenient for business travellers on extended stays in this up-and-coming commercial district
Opening: Already open

Akyra Sukhumvit Bangkok

Location: On Sukhumvit Soi 20, in the centre of Bangkok’s main business and entertainment district (pictured)
Grade: Luxury
Keys: 50
Facilities: Rooftop pool and bar with cabanas, plus a ground floor restaurant
Meeting space: Unspecified
They say: “The aim is to make a stay with Akyra far more than a room to sleep in at night, yet being one of the highlights of the overall Bangkok experience”
We say: Thailand-based Akaryn Hotel Group is developing a collection of impressive and stylish properties across the country. Following its recent Bangkok debut in Thong Lor, this will provide a more central option
Opening: Q4 2017

Hilton Mandalay

Location: On the main thoroughfare in Myanmar’s second largest city, directly opposite the Mandalay Palace
Grade: Upper-upscale
Keys: 251
Facilities: Several F&B outlets, a business centre, swimming pool, fitness centre and spa
Meeting space: More than 400m² of event space, including a ballroom
They say: “The prominently-located Hilton Mandalay will provide excellent visibility for the brand in Mandalay and we look forward to welcoming both international and domestic visitors to the city”
We say: This marks a rebranding of the existing Sedona Hotel Mandalay (pictured). Its prime location in the city centre and international branding should make it a popular choice
Opening: Q4 2017

Avani Fares Maldives Resort

Location: On a private 12.4-hectare island within the Maldives’ Baa Atoll, 45 minutes by seaplane from Male
Grade: Upscale
Keys: 200, including villas
Facilities: Lounge, two restaurants, spa, kids’ club, swimming pool and pool bar, plus diving and snorkelling facilities
Meeting space: Available but as-yet unspecified
They say: “The Avani design philosophy is interestingly relaxed and contemporary and in tune with the environment of this development”
We say: The modern Avani concept will be an interesting addition to the Maldives, offering a more affordable and contemporary option than the country’s traditional private island luxury resorts
Opening: Q4 2019

Mandarin Oriental Canouan

Location: On the island of Canouan in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Grade: Luxury
Keys: 26 suites plus 12 three- and four-bedroom villas
Facilities: Several restaurants and bars, an outdoor pool and a spa with overwater treatment rooms accessible by boat. The resort is also close to an 18-hole golf course
Meeting space: Unspecified
They say: “The exclusive resort is expansive while being intimate and secluded, nestled on the powder white sands of Canouan Island which is only five square miles in total”
We say: Mandarin Oriental’s first resort in the Caribbean comes shortly after the Asian hotel group took control of its first South American hotel, reflecting how Mandarin Oriental is broadening its horizons
Opening: 1 November 2017