Introducing stylish hotels in epic landscapes

We are celebrating the month of love by introducing three new romantic hotels in breathtaking destinations including Comporta in Portugal, Raa Atoll in The Maldives and Santa Teresa de Cobano in Costa Rica. Each hotel blends into its natural environment, surrounded by lush vegetation and offering unparalleled sea views that are meant to be enjoyed with loved ones. Ski lovers will also be delighted with the introduction of two elegant mountain retreats in South Tyrol and Zermatt that fuse contemporary style with Alpine chalet charm. All of these hotels offer an ideal snapshot of the independently minded portfolio.

Opens 15th March 2019

Located in the heart of Comporta’s idyllic village, Quinta da Comporta is the new sustainable signature project envisioned and designed by renowned Portuguese architect, Miguel Câncio Martins. Nestled on a stunning 17-hectare estate, surrounded by undulating umbrella pines and cork trees, wild sand dunes, stunning rice fields and over 60km of pristine, white-sand beaches, the hotel features whitewashed walls and cool-toned touches, reflective of both traditional Portuguese style and contemporary design. Each room has a luxurious beach hut feel, with rustic-style furniture drawn from a natural colour palette and sun-bleached woods that merge seamlessly with the hotel’s beautiful surroundings. The restaurant serves organic and fresh produce that is locally sourced and harvested in the hotel’s Bio Garden. Rising out of the Rice Fields just over the heated Infinity Pool, Oryza Spa uses rice as the core element of inspiration, sourcing its health and holistic benefits through the development of innovative treatments and products that are exclusive to the spa.

SLH Insider Tip: Guests should pay a visit to Comporta Café on Comporta beach, a rustic lounge bar featuring a row of white cabanas and DJs spinning house music at sunset. It is a great place to enjoy a cocktail or a plate of seafood.

Opens March 2019

Bringing barefoot luxury to the remote northern Raa Atoll, Faarufushi Maldives will welcome guests from March 2019 with 80 spacious villas that offer a striking realisation of contemporary design amidst a naturally stunning seascape. Hidden among palm trees are 10 Beach Bungalows and 27 Beach Retreats, whilst 39 sleek Ocean Retreats with Pool are positioned over the island’s sparkling azure lagoon. For the ultimate indulgence, the Island Residence comes complete with an individual expansive infinity pool overlooking at its very own stretch of the Indian Ocean. The hotel’s Nika Spa blends into the lush vegetation of the island with six treatment rooms and a garden compound with a hydro pool surrounded by outdoor lounges and relaxation pavilions. The Faarufushi house reef boasts magnificent coral overhangs and swim throughs, allowing guests to discover the abundant marine life that lies beneath the waves. This spectacular reef will be the ideal experience for divers and snorkelers alike.

SLH Insider Tip: At the reef’s edge, the overwater bar with alfresco seating provides the perfect sunset view as well as a great location to enjoy floral and tea-inspired cocktails.

Immersed in the surf culture of Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula, Hotel Nantipa is making waves in this picturesque part of Costa Rica with every design element inspired by the ocean and the sky – right down to its name, which means ‘blue’ in the native Chorotega language. The cloud-nine boutique retreat offers beach-edge suites and bungalows with hammocks and garden, pool or ocean views ensuring guests have the sand between their toes and the soothing sound of the sea in their ears from dusk til dawn. Beautifully positioned right on the beach, Manzu restaurant serves creative Costa Rican cuisine with a side of sunset views. The zingy ceviche assortments and the grilled seafood are staples on the authentic menu that also features favourites like tacos, gallos, casados among other local delicacies. With the wildlife-rich jungle behind and the ocean in front, there is plenty to do in the area from surf lessons and beach horseback riding to visiting the mighty Montezuma Waterfall or taking a boat to the talcum powder sands of Tortuga Island.

SLH Insider Tip: The beach in front of Nantipa has scenic rocks with small tide pools perfect for children to dip in before enjoying a swim in the 270 square meters pool at the center of the property.

Re-opened 21st December 2018

Recently acquired by Michel Reybier, the iconic Schweizerhof Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn in the heart of The Alps, re-opened on 21st December, transformed, ready for the 2019 ski season. The new style is warm and bold, with alpine charm, including soft rugs and wood which are present throughout. Some of the in-room technology includes Chromecast devices for screen mirroring, Netflix and Spotify account access, smart lighting control and RFID room keys. A client app also enables guests to book their table and pay their bill, book spa treatments, open their room, speak with the in-house teams, reserve ski equipment and check the slope conditions. The Spa by Schweizerhof offers an exclusive list of spa treatments created with cosmeceutical products from Nescens, the Swiss anti-ageing science. Guests will also be kept entertained with an indoor swimming pool, three saunas open 24/7, a Turkish bath and a fitness centre, while yoga masterclass and private fitness coach are also available.

SLH Insider Tip: The Valais region is honoured in each dish at the Cheese Factory: a table with a decidedly Swiss “stübli” feel, where raclette and fondue can be shared in an atmosphere roused by the Alpen horn and Swiss folk music. Try one of the unashamedly rich desserts on the menu including the meringue with red berries served with Gruyère double cream.

Set in the idyllic mountain village of Ortisei, in Val Gardena, Hotel Montchalet is surrounded by the soaring natural wonders of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The property combines four ranges of luxury suites (silver, gold, platinum and VIP) featuring pebble tones and crisp whites, silver tints and charcoal accents – alongside beautifully exposed wood. Some of the suites even include their own private infrared saunas as well as steam baths and outdoor Jacuzzis. Its spa and wellness area has been designed to ensure deep relaxation boasting unique facilities such as futuristic floating sunbeds by NU RELAX, an indoor pool, experience showers and a fitness area with Technogym machines. When it comes to gastronomy, the smartly-dressed dining room exudes a sense of high-altitude glitz serving wellness cuisine with reimagined traditional Tyrolean recipes. The property provides daily Maserati transfers to Europe’s finest slopes as well as sleigh rides and snowshoeing during the winter.

SLH Insider Tip: Guests looking to enjoy active holidays need only ask the hotel’s knowledgeable concierge team. From organising golf or tennis lessons, mountain biking, paragliding to hiking routes in the Dolomites, they know the region like the back of their hands.

Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa Completes Multi-Million Wellness Renovation – Sausalito, USA

Overlooking Sausalito’s boat-filled harbour on Richardson’s Bay, Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa is unveiling a multi-million-dollar renovation with a focus on the lobby and a new Wellness Experience. The recent renovation focused on the following spaces: newly constructed modern lobby with 20 foot stone wall and co-working space; the spa with three bright treatment rooms; a dedicated Wellness Courtyard with a 62-inch television featuring Fitness-On-Demand workouts; and nine dedicated Wellness Guest Rooms, with tech forward amenities. The final stage of the renovation, due to be completed in Spring 2019, is a cutting-edge fitness room with Peloton spin bikes and classes. Giving guests a glance into the future, Casa Madrona will be the first hotel to introduce a sleep fitness program leveraging innovative technology and personal biometrics.

Rockliffe Hall’s Gym Gets Makeover – Darlington, United Kingdom

Rockliffe Hall has invested £200,000 in a complete refurbishment of its gym to help maintain the five red star resort’s position as one of the most prestigious in the UK. The gym includes the most up-to-date cardio, resistance and functional training equipment from Technogym, official supplier to the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the last two decades. Rockliffe Hall’s gym has also been completely redecorated to finish off its fresh new look. The new-look gym also includes a larger free-weight and functional area, while retaining the Kinesis Wall and MyWellness software.

Stein Eriksen Residences Unveils New Restaurant The 7-8-8-0 Club – Utah, USA

Stein Eriksen Residences, the finest mountain lodging experience in modern luxury, welcomes guests to its onsite dining establishment, The 7-8-8-0 Club, now open for the 2019 winter season. The latest addition to Stein Collection’s world-renowned restaurants, The 7-8-8-0 Club features an innovative menu of new favourites and savoury foods with convenient ski-out/ski-in access for skiers enjoying the slopes of Deer Valley Resort. Menu items include delectable dishes like Short Rib Poutine, Edamame & Cashew Hummus with Crudité Vegetables, and Utah Smoked Trout Mousse. Winter season brings an après-ski experience that is impeccably complemented by the spectacular snow-capped mountain views while cool summer nights pair perfectly with the open terrace and inviting fire pits – not to mention the expansive vistas.

Mi Amor Presents A New Program of Culinary Styles that Deliciously Push the Boundaries – Tulum, Mexico

Headed by award-winning Chef Paul Bentley, Mi Amor‘s culinary program broadens its horizons with an exciting program of guest chefs. The series runs through May, with one dinner per month, welcoming diners interested in new urban flavour sensations and fanciful cocktails. The dates and menus for the upcoming months are April 19, Justin Smillie from Upland Restaurant in New York will be introducing a menu of Asian and Italian influences with a California overtone; and May 29, Chef Christian Page from Los Angeles will be offering an evening of Mediterranean fare. Jasper Soffer of NYC’s acclaimed Mulberry Project has also designed an ingredient-driven cocktail program exclusively for Mi Amor, categorized under such headings as Gin & Tonic, Champagne Cocktails, or with fun creations like Sonny & Cher, a tangy mix of tangerine and Aperol.

Eat Jersey Food Festival Returns to The Atlantic Hotel in March 2019 – Jersey, Channel Islands

Celebrating 25 years of SLH membership this year, The Atlantic Hotel will be toasting the return of the Eat Jersey Food Festival from 22nd to 23rd March 2019 with two events at the Ocean Restaurant. On Friday 22nd March, Executive Chef Will Holland will be joined by a line-up of acclaimed chefs from Jersey and Britain to celebrate the finest island produce and dining. On Saturday 23rd March, Ocean Restaurant embraces ‘Social Saturday’, an exclusive pop-up restaurant for one day only in partnership with the renowned Social Eating House, London. Will Holland will be joined by Chef Patron Paul Hood for a collaborative ‘four-hands’ menu of dishes for lunch and dinner service.