The pandemic has played havoc with tour operators, hotels and airlines across the globe. But despite travel bans and current economic conditions, farsighted companies continue to plan and invest in their portfolio. And this is translating to some exciting new hotels as across the continent, Asian hospitality steps up with new properties.

From a spectacular beach-front resort on a private island in the Maldives to a contemporary Khmer-French colonial inspired property in the Cambodian capital, some international hotel brands are diversifying their portfolios and expanding into new cities. Hoteliers like The Chedi, Banyan Tree, Hyatt and Azerai have continued construction on their properties despite COVID-19, so that luxury travelers can visit trusted favorites when they open and travel resumes. Here are four of the most anticipated hotel openings in Asia to look out for.

Azerai Ke Ga Bay

Azerai Ke Ga Bay, an elegant and secluded oceanfront retreat in southeastern Vietnam, is set to launch on October 15 as the third property in Azerai Hotels & Resorts’ growing portfolio. The 46-key resort, a combination of villas and suites, succeeds Princess D’Annam Resort & Spa on the same site following an extensive renovation, and is located 180km east of Saigon on a sweeping five-kilometer white sand beach overlooking the East Sea. Framed to the north by Hon Ba Island, with its historic 1899-built colonial French lighthouse, and to the south by soaring sand dunes, the property cultivates one of the most naturally splendid oceanfront settings in the country. The guest suites and villas at Azerai Ke Ga Bay evoke a contemporary aesthetic defined by elegance and minimalist design, with 21 units boasting either plunge pools or larger private pools. The resort’s three main swimming pools include an oceanfront pool with sunbeds positioned on terraces, a free-form sanctuary pool set back from the beach and surrounded by lush tropical gardens, and two square pools set within mirrored courts, flanked by guest rooms.

Banyan Tree Krabi

Singapore-based Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd, one of Asia’s foremost luxury hotel groups, is readying to open a new luxury hotel near the Thai town of Krabi. Located at a serene spot on Tubkaek Beach, a scenic 35-minute drive from Krabi Airport, Banyan Tree Krabi fronts powdery white sands and the shallow-shelved coast of the Andaman Sea. The new resort, which is slated for a Grand Opening on October 24, will offer 72 pool suites and villas, among them seven 2-bedroom options and one three-bedroom villa. Facilities include all-day dining, a ballroom, a wedding chapel, a beach club, a kids’ club, a fitness center, and – in keeping with Banyan Tree’s wellness branding – a rainforest-themed spa. And spectacularly, Banyan Tree Krabi is nestled into a hillside where it commands a direct view of a dozen karst limestone towers protruding from the sapphire sea. 

The Chedi Kudavillingili

Located on a 1-kilometre coral island called Kudavillingili, the 99-villa Chedi Kudavillingili plans to open later this year with 36 overwater villas, a 150-metre-long central pool and desirable proximity to the Malé International Airport, a 25-minute speedboat ride away. While the overwater villas fishtail off one end of the island, a bridge on the opposite end leads to the spa on a kidney-shaped islet where 8 – 10 treatment rooms each occupy a waterborne perch of their own. In between are a variety of health and wellness venues including a long pool segmented for privacy, a basketball court, a football pitch, courts for tennis, badminton and volleyball, a yoga pavilion, secret garden and water sports centre. There will be a library and cigar lounge for the more passively inclined; a health club and gymnasium for the fitness-minded; and a potpourri of dining options, from a beach club and bar, an all-day dining restaurant and the Hawker Restaurant with four live cooking stations plating up Indian, Chinese, Thai and international dishes.

Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh

Set to open its doors in early 2021, Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh will be the first Hyatt hotel in the Cambodian capital and will mark the debut of the Hyatt Regency brand in the country. Located in the heart of Phnom Penh, within a short walking distance to the Royal Palace, National Museum and the riverside, the hotel will provide leisure guests and business travellers with modern comfort and convenience alongside warm Cambodian hospitality. With 247 guestrooms including 43 residential-style suites, the new property is set to become the largest internationally branded hotel in the city.Conceived by award-winning Singapore-based SCDA Architects, the interiors of the hotel will reflect Cambodia’s diverse heritage, seamlessly blending Khmer architectural accents, French colonial influences, and specially-commissioned artworks by contemporary Cambodian artist, FONKi. For instance, the hotel lobby is repurposed from a beautifully restored French heritage building. Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh will feature five dining venues including FiveFive Rooftop Restaurant & Bar,which is set to become a social hotspot where guests can enjoy impressive views of the Mekong River, the Royal Palace and the city skyline alongside refreshing cocktails and energizing DJ performances. In addition, the hotel will feature 1,400 square meters of meeting space as well as a slew of recreational facilities including a 24-hour fitness center, tropical infinity pool, spa and the Regency Club Lounge.