Where to Stay: New hotels in Laos, Australia, the US and more

Banyan Tree’s The Grand Luang Prabang

Location: On the banks of the Mekong River in the UNESCO-listed town of Luang Prabang, northern Laos
Grade: Luxury
Keys: 75
Facilities: Restaurant and bar, swimming pool, museum
Meeting space: Unspecified
They say: “Savour the hotel’s old-world charm with wooden shutters, large windows and Laotian textiles”
We say: Colonial-style riverside hotel has bundles of charm and character and will benefit from Banyan Tree’s management, but location is slightly removed from main peninsula attractions
Opening: Already open

Homewood Suites by Hilton Orlando Theme Parks

Location: Close to Orlando’s major theme parks and convention centre
Grade: Midscale
Keys: 133 suites
Facilities: Fitness centre, sports court, outdoor pool, home shopping services
Meeting space: 100m² meeting room
They say: “The new hotel offers [guests]… all the comforts of home, whether they are travelling for work or enjoying a well-earned getaway”
We say: Extended-stay hotel to provide affordable option for travellers to this leisure destination, which is also a key convention travel hub
Opening: Already open

Mantra the Observatory, Port Macquarie

Location: Beachfront at Port Macquarie, on north coast of New South Wales
Grade: Upscale
Keys: 85, including apartments
Facilities: Indoor pool, sauna, spa, barbecue area, seafood restaurant, bar, bicycle hire
Meeting space: Unspecified
They say: “One of Australia’s few certified 100% carbon-neutral hotels is the latest addition to Mantra Group’s portfolio”
We say: Popular local hotel with large apartment-style rooms likely to be good fit for Mantra’s domestic leisure portfolio
Opening: Already open

Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya

Location: Olaya, a growing financial district in Saudi Arabia’s capital city
Grade: Upper-upscale
Keys: 261
Facilities: Two restaurants, including an American diner, a spa, fitness centre, indoor swimming pool, sports court, kid’s club
Meeting space: More than 1,000m² of space, including a ballroom
They say: “The globally-recognised Hyatt Regency brand will resonate with business and leisure travellers visiting Riyadh”
We say: Hyatt’s brand for emerging markets continues to break new ground, becoming the company’s first hotel in Saudi Arabia’s capital city
Opening: Already open

Novotel London Stansted

Location: Close to London’s third busiest airport
Grade: Midscale
Keys: 239
Facilities: Restaurant, bar, leisure facilities
Meeting space: Meeting rooms available
They say: “We are delighted to be introducing AccorHotels’ Novotel brand as an appealing destination for both business and leisure travellers in this accessible location”
We say: The Stansted hotel will soon be followed the launch of a new Novotel at London Heathrow Airport in future
Opening: Summer 2017

Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station

Location: Denver’s Union Station neighbourhood, connecting the Lower Downtown entertainment district to the Central Platte Valley
Grade: Midscale
Keys: 233
Facilities: Restaurant, heated indoor pool, 24-hour fitness centre, underground parking
Meeting space: More than 550m² of event space
They say: “The hotel will attract guests looking to experience everything Denver has to offer”
We say: The combination of a new-build hotel and a renovated historic building should deliver an interesting and attractive property
Opening: 2018