Ultra-luxury in Santa Barbara: Rosewood Miramar Beach opened March 1 in Santa Barbara, California, smack dab on the beach and claiming to be the only ultra-luxury resort in the region to offer beachside guestrooms. With design inspiration from the site’s original Miramar By The Sea Hotel, the new build 161-room resort has a Goop brick-and-mortar retail space (Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness line) alongside The Gatehouse, a new California-inspired concept store curated by designer James Pers. The property is owned and developed by Caruso. Median room rate is US$595 per night.
Miraval in Austin: Wellness hospitality brand Miraval Group has opened Miraval Austin, the brand’s first wellness resort outside of the flagship in Tucson, Arizona (and the first Miraval property to open since Hyatt’s US$215 million acquisition in 2017). Set on 220 acres of protected land, the 117-room property will have its famed equine programming as well as culinary and wellness options.
Beverly Hills celebrity bungalows: Dorchester Collection’s Beverly Hills Hotel has updated two bungalows paying homage to former guests Marilyn Monroe and Howard Hughes as part of ongoing bungalow restoration. In total, 21 bungalows will have been redesigned as part of the restoration program, with many completed over the past two years. Bungalow 5, inspired by Elizabeth Taylor; and Bungalow 22, inspired by Frank Sinatra, were unveiled in the summer of 2016. Bungalow 1, inspired by Marilyn Monroe and Bungalow 3 inspired by Howard Hughes were unveiled in January; and Bungalow 9, inspired by Charlie Chaplin will debut in July.
