A busy stretch for hotel openings just delivered something for a lot of travel wish lists. The Cape Town Edition is now open at the V&A Waterfront, marking the brand's first property in Africa. It has 142 rooms and suites, a spa, multiple restaurants and bars, and interiors built around African art and design. Given how often Edition properties anchor a city's social scene, expect this one to become a fixture on the harbour.
Rome also gains a debut worth knowing about. The 69-room Thompson Rome is the brand's first Italian property and sits close to Piazza Venezia, putting major sights within easy walking distance. The building's original features have been restored rather than stripped out, and guests get a contemporary Mediterranean restaurant, a rooftop cocktail bar and a lobby bar — a strong combination for travellers who want design-forward stays without leaving the historic centre.
Stateside, the W Las Vegas has relaunched Skyfall Rooftop Bar & Lounge on the 64th floor of the former Delano building, which Marriott converted into a W in 2024. Rockwell Group redid the space with bold interiors framing floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic Strip views, and the lobby's Living Room bar got a refresh too. It's positioning itself as a proper nightlife anchor, not just a hotel add-on.
A couple of other stories round out the week. The Mark on New York's Upper East Side — the hotel famous for Met Gala appearances and Caviar Kaspia's loaded baked potatoes — opens The Mark Wellness & Longevity Spa by Augustinus Bader in November, the first Augustinus Bader-branded spa in the U.S., with three treatment rooms and in-room massages. Meanwhile, Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, Delaware, has launched an Equestrian Escape Package: Frye riding boots and jackets on loan, a private lesson at the 200-acre Carousel Park Equestrian Center, and a picnic from its French brasserie, Le Cavalier. An unusual one, but the hotel is leaning into research suggesting most people feel better after trying something new.
Why does this matter? If Cape Town or Rome are on your shortlist, you now have two fresh high-end options at locations that are genuinely convenient rather than on the outskirts. The new openings also tend to come with introductory rates, so early bookings can pay off.
