“This is an exciting year with 200 member hotels and we are delighted that The Conservatorium Hotel marks this occasion,” says Claus Sendlinger, founder and CEO of Design Hotels. “More than a numerical milestone it reflects that with measured growth focused on quality, our portfolio has grown in terms of geography, diversity, and above all, the community of creative individuals who are the soul of the hotels and the DNA of our brand. The new destinations reflect that while European hoteliers are continuing the path of innovation, entrepreneurs in North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania are also forging ahead with creative new concepts.”

The Local Connection
Throughout 2010, Design Hotels welcomed a diverse range of hotels to its portfolio. While very different in concept, the new member hotels share one of the company’s most important criteria for membership: a deep connection to and awareness of their locality. This quality enables them to reflect, refine and even define their neighborhoods. For instance, Georgi Akirov, owner of The Conservatorium Hotel is transforming Amsterdam’s former music conservatory, an iconic landmark building. In Stockholm’s central square, Italian-born brothers Alessandro and Stefano Catenacci have revived two glorious 19th century buildings to create Nobis Hotel. Also known as ‘Stockholm’s new living room’ the contemporary luxury hotel features many public areas for locals and travelers to interact.

Art Meets Design
Contemporary art is a key component of several new properties. In Athens Dakis Joannou, art collector and visionary hotelier, is opening a third iconic new property after Semiramis Hotel and Periscope. New Hotel, opening in May, will be a living piece of art by Brazilian design icons Humbero and Fernanda Campana. At The Met Hotel in Thessaloniki, Christina Chandris has left a very personal mark on her family’s property by fusing a gallery with a hotel. With the soon-to-open Templar Hotel in Toronto, exciting things are also happening in Canada. Local design hero Del Terrelonge and partner John Wee Tom are unifying custom-built furnishings by Italian brand Poliform and eclectic art installations within a modernist glass-front building.

The Rural Escape
Rural destinations are also on the rise. In Morocco, a restaurateur, an architect and a journalist will open their first hotel The Great Getaway Marrakech Hotel & Spa in July 2011. Located on the legendary ‘Road to Amizmiz,’ which leads to the High Atlas Mountains, the complex of luxury tents, private lodge and riads invites guests to an adventure off the beaten track. At Kenoa-Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort in Barra de Sao Miguel, Brazil, first-time hotelier Pedro Marques has worked with emerging architect Osvaldo Tenorio to create an edgy eco-chic retreat.