I don’t believe in coincidences.

I believe God orders my steps. And somehow through every trip, every research rabbit hole, every late Sunday afternoon spent with too many browser tabs open ; those steps keep leading me to the most beautiful places in the world.

It started long before Eventrixe existed. Before I had a business name or a brand or a team. It started with a deep, God-given love for travel. For the way a hotel lobby can make you feel like you’ve stepped into another version of your life. For the way a room with a view can make you exhale in a way nothing else can. I’ve always noticed hotels differently than most people. I walk in and I’m already thinking, who needs to experience this? Who would cry happy tears waking up here? Who have I been waiting to send to a place exactly like this?

That’s the heart behind everything I do at Eventrixe. And it’s exactly why, on a quiet Sunday afternoon, you’ll find me deep in research, not because I have to, but because this is genuinely one of my favorite things to do.

So today I want to share what I found.

Why 2026 Is a Special Year for Hotel Lovers-

This year is quietly one of the most exciting years for luxury hotel openings in recent memory. Iconic brands are expanding into unexpected destinations. Boutique properties are emerging in places the world hasn’t fully discovered yet. From remote African riverbanks to centuries-old Italian palazzos, there is something opening this year for every kind of traveller.

As a travel planner, staying ahead of these openings isn’t just personal interest, it’s how I serve my clients well. Knowing what’s new, what’s worth it, and what’s going to be everywhere by December means I can curate experiences that feel ahead of the curve. So here are the seven properties I genuinely cannot stop thinking about, one per continent.

🌍 Africa — Anantara Kafue River Camp, Zambia

Website: anantara.com | Instagram: @anantaratentedcampkafueriver

A tented luxury camp opening on the Kafue River in the middle of the Zambian wilderness. Tented. Luxury. On a river. I need you to sit with that combination for a moment. Anantara has a gift for placing you completely inside nature without sacrificing a single comfort; and this property looks like it may be their most breathtaking yet.

Why I’d book it for a client: This is the one for the couple or family who wants a true safari experience without roughing it. Waking up to the sounds of the river, wildlife on your doorstep, and world-class hospitality doing the rest. It’s the kind of trip that changes you.

🌎 North America — The Monarch, San Antonio, Texas

Website: themonarchsanantonio.com Instagram: @themonarchsa

This one is opening this month, and it is quite literally a road trip away from me, so that is already being planned. San Antonio is an underrated gem and The Monarch looks like the kind of boutique property that elevates the whole conversation about what Texas hospitality can look like.

Why I’d book it for a client: Perfect for a weekend escape that feels like a real getaway without the flight. A girls’ trip, a birthday celebration, boutique luxury close to home. The Riverwalk access alone makes it worth it.

🌎 South America — Four Seasons Cartagena, Colombia

Website: fourseasons.com/cartagena | Instagram: @fscartagena

Colonial architecture. Caribbean coast. Four Seasons service. The photographs had me in a chokehold the moment I found them. Cartagena is one of those cities that already feels like a dream; and a Four Seasons opening there feels like the city finally got the hotel it always deserved.

Why I’d book it for a client: This is the one for the luxury traveller who wants culture AND comfort. Cartagena’s cobblestone streets and Caribbean energy paired with Four Seasons service is a once-in-a-lifetime combination. I’d pair it with a private city tour and a sunset boat experience.

🌍 Europe — Rosewood Blue Palace, Crete, Greece

Website: rosewoodhotels.com | Instagram: @rosewoodbluepalace

I’ve been to Greece. And I will be going back this year. So when I tell you that Rosewood opening a cliffside property on the Aegean Sea in Crete nearly made me close my laptop and just start booking, I mean that sincerely. Rosewood’s attention to intimacy and detail is unmatched. This one has my name on it.

Why I’d book it for a client: Honeymoon. Full stop. But also for the luxury traveller who’s done Santorini and wants something more private and elevated. Crete has so much more to offer than most people realize and Rosewood will show them exactly that.

🌍 Europe — Notto, Portugal (Boutique Pick)

Website: (search and verify) | Instagram: @hotel.napraia

For my boutique lovers this one is small, intimate, and quietly stunning. The kind of place you find and tell very few people about. Portugal has been having a moment for years now and properties like Notto are exactly why. It feels personal in a way that big brands can’t always replicate.

Why I’d book it for a client: The discerning solo traveller or couple who says “I don’t want to feel like a hotel guest, I want to feel like I live there.” This is that answer.

🌏 Asia — Fairmont Hanoi, Vietnam

Website: fairmont.com/hanoi | Instagram: @fairmonthanoi

This one stopped me mid-scroll. I genuinely had to go back. The design is absolutely beautiful; grand but warm, architectural but soulful. I’ve been to Vietnam and it holds a very special place in my heart. The next time I’m there, this is where I’ll be staying. Full stop.

Why I’d book it for a client: Vietnam is still one of the most underrated destinations for luxury travel and Hanoi specifically has this incredible energy, historic, layered, alive. I’d pair a stay here with a private Old Quarter tour, a cooking class, and a Ha Long Bay excursion. Absolutely unforgettable.

The Wildcard — Tyin Island, Norway

Website: ytri.com | Instagram: @ytriretreat

A boutique property opening in April on a dramatic Norwegian fjord. Completely unexpected. Completely extraordinary. And here’s something worth knowing, 2026 is actually one of the best years in decades to witness the northern lights, due to peak solar activity. Norway just became very relevant, very fast. This one feels like it was placed on the calendar by something bigger than coincidence.

Why I’d book it for a client: The bucket list traveller who wants something truly rare. Northern lights, fjord views, boutique intimacy; there is no other experience quite like it. I’d pair it with a dog sledding excursion and a private fjord cruise. For the right client, this is the trip of a lifetime.

A Note Before You Go-

If any of these destinations are already on your heart for 2026, I’d love to help you plan it. This is exactly what we do at Eventrixe. Not just booking travel, but curating experiences that you’ll carry with you long after you come home.

And if you’re dreaming of somewhere that isn’t on this list, reach out anyway. There’s probably a property I found in that rabbit hole that I haven’t even written about yet.

Drop a comment below, which hotel would you visit first? I already know my answer.

With love and wanderlust, Abigail Founder, Eventrixe

Plan your 2026 trip with us → eventrixe.com