Under Construction: Seven New Hotels Where You Can Use Points in 2019 and Beyond
There are already thousands of hotels and resorts around the world where you can earn and use points, but it isn't that hard to end up in a situation where you can't use the points you have to visit the places you want. Thankfully, new hotels are always under construction, meaning that when you take the trips of 'tomorrow', you should have more options that you do today. While I highly advise against getting too fixated on the exact opening date estimations since these sort of things like to live in flux, there are some very appealing points-friendly hotels under construction as we speak.
To get you thinking about some future adventures, here are the highlights of seven different exciting points-friendly hotels and resorts currently under construction all around the world.
Hyatt Centric Dublin coming in 2019
Dublin doesn't have as many points-friendly hotels as you might think, but that situation will improve in the coming years as a few more hotels open their doors, including the Hyatt Centric Dublin. The Hyatt Centric Dublin is estimated to open in mid-2019 as a 234-room property opposite of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Believe it or not, this will actually be the first Hyatt property in all of Ireland!
Hyatt Centric Carlisle Bay Barbados targeting 2019 opening
Hyatt is in the process of building a 237-room resort that will be located on about three acres of waterfront along Barbados' Carlisle Bay. The Hyatt Centric Carlisle Bay Barbados will also be home to 32 Hyatt Centric-branded residential condo units. Families will rejoice in the hotel offering a kid's club, in addition to standard high-end resort offerings such as a spa, pool, and restaurants.
You can check out this renderings video to get a feel for the amenities and style of the resort. This property is only a few miles from the airport, so once you reach Barbados, it shouldn't be too hard to get to the resort and start relaxing.
Park Hyatt Auckland also set to open in 2019
New Zealand is another destination that is short on points-friendly options in many loyalty programs, including Hyatt. However, in 2019, they are scheduled to open the Park Hyatt Auckland with 195 rooms, a spa, and a 25-meter pool. The most recent updates I have seen on this property are that a few hundred construction and trades workers from China have been brought in to keep moving the project along, so hopefully, 2019 will remain their opening target.
The St. Regis Bermuda Resort is under construction
The St. Regis Bermuda Resort may boast a scheduled January 2019 opening on the SPG page, but the most recent update I have seen points towards 2021. In other words, don't start packing your beach bags just yet. Whenever it opens, I bet it will be stunning as it is set on the rose sand beaches of Bermuda with 122 rooms, all with private balconies overlooking St. Catherine's beach.
The resort will have adult and family swimming pools, an 18-hole golf course, kid and teen clubs, a children's playground, a wine vault, and a 24-hour casino. I think that just checked off all of our family's wish lists, so expect our reservation for 2021, or whenever the resort is completed. You can check out a video of the planned design here.
New Hyatt Ziva and Zilara all-inclusive resorts coming to Punta Cana
I'm a raging fan of the Hyatt Ziva and Zilara all-inclusive resorts where you can use points for a high-end and stress-free resort experience with either the whole family at the Ziva resorts, or for an adults-only getaway at the Zilara resorts. There are even included kid's clubs at the Ziva properties so that you can sneak in some adult time during a family vacation.
I'm thrilled to learn that new Hyatt Ziva and Zilara properties are coming to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. These all-inclusive resorts will feature 750 rooms on 40 beachfront acres. A look at the renderings shows plans for a lazy river, waterslide, and water play structure.
The Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Cap Cana are targeting a fall 2019 opening, so Punta Cana has now been added to our 2019 - 2020 family travel wish list!
Ritz-Carlton Reserve Hotel coming to Bermuda
We already know that a St. Regis is coming to Bermuda, but a Ritz Carlton is scheduled to open even before the St. Regis. The massive82-acre project will include a Ritz Carlton Reserve Hotel and 149 Ritz Carlton Residences. The hotel portion will offer 77 guest rooms and two presidential suites...because one is just not quite enough!
They hope to have 'Phase 1', comprised of five buildings with thirty-five residences, completed by summer 2018. The Ritz Carlton Hotel, spa, and remaining residences are scheduled to be completed in summer 2019. Unfortunately, as I was reminded in the comments section, the Ritz Carlton Reserve properties are not eligible for using Marriott Rewards points. I haven't heard if that is something that may change with the SPG/Marriott programs combining, but this may be a property that falls outside the scope of Marriott Rewards points.
W Aspen scheduled to open in 2019
In the location of the old Sky Hotel (which was a Kimpton property when it closed its doors), the W Aspen is currently under construction and scheduled for a spring 2019 opening. This hotel will offer 88 hotel rooms and 11 fractional-ownership residences sold in 1/10 shares.
I never visited the Sky Hotel, but apparently, it was quite the hangout, and the W Aspen is positioning itself to pick up the party scene where the Sky left off. In other words, this may not be the spot for a family trip to Aspen, but might be the perfect spot for you and your friends to put your SPG/Marriott Rewards points to use.
New hotels are always exciting, and this list has me looking forward to points-fueled adventures in 2019 and beyond. Do any of these or other under-construction hotels have you plotting future miles and points adventures?