New Boutique Hotels From Brooklyn to Japan

The boutique hotel scene keeps heating up, which is good news for agents looking for an off-the-beaten-path getaway to lure Millennial clients. Here's what you need to know. 

the william valeWilliam Vale Opens in Brooklyn

Brooklyn just got a new boutique hotel option in the form of The William Vale, a 183 room property in Williamsburg with views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines. The hotel also has a rooftop pool designed by Andrew Carmellini, said to be the longest hotel pool in the city, plus complimentary Wi-Fi and smart TVs in the guestrooms. 

Agents take note: This hotel will offer an elevated 15 percent commission when booking for the grand opening months of May and June. 

Three New Hotels for Hilton's Curio Collection

Hilton's boutique Curio Collection of hotels just announced a series of new properties in Iceland and the United States

Curio is set to add the Reykjavik Consulate Hotel and Iceland Parliament Hotel in 2018. Near the Harpa Conference and Concert Hall, the Reykjavik Consulate Hotel will have 50 guestrooms in a restored building that once housed Thomsens Magasin, Reykjavik’s first department store. The 160-room Iceland Parliament Hotel will have 360 degree views of the harbour and the city, plus a museum on the ground floor dedicated to Iceland's history of democracy. 

In the United States, Hilton will open the Candler Hotel Atlanta in 2017 in the landmark Candler building following an extensive series of renovations. The 265-room hotel will have king, double queen and suite rooms, plus a restaurant and bar where Candler’s bank was formerly housed, lobby and lounge area. 

Marriott Opens Second Autograph Hotel in Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, Marriott's boutique Autograph brand just added its second property, El Mangroove

Off the Gulf of Papgayo, the 85 suite resort strives for a sustainable lifestyle feel, with natural wood and water elements (think bamboo, stone and natural furnishings) and a design that aims to merge indoor and outdoor space. Guests can also check out the pool (which has views of the Gulf), beach front, on-site bikes and, in the evening, live music and events. 

aloft sarasotaAloft and Element Expand in Boston and Florida

Starwood's Aloft and Element brands have also just announced big expansion plans -- growth of more than 40 percent in Florida by 2019, and a new dual-branded property in Boston's Seaport District

Aloft could be of interest for Millennials for its tech-friendly amenities (including a "robot butler"). Common elements include the W XYZ bar, which spotlights music by emerging artists and hand crafted cocktails, an outdoor Splash pool and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. Element, on the other hand, focuses on sustainability and wellness, with perks like free bikes, a healthy Rise breakfast and a Relax reception in the evenings. 

Aloft and Element just opened a dual-branded hotel in Boston's Seaport District, comprising the 330-room Aloft Boston Seaport and 180-room Element Boston Seaport. The new hotels are right across the street from the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center

Aloft's Florida expansion plans call for the new Aloft Coral Gables to open in January 2017, anchoring a mixed-use development near Miami International Airport, the Port of Miami, Vizcaya, Coconut Grove, South Beach and the Miracle Mile. Then in March the Aloft Miami Airport will open in the Pan American Bank Building near the Miami Free Trade Zone and Dolphin Mall. The Aloft Aventura is slated for a July 2017 opening between Miami and Fort Lauderdale near a selection of premium golf courses, with the opening of the Aloft Weston rounding out 2017. 2017 Will also see the opening of the Element Fort Lauderdale Downtown as the first part of a dual-branded hotel development, with the Aloft Fort Lauderdale opening as part of the same complex in 2019. 

In 2018, the Aloft Delray Beach will open in walking distance of Delray Beach's shops, restaurants, cafés and, of course, the beach. 

Two YTL Properties Join Small Luxury Hotels of the World

In luxury news, Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) just added two new members from YTL Hotels: MUSE St Tropez in France and the Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse in Japan.

MUSE Saint Tropez - Ramatuelle sits in the heart of an award-winning ecological and self-sustainable garden designed by Sophie Agata Ambroise with fourteen suites, each dedicated to a famous muse. For dining, the "M" restaurant serves locally sourced food from the Mediterranean and the Atlantic coastline. For relaxation, there's a pool designed in a "water salon" style, plus in-suite spa treatments based on the hydrolat technique, where microscopic essential oil droplets are suspended in water.

The Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse is situated in Niseko Village, a booming ski hotspot at the base of Mount Niseko Annupuri in the Niseko United ski area. (Expect more buzz around this destination when it gets a bullet train service extension from Hokkaido.)

The eight townhouses are designed as an ode to Japan’s heritage townhouses that were inhabited by craftsmen and wealthy merchants from the Edo period. Each three-bedroom townhouse accommodates up to six adults with a flexible dining area that can be converted into an additional bedroom for two children. Amenities run the gamut from a personal residence concierge to a complimentary one-hour guided Niseko Village mountain orientation to a doorstep welcome for any private ski or snowboard lessons booked during winter. In the summer, guests can enjoy complimentary rounds of golf at two nearby courses or Super Passport tickets at Pure, an activity and adventure park within Niseko Village.

W Tel Aviv Residences Gets a New Penthouse

In renovation news, the W Tel Aviv Residences is getting a new penthouse, slated for completion later this year. 

The new space, the brainchild of London-based designer John Pawson, will offer views of the city's ancient port and the Mediterranean, plus features incorporated from the neighborhood's historic character.