Leading Hotels of the World Adds Six Independent Luxury Properties Across Five Countries

October additions range from a restored Dubrovnik landmark and a Dolomites retreat to new urban hotels in the United States and distinctive stays in Bhutan and Kenya.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• LHW added six independent hotels across Italy, Croatia, the United States, Bhutan and Kenya in October 2026.
• The new members span restored historic properties, upcoming hotel openings and established nature-focused retreats.
• The Nora Hotel in West Palm Beach is planned for fall 2026; Villa Argentina reopened after renovation in 2026.
• Hemingways Nairobi is described as the collection’s first member hotel in Kenya.

Travelers looking for independent luxury hotels have six more properties to explore through The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), whose October 2026 additions stretch from the Italian Dolomites and Croatia’s Adriatic coast to the United States, Bhutan and Kenya. Rather than following a single hotel format, the new members include historic restorations, a forthcoming urban development, a Himalayan tented-villa retreat and a garden hotel in Nairobi.

The additions include Le Graal Cortina in Italy, Villa Argentina in Croatia, The Nora Hotel in Florida, Recess Hotel & Club Savannah in Georgia, Pemako Punakha in Bhutan and Hemingways Nairobi in Kenya. Membership in the collection does not necessarily mean a hotel has only just opened: the selection includes both operating properties and hotels with openings planned for 2026.

“Our October new members take LHW travelers from the Dolomites and Dubrovnik to West Palm Beach, Savannah, Bhutan and Nairobi, reflecting the range of destinations within our global collection,” said Dean Bannon, LHW’s Vice President, Member Experience. He described the properties’ connection to their individual destinations as a defining element of the selection.

European additions combine Alpine design and Adriatic heritage

In Cortina d’Ampezzo, Le Graal Cortina is being developed within a reimagined 1920s palazzo at the foot of the Dolomites. Interiors conceived by designer Achille Salvagni incorporate Italian furnishings and references to regional craftsmanship, while the Le Monsù restaurant, led by chef Giovanni Guarneri, brings Italian and Sicilian influences to its menu. The property is described as opening in 2026, with no exact date supplied in the announcement.

In Dubrovnik, Villa Argentina has reopened in 2026 following an extensive renovation. Its location near the Old Town places guests close to the historic city walls while offering Adriatic views and Mediterranean gardens descending toward the coast. The refurbishment retains the hotel’s architectural legacy while updating interiors with materials and colours inspired by Dalmatia.

Two different approaches to city stays in the United States

The 201-room The Nora Hotel is scheduled to open in fall 2026 in West Palm Beach. The project, described as BD Hotels’ first ground-up hotel outside New York City, sits within the emerging Nora District, where former railway warehouses are being repurposed for retail, dining, wellness and creative businesses. Stantec is responsible for architecture and GACHOT Studios for interiors, with design references to Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.

Its planned facilities include a ground-floor Pastis restaurant, Sisley Spa Paris and the Lillys rooftop offerings, comprising a pool, Bar Lilly and Cafe Lilly. As an upcoming opening at the time of the announcement, these are planned guest amenities rather than a statement that every facility is already operating.

In Savannah, Recess Hotel & Club Savannah occupies the historic Manger Building, originally constructed as the Hotel Savannah in 1912. Reworked by Left Lane and Atelier Pond, the Beaux-Arts property pairs restored mosaic floors and arched windows with a more contemporary social-club concept. Shared spaces include guest-floor Rumpus Rooms, coworking areas, artist-designed suites, Le Flaneur brasserie, Kilter rooftop bar and a Saltgrass spa and fitness offering.

Bhutanese hospitality and a new LHW destination in Kenya

Pemako Punakha offers 21 tented villas across 60 acres beside Bhutan’s Mo Chhu River. Conceived by designer Bill Bensley, the property draws on Bhutanese architectural motifs and the Himalayan concept of beyul, or hidden sanctuary. Experiences described by the hotel range from meditation and prayers with a resident monk to archery and cultural excursions. The retreat is presented as the flagship of Pemako, a Bhutanese-owned and managed luxury hotel group.

Hemingways Nairobi, in the leafy Karen neighbourhood of Kenya’s capital, becomes LHW’s first member hotel in the country, according to the announcement. With gardens and views of the Ngong Hills, the property also offers a base for travelers interested in Nairobi itself, including its museums, galleries and access to Nairobi National Park, rather than treating the city solely as a transit point before a safari.

What the expansion means for guests

The October intake broadens the independent collection’s options across mountain, coastal, city and nature-focused stays. LHW says its wider portfolio comprises more than 450 hotels in over 80 countries. Travelers can consult individual property pages for opening dates and availability, particularly for hotels still preparing to welcome guests.

Guests also have access to the company’s Leaders Club programme, which offers benefits that can include breakfast, flexible check-in, upgrades and points, subject to the programme’s terms and qualifying stays. The latest additions are part of a long-running independent-hotel network founded in 1928, with each participating property retaining its individual identity.