Bulgari Hotel & Residences, London

2012 looks all set to be a good year for fashion house-owned hotels, with Armani thought to be opening in Marrakech at some point. And whilst the good people over at Bulgari have been keeping a little tight-lipped about details of their 2012 London opening, if it’s anything like its elder sisters Bulgari Milan and Bulgari Bali, it’ll be absolutely gorgeous.

When? Spring 2012

Where? 171 Knightsbridge, London

More details: Bulgarihotels.com

Hotel Selman, Marrakech

With a hotel list that includes L’Hotel, Hotel Bourg Tibourg and Hotel Costes in Paris, it’s hard to ignore a new Jacques Garcia hotel. This Marrakech offering from the French designer comes off the back of his work reviving the city’s grande dame, La Mamounia, and with a couple of restaurants, a spa and a stable of Arab horses for guests’ use on a 15-acre plot on the outskirts of Marrakech, it is by all accounts going to be luxe-y and lovely in equal measures.

When? March 2012

Where? Marrakech

More details: Gla-hotel-operator.com

Delicious Hotel, Franschhoek

Taking the price point down a notch or two, the five rooms at Delicious Hotel (which actually soft-launched in December 2011) are fun in design with bright, bubble-gum splashes of turquoise, pink and green. Most importantly, though, they’re very reasonably priced – starting from around £37 per night – which means you can enjoy Franschhoek’s fab wine and food (some of the best in South Africa) without too many budget worries.

When? January 2012

Where? 11 Wilhelmina Street, Franschhoek

More details: Delicioushotels.com

Hotel Modern, New Orleans

Klaus Ortlieb, one of the forces behind the stunning Cooper Square Hotel (now the Standard East Village) in New York, is set to re-launch Hotel le Cirque in 2012. Things that piqued our interest? It’s likely to be an informal set-up: they’re doing away with a conventional reception area and check-in, and instead will be seeing guests to their room with a glass of wine and a tour of the premises; plus, in keeping with the seamy ‘Nawlins’ vibe, the hotel will also put on regular burlesque nights. But it’s the restaurant, Tamarind – a Vietnamese-French joint from renowned local chef Dominique Macquet – that’s really getting foodies worked up over there.

When? Opening date has not been set yet

Where? 936 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans

More details: Thehotelmodern.com

The Siam, Bangkok

While Bangkok is due a new Sofitel and the Oriental Residence in the next 12 months, the most exciting new hotel in 2012 has to be The Siam. A collaboration between Krissada Sukosol Clapp and interior/landscape designer Bill Bensley, it’s already looking like a gorgeous blend of colonial chic styling – think high ceilings with whirring fans, dark wood floors and floaty white curtains – to go with some lovely gardens and a regal riverside location.

When? Spring 2012

Where? Thanon Khao, Vachirapayabal, Dusit, Bangkok 10300

More details: Thesiamhotel.com

Five More New Hotel Openings in 2012 to Watch Out for…

ME London: Another year, another new London hotel... While the Shangri-La looks fun for its Shard location and The Wellesley is going all out for six stars, if the ME London is anything like its Madrid counterpart, it’ll be the best new hotel to open in the capital in 2012.

Castello di Casole, Tuscany: What’s not to like about a grand Tuscan castle surrounded by vineyards, orchards and cypress avenues?

Lord Balfour, Miami: Due to open in winter 2012, the Lord Balfour looks like it’s going to bring a fair dollop of quirky chic to South Beach.

The Magdalen Chapter, Exeter: After last year’s well-received launch of the Montpellier Chapter in Cheltenham, we’re looking forward to seeing the Exeter arm open in late Spring 2012.

Soho House… Somewhere? There are more than a few whispers about new Soho Houses in the pipeline in 2012. And if that’s the case, all bets are off – it’s almost guaranteed to be our pick of the bunch.

Like our pick of the best new hotels of 2012? Check out some of our favourites of last year's new hotels in London.