2026 Travel Hotlist: BIRD announces 2026’s most anticipated hotel openings and destination debuts

As travellers begin planning adventures for next year, BIRD is proud to spotlight the hottest new hotels and destinations debuts from across its portfolio to earmark for 2026 travel. From a clinical healing sanctuary in Kerala to a landmark revival on a private French island, remote journeys across Oman and a cliff-side retreat in the Cyclades, our 2026 line-up is as diverse as it is compelling. What unites them is a shared ethos; each being family-owned and with a deep commitment to destination-rich experiences and transformative travel.

NEW OPENINGS & DEVELOPMENTS:

  • Tulåh, clinical wellness, Kerala: Introducing a new paradigm of healing and transformation in 2026
  • Na Praia, Comporta: A decade-long vision realised on Portugal’s Atlântico coastline set on a peninsula between the ocean and a wild nature reserve launching in Spring 2026
  • Zannier Bendor, South of France: Debuting in Spring 2026 on the French private island of Île de Bendor
  • Luura Cliff, Paros: A new family-owned hospitality brand that will debut in Spring 2026 with Luura Cliff, a 39-key hotel on the western side of Paros, marking Ennismore’s debut in Greece
  • Vestige Collection, Namibia: Unveils its first step in global expansion with four new destinations in northern Namibia together with further openings across the Balearic Islands
  • The Malkai, Oman: A first-of-its-kind immersion into the Sultanate of Oman

tulåh clinical wellness, Kerala – opening February 2026

Set across the lush hills of Kerala, tulåh is a sanctuary of healing and transformation, where ancient wisdom and modern science converge with clinical precision and world-class expertise. Drawing from Ayurveda, Vedanta, Yoga, Tibetan and Traditional Chinese Medicine, tulåh harmonises tradition and innovation, weaving advanced diagnostics, regenerative therapies, and personalised, farm-to-table nutrition into journeys that restore balance to body, mind, and soul. The sanctuary spans 65 suites and 14 treatment rooms, immersed in rewilded forests, medicinal gardens and regenerative waters. Guided by a philosophy of balance, tulåh is a global ecosystem redefining the intersection of healthcare and living, beginning with its Kerala sanctuary and extending to urban hubs and at-home programmes that carry its healing philosophy into everyday life.

tulåh clinical wellness, Kerala

Na Praia, Comporta – opening Spring 2026

Na Praia is the visionary new project from José António Uva – the eighth-generation steward of São Lourenço do Barrocal – set on a secluded stretch of Portugal’s Atlantic coast just beyond Comporta. Opening in Spring 2026, this distinctive 113-key independent hotel is an ode to the untamed beauty of its surroundings and the result of more than a decade of careful design and lasting commitment to conservation. The development will feature cutting-edge architecture ingeniously adapted and guided by the land and its three distinct ecosystems – ocean, dunes and the estuary – meticulously designed by José António’s hospitality development firm Estúdio Lisboa, alongside Studio KO and Doxiadis+, working towards the shared goal of safeguarding the pristine wild landscapes and endemic species of the coastal dunes. Beyond its opening, Na Praia aspires to set a benchmark for architecture and hospitality in tune with nature and privacy. Its legacy will be one of presence and care, a timeless celebration of Portugal’s untamed beauty for generations to come.

Comporta, Portugal

Zannier Bendor, South of France – opening Spring 2026

One of Europe’s most anticipated openings, Zannier Bendor, will debut in spring 2026 on the private French island of Île de Bendor. First brought to life in 1950 by pastis pioneer, Paul Ricard, the seven-hectare island has been reimagined through a five-year transformation. The Provençal-style village will reopen as an elegant 93-key boutique hotel, across three locations, complete with a holistic wellness spa, beach club, diving centre, and eight dining spaces – including the second outpost of Nonna Bazaar.

Zannier Bendor, South of France
Zannier Bendor, South of France

Luura Cliff, Paros – opening Spring 2026  

Luura, a brand-new family-owned hospitality brand, will debut its inaugural resort, Luura Cliff in Paros, in May 2026 under the Ennismore portfolio. Founded by Vivium, the family office of businessman and entrepreneur Elie Khouri, Luura is a multigenerational vision rooted in family values. The brand’s first Mediterranean venture, Luura Cliff, will open as a 39-key all-suite oceanfront property, with views of Antiparos, designed by Elastic Architects, known for their sculptural approach, with interiors by Lambs and Lions studio. Drawing on the timeless purity of Cycladic architecture, the resort will feature a village-like constellation of iconic whitewashed buildings. The adults-only hotel will also feature a private chapel and event space for weddings and private buyouts. Situated on the island of Paros, the hotel represents a bold new chapter in contemporary Greek hospitality and the beginning of an ambitious Mediterranean expansion that will include additional properties in Paros, Athens, and beyond.

Luura Cliff, Paros
Luura Cliff, Paros

Vestige Binidufà, Menorca – opening Spring 2026

Following the opening of sister hotel, Son Ermità, in June 2025, Binidufà will complete the shared 800-hectare estate, opening in April 2026. With 22 spacious guest bedrooms and sumptuous suites – 10 at Son Ermità and 11 at Binidufà – guests can opt to stay within the valley adorned by swaying palms at Bindufà, or at Son Ermità which rises majestically over land and sea. Sophisticated interiors pay homage to the properties’ original features, while also embracing contemporary design, blending earthy colours with locally sourced furniture and restored antiques.  A shared dining concept will see two restaurants; a plant-first farm-to-table restaurant, Mesura, and fine dining at Brisa, where Vestige’s chefs reimagine classic Menorcan dishes using seasonal fare.

Vestige Namibia – opening Summer 2026

Summer 2026 marks a bold new chapter for Vestige Collection, as the family-run hospitality brand launches four new destinations in northern Namibia: its first step in global expansion. Building on their portfolio of hotels and private estates across mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, Vestige’s four lodges will continue to embody the brand’s values of community, harmonious design, meaningful experiences, and uncompromising quality. Embracing the unique spirit of their African surroundings, and highlighting the beauty of nature, wildlife, and the local community, Vestige’s lodges will allow guests to immerse themselves in a single property or combine multiple lodges into a complete Vestige journey.

Vestige Namibia

Vestige Can Jordi, Formentera – opening 2026

Marking Vestige’s expansion to another Balearic Island, Can Jordi lies on the coast of Formentera, next to one of the best beaches on the island, Cala Saona. Can Jordi is one of four properties on a shared estate, each occupying three hectares of land, offering guests a peaceful escape. In keeping with the Vestige design blueprint, the building showcases modern architecture, whilst its stone-based rustic exterior blends seamlessly into the natural, arid landscape that surrounds it.

Vestige Can Jordi, Formentera 

Vestige Son Veri, Valldemossa – opening 2026

A short twenty minutes from Palma, one of the island’s most enchanting villages, Valldemossa is circled by the steeply wooded hills of the Tramuntana mountain range. On the fringe of the village rests Vestige Son Veri. Tucked beneath wooded slopes with breathtaking vistas out to the surrounding valley, the private estate stands in splendid isolation making it a serene escape for guests wanting to explore the island on their own terms. Son Veri’s shuttered stone building is framed by 100 hectares of repurposed farmland, home to cereal crops, olive and almond trees. With six spacious and quietly luxurious guest bedrooms, designed in the inimitable Vestige style, groups of friends and family can use the space to connect with each other as well the picturesque local environment.  

Vestige Son Veri, Valldemossa

The Malkai, Oman – opening Q4 2026

A first-of-its-kind immersion into the Sultanate of Oman, opening in autumn/winter 2026, The Malkai’s three sites will provide guests with an unparalleled opportunity to explore Oman’s heritage, culture, and diverse natural beauty in one extraordinary journey. Travelling from the coastal plains of Barka near Muscat, to the soaring Al Hajar mountains and onwards to the sweeping Sharqiya Sands, guests are chauffeured in a fully equipped Land Rover Defender, with their own personal guide. Each site — complete with dining, spa facilities, and infinity pools — houses just 15 spacious tented Pavilions, the first in Oman to offer year-round accommodation, with a strong commitment to the local environment and biodiversity at each site. The Malkai is the culmination of a decades-long dream passed down through generations by one family dedicated to sharing the beauty of their homeland.

The Malkai, Oman
The Malkai, Oman