INSIDER TRAVEL REPORT

 

 

They can’t build or renovate them fast enough. Here are a few notables. 

 

The Fitzwilliam, Dublin and Admiral Hotel Copenhagen complete major renovations, Hassler Roma opens a redesigned Palm Court and 45 Park Lane launches a new spa partnership and wellness program.

 

 

The Fitzwilliam, Dublin has completed a propertywide renovation of the independent five-star hotel at the corner of Grafton Street and St. Stephen’s Green. The project updated the lobby, The Lounge, 139 guestrooms and suites and the nearly 2,000-square-foot Penthouse Suite. The hotel has operated for nearly three decades.

 

“Our goal with The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin’s renovation was to create a profound connection between our guests and the city of Dublin,” said Fergal O’Connell, CEO of Fitzwilliam Hospitality Group and general manager of the hotel. “The reimagined Fitzwilliam not only serves as a luxurious, sophisticated urban oasis, but as a highly curated gateway to the broader Irish experience.”

 

The redesigned lobby has floor-to-ceiling windows, a fireplace, commissioned contemporary portraits, walnut paneling, brass, black marble and seasonal foliage inspired by St. Stephen’s Green. The Lounge has been redesigned as an all-day dining venue centered around a new bar. 

 

The guestrooms and suites use geometric patterns and details influenced by the Art Deco period, along with the hotel’s royal purple color palette. Guests can choose accommodations overlooking the courtyard or St. Stephen’s Green. Some Deluxe Premium guestrooms include private terraces overlooking the park.

 

The hotel offers local experiences including visits to literary sites, private gallery viewings and artisan design studios. It also can arrange sea swimming, golf and hiking along the cliffs of Howth.

 

Glovers Alley, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, will reopen in Sept. 2026 with a redesigned interior and a new menu under executive chef Adam Nevin, who received its first Michelin star in Feb. 2025. www.fitzwilliamhoteldublin.com.

 

 

 

 

Admiral Hotel Copenhage completed a $20 million renovation, including the opening of a year-round outdoor pool and relaxation area overlooking Copenhagen Harbor. The project, completed between Jan. 2024 and July 2026, updated the waterfront hotel, which occupies a restored 1787 warehouse overlooking the harbor, Amalienborg Palace and the Royal Danish Opera House.

 

The hotel’s guestrooms and suites had been renovated previously. The design combines contemporary Scandinavian elements with the building’s maritime features.

 

“Admiral Hotel Copenhagen has long been one of the city’s most distinctive addresses, celebrated for its history and unparalleled location,” said Jesper Stubgaard, managing director. “This investment has been guided by a commitment to preserving the hotel’s heritage and architectural integrity while introducing a new level of comfort, design, and hospitality.”

 

Aye Aye, the hotel’s signature restaurant, serves Mediterranean-influenced dishes made with Nordic ingredients and open-fire cooking, and serves hotel guests and local residents.

 

A cocktail bar. Sir, located within the hotel’s former grain warehouse, was added during the renovation. Its name vomes from the naval affirmation “Aye aye, Sir.” www.admiralhotel.dk.

 

 

 

 

The Hassler Roma has opened a redesigned Palm Court garden as part of the historic hotel’s ongoing renovation. Designer Jacques Garcia based the new space on archival images of the property and introduced green-and-white striped sofas, Roman statues, palms and a white marble bar, to reflect a simpler aesthetic based on the hotel’s history. 

 

Italian artisans produced the custom furnishings and restored architectural details. 

 

This follows updates to Imago, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant. 

 

Future work will include the ground floor corridor and lounges and a new spa beneath the famous Spanish Steps. The hotel has stood over the Spanish Steps since opening in 1893. www.hotelhasslerroma.com.

 

 

 

 

45 Park Lane is a Dorchester Collection hotel in London’s Mayfair neighborhood, and has named La Prairie as its official spa partner and launched The Art of Wellness program. 

 

Guests, after a skin consultation, select one of three sensory concepts inspired by Swiss landscapes – Lakes, Mountains or Forests – using scent, sound and touch.

 

The Art of Wellness is organized around three areas: relax, restore and revive. Services include sleep consultations; sound bath therapy, meditation and breathwork; personalized yoga, Pilates and physiotherapy programs; aesthetic consultations and beauty treatments from practitioners; and retreats combining accommodations, nutrition, movement and spa treatments.

 

The hotel also has introduced a La Prairie stay experience that includes an indulgent caviar and champagne tasting, a Contour and Sculpt Facial or Mayfair Men’s Facial ($600 — you read that right, but it includes other treatments) and an overnight stay. Customized programs also can combine personal training, nutritional guidance, spa treatments, movement sessions, personalized take-home wellness plans, accommodations and access to the spa facilities.

 

“Today’s guests are increasingly seeking personalized and holistic approaches to well-being,” said Lee Kelly, general manager. “Our partnership with La Prairie and the launch of The Art of Wellness reflects our commitment to providing experiences that support guests both during their stay and beyond.”

 

www.dorchestercollection.com/london/45-park-lane/spa-wellness