9 Hotels Opening in 2025 That Event Profs Should Know About

A historic, transformed New York City property is expected to open its doors in spring 2025. Waldorf Astoria New York will soon complete a multiyear, thoughtfully crafted restoration effort led by renowned architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and interior design from Pierre-Yves Rochon. The 375-room hotel, located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, will boast a 30,000-square-foot spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and an outdoor terrace meant to serve as an oasis within the bustling city. Acclaimed chef Michael Anthony will serve as the mastermind behind the signature restaurant, Lex Yard, a two-story American brasserie.

Waldorf Astoria New York will also offer 43,000 square feet of event space. The heritage spaces—all being restored with some of their original art deco details—include the Grand Ballroom (pictured), Jade Room, Astor Salon, Basildon Room, and Silver Corridor. Amenities for events will include a dedicated event planner and manager on site, an in-house production consultant for entertainment, a private Grand Ballroom entrance with dedicated elevators, and more.

The countdown is officially on for Universal Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort’s highly anticipated fourth theme park that is set to open on May 22. And anchoring the park is Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel, a 500-room property that will offer views of the park and feature a dedicated entrance into Epic Universe for hotel guests. (It's the first Universal Orlando hotel to have its own theme park entrance.) As its name suggests, expect details of celestial patterns and constellations, plus other casual Mediterranean design elements.

Accommodations will include standard rooms and suites, with some offering theme park views. The hotel will also offer kids' rooms themed after the popular film franchise How to Train Your Dragon. F&B outlets will include a three-meal restaurant, a coffee outlet with gelato and grab-and-go items, a rooftop bar, and a pool bar and grill. The property will feature 3,421 square feet of event space and can accommodate events from an outdoor team-building activity to an indoor reception at Helios Grand Hall.

Graduate Hotels made headlines last year when it was acquired for $210 million by Hilton. The brand's rapid growth continues in 2025, with the anticipated Q1 opening of Graduate by Hilton Dallas, the first Graduate property to open in Texas. The 95-room hotel is located just steps from Southern Methodist University’s campus and will feature Graduate’s signature Poindexter Coffee shop, a communal lobby, on-site food and beverage, and (of course) guest rooms and designs that nod to the school’s traditions and customs. Stay tuned for more details.

A major hotel opening in the Midwest will surely be InterContinental Indianapolis, set to open inside a landmark building this winter. It will be the first luxury hotel to debut in Indianapolis in nearly two decades. The property takes over the Illinois Building, originally built in 1926. It is located at the center of downtown Indy and was listed as one of the state’s 10 most endangered landmarks until being purchased by The Keystone Group. Facets of the building’s original ornate lobby have been preserved, and standout design details include a grand staircase in the second-floor lounge space and curated art all by local Indiana artists.

InterContinental Indianapolis will offer 170 guest rooms, two new dining concepts (including the first rooftop bar of its kind for the city), a 24-hour fitness center, 5,000 square feet of event and meeting space, and the city’s only penthouse suite on a private floor with views of Monument Circle. Event space includes a 2,500-square-foot ballroom, ideal for galas and corporate events, as well as an executive boardroom.

Just this month, Pier Sixty-Six reopened its multibillion-dollar resort, which aims to transform Fort Lauderdale into a “mini Monaco” and help strengthen its position as a yachting capital of the world. After all, the resort sits on 32 acres along Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal Waterway overlooking its marina, one of the largest superyacht marinas on the Eastern Seaboard. The resort’s 325 rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows. Other amenities include a rotating cocktail lounge on the 17th floor and a multilevel "pool paradise" that features a beach-entry pool, a slide, shaded cabanas, and a restaurant nestled in a secret grotto.

Pier Sixty-Six also offers 12 dining venues inspired by Southern Spain, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the French and Italian rivieras. It's also home to one of the largest resort event spaces in Fort Lauderdale, with more than 40,000 square feet of new indoor and outdoor venues.

A bit of luxury is headed to the Charleston, S.C., waterfront. The Cooper plans to debut this fall and is being billed as the only luxury waterfront hotel in the city's downtown. Situated along the Cooper River—with views of the river and Ravenel Bridge—the hotel boasts 191 guest rooms, a wellness spa, an infinity pool, and an exclusive marina with luxury cruising vessels. The Cooper also features five dining venues, including The Crossing, serving up Southern fare, and a rooftop mezze-style restaurant with Eastern Mediterranean cuisine. When it comes to meeting and event space, expect more than 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including expansive areas with stunning views of the water and state-of-the-art meeting rooms.

The minds behind luxury brand 1 Hotels are also behind Treehouse Hotels, which describes itself as a "carefree, nostalgic" brand offering more laid-back experiences. In Q1 of this year, Treehouse will open its third location and first in the U.S.: Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley. Located in Sunnyvale, Calif., the property will feature 111 guest rooms (with plans to expand to 254) and Valley Goat, a restaurant led by Stephanie Izard, a James Beard Award-winning chef and the first woman to win Top Chef. The design of the hotel is inspired by Sunnyvale's agricultural roots, as it was once a place covered in vast apricot orchards, fields of grapes, fig trees, and wild pastures. To honor this, the grounds have been planted with hundreds of native oaks, redwoods, and fruit trees, alongside more than 20,000 plants.

Treehouse Silicon Valley can also accommodate a variety of gatherings. It offers more than 7,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces, including the Marigold Boardroom, The Vale, and the showstopping glass barn.

Fairmont plans to make a grand return to New Orleans this summer. The luxury brand, which shuttered its original hotel in 2005 due to damage from Hurricane Katrina, will open Fairmont New Orleans as part of the redevelopment project of 1010 Common St. The hotel will occupy 18 stories within the 31-story Bank of New Orleans building and offer 250 guest rooms. Planned amenities include a 10,000-square-foot spa and three F&B venues throughout the property, including an all-day-dining restaurant, a lobby lounge, and a rooftop bar and speakeasy overlooking a swimming pool with expansive views of the city. The hotel will also offer more than 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space comprising ballrooms, meeting rooms, and a library and business center.

D.C.'s beloved Georgetown neighborhood will welcome Canal House of Georgetown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, in February. The 108-key property transforms a five-story former office building and combines it with adjacent townhouses. Expect the C+O Lounge on site for sips and light bites in the lobby and a courtyard. Stay tuned for more details.