In 2025, hotels will make headlines by increasingly becoming destinations in their own right – they will immerse guests in the local culture, history, and natural beauty of their surroundings. For example, guests will be enamored by the charm of restored Mozambiquan Dhows at Jannah Lamu in Kenya or leaning into the old-world charm of the Maryhill Estate in Sweden. While many Trailblazer Hotels are independently owned, some belong to larger chains. Reverb Hamburg, a Hard Rock property, opened in a World War II-era bunker; Bunkhouse hotels in the US, known for creating memorable boutique experiences with flagships in Texas, California, and Kentucky; while Marriott International’s Edition Lake Como, set in a 19th-century Italian mansion, opens in 2025. Major hotel groups are adapting too, launching curated boutique collections such as Accor’s Handwritten Collection, which is expected to include more than 17 hotels globally by 2025.