Las Vegas is set to feature a new heart-shaped hotel tower, following a trend of increasingly unique and unconventional accommodations worldwide. Permits have been approved for the 29-story structure to be built on the site of the former SkyVue Ferris wheel. The hotel is planned to include an LED facade, an outdoor recreation area, and retail spaces.
Global Quirky Stays
This development aligns with a global rise in extraordinary hotels that move beyond traditional resort offerings. Examples include the Sky Lodge Adventure Suites in Peru, where transparent capsules hang 1,200 feet above the Sacred Valley of Cuzco, accessible by climbing or zip line. For those seeking an elevated experience, the Treehotel in Sweden offers modern treehouse accommodations, ranging from a mirrored cube to a UFO-shaped dome.
In Wales, the Melin Mabes glamping site features a UFO-themed pod designed to resemble a spacecraft, complete with NASA-inspired interiors and color-changing lights. Qatar's Katara Towers, designed to resemble two crossed swords, houses luxury hotel chains and offers apartments and retail spaces. IMAGE1
Architectural and Themed Hotels
Architectural distinctiveness is also a hallmark of some unique hotels. The Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort in China is shaped like a horseshoe, offering views over Tai Lake. In Lisbon, Portugal, the WC Beautique Hotel embraces a bathroom theme, with blue and green decor and staff in pajamas. IMAGE11
Further innovation in hotel design can be seen at the Crane Hotel Faralda in Amsterdam, where three luxury suites are suspended inside a monumental crane, 50 meters above ground, complete with a panorama lounge and hot tub. IMAGE9
Historic and Themed Conversions
Unique lodging also extends to the conversion of historic sites. The Bodmin Jail Hotel in Cornwall, England, transformed a former prison into a luxury retreat, retaining the building's original character with rooms occupying former cells. The jail, which opened in 1779 and closed in the 1920s, was redeveloped after acquiring planning permission in 2017.
For a winter experience, the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, is rebuilt annually with ice and snow, featuring suites decorated by artists and ice rooms kept at approximately minus five degrees Celsius. IMAGE2
Novel Concepts and Locations
Creative concepts continue to emerge, such as the Hotel Marqués De Riscal in Spain, designed by architect Frank Gehry with flowing shapes meant to evoke a ribbon. Its avant-garde design is situated in the Spanish winelands. In New Zealand, The Hobbit Motel offers cozy, cave-like accommodations for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's works. IMAGE6
Adventure and unique settings are also key. Costa Verde in Costa Rica features a repurposed 1965 Boeing 727 airframe perched on a pedestal overlooking the ocean and jungle, furnished with teak furniture. IMAGE12 In Scotland, The Bus Stop offers glamping in converted single and double-decker buses, providing an 'off-grid' experience in the East Lothian countryside.