The rise of hotel-branded residences and a look at some of the best

The appeal to high-end customers is clear - residents enjoy all the services and amenities one relishes at a hotel, including room service, daily room cleaning, valet parking, and pool and spa access, while having the convenience of a permanent address at the hotel. One can essentially live at the hotel, for a substantial fee, of course. With more 5-star apartments opening last year than in any previous year, it is obvious that luxury hotel brands and property developers are recognising the demand from the more affluent customer, with 2016 set to see the industry expand even further. In London alone, a number of high-end developments are popping up in Fitzrovia, Westminster, Bayswater, Marylebone and the Hyde Park Estate, joining established residences in Knightsbridge, Mayfair and Belgravia. With many leading luxury hotel brands active in the industry, including Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental and St.Regis, we take a look at some of the best options for customers looking for a long-term holiday home or permanent address with hotel-style service:

One Hyde Park, London

With views across Knightsbridge and Hyde Park, this exclusive residential and retail complex features 86 properties with prices starting at around £20 million. Privacy is a big part of the One Hyde Park’s attraction - its one-page website displays only a picture of the London skyline and an address and phone number for prospective customers. Notable owners of One Hyde Park properties include Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, former Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar.

One Hyde Park

Itz’ana Resort & Residences, Belize

This Belize resort last year launched its final phase of waterfront cottages and villas, ranging from $295,000 (£208,000) to $1 million (£700,000). The waterfront homes on the beach and the marina vary from one-bedroom cottages to five-bedroom villas, and all feature a strong focus on sustainability.

Five-bedroom lagoon villa

Four Seasons Private Residences Bangkok at Chao Phraya River

A part of a larger estate that includes the high-end Capella Hotel Bangkok, Four Seasons’ luxury private residences at Chao Phraya River opened in May last year to a marvellous reaction. Standing head and shoulders above other new residential riverfront offerings in the city, the 73-storey Four Seasons Chao Phraya offers 300 “ultra-luxurious” residences.

Four Seasons Private Residences Bangkok at Chao Phraya River

The Residences by Anantara Phuket Layan

The first branded residences for the award-wining luxury Anantara brand, The Residences by Anantara Phuket Layan are located on the tranquil Layan Beach, on the northwest coast of Phuket. It features 15 impressive villas ranging in size from three to seven bedrooms, each with a 21-metre infinity pool and unobstructed 180-degree views of the Andaman Sea.

The Residences by Anantara Phuket Layan

St Regis Residences, New York

The St. Regis Residences, New York offers luxury in the heart of the big apple - just a 6-minute walk from Central Park. “Owners can savour the delights of living at this legendary hotel and owning a piece of privileged history,” its website says. Features include glamorous rooms with 12-foot ceilings, silk wall coverings, chandeliers and a 24-hour personal butler service.

St Regis Residences, New York

Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas, Mexico

With planning in place for a 2018 opening, Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas will be part of the exclusive Costa Palmas resort community, which will also feature a private marina and members-only beach and yacht club, all set along a two-mile stretch of immaculate white-sand beach and the warm, swimmable waters of the Sea of Cortez. The Resort will feature a collection of whole-ownership oceanfront, marina-side and golf-side private residences, as well as an intimate collection of custom single-family beachfront private residence villas.

Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas So, with the rise of the hotel-branded residence, are hotel stays becoming less desirable, or will the traditional hotel experience always have a place when it comes to luxury travellers? Let us know your thoughts and experiences about the increasingly popular hotel-branded residences.