Exclusive Feature: Twenty-thirteen will be a big year for hotel openings, and to kick things off are two of the newest hotels to enter the market: one in Tokyo and the other in Dubai.

Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo opened its doors on New Year's Day. Japanese hospitality company Fujita Kanko re-flagged its iconic flagship property under a new name, Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, after 20 years operating as Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Chinzan-so. The newly re-opened hotel offers 260 rooms and suites and 12 restaurants, 36 meeting and banquet rooms, and Yu, The Spa, Tokyo's largest hotel spa.

More changes will come to the newly re-opened hotel. Fujita Kanko says it will invest $90 million in the hotel for renovations over the next three years.

"Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo is more than a luxury hotel, it's a Japanese gem - a one-of-a-kind urban oasis where guests can indulge in the ultimate luxury while experiencing authentic Japanese culture," said Kazumasa Suezawa, Fujita Kanko's President and CEO, in a press statement.

The most dramatic move that came from this new opening, however, was how the hotel honored its surroundings. For hundreds of years, the area was a renowned scenic site with abundant wild camellias. In 1918, Baron Heitaro Fujita acquired the property from Prince Aritomo Yamagata, who had named it Chinzanso ("villa on a mountain of camellias"). Approximately a thousand camellia trees – a hundred species – blossom every winter in the garden. To celebrate its debut, the hotel is offering various camellia campaigns throughout January and February, such as a Camellia Lunch Buffet, which includes dishes prepared with camellia oil and jam.

Over in Dubai, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts recently announced the opening of its fifth property in the Middle East city. The opening of this hotel also marks the first international hotel company to operate a property in Al Mamzar.

The Mövenpick Hotel Apartments The Square is close to the Al Mamzar Beach Park and Dubai's historical centre. It boasts 180 guest rooms, as well as one- and two-bedroom hotel apartment suites. Each of the rooms and apartments have a kitchenette, and the hotel is also home to The Spices, a contemporary all day dining restaurant. There's a rooftop swimming pool, where cocktails and light snacks and shisha can be enjoyed. 

"In addition to being the only international hotel company in Al Mamzar, we look forward to differentiate the hotel by providing the Swiss quality, value and five-star service which Mövenpick is renowned for," said Chadi Gedeon, general manager of Mövenpick Hotel Apartments The Square, in a press statement. "Our hotel is ideal for families, executive travelers and long-stay guests.  I strongly believe that our stylish and contemporary-design hotel apartments, coupled with our friendly approach, will provide both short and long-term guests with a memorable stay."

Mövenpick Hotel Apartments is a planned effort from Movenpick to reach the area of Deira, one of Dubai's more vibrant hotel districts. The hotel is centrally located in the district of Al Mamzar, and is 10 minutes from Dubai International Airport and nearby leisure destinations include Al Mamzar Beach Park, Century Mall, Dubai Bowling Centre and Al Shabab Al Arabi Sports Club. Other Mövenpick properties in Dubai include Ibn Battuta Gate,Jumeirah Beach, Bur Dubai and Deira.

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Melanie Nayer is a hotel reviewer and expert on luxury travel around the world. She has covered all aspects of hotels including corporate restructures, re-branding initiatives, historical aspects and the best of the best in luxury hotels around the world.

Melanie writes a weekly exclusive column for 4Hoteliers.com