With these new properties, Design Hotels™ further enhances its portfolio of curated, design-led hotels. Each member hotel represents the vision of an independent hotelier -- an individual with a passion for genuine hospitality that is culturally rooted and enhanced by thought-provoking design and architecture.

Throughout 2008, Design Hotels™ inducted several new members to the collection: The Limes Hotel, in Brisbane, marked the first ever member of Design Hotels™ in Australia and the addition of 3 Nagas by Alila in Laos brought further geographic diversity to the collection. Aguas de Ibiza Spa & Resort opened in June 2008 bringing eco-chic luxury to the Balearic Islands, while The Emperor brought an unprecedented touch of cutting-edge design to Beijing, China.

The complete list of 23 new members, plus recent and upcoming openings by geographical region is as follows:

THE NEW MEMBER HOTELS

NORTH AFRICA

Morocco

AnaYela, Marrakech -- January 2008 www.designhotels.com/anayela

THE AMERICAS

Mexico

Distrito Capital, Mexico City -- January 2009 www.designhotels.com/distritocapital (online as of January 2009)

Rosas Y Xocolate, Merida, Yucatán -- March 2009 www.designhotels.com/rosasxocolate (online as of January 2009)

Boca Chica, Acapulco - March 2009 www.designhotels.com/bocachica (online as of January 2009)

Habita Monterrey, San Pedro Garza Garcia -- September 2008 www.designhotels.com/habitamonterrey (online as of January 2009)

EUROPE

Austria

life medicine RESORT, Bad Gleichenberg -- September 2008 www.designhotels.com/lifemedicine (online as of January 2009)

Belgium

Carbon Hotel, Genk -- April 2008 www.designhotels.com/carbonhotel

Germany

25hours Hotel Tailored by Levi's, Frankfurt -- July 2008 www.designhotels.com/25hourslevis

Roomers, Frankfurt -- March 2009 www.designhotels.com/roomers

The George, Hamburg -- October 2008 www.designhotels.com/thegeorge

Die Träumerei, Michelstadt -- August 2008 www.designhotels.com/dietraumerei (online as of January 2009)

Factory Hotel, Muenster -- December 2008 www.designhotels.com/factoryhotel

Hungary

Hotel Rosslyn, Budapest -- Autumn 2008 www.designhotels.com/hotelrosslyn

Italy

Leon's Place, Rome -- August 2008 www.designhotels.com/leonsplace

Norway

The Other Side, Neiden -- Summer 2009 www.designhotels.com/theotherside

Portugal

Memmo Baleeira, Vila de Sagres -- June 2008 www.designhotels.com/memmobaleeira

The Vine Hotel, Funchal, Madeira -- December 2008 www.designhotels.com/the_vine_hotel

Douro 41, Raiva -- January 2009 www.designhotels.com/douro41

Spain

Aguas de Ibiza, Ibiza -- September 2008 www.designhotels.com/aguasdeibiza

Sweden

Copperhill Mountain Lodge, Are -- December 2008 www.designhotels.com/copperhill

Hotel Skeppsholmen, Stockholm -- November 2009 www.designhotels.com/hotelskeppsholmen (online as of January 2009)

Switzerland

Rocksresort, Laax -- December 2008 www.designhotels.com/rocksresort

Turkey

The Sofa Hotels & Residences, Istanbul -- March 2006 www.designhotels.com/sofahotel (online as of January 2009)

United Kingdom

Vincent Hotel, Southport -- May 2008 www.designhotels.com/vincent

Sanctum Soho Hotel, London -- March 2009 www.designhotels.com/sanctumsoho

The Franklin Hotel, London -- Spring 2009 www.designhotels.com/thefranklin

ASIA/PACIFIC

Australia

Limes Hotel, Brisbane -- June 2008 www.designhotels.com/limeshotel

China

The Emperor, Beijing -- April 2008 www.designhotels.com/theemperor

Indonesia

Luna 2 Private Hotel, Bali -- March 2007 www.designhotels.com/luna2

Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali -- March 1, 2009 www.designhotels.com/alila_villas_uluwatu

Laos

3 Nagas by Alila, Luang Prabang -- July 2008 www.designhotels.com/3nagas

Maldives

Alila Villas Hadahaa, South Male -- April 2009 www.designhotels.com/alila_villas_hadahaa

Thailand

X2 Koh Samui -- June 2008 www.designhotels.com/x2kohsamui

Villa Beige, Koh Samui -- October 2008 www.designhotels.com/villabeige