The newest crop of luxury hotels scheduled to open in 2013 includes a former palace in St. Petersburg, Russia; a property in Paris with views of the Arc de Triomphe; a hip resort in Maui and a country resort with horse stables near the nation"s capital.

　　A surprisingly large number of luxury lodgings from both chains as well as independents will open in the coming year. I say surprising, because some big-budget projects were killed off during the recession when financing evaporated. Of course, that"s not stopping high-end travelers from seeing the world.

　　So, what exciting new options will tomorrow"s luxury travelers find? Below are eight high-profile hotel and resort openings that have caught my attention:

　　Capella Washington D.C., Georgetown (January)

　　Legendary Ritz-Carlton co-founder Horst Schulze is in the final stages of creating a small, exclusive boutique hotel in Washington D.C."s tony Georgetown neighborhood, right up the block from the Ritz-Carlton and upscale boutiques. Located on the historic C&O Canal, it will have just 49 rooms that come packed with amenities. The hotel saves much of its space for paying patrons. Its guest-only rooftop, for instance, features an infinity pool, sundeck and lounge with panoramic views of the nation"s capital. Also reserved for guests is a lounge staffed with an assistant, where guests can hold meetings, read a book by the impressive onyx fireplace or order cocktails. If you get a chance, Check out the extra-large circular bathtub in some of its top suites.

　　Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal (February)

　　One of the most over-the-top Ritz-Carlton properties to open this year is a waterfront resort in Abu Dhabi, which is set against a backdrop of the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The hotel will have 447 rooms, plus 85 private villas. Set on 54 acres, the resort consists of a variety of buildings arranged in a crescent formation that"s landscaped with water features and manicured gardens. In terms of dining, guests won"t lack for variety. The resort has an ambitious dining program that consists of 11 restaurants, including three signature restaurants (Lebanese, Asian and a steakhouse) and two pool bars and a gelato cafe. Interesting to note: The outdoor swimming pool, at about 17,000 square feet, is almost as large as the spa, at about 22,000 square feet. Families will find a kids" club located directly on the beach.

　　The Quin Hotel, New York (March)

　　Located in a prime location in Midtown Manhattan, the Quin Hotel will open in late March with 205 rooms including a triplex penthouse suite. It"s just two short blocks from tony Central Park South, close to rivals such as the Peninsula and Ritz-Carlton Central Park South. Expect the Quin — located a short walk to Carnegie Hall and the Museum of Modern Art — to play up its artistic heritage. It"s located in a restored hotel that once housed Metropolitan Opera greats Giuseppe De Luca and Giovanni Martinelli. Expect a high-energy restaurant and bar, which is being created by the same company that operates several BLT Steak restaurants. Guest rooms have Nespresso coffee machines. Holy Breuche, the Quin"s general manager, promises that the hotel will offer guests unusual concierge service.

　　Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg, Russia (May)　　

This former palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, will soon house a Four Seasons luxury hotel.

　　Guests can live like Russian royalty once this colorful palace, designed in 1817 by French architect Auguste de Montferrand, opens for business as a Four Seasons hotel. Once called home by a princess, the hotel has an enviable location in the heart of the city in the historic Admiralteysky district, just two blocks from the Hermitage Museum. It will have 177 rooms, two signature restaurants (the Italian Percorso and the Asian Sintoho) and a spa that features a traditional Russian steam room. The rooms feature iconic St. Petersburg views, such as of the Alexandrovsky Garden and the Admiralty building to the north and St. Isaac"s Cathedral and St. Isaac"s Square to the south. Rooms on the fifth floor will have personal terraces with sweeping cathedral views.

　　Shangri-La Hotel, at The Shard, London (May)

　　If you"re an architecture buff or simply like the idea of living large high above London, then you"ll want to put the contemporary Shangri-La hotel on your 2013 list. The hotel is being built in the 95-story glass Shard skyscraper, which at 1,016 feet high is one of the tallest buildings in Europe. Guests must take elevators to check in and access the hotel as it"s located on floors 35 to 52. Expect the hotel"s 202 rooms to have unrivaled views, the latest in-room technology and hi-fi equipment and a signature bed that uses body-contouring technology. The hotel also will have a fitness center and an indoor infinity pool with panoramic views. Dining options include a restaurant, lobby lounge and bar, and a cafe that offers a choice of multiple cooking stations serving cuisine — with dramatic flare — from around the world.

　　Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort and Spa (Summer)

　　Located on 15 acres, the Andaz Maui will be interesting to check out not just because it will mark the first resort for Hyatt"s contemporary, boutique-style chain. The resort also will be the first to bring hip, alternative-style luxury to an area known for traditional luxury, plus it"s being created by a high-profile team that automatically sets expectations high. The 290-room hotel, which also offers seven luxury villas, was designed by noted design firm, Rockwell Group. Also, acclaimed chef and Iron Chef star Masaharu Morimoto will open Morimoto Maui, where he"ll fuse Japanese techniques with Hawaiian ingredients. Expect cascading outdoor infinity pools, a 15,000-square-foot spa with a private adult pool, several bars said to feature innovative cocktails, a quality gym and an on-site water activity center. Located on Mokapu Beach, the Andaz was built with environmentally friendly features.

　　Salamander Resort & Spa, Middleburg, Va. (August)

　　Located just an hour from Washington D.C., this long-anticipated, sprawling country resort in Virginia"s tranquil horse country is set on 340 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Salamander will have 168 rooms, a 23,000-square-foot spa with unusual, tree-house treatment rooms that overlook the woods and a stream, and plenty of meeting space. The resort"s most unusual amenity, however, is a stable for guests who bring their horses. For dining, expect an equestrian-themed restaurant and wine bar that focuses on Virginia wines. The Salamander was built to meet environmentally friendly standards. It"s rare that women run big-budget luxury hotels, let alone develop them, yet Salamander is the brainchild of Sheila Johnson, a prominent businesswoman and philanthropist who co-founded the BET network.

　　Peninsula Paris (December)

　　In the city with a number of palace hotels, the Hong Kong-based Peninsula luxury chain expects to open its own landmark property in late 2013. Suspense has been building since work commenced back in September 2010 on transforming the century-old Majestic Hotel on Kleber Avenue into the Peninsula Paris, according to hotel company financial reports. When the hotel does open, Peninsula guests can expect a unique location that"s just steps away from the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées. The Beaux-Arts building will have 200 guest rooms, a lobby with a terrace and bar, and five restaurants, including a Chinese eatery with private dining space. The hotel will be the only luxury hotel in Paris with two entrances, one for vehicles and one for pedestrians. The hotel also will have a rooftop restaurant and bar that has views of the Arc de Triomphe.