As heritage tourism surges, an evolving philosophy in luxury hospitality is reshaping what it means to stay somewhere meaningful.
These properties don’t merely preserve the past—they inhabit it, offering guests a profound sense of place rooted in architectural legacy, cultural resonance, and regenerative design. At the heart of this shift is adaptive reuse: the art of restoring and reimagining spaces—whether centuries-old or purpose-built—to reflect deeper values of sustainability and heritage. According to Green Key Global, adaptive reuse is increasingly aligned with regenerative travel—reducing waste, restoring ecosystems, and honouring local traditions across regions where architecture, memory, and sustainability converge.
Unlike new builds, which often require extensive resources and generate significant construction waste, adaptive reuse minimizes environmental impact by breathing new life into existing spaces. From a 17th-century theatre in Amsterdam to a Himalayan palace once visited by Gandhi, these four hotels reflect a global turn toward authenticity, sustainability, and immersive cultural connection. The final property—the highly anticipated spring opening of a 1930s theater in Kyoto, currently undergoing a reverent reimagining into a luxury hotel—marks a rare approach to architectural preservation within Japan’s hospitality landscape. Each offers a timely angle: milestone anniversaries, landmark transformations, and experiential programming that brings history into the present. From storied foundations to transformative stays, these hotels bring history full circle.
The Dylan Amsterdam – Netherlands
Courtyard of Amsterdam’s first stone theatre, now a serene retreat behind 17th-century façades—where heritage architecture meets refined tranquillity. (Photo courtesy of The Dylan Amsterdam)
The Dylan Amsterdam occupies the site of Amsterdam’s first stone theatre, built in 1638 by Jacob van Campen. Known as the “Schouwburg,” it hosted performances by Vivaldi and welcomed luminaries like Maria de Medici and Rembrandt. After a fire in 1772, the building became a Catholic charity office, and in 1999, it was reborn as a boutique hotel. Located on the Keizersgracht in the heart of Amsterdam’s “9 Streets,” the hotel sits behind a historic canal-side gate and offers exclusive access to the city’s hidden treasures, both past and present.
The transformation preserved the original Van Campen gate, inscribed with Joost van den Vondel’s line: “The world is a play on stage…,” while Studio Linse’s renovation reintroduced vintage elements and high-end fixtures that echo the building’s dramatic past. The hotel offers 41 stylish rooms across four design styles, a Michelin-starred restaurant in a former 18th-century bakery, and fireplace-facing lounges. It has revived Amsterdam’s longest-standing theatrical tradition with annual performances of Gijsbreght van Aemstel. With Green Globe Gold certification and a commitment to preserving 17th-century architecture, The Dylan is a place where history performs in quiet, luxurious gestures.
Why Now: Celebrating Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary this October; 2025 restoration highlights refreshed interiors and historic details; Green Globe Gold certification reflects its commitment to low-impact design and heritage preservation; revival of annual theatrical performances honours its dramatic legacy.
Signature Feature: Restaurant Vinkeles, a two-Michelin-starred culinary destination, is housed in an 18th-century bakery with original ovens and exposed brick—offering one of the most atmospheric fine dining experiences in the city.
Room to Book: Newly redesigned in 2025, the Jacob van Campen Suite—named for the architect of Amsterdam’s first stone theatre—is a duplex with canal views, a freestanding soaking tub, and curated art. It evokes the intimacy of a backstage dressing room, enriched by spatial precision and a quietly dramatic palette.
Ananda in the Himalayas – Uttarakhand, India
Nestled in the Himalayan foothills, this 100-acre former palace invites reflection through regal architecture, colonial traces, and a deep sense of spiritual renewal. (Photo courtesy of Ananda in the Himalayas)
Set within the former Palace Estate of the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, commissioned in 1910–11 for an anticipated visit from the Viceroy of India, Ananda in the Himalayas is perched high in the Himalayan foothills overlooking Rishikesh and the sacred Ganges River. The palace once hosted British dignitaries and spiritual leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Mira Ben, and Ma Anandamayi—whose meditation room remains preserved on-site. In 2000, the estate was reimagined as India’s first destination spa, blending regal architecture with ancient wellness traditions.
A three-year renovation completed in 2022 restored the palace’s original woodwork and colonial detailing, while introducing new suites, a physiotherapy wing, and a show kitchen for Ayurvedic culinary classes. The redesign wove Himalayan craft and native flora into the interiors, preserving colonial elements while creating a seamless dialogue between landscape and structure. In 2024, Ananda deepened its legacy of refined wellness with a series of thoughtful enhancements—including the debut of a new room category and elevated design touches to its iconic Viceregal Suite. Notable guests have included Oprah Winfrey, King Charles III, and Kate Winslet. More than a retreat, Ananda is a living spiritual inheritance—quietly refined with intention for the modern wellness seeker.
Why Now: Marking 25 years of wellness innovation; recent restoration introduces new room category and design enhancements; newly launched diabetes management program and sound healing offerings expand the retreat’s holistic approach; rising global interest in spiritual wellness retreats.
Signature Feature: The 25,000-square-foot spa—one of Asia’s largest—offers over 80 Ayurvedic and international therapies, anchored by open-air yoga pavilions and daily Vedanta philosophy sessions.
Room to Book: Renovated in 2024, the Viceregal Suite—set within the original palace—features an antique four-poster bed, a private rooftop terrace, and sweeping valley views. It’s a regal sanctuary for seekers of solitude and grandeur.
Hotel Belmar – Monteverde, Costa Rica
Built with native Costa Rican hardwoods and designed for harmony with the cloud forest, the lodge reflects a regenerative approach to nature-integrated design. (Photo courtesy of Hotel Belmar)
Though not a historic structure, Hotel Belmar reflects a legacy of eco-conscious hospitality rooted in personal inheritance and place. Built in 1985 by Pedro Belmar and Vera Zeledón after a decade in Austria, the lodge was inspired by the warmth and intimacy of alpine guesthouses—reimagined in a tropical cloud forest setting above the Nicoya Peninsula. Though purpose-built as a hotel, its architecture and ethos evoke the spirit of mountain hospitality, translated through Costa Rican materials and values—and reimagined through a regenerative lens that honours both ecological and cultural heritage.
A recent renovation led by NAAS Interior Culture embraced the principles of adaptive reuse—preserving the original woodwork and architectural character while integrating sustainable upgrades. Natural materials like Costa Rican hardwoods, organic textiles, and low-VOC paints were sourced responsibly to minimize environmental impact. Local art and craftsmanship were woven throughout, celebrating the region’s cultural heritage and creating a seamless dialogue between structure and setting. Hotel Belmar is a poetic retreat where sustainability and creativity shape every detail—from architecture to guest experience. Through its artist residency program, global creatives engage with Monteverde’s biodiversity and cultural legacy, enriching both the guest experience and the local community through installations, workshops, and performances.
Why Now: Commemorating 40 years of nature-integrated hospitality; recent renovation introduces native materials and sustainable upgrades; artist residency and circular agriculture model expand guest engagement through workshops and installations; Monteverde gaining recognition as a regenerative travel hub.
Signature Feature: The property’s carbon-neutral farm, Finca Madre Tierra, anchors its circular agriculture model, while Savia Forest Immersion offers guests multisensory canopy experiences.
Room to Book: Refreshed in 2024, the Nicoya Suite features a 270° view of the forest and Gulf of Nicoya, a private bar, spa-inspired bathroom, and a terrace with whirlpool and hanging daybed suspended between forest and sky. It is a sanctuary for seekers of immersion and stillness.
Imperial Hotel, Kyoto – Japan (Opening Spring 2026)
A reverent restoration of Yasaka Kaikan, where Kyoto’s architectural heritage meets the quiet elegance of modern hospitality. (Photo courtesy of Imperial Hotel)
Opening in 2026, the Imperial Hotel, Kyoto will inhabit the restored Yasaka Kaikan—a 1936 theatre originally designed by Tokusaburo Kimura. The building features copper-tiled roofs and terracotta reliefs crafted by artisans who also worked on Frank Lloyd Wright’s Tokyo Imperial Hotel. It hosted performances, films, and concerts, and is now a nationally registered cultural property.
The transformation, led by Obayashi Corporation, retained 16,387 original tiles using ikedori, a traditional Japanese technique for removing materials without damage. The hotel will offer 55 rooms, along with a spa, pool, fitness centre, restaurant, and bar. It adheres to Kyoto’s strict zoning codes, supports local artisans, and promotes community-based travel experiences. Interior design is being led by Mr. Tomoyuki Sakakida with New Material Research Laboratory, known for its reverent approach to traditional Japanese materials and craftsmanship. The property invites guests to engage with a heritage shaped by generations of cultural expression. Guests won’t just check in—they’ll inhabit a living tradition, where every beam and tile carries the quiet weight of Kyoto’s cultural soul.
Why Now: Honouring 135 years of storied excellence; debuting the brand’s first new opening in three decades; embracing a rare act of architectural reverence within Japan’s luxury landscape; redefining luxury through preservation, craftsmanship, and cultural continuity.
Signature Feature: The Preservation Wing guestrooms retain original beams and window frames, with private balconies overlooking the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo theater—where guests can hear shamisen music drifting through the air.
Room to Book: The Imperial Suite—graced by twin terraces that open to the north and east, and crowned by a symbolic gazebo, a cherished icon of Yasaka Kaikan—offers a stay unlike any other in Kyoto, where heritage and serenity converge. A haven of cultural reverence, it awaits seekers of timeless beauty and aesthetic depth.