Some markets will always be hot for the hotel industry , but some operators are instead breaking into markets that are new frontiers and searching for design to match the spirit of the locale .

This month Hanoi ’ s Apple Tree Group expects the soft opening of Bagan Lodge in Bagan , Myanmar . The 85-room hotel ’ s

design aesthetic aims to meld classic Burmese brick design with contemporary flourishes and tented roofs .

Haiti remains in recovery mode , but the country recently welcomed The Best Western Premier Hotel and Spa Pétion- Ville . Studio 11 Design worked with a Haitian art consultant to

showcase pieces by local artisans throughout the property .

In rare instances , hotels can enter a completely new market . The 27-villa Song Saa Private Island recently debuted on the Cambodian islands Koh Ouen and Koh Bong . Australian developers Rory and Melita Hunter used Cambodian fishing villages

to inspire the resort ’ s design , leading to features including overwater buildings , thatch roofs and driftwood furnishings .

“ We were forced to look locally and become more creative ,” Melita Hunter explains . “ I believe that we ended up with something more fitting and in line with the surroundings . ”

32 HOTELS June 2013 www . hotelsmag . com