Best new hotels of 2012

We’d hate to be the guy at the drawing board when a new hotel is in the works.
More than ever, the hotel industry has been launching one global superlative after another -– from luxury "groundscapers" to an entire resort inspired by a Spanish La Liga football team.
But that makes it all the more fun to be the traveler … or a travel reporter.
The Oberoi, Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi strikes a futuristic contrast with its surrounds.U.S. travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler has just published its annual "Hot List" of the best restaurants, hotels and spas.
For the past 10 months, 41 reporters have toured hotels in dozens of countries, casting a lofty, judgmental eye over views, architecture, interiors and cuisines.
They seem to have had some difficulty narrowing it down, seeing as 121 out of the 172 hotels evaluated ended up on the list.
And while most of us won’t be able to afford these stylish stays, just scrolling through the slideshow will induce some serious jaw dropping.
From refurbished railway hotels to rows of minimalistic concrete blocks, here are some of the magazine’s picks for top new hotels, by region.
Europe
St. Pancras Renaissance, London, England
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes, France
Square Nine, Belgrade, Serbia
Asia
The Oberoi, Gurgaon, New Delhi, India
Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
Naked Stables Private Reserve, Paitou Town, China
North America
Aulani, Oahu, Hawaii, United States
Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California, United States
Manrey, Panama City, Panama
South America
Fasano Boa Vista, Porto Feliz, Brazil
The Westin, Lima, Peru
Casa Gangotena, Quito, Ecuador
Africa
Hotel Sofitel Legend Old Cataract, Aswan, Egypt
Hogmead, Nairobi, Kenya
Alphen Boutique Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa
For the full gallery, visit the Condé Nast Traveler website.
Also on CNNGO: A little kinky, a lot weird: China's 'out there' hotel features




