A Tale of Two Historic Hotels & Their Unique Reinventions
On opposite coasts, two new Opal Collection additions are taking opposite approaches to history. One reinterprets the past through new construction. The other preserves a storied legacy through thoughtful reinvention.
History is having a moment in travel. Not the kind found behind museum glass or tucked into a plaque beside a landmark. The kind you can check into for a long weekend. The kind woven into the architecture of a building, the stories locals tell, and the hotels that have become a part of a destination’s identity.
More than ever, travelers are seeking places that feel rooted. Hotels with stories to tell. Buildings that carry the history of a destination forward rather than simply occupying a piece of it. Because the most memorable stays often leave you feeling connected to a place, not just checked into one.
That’s what makes Opal Collection’s two newest 2026 additions so interesting. At first glance, Olde Naples Hotel in Naples, Florida, and The Asticou Hotel in Northeast Harbor, Maine, don’t seem to have too much in common. One is brand new. The other has been welcoming guests since the 1880s. One sits a block from the Gulf of Mexico. The other overlooks a boat-dotted harbor in Downeast Maine backed by the mountains of Acadia National Park. But look a little closer, and you’ll find they’re telling the same story – it’s just from opposite directions.
Olde Naples Hotel is a new property inspired by one of the oldest chapters in Naples history. The Asticou Hotel is one of New England’s most historic hotels, newly reimagined for modern travelers. One looks backward to move forward. The other moves forward without losing sight of where it began.
OLDE NAPLES HOTEL | Naples, Florida
A Fresh & Vibrant Boutique Property Inspired by Naples’s Original First Hotel
It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when Naples wasn’t Naples. Before the palm-lined sidewalks, independent boutiques, and open-air cafes, it was a remote Gulf Coast outpost attracting adventurous visitors seeking sunshine and warm winters.
At the center of that story stood the original Naples Hotel. Built in the late nineteenth century, the hotel welcomed some of the area’s earliest visitors and helped establish Naples as a destination long before the city became the Naples we know today.
That history inspired the creation of Olde Naples Hotel, which officially opened May 15, 2026. The property may be new, but its roots run deep. Located in the Third Street South Historic District, it draws upon the city’s earliest hospitality legacy while embracing the style and expectations of a contemporary boutique hotel.
A Modern Nod to Naples’s Early Architecture
Though newly built, Olde Naples Hotel pulls from the architectural traditions and stories that helped shape Naples. Behind the front desk, a vintage-inspired key-box wall showcases artifacts and memorabilia that celebrate Naples’s early days, while architectural elements like grand columns, transom windows, and pecky cypress wood reflect classic Old Florida design. One hundred and nine guest rooms and suites draw inspiration from the cottage homes that once defined Old Naples, and thoughtful touches – from art deco-style elevators to the lush courtyard spaces – help connect the hotel to the history and character of the neighborhood.
A Familiar Gathering Place
The original Naples Hotel helped put the city on the map by bringing people together, and Olde Naples Hotel carries that spirit forward. At the heart of the property is a lush courtyard designed for lingering – whether over morning coffee, an afternoon cocktail, or conversation with friends. Just steps away, the on-site restaurant, Annie’s, adds to the energy, serving as a neighborhood gathering spot that feels as welcoming to locals as it does to visitors. Together, they capture the easy, social atmosphere that has long defined life in Naples.
Hallmark Highlights Not to Miss
Beyond historical references, Olde Naples Hotel is filled with details worth seeking out. Look down and you’ll find custom carpets by Pierre Frey with patterns that add color and character throughout the property, making it the only property (to our knowledge) in the United States to have such pieces by the renowned French textile house. Head upstairs to the rooftop pool, where blush-pinked loungers, seafoam-green scalloped-edge umbrellas, and powder-blue pillows patterned with vintage divers in tiny red swim caps give off a retro Palm Beach-meets-Old Florida garden party vibe. And before leaving Annie’s Bistro, take a moment to admire the five-panel mural installation by Naples artist Janine Wesselmann, a vibrant visual tribute to the vibe and excitement of Third Street.
Be Among the First to Stay at Olde Naples Hotel
THE ASTICOU HOTEL | Northeast Harbor, Maine
A Legacy of Understated Elegance at the Edge of Acadia
If Olde Naples Hotel is a revival, The Asticou Hotel is a continuation. Long before Acadia became one of America’s most visited national parks, travelers were making their way to Mount Desert Island in search of fresh air, dramatic scenery, and a slower pace of life. Many of them stayed at what is now The Asticou Hotel’s main inn.
Built in 1883, the hotel has been part of Northeast Harbor’s story, welcoming generations of summer visitors to one of Maine’s most picturesque corners. Over the decades, it became more than a hotel. It became a landmark.
The challenge with landmarks, of course, is deciding what comes next: How do you preserve what people love about a place while ensuring it remains relevant for the next hundred years?
The Asticou Hotel’s 2025 renovation answers that question thoughtfully. The harbor views remain. So does the connection to Northeast Harbor, Acadia, and the traditions that have drawn travelers here for generations. But alongside that history are refreshed spaces, updated accommodations, and a new vision for what a coastal Maine getaway can be.
A Historic Icon, Reimagined
Recently joining Opal Collection in May 2026, The Asticou’s redesign embraces what its designers described in a 2025 interview with Vogue as a “rusticator meets aristocrat” aesthetic. “Rusticator” meaning drawing inspiration from the late nineteenth-century travelers who journeyed from cities like Boston and New York to Mount Desert Island in search of rugged landscapes, fresh air, and outdoor adventure, and the “aristocrat” side reflecting the timeless elegance of a grand New England retreat, layered with antiques, rich textures, moody coastal hues, and a sense of relaxed sophistication. Together, the two influences create a hotel that feels equally at home among the granite peaks of Acadia and the storied summer estates that helped shape Northeast Harbor’s history.
Embracing the “Hushpitality” Trend
Hushpitality (yes, a portmanteau of the words “hush” and “hospitality”) is said to be one of the biggest trends shaping luxury travel right now. It’s the idea that true luxury isn’t about excess, but about creating space to slow down, disconnect, and experience a place more intentionally – and this The Asticou is tailor-made. Mornings begin with coffee and warm popovers on the main inn’s verandah overlooking Northeast Harbor’s boat-peppered waters. Days unfold beside the heated pool, complete with a garden-framed patio, stylish loungers, pink tasseled umbrellas, and the poolside Cabana Bar. Evenings are spent lingering over dinner at Dahlia’s, where locally sourced ingredients and harbor views encourage guests to settle in rather than rush through a meal, before slipping into the moody and romanitic Moss Bar for a nightcap beneath its warm, intimate glow. It’s luxury that whispers instead of shouts – and in a world that often feels louder than ever, that certainly speaks volumes.
Hallmark Highlights Not to Miss
Some of The Asticou Hotel’s most memorable details aren’t always the most obvious. In the Historic Main Inn, a custom “toile” wallpaper illustrated by artist Dave Allen quietly tells the story of Mount Desert Island, weaving together scenes inspired by local landmarks, historic estates, and island lore (look closely and you’ll discover a playful tribute to Martha Stewart’s beloved Chow Chows, whose summer home sits just down the road). Outside, an unexpected cast of Grecian-inspired statues – most notably a watchful Poseidon overlooking the heated pool – lend the grounds the feel of a faded European seaside villa tucked among Maine’s pines and granite ledges. Then there are the residential-style Harborside Cottages. Fifteen in total, each has its own name, personality, and design story, with interiors that subtly reflect the character hinted on the sign outside.
Be Among the First to Stay at The Asticou Hotel
WHY THESE HOTELS FEEL RIGHT FOR RIGHT NOW
It’s Not Just About Polish, But Provenance
Travel trends come and go. But the desire to feel connected to a destination has proven remarkably durable. That’s part of what makes these two hotels feel so relevant right now.
In Naples, a new hotel reaches back into the city’s earliest days to help tell a story that deserves to be remembered. In Maine, a beloved historic hotel steps confidently into the future while preserving the character that made it special in the first place.
Different histories. Different coastlines. Different centuries, even. Yet both arrive at the same conclusion: the best hotels don’t simply occupy a destination. They become part of its story. And sometimes, the most exciting new chapter begins with a look at what came before.
