Here’s a 2025 outlook on some of the biggest lodging / resort / hotel developments in prime vacationer areas—properties that are raising the bar in size, amenities, and ambition. I also look at trends behind why “bigger” seems to matter again, and what travellers can expect from these colossal resorts.
What “Biggest” Means in 2025
Before listing specific resorts, let’s define what “biggest” means here:
- Room counts: Hotels/resorts with especially high numbers of guest rooms (i.e. 300‑1,500+ or more).
- Facilities & amenities scale: Convention spaces, large pools, multiple restaurants, integrated resorts (casinos, shopping, entertainment, marinas, etc.).
- Investment size and footprint: Large capital outlay, vast land or built‑acreage, or major mixed‑use components.
In many popular vacationer areas, these big properties aim to serve multiple kinds of travellers: families, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, events), luxury travellers, eco‑tourists, etc. They also reflect competition among destinations to attract larger numbers of guests, longer stays, and higher spend per guest.
Major Lodging in Prime Vacationer Areas in 2025
Here are some of the standout large lodging/resort openings or operations in 2025 (or very recently) in well‑trafficked vacation destinations.
- City of Dreams Sri Lanka – Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Rooms: ~800 hotel rooms. (Wikipedia)
- Scope: Integrated resort with 20 restaurants, shopping mall, residences/apartments. (Wikipedia)
- Why it’s significant: As Sri Lanka’s first large integrated resort, it signals major growth in hospitality infrastructure, and aims to draw international tourists (including from India) in addition to domestic travellers. Its large room count, luxurious facilities, and variety of uses (hotel, residential, retail) make it one of the biggest recent entrants in South Asia. (Wikipedia)
- Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center – Chula Vista, California, USA
- Rooms: 1,600 guestrooms. (Wikipedia)
- Facilities: Very large convention/meeting space (477,000 square feet), water park (≈4.25 acres), multiple dining options. (Wikipedia)
- Why it’s significant: It’s now the largest hotel in California (by room count). For travellers wanting big resorts with convention‑scale facilities (family vacations, corporate retreats, big weddings), this property is a major new option in a region already heavily travelled. (Wikipedia)
- Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree – Singapore
- Rooms: ~338 guest rooms + 24 elevated treehouses. (Travel Market Report)
- Features: A nature‑integrated resort within Mandai Wildlife Reserve, high environmental performance, combining standard rooms with more unique elevated “tree‑pods.” (Accor Group)
- Why it’s big: While not the largest by sheer room count when compared to mega‑hotels, its scale is large in the context of sustainable and nature‑integrated lodging in a sensitive environment. It represents a trend where “bigness” is not just about mass, but how well large resorts can deliver in terms of design, experience, and environmental impact. (Accor Group)
- Mövenpick Resort & Spa Bintan Lagoon – Bintan, Indonesia
- Rooms: 413 guestrooms. (Hospitality Net)
- Features: Multiple lagoon‑style swimming pools, beach club, wellness & recreation offerings, event spaces. (Hospitality Net)
- Significance: Bintan (close to Singapore) is a popular getaway for Southeast Asian and global travellers who want resort life without having to fly far. A large resort like this raises the capacity of the island and adds scale in amenities. For families and groups, having more rooms, varied food and entertainment options matter. (Hospitality Net)
- The Red Sea Edition; Four Seasons Resort at The Red Sea – Saudi Arabia
- These are among a number of large resorts being developed in the Red Sea / northwest Saudi coast region. (The National)
- While precise room counts for all properties aren’t always the very highest in the world, the scale of investment, multiple resorts clustered in destination hubs, and luxury infrastructure make these among the “biggest” in terms of ambition in the region. (The National)
Emerging / Upcoming “Mega‑Resorts”
Some properties are not quite open yet, but already notable for sheer size and scale. These are worth watching as they are likely to be among the largest lodging/resort options in prime tourist zones in coming years.
- Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE: When completed (projected 2027), it will have 1,542 hotel rooms plus villas, major casino, yacht marina, retail, etc. (Wikipedia)
- Wonsan‑Kalma Resort (North Korea): Varying reports estimate between 7,000‑20,000 rooms in development. If realized, would be among the largest single‑beach resorts globally. (Business Insider)
Trends Driving the Growth of Large Lodgings
Understanding why there are more super‑large lodging/resort properties now helps explain what travellers can expect.
- Destination branding & investment: Countries and regions are using integrated resorts and mega‑hotel developments to build up tourism infrastructure, particularly in newer or rapidly developing destinations (Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, parts of Asia). They aim to attract international visitors, large‑scale events, high spenders.
- MICE & events demand: Big convention centers, large ballrooms, resorts that can host weddings, conferences, film festivals, etc., are in high demand. Properties like Gaylord Pacific are built for both leisure and large events.
- All‑inclusives and resort‑clusters: Resorts are combining many amenities under one roof (spa, pools, waterparks, entertainment, shopping, etc.), so guests don’t need to leave the property. Bigger room counts help spread cost and increase profitability for such sprawling amenities.
- Luxury + experiences: Even at high volumes, there’s a push for luxury touches—special suites, themed villas, nature integration, sustainability, exclusive experiences. Big doesn’t always mean bland or generic anymore.
- Government & private funding incentives: Many such projects are backed by large capital, sometimes through public‑private partnerships or for regional tourism goals. This enables riskier, larger scale resorts where smaller operations might not have the leverage.
What This Means for Travellers in 2025
For people planning vacations now or in the next few years, the rise of large lodging in prime vacationer areas brings both opportunities and trade‑offs.
Pros:
- More choices: More rooms, multiple types of accommodation in one large resort (budget, luxury villas, suites, etc.).
- Variety of amenities: Big resorts tend to have many restaurants, recreation options, spa, beach club, etc., so guests can have a more rounded stay without needing to travel far.
- Events and group travel: Easier to plan weddings, conferences, family reunions, etc., since large resorts can handle big numbers.
- Competition may drive value: With many large resorts opening, competition may push better pricing, more inclusions, promotions, etc.
Cons / Challenges:
- Crowd & scale issues: Sometimes very large resorts can feel impersonal; moving around takes more time; certain amenities may be crowded or feel less exclusive.
- Location trade‑offs: Some mega‑resorts are in relatively remote or less developed infrastructure zones; getting to them might require lengthy travel, transfers.
- Environmental impact: Large developments can strain local ecosystems, water, energy, waste systems. Resorts that do not put sustainability at the core may disappoint from a social/environmental perspective.
- Authenticity vs scale: In some destinations, travellers seeking off‑beat, authentic, local culture may find large resorts less immersive or true to local culture.
Highlights & Suggestions: Best Large Resorts to Watch or Stay in 2025
Here are a few “must‑keep on your radar” large lodging options for travellers who want scale, luxury, and full resort‑amenity packages.
- City of Dreams Sri Lanka, Colombo: For those visiting Sri Lanka, this is now a go‑to for large, luxury lodging with many dining, event, and shopping options in one place. (Good for combining beach / city / culture.)
- Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center: If planning a visit to Southern California, this is a top pick for those wanting resort + entertainment + conference scale.
- Wynn Al Marjan Island (future): Once open, will be a major draw in the UAE (especially for travellers who enjoy ultra‑luxury, casinos, nightlife, yacht marinas).
- Resorts at Red Sea, Saudi Arabia: If you’re into new luxury destinations with relatively untouched coastline and high‑end resorts, Shura Island and AMAALA are worth watching/staying in.
Looking Ahead: What to Expect Beyond 2025
- Even larger resorts will continue to pop up, especially in emerging tourist markets.
- Greater emphasis on sustainability, local culture, ecological design, particularly in large‑scale properties (as travellers become more selective).
- Smarter tech integration—guests desire seamless booking, check‑in, amenity access, and eco‑monitoring (e.g. energy, water use).
- More mixed‑use lodging: where hotel + residential + shopping + leisure zones are bundled into mega‑integrated hubs.
Conclusion
The lodging industry in 2025 is in many ways returning to grandeur: more rooms, bigger resorts, multi‑faceted amenities, integrated destinations. For travellers, this means more options, more capacity, often more luxury—but also, as always, trade‑offs involving travel time, privacy, authenticity, and the environmental footprint of staying large.
If you’re planning a big vacation or group escape this year or next, choosing one of the large resorts—especially those with strong reputations for both scale and quality—can provide the perfect mix: convenience, luxury, and variety. Just be sure to check what your priorities are (do you care most about spa/wellness? privacy? adventure? nature?) and whether the resort’s trade‑offs suit your travel style.