TECH
Floating hotels redefine waterfront tourism
Luxury platforms combine hospitality with engineering to serve crowded coasts
As coastal cities grow and beach real estate disappears, floating hotels are stepping in. These engineered platforms combine modular design with high-end amenities, offering guests unique stays directly on the water. Developers see them as both tourist draws and flexible property solutions.
With land in short supply near popular coastlines, floating hotels are emerging as creative solutions. These structures leverage modular platforms and sustainable systems to deliver modern hospitality directly on water. Developers see them as innovative and adaptable additions to tourism offerings.
Hospitality and engineering firms highlight the following key benefits:
Modular build: Holland Shipyards and Good Hotels are creating The Flotilla, a 243‑room floating hotel built off‑site and towed into place, with minimal disruption and zero fossil fuel use, powered entirely by solar energy.
Off‑site efficiency: MEYER Floating Solutions offers off‑site construction of floating hotels like the “Acqua Hotel” with smart rooms, quick delivery, and premium quality.
Tech‑enhanced stays: FutureMarketInsights reports AI concierge services, AR marine guides, and underwater villa experiences—such as Dubai’s Floating Seahorse villas—bring personalized and immersive value to guests.
Real‑world projects show floating hospitality in action:
In Cardiff Bay, a planned 120‑room floating hotel by MEYER Floating Solutions and Morfield Floating Hotels is in public consultation, slated for off‑site build and installation by 2027.
In London’s Royal Docks, Sunborn is constructing a new 134‑metre floating yacht hotel with 225 rooms, a rooftop bar, spa, and public spaces, opening in 2026.
In Edinburgh, the MV Fingal—a former lighthouse tender—is now a luxury floating boutique hotel, earning five‑star AA ratings and renowned for its onboard restaurant The Lighthouse.
The historic Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner has been converted into a floating hotel in Dubai, managed by Accor and offering a blend of heritage and hospitality since 2018.
That’s not all: The idea of floating hotels dates back decades. The Four Seasons John Brewer Floating Hotel (later Hotel Haegumgang) was the world’s first, debuting in 1988 on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef before later operating in Vietnam and North Korea.