Don’t ask me how, but August is leaving and September is knocking — and while there are technically still a few weeks of summer left, I’m already dreading its end. This summer has been a good one for me, full of travel, friends and family. This month has been full of hotel news, too, including a few exciting things you might have missed.
Late in August, Hyatt announced its plans to buy the hip Standard International hotel brand for a cool $335 million. Marriott also made waves with the announcement the company will be rolling out a partnership with Sonder, a short-term rental company that offers apartment-style stays in major cities.
We also saw the opening of two different hotels on our list of the most exciting hotel openings of 2024: the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Florida and the Graduate Princeton in New Jersey.
Marriott lands in South Australia
Folks heading to Australia — the state of South Australia, specifically — can finally cash in Marriott Bonvoy points for a hotel stay, as the first Marriott in the state has opened in Adelaide. Set in the 150-year-old Adelaide General Post Office building (along with a shiny new tower), the hotel has 285 rooms, including 12 suites, plus a restaurant and bar and even an indoor swimming pool. The hotel marks the 600th Marriott International property in Asia-Pacific (excluding China), with another 400 in the pipeline.
‘The Lion King’ is taking over the Hilton New York Times Square
“The Lion King” has long been one of the most loved shows on Broadway. Now, fans of the musical can spend the night in an immersive suite decked out from top to bottom in a “Lion King”-themed design and memorabilia from the show, like fabrics used on stage and drawings of various costumes.
Designed by Devin Sparkles Design, “The Lion King’s” Royal Suite is part of a larger package that also includes two drinks (either a Hakuna Manhattan or a Serengeti Sunrise mocktail), a wake-up call from Rafiki (played by Tshidi Manye), Simba-themed s’mores, gifts inspired by the show, breakfast at the hotel and access to special rates for premium seating at “The Lion King” on Broadway.
Rates for the suite start from $500 per night and can be booked online by emailing [email protected] or by calling (212) 913-9488.
Orlando’s getting a luxe IHG property
Good news for IHG loyalists who love the thrills and entertainment of Orlando! The city is getting an InterContinental hotel. Set to open in 2028, the InterContinental Orlando will have 700 rooms, five restaurants and bars, a 15,000-square-foot wellness area and a Club InterContinental Lounge, all found on International Drive and near the major theme parks.
Orlando has a lot to look forward to over the next few years, starting with the opening of the new Epic Universe theme park and the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which will have a dedicated entrance into the park. Over at Walt Disney World, new upcoming attractions include new lands at various parks centered around “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” Disney’s famous villains, “Zootopia” and more.
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A beloved European escape transforms into a Four Seasons
Over 100 rooms spread across a 100-acre resort on the Spanish island of Mallorca make up Four Seasons’ latest trick: Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor. Set beside a working wine vineyard on a property that dates back to 1929, this Four Seasons combines the natural beauty of the island with the brand’s legendary service to create a seasonal holiday experience that encompasses a temporary pop-up spa, multiple bars and restaurants and days spent lounging by the pool, snorkeling or hiking up to catch scenic views. Open through the end of October, guests can currently get 15% off stays of two nights or longer.
Next year, the resort will reopen in March.
A new Texas hotel will be ‘ultra-accommodating’ for guests with all kinds of needs
As someone who travels often with a family member who uses a wheelchair, I can tell you firsthand how frustrating hotel stays can be. Morgan’s Wonderland, a San Antonio theme park created to give guests with and without disabilities a place to go for fun, is opening a new hotel tailored to accessibility needs. The property will have staff who specialize in disability assistance and are trained in disability etiquette, offering special accommodations for people with specific hearing, visual and physical needs and even catering to aging populations.
Gordon Hartman, the founder of the theme park, which is named after and inspired by his daughter and set to open in 2026, said, “This will certainly be a hotel for everyone, including those with special needs who, going forward, will feel more included, valued, and fulfilled.”
And to make the hotel even sweeter, it looks like Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott are all vying to get their respective names on the property, meaning that once Morgan’s Hotel is open, points-and-miles enthusiasts will have an ultra-accommodating property at which to earn or burn points.
