October is one of my favorite months in New York City. Here, you get a mix of chilly fall days and unexpectedly warm temperatures, plus the leaves change into vibrant hues of orange, yellow and red. With many schools on fall break, there are plenty of tourists in town checking out that delightful Central Park foliage (and staying at the best hotels in the area) and, for me, it’s one last chance to hold onto the city before it really gets cold.
But as those leaves were changing, so was the hotel world, and there was plenty of news you might have missed during the past month. For starters, Hyatt opened a chic new adults-only all-inclusive resort in Tulum, Marriott and MGM pushed the launch dates of their new partnership back to next year, Four Seasons joined Chase’s Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection and we got a first look at the renovations of the W Union Square here in New York City.
But in between the telling of those stories, even more happened that I think you should know about. So, just like every month, I’ve pulled together a few of my favorite newsy tidbits that might pique your interest, from some hospitality openings in cyberspace to an upcoming opening here on Earth.
Munich just got a fancy new Rosewood
In Germany, Munich is now home to an outpost of one of the world’s premier luxury brands: Rosewood. Now open, the Rosewood Munich, nestled in the Old Town neighborhood, is set in a historic space — the former Bavarian State Bank headquarters — and features 73 guest rooms and 59 suites. The building work is being overseen by Munich-based Hilmer Sattler Architekten, and interiors are designed by celebrated firm Tara Bernerd & Partners.
At the property, guests will find a handful of restaurants and bars, an indoor swimming pool, Germany’s first Asaya Spa and artwork from German illustrator Olaf Hajek. Rates at Rosewood Munich start around $800 per night through the end of 2023. Since Rosewood doesn’t have its own loyalty program, people who carry The Platinum Card® from American Express can book through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts for elitelike perks like 12 p.m. check-in (when available), a $100 food and beverage credit, daily breakfast for two, potential room upgrades and a guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout.
Sheraton and Reese Witherspoon’s book club team up
As part of Sheraton’s new program “Gatherings by Sheraton,” which was created to help build connections between hotel guests and locals, the Marriott-affiliated brand is launching Reese’s Book Club x Sheraton Lobby Library. The series will see a handful of hotel lobbies transform into meeting spaces for pop-up events like “Beyond the Page,” moderated speaking events featuring authors from Reese’s Book Club and more.
The events will launch at the Sheraton Grand Los Angeles (Oct. 11-Nov. 12) and continue with events at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel and Sheraton Grand London Park Lane in 2024. The hotels will also stock the entire back catalog of Reese’s Book Club, while other hotels around the world will host monthly meet-ups centered around new books dropped in the collection. More information can be found here.
Hilton’s LXR is opening on an Italian lake
Hilton’s luxury LXR Hotels & Resorts is set to open its first property in Italy come 2026 with the Grand Hotel Gardone Lake Garda, LXR Hotels & Resorts. Set in a historic building on the waters of Lake Garda, the property will feature 160 guest rooms, two restaurants, two bars, a spa, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and plenty of spots to gaze out at the water. Though there’s still lots to be learned about the exciting property, you can look to some of LXR’s other properties, including the Hotel 1000 in Seattle and London’s Biltmore Mayfair, for a little taste of the brand. And you know we’ll be there as soon as it opens for a proper review.
Related: The 19 best Hilton hotels in the world
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A new Las Vegas resort is taking reservations
Las Vegas has something for everyone, including some of the most over-the-top suites in the world. Come late November, Sin City will have one more resort and casino to add to its collection, Durango Casino & Resort, and it’s bound to have some pretty swanky suites, too.
Located off the Strip in the Southwest Valley, the new casino has a lot to offer people who are down to get away from the hustle and bustle of the main drag. When it opens Nov. 20, the new resort will feature suites with views of the nearby mountains or the Las Vegas skyline; restaurants serving upscale American fare, steaks and modern Mexican; 83,000 square feet of gaming space; and so much more.
Opening week appears to have completely sold out, but rates through November start at $399 per night.
A new Kimpton is finally open on the island of Roatan
On the island of Roatan, some 40 miles off the mainland of Honduras, the Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort & Spa is finally open. Roatan is a gorgeous island with some of the bluest waters I’ve seen with my own two eyes — and the resort looks equally stunning.
There, guests will find airy and modern rooms, bungalows and even multiroom condos for booking, affording space for families or groups. Dining offerings include a locally sourced Mediterranean restaurant, a California-inspired beachfront restaurant, a seafood restaurant where you can snack on a grilled lobster roll with your feet in the sand and more. Fun activities include relaxing by one of the two pools, scuba diving in the coral reef right off the beach or enjoying the resort’s water toys.
Rates start as low as $215 or 47,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.
Marriott opens 4 new hotels in a virtual city
I’d be lying if I said I fully understand this one, but I sure do think it’s interesting. Marriott launched a digital city called Marriott Bonvoy Land in the online survival game Fortnite, where players battle it out to be the last person standing. Though I’ve never played Fortnite myself, I hear it’s all the rage with gamers across many demographics. Now, people can play hotel-themed minigames that represent four Marriott brands: Moxy Hotels, Westin Hotels & Resorts, W Hotels & Resorts and Autograph Collection Hotels.
To play, Fortnite players can use the game code 7652-9467-4215 to portal into the park square via Fortnite Creative, according to a statement from Marriott: “At the intersection of travel and gaming, players begin by socializing and exploring before ‘checking in’ to the different hotels. The virtual concierge greets guests with two options: to check out their guest room or unlock the hotel’s Mini Game.”
The Marriott-inspired minigames include players transforming into flamingos at the Moxy, navigating mazes at the Westin’s signature Westin Workout Fitness Studio, trying to find a special DJ set at the Wet rooftop deck of the virtual W Hotel and exploring destination-centric rooms at the Autograph Collection hotel. For hotel-obsessed people like me, this might just be the best way to go for a “trip” without having to leave the comfort of home.
And, to make it more fun for Fortnite players and gamers in the know, a surprise celebrity guest will join Twitch streamer Sommerset on a live stream Nov. 2 to play in Marriott Bonvoy Land, give away Marriott stays and chat about their favorite travel destinations.
In other news:
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