April might only have 30 days, but this year, those days were filled with some pretty exciting hotel news — especially for Hilton and Hyatt loyalists.
On the Hilton front, the company announced it purchased a majority stake in the parent company of NoMad Hotels and plans to grow the luxury lifestyle brand to more than 100 hotels worldwide. Over at Hyatt, the long-awaited integration of Mr and Mrs Smith added more than 700 hotels to World of Hyatt.
Then there was news that the U.S. hospitality job force is back to pre-pandemic levels — though that doesn’t mean housekeeping is fully back to normal.
Now it’s time to share a few smaller pieces of hotel news you might want to know about as we head into May. Personally, I am heading off for the first bit of the month to become a married man and enjoy a honeymoon in Paris. (Au revoir, for now.)
Here’s all the hotel news you might have missed in April.
The St Regis Punta Mita is getting a fresh coat of paint
The St. Regis Punta Mita in Mexico is not only one of the best St. Regis properties in the world — it’s one that will “restore your faith in the service sector,” our most recent review explains.
That’s about to get even better, as the Marriott Bonvoy property just announced a $45 million transformation that will include redesigned rooms and suites; refreshed common areas like the lobby, pools and spa; a new beachfront bar and other restaurants; and all-new wellness offerings.
So even if you already love this iconic St. Regis and its famed butler service, you’re sure to have a totally fresh experience next time you visit.
Lisa Vanderpump takes Lake Tahoe
For my fellow reality TV junkies who go out of their way to eat at celebrity-owned restaurants or make pilgrimages to places where “Real Housewives” have had iconic fights, it’s time to set your sights on Lake Tahoe. Lisa Vanderpump has just opened a new restaurant at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe (part of Caesars).
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Called Wolf by Vanderpump, the restaurant and bar is a rustic take on all things LVP (think: glitzy chandeliers and stone columns) that serves a menu of cocktails crafted by Lisa’s daughter, Pandora Vanderpump Sabo. If any of the drinks are half as good as the everything bagel martini at Vanderpump a Paris in Las Vegas, it’s sure to be incredible.
Waldorf Astoria New York has an executive leadership team
The first and only time I stayed at the Waldorf Astoria New York was after spending the previous few nights at a hostel in Brooklyn. I was in New York City, deciding if I wanted to follow my dream of being a travel journalist. My best friend surprised me with a night at one of the city’s most iconic hotels (despite how truly broke we were, having just finished college) to get a “taste” of what life could be like if I chased my dream.
Luckily for me, it all worked out.
Now, nearly 10 years after that stay and a few years after closing for an extensive remodeling project, the Waldorf Astoria New York aims to make its triumphant return later this year. With that, we finally have news about the team managing the hotel, giving us a little insight into what we can expect once it reopens.
The team is helmed by managing director Luigi Romaniello, a 30-year hospitality veteran who most recently served as the managing director of New York’s other most famous hotel, The Plaza. Other key players include Jasmin Howanietz, executive director of sales; Maggie Mojica, director of group sales; Michael Gubbins, director of property operations; Harrison Rohr, director of catering; Amanda Dempsey, director of marketing; and Steven Snyder, director of human resources.
Once reopened, the Waldorf Astoria New York will have 375 rooms and suites, private residences available for purchase, 43,000 square feet of event space and a design philosophy from Pierre-Yves Rochon that harkens back to the hotel’s golden age but with every modern touch.
Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman is almost ready to welcome you
Starting in early May, IHG will have a new presence in the Caribbean with the opening of the Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman.
The IHG One Rewards property will offer 282 rooms and suites, a pool deck with an infinity pool and a rooftop cocktail lounge serving Latin food; there will be a handful of other dining options, ranging from Asian fusion to an upscale international restaurant. While the hotel and its locally infused design seem truly stunning, you’ll also be glad to hear the hotel is only steps away from Seven Mile Beach. It really is the best of both worlds.
Opening rates, which appear to be bookable starting May 8, are going for $379 per night of 50,000 IHG One Rewards points.
