by The shortest month of the year has come and gone — and with it also a lot of important news from the hotel world.
I hope February was full of fun moments, lovely Valentine’s Day plans and time spent celebrating Black History Month. (Although there are incredible destinations where you can celebrate and learn about black history every month of the year.)
Last month the hotel team and our TPG colleagues reported that if you want daily housekeeping at the Marriott, you should expect to pay more and that the future of Hyatt is all about luxury, lifestyle and resorts. They also reported that President Joe Biden is targeting “garbage” fees on hotel stays, flights and credit cards.
If you haven’t already, I’d also recommend reading about the five biggest changes in the hotel industry that could affect your next stay – from my fellow hotel reporter Cameron Sperance – and a good take on why hotel fees are out of control and need to end ASAP from managing editor Scott Mayerowitz.
Also, check out this incredible review of a hotel that helped one of my favorite teammates rediscover his Dominican roots here in New York City.
But between all these stories, there were still tidbits of news that deserve some attention. Here’s the hotel news you might have missed in February.
Hyatt’s new properties in the Dominican Republic and Mexico
One of TPG’s 40 most exciting new hotels opening in 2023 is finally welcoming guests – Numu Boutique Hotel San Miguel de Allende. You’ll find it in Mexico’s ultra-charming city of San Miguel de Allende, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The boutique hotel has just 44 keys, art-filled rooms that draw inspiration from the beautiful city and Nubye Spa, offering traditional Mexican healing rituals. It has a variety of restaurants, including a rooftop venue serving Southeastern Mexican cuisine, an all-day courtyard Mexican restaurant and a lobby bar.
A Category 6 World of Hyatt resort, award nights are 25,000 points per night or about $309 per night.
If you’d rather jump on the booming all-inclusive trend (trust us, they’re finally getting good!), Hyatt also has a brand new all-inclusive resort to check out. Located on the beautiful beach of Cabeza de Toro in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Dreams Flora Resort & Spa offers 520 suites – all of which include balconies or terraces. Club level suites offer access to a club pool, bar and upgraded amenities. There are also several pools and a water park, as well as kids’ and teens’ clubs and a spa.
In terms of restaurants and bars, options range from an Asian teppanyaki-style restaurant to seafood and Mexican outlets, plus an international buffet. There are 13 bars, including swim-up facilities, a sports bar and a beach bar.
A category B hotel on Hyatt’s all-inclusive rate chart, expect to spend 17,000 to 23,000 points per night or about $566 per night, based on double occupancy.
The Ritz-Carlton is on its way to Lake Como
If you are a fan of luxury hotels, the beautiful village of Bellagio on Lake Como in Italy and the Marriott Bonvoy program, we have some good news that broke on the last day of February. The former Hotel Grande Bretagne will be transformed into The Ritz-Carlton, Bellagio, the first in Italy, with an expected opening date of 2026.
The Hotel Grande Bretagne was one of the first resorts on Lake Como and has roots dating back to 1850. It had since fallen into disrepair, but it will receive a “complete conservative restoration and reimagining of the property with the utmost respect for the historical significance” of the building, Marriott, together with Grimit Srl, said in a statement.
When open, The Ritz-Carlton, Bellagio will feature 59 guest rooms, 46 suites, an outdoor swimming pool, various restaurants and bars (to be announced) and a private boat dock on the lake. If waiting until 2026 to enjoy a Ritz-Carlton on the water feels too long, you can visit a Ritz-Carlton on the water by taking a vacation on the Ritz-Carlton yacht.
The Four Seasons will take you on a journey
Four Seasons is known for taking its customer experience to new heights (literally—it has a private jet that can fly you around the world to visit the Canadian brand’s top resorts). But if you like to keep things a little lower to the ground, the company has announced two new Four Seasons Drive Experiences. This way, you can whip around California’s Napa Valley or the European Alps in a luxury car before resting your head at several Four Seasons properties.
From June 12 to 18, the Four Seasons Drive Experience in the heart of the Alps will allow guests to explore the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), taste wines and cheeses, learn the Swiss art of watchmaking and rest at the Four Seasons Hotel Des Bergues Geneva and Four Seasons Hotel Megeve.
In the fall, from October 29 to November 4, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley hosts the Napa Valley Drive Experience; it explores Napa’s world-famous scenic views, culinary offerings and wineries along San Francisco Bay, oyster farming in Tomales Bay and a hot air balloon ride.
More information, prices and booking information are available through the Four Seasons.
Celebrity chefs turn up the heat for the Las Vegas Grand Prix
If you haven’t heard, Las Vegas is about to have a banner year full of new experiences, shows and restaurants; Sin City will even host next year’s Super Bowl. But first, people from around the world will take over the Strip for the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix. The best place to watch is the Bellagio Fountain Club – an indoor-outdoor temporary club built into the elevated viewing platforms that will be built above the resort’s famous fountains.
At more than $11,000 per ticket, the experience doesn’t come cheap — but it does come with a rotating selection of unlimited drinks from mixologists and sommeliers. The drinks also come with food created by some of the most famous names in the game, including Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Masaharu Morimoto, David Chang, Mario Carbone, Michael Mina and Bryan and Michael Voltaggio. The experience also includes meet and greets with the racers, F1 racing simulators, three days of luxury accommodation at an MGM resort and the chance to go on a pit lane tour to watch the racers prepare for the big moment.
