How these hotel brands you've never heard of are going to change your mind about luxury travel
If you've shied away from Accor's luxury properties in the past because you felt the Sofitels and Fairmonts of the world were too old-school for you, it's time to revisit the chain's portfolio.
While Accor is known for its "classic" brands, such as Raffles, Swissôtel, Mövenpick and Grand Mercure, it's been busy forging interesting partnerships with trendy brands such as Faena and Delano. And those couplings are helping Accor redefine what luxury means in the first place.
New and renovated hotels and resorts are coming online that continue to focus on personalized service, but do it in a more relaxed and approachable manner. You might say it's the age of hip and accessible luxury.
Accor's purchase of SBE heralds an emphasis on hip hotels
Take Accor's progress with its Delano brand. It was birthed in trendy Miami before expanding to Las Vegas. So, what's the next "it" city for Delano? Paris.
Accor is renovating an 18th-century mansion in the 8th Arrondissement that will open in 2022 as the Maison Delano. Well-positioned near the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the hotel will have 56 rooms and suites plus a chef Dani Garcia-helmed restaurant that's part of the property's courtyard.
The chain plans to open additional Maison Delano outposts in cities around the globe, and it's not limiting its footprint to urban areas. However, when Delanos open in the countryside, such as mountain lodges or beach resorts, "Maison" will drop from their names.
What's important to note here is that Delano is under the SBE umbrella, which describes itself as a "lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates award-winning hotels" — and Accor took full ownership of SBE hotels in November.
Sam Nazarian, the founder of SBE, had a clear vision for the future of contemporary luxury. Hotels under his purview shared several things in common: a focus on engaging design, incredible cuisine and access to buzzy nightlife. He brought those attributes to the Delano, SLS, Mondrian and Hyde hotel brands.
Accor will now take up that mantle and continue moving in the direction of more accessible luxury experiences focused on fine dining and out-of-the-ordinary entertainment.
Expanding the Delano brand isn't the only thing on Accor's mind. Through its SBE group, it also just opened the SLS Cancun. The 45-room boutique property that opened on Wednesday, Feb. 10, offers a stunning stretch of beachfront, a beach club, marina and an 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Weiskopf.
Last last year, Accor also struck a deal with the hospitality developer Ennismore, which is responsible for The Hoxton and Gleneagles luxury properties, among other brands.
Related: You can now book these awesome Accor hotels with miles
Buzzy nightlife is the key to a younger demographic
Accor is betting that the future of luxury hotels lies in developing full-blown entertainment complexes centered around a boutique property. That's why it's partnered with Faena.
Chat with your most plugged-in friend, and he or she has probably stayed at Faena Hotel Miami Beach, Casa Faena (also in Miami, reopening Oct. 1, 2021) or Faena Hotel Buenos Aires.
Last month, Accor and Faena announced a partnership focused on creating "Faena Districts" that go beyond hotels and provide everything you need when discovering a new destination: an incredible place to stay, top-notching dining, spa facilities, cultural events and more.
Related: Accor and Hoxton unite to create a new family of boutique hotels
Founder Alan Faena hit upon a recipe for success with beautifully designed hotels in breathtaking settings that are made even more special with amenities like vast spa centers, restaurants helmed by James Beard Award-winning chefs, art exhibitions and experiences, cabaret-style theaters and live music in the lounges. A stay at a Faena property is about more than just a place to rest your head at night: It's the conduit to the area's culture and community.
Dubai is earmarked for the first Accor-involved Faena District and it will evolve organically depending on what elements are deemed paramount to the neighborhood's success.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees