All dogs go to Hilton and IHG’s big bet on luxury: Hotel news you might have missed
Every day here at TPG, we do our very best to bring you the most important news you need to be a well-informed traveler, from keeping you up to date on the latest hotel openings and changes in elite status requirements to unexpected fees showing up on hotel bills.
But between all the big news we cover, there are smaller things happening in the hotel world that you should know about. We're one month into a new year and with that comes a ton of exciting announcements from hotel brands big and small.
To keep you in the know, we've rounded up a handful of hotel stories you might've missed this month, from one Hilton brand becoming 100% pet-friendly to a slew of new hotels opening around the world.
Hilton is going to the dogs
If you love to travel with your pets, it might be time to start booking stays at Hilton's Homewood Suites, which announced that 100% of its hotels in the U.S. and Canada are now pet-friendly. Even better, the hotel chain is also offering free access to Mars Petcare, an online service that guests can use to chat with experts about pet-related concerns on the trip online or over the phone. Guests traveling with pets to Homewood Suites will be charged a $75 maximum for a one- to four-night stay. Stays lasting five nights or longer cost $125.
By April of this year, Tru by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn and Embassy Suites by Hilton will also be completely pet-friendly in the U.S. and Canada.
Hyatt plans to open 45 new hotels in the Americas
Hot off the closure of its acquisition of Apple Leisure Group, which added around 100 resorts and hotels to World of Hyatt, the company announced it's also planning to open 45 new hotels and resorts in the Americas through 2023.
Debuting in 11 new markets for Hyatt, the new properties appear everywhere from urban city centers to coastal resorts town from Cancun, Mexico, to Toronto, Canada. The hotels include new locations of the Hyatt Centric and Hyatt Regency brands as well as outposts of Thompson Hotels (like the now-open Thompson Austin and upcoming locations in Houston, Denver and South Beach), as well as all-inclusive Dreams and Secrets resorts across Mexico.
One major project we're keeping an eye on is the Park Hyatt Los Cabos Hotel and Residences, a 135-room resort set to open in 2023.
A full list of future Hyatt openings can be found here.
A few major hotels are getting a rebrand
It's not uncommon for hotels to be rebranded or sold to another company altogether. In January, it was announced that Four Seasons is stepping away at the end of 2022 from the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, which the Canadian brand has managed since 1983. The current owners of the hotel are looking for a new luxury hotel brand to take over operations of the Dallas-area resort.
In New York City, the Andaz Wall Street has transformed into the Hyatt Centric, though I'm not entirely sure why. Also downtown, the Millennium Hilton Downtown, located steps away from the World Trade Center Memorial, is ditching Hilton altogether and rebranding as the Millennium Downtown New York. Besides the name, pretty much everything at the 55-story hotel will stay the same, but it's a blow for Hilton Honors members looking for an upscale stay in the popular Manhattan area.
And in Las Vegas, where things seem to be changing by the minute, Bally's is transforming into the Horseshoe Las Vegas, the iconic brand that helped launch the World Series of Poker.
2022 is IHG's year of luxury expansion
While every major hotel brand is opening up a ton of new hotels and resorts around the world this year, IHG is doubling down on its luxury and lifestyle portfolio this year.
Six Senses, a brand that offers luxury wellness experiences around the world, is opening up new locations in Rome, Switzerland and the Maldives, though the long-awaited New York City property won't open its doors until 2023.
InterContinental, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, is opening 10 new hotels — and a few have been on our radar, including the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace, which made our list of 2022's most anticipated hotel openings, and the InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa. Ras Al Khaimah is an emirate near Dubai that made our list of best places to travel in 2022.
Beyond that, IHG is also planning to open seven new Kimpton hotels in destinations like Bali, Atlanta and Roatan, Honduras. Hotel Indigo continues to grow its footprint around the world with locations opening in the U.S., Mexico, Peru, Australia, the Middle East, Asia and beyond.
São Paulo is turning up the hotel heat
All year at TPG we're keeping our eyes open for upcoming hotel trends and destinations we think you need to know about.
One place that's really getting in on the luxury hotel action is São Paulo, Brazil. On Jan. 10, the Rosewood São Paulo opened with great fanfare in a former hospital building that's been reimagined as an ultra-luxe hotel with a vertical garden tower, six restaurants, 450 pieces of art, two swimming pools, a movie theater and even a music studio. If that's not enough, just take a look at the building (pictured above). Have you ever seen a more stunning hotel?
Also announced in January, the JW Marriott Hotel São Paulo will open in the second quarter of 2022, marking Marriott's first luxury hotel in the Brazilian city. Marriott Bonvoy hasn't yet announced what category the hotel will be, but when it opens guests can expect 258 rooms, a restaurant and bar, a spa with five treatment rooms, a swimming pool and a state-of-the-art fitness center.
In other news ...
- Pharrell is opening a new resort in the Bahamas
- The motor lodge is cool again
- Hilton just opened a Conrad in boho-chic Tulum
- Heated toilet seats are the best hotel amenity
- CitizenM hotels are opening up everywhere
And lastly, at the beginning of this year, I shared a list of the hotels we're most excited to see open in the first quarter of 2022. I hope this list of hotels from Austin to Prague and many places in between inspires your next trip.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.