Florence’s hotel renaissance, Lisa Vanderpump bets big on Las Vegas and other hotel news you missed
Spring, in my humble opinion, is the best time of the year. I've already had two great tastes of spring, even though we have not fully escaped the colder days quite yet.
In late March, on a trip to Houston, a run through Buffalo Bayou Park had my Hokas pounding pavement past two of my favorite spring features of my home state: wildflowers and bluebonnets. And just this past weekend, the first truly springlike day in New York City with a high of 80 degrees made Manhattan come to life, reminding me of why I love living here.
As I waited for spring to arrive, there was plenty of news happening in the hotel world. In Costa Rica, a JW Marriott-branded all-inclusive resort was announced, strengthening my belief that sooner rather than later everyone you know will be taking an all-inclusive vacation. (In fact, you don't even have to leave the U.S. to have a know-what-you-pay-up-front trip.)
Another thing that got my attention was the news that Airbnb-owned booking website HotelTonight will now give users 10% of the money they spend back, minus taxes and fees, in the form of Airbnb credits that expire within a year. It's an interesting way to reward travel, especially for people who might not stay at hotels enough to work their way up the tiers of elite status through one specific brand. I'm all for any tool to help people save money and travel.
Here's everything else you should know about.
A St. Louis art hotel joins Hilton Honors
In St. Louis, home of the Gateway Arch and the place that gave us Andy Cohen (and ultimately the world's best reality TV, thanks Andy!), the Angad Arts Hotel lets guests reserve rooms "based on the emotion of color." There, to feel "free," book a blue room. To feel "rejuvenated," opt for green. Whatever you do, just make sure you add your Hilton Honors number to your reservation because this hotel is now officially part of Hilton's Tapestry Collection.
Beyond the colorful rooms, visitors can enjoy rotating art exhibits, dining on comfort food at Commonwealth, sipping cocktails at the rooftop Art Bar and working out in a newly updated fitness center with Peloton bikes.
How to book: Rates start around $150 or 45,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Capella Taipei opens its doors
Capella Hotels and Resorts is one of the top names in the world of luxury accommodations. Now, Taipei, the buzzy capital of Taiwan and one of TPG's best destinations for 2025, is home to the eighth Capella property, joining the likes of Bangkok and Sydney.
This new hotel offers a range of accommodations, from suites with private pools to rooms with views of Taipei 101, once the tallest building in the world. Five restaurants serve a variety of dishes that draw inspiration from all sorts of cuisines; expect everything from Western bites and French pastries to Cantonese fare and a Japanese omakase experience. The Capella Spa offers top-tier treatments to help people feel and look as fabulous as the hotel.
How to book: Cash rates start from $619 per night.
Lisa Vanderpump is opening a hotel in Las Vegas
Besides hotels, TPG's senior hotels reporter is passionate about "The Real Housewives." (Thanks, Bravo! Thanks again, Andy Cohen!) So, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll make my way to Las Vegas for the 2026 opening of Lisa Vanderpump's The Vanderpump Hotel.
Vanderpump, a restauranteur and TV celebrity, has previously partnered with Caesars Entertainment for restaurants and bars at Paris Las Vegas, Caesars Palace and Flamingo Las Vegas. Now the duo will convert The Cromwell, a boutique property with 188 rooms, into Vanderpump's first hotel. Details are light at the moment, but Vanderpump said in a statement that her team "can't wait to breath new life into this property and make it something truly magical."
Florence, Italy, is having a hotel moment
If you ever needed an excuse to visit Florence, here are two: The Hoxton, Florence and Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts — two new hotels that opened in March.
Part country estate, part urban retreat, Auberge's new Florence property, Collegio alla Querce, which was featured on our list of the most exciting hotel openings for 2025, is a design-lover's dream, offering 49 rooms, 28 suites and six grand suites. The tree-lined estate also offers Italian fine dining, a moody and playful bar, a pool and a spa, all of which you can enjoy from 1,350 euros (about $1,461) per night.
Closer to Florence's city center, The Hoxton, the second iteration of this brand in Italy, has 161 rooms spread across two juxtaposing buildings: One is a 16th-century, late-Renaissance palazzo, and the other is a modernist building from the 1980s designed by Andrea Branzi. The design-forward hotel offers a range of accommodation options, from "Snug" rooms fit for one traveler to a three-bedroom "House" that can sleep up to six people.
Rates start from 199 euros (about $215) per night, but you can save significantly by joining Ennismore's Dis-loyalty program, a paid membership that offers 50% off stays in the hotel's first three months. (It also comes with free coffee daily, so if you happen to live by an Ennismore hotel, that membership pays for itself in caffeine!)
Orient Express announces inaugural sailings next summer
Reservations are now open for a trip on the Orient Express Corinthian, the world's largest sailing yacht. Next summer, the massive yacht will sail around the Mediterranean with itineraries ranging from two to eight nights. Ports of call include popular spots like Monte Carlo, Monaco, and Cannes and Saint-Tropez, France. To inquire about booking, visit the ship's website.
Banyan Tree opens in Singapore's Mandai Wildlife Reserve
With 338 rooms and suites, including 24 mindblowing treehouses, Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree marks Banyan Tree Group's 100th global property — and a homecoming to Singapore. Situated in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, guests to the resort, open as of April 2, feel like they're one with nature, and have plenty of opportunities to get up and close to it with activities like night safaris or a trip to the nearby Singapore Zoo. Guests can also simply post up at the resort and enjoy the Banyan Tree Spa, dine on locally sourced meals or join a class to learn about Singapore coffee culture, among many other activities.
How to book: Cash rates from $227.
News you need to know
- Luaus, waterslides and updated rooms: The Hyatt Regency Maui is now available from just 21,000 points
- A Hilton is finally coming to the Deer Valley ski resort in Utah
- A luxe new life for a storied hotel: Madrid's Westin Palace moves to The Luxury Collection
- From Cancun to Paris to the Nile River, these are the hotels to book for your spring vacation
Reviews to inspire you
- 2 hotels, double the fun: My stay at the dual-branded AC and Moxy hotels in downtown LA
- How Embassy Suites is making condo-style accommodations convenient for Disney vacations
- Convenience and California beach access on a budget: A review of Newport Beach Marriott Bayview
- Secluded luxury in a 3D-printed paradise: A review of Kisawa Sanctuary
- Lowcountry luxe: Staying at Emeline in Charleston, South Carolina
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 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
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
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.
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.