Shrek's Swamp on Airbnb, Rosewood takes New Zealand and more hotel news you missed last month
It's October, which means the leaves are changing, giant skeletons are taking over suburban lawns and people are apple-picking pretty much anywhere an apple grows.
But while our month slowly faded to orange and yellow hues (or very suddenly, in some cases), the hotel world was as busy as ever. In September, Marriott announced yet another brand, reservations opened for the long-awaited Fontainebleau in Las Vegas and, speaking of Sin City, a cyberattack crippled MGM Resorts.
But in between news of data security and brand openings, some less dramatic news occurred. As I share every month, here's a snackable sampling of some hotel news you might have missed in September.
Rosewood heads to New Zealand
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has long been known as one of the world's leading luxury hotel brands, but it hasn't had a presence in the Oceania region before. That's about to change with the recent announcement that it'll soon be taking over three properties in New Zealand formerly known as Robertson Lodges.
On Dec. 1 of this year, the lodges will be rebranded as Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, a 6,000-acre estate on the Pacific Ocean with 16 rooms and suites, plus access to three private beaches; Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, a 24-room property on Hawke's Bay on the North Island; and Rosewood Matakauri, a lakeside retreat with just 13 rooms and one restaurant in Queenstown.
At this time, there are no plans to open in Australia, but the company does have a robust pipeline with planned openings in Japan, South Korea, the Maldives, China, Europe and more. Curious what a Rosewood stay looks like? Check out our latest Rosewood review featuring the Rosewood Vienna.
IHG offers 10,000 points for canceled Airbnb reservations in NYC
New York City recently cracked down on Airbnb listings in the city, making most short-term listings illegal. With that, a flood of people with preexisting reservations found themselves without a place to stay. To help soften the blow, IHG Hotels & Resorts is offering travelers who can prove they had their New York reservations canceled because of the ban 10,000 IHG One Rewards points as part of the IHG Vacay SOS Program. The points can be used to help rebook a New York stay or book a future stay wherever the points can be used.
If you were affected, you can have your trip "rescued" by IHG by signing up for IHG One Rewards (if you haven't already) and emailing proof that your New York short-term rental was canceled by the host or short-term rental company to BeAGuestAgain@ihg.com. This program is for cancellations occurring through Dec. 31, and the points will be given to the first 100 people who apply.
A new hotel collection wants you to experience the best outdoor destinations in the US
For folks who love the great outdoors (or people just getting a taste of the diverse landscapes the United States has to offer), a new hotel collection called Outbound Hotels might have exactly what you're looking for.
Designed around the idea of "connection," these hotels focus on bringing together local culture, music and the outdoors at properties that are close to a town and close to nature, alongside bars and restaurants and activities ranging from yoga and hiking to karaoke and campfires.
Related: Where to stay when visiting Yellowstone National Park
Properties in the growing collection include The Virginian Lodge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, near Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, and Outbound Mammoth in California, near skiing at Mammoth Mountain. The collection plans to grow with upcoming locations in Stowe, Vermont, and Yosemite Valley, California, and rates start as low as $150 per night.
Live your 'Gossip Girl' fantasy at the Lotte New York Palace
If you've ever watched "Gossip Girl" (the original, not the failed reboot), you're familiar with the Lotte New York Palace, the iconic New York City hotel Serena van der Woodsen called home. Though it's unlikely you (read: me) will end up living in one of New York's luxury hotels, the hotel is offering a special package for diehard fans of the show. With the "XOXO, The Palace Package," guests can get tower accommodations, Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne turndown service, pink macarons (a la Blair Waldorf), a bottle of Chanel No. 5, a $250 gift card to Saks Fifth Avenue (and a personal shopper if you want) and a discount to a "Gossip Girl"-themed tour of filming locations around the city.
The package requires a two-night minimum and starts at $1,050.
Shrek's Swamp is now an Airbnb
Airbnb is no stranger to once-in-a-lifetime stays, but there's never been one that's as fairy tale-filled as this one: Shrek's Swamp from the much-loved DreamWorks movie "Shrek." For the first time, people have the opportunity to book a stay at the re-creation of the ogre's digs in Highland Council, Scotland. Highlights of the stay included "earwax candlelight," sharing swamp stories around a fire, fresh waffles in the morning and a bathroom worthy of the movie's eponymous character: Shrek's outhouse.
Only one two-night booking is available from Oct. 27-29 — and it's totally free to the person lucky enough to snag the booking when it goes live Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. British Summer Time. Just note that the booking does not include transportation, but it does include a donation from Airbnb to HopScotch Children's Charity.
A new 2-story overwater villa is coming to the Caribbean
Did you know you don't have to travel all the way to the Maldives or Bora Bora to stay in an overwater bungalow or villa? Turns out there are actually quite a few overwater villas in the Caribbean. And in 2024, there will be an all-new one in St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the upcoming Sandals Saint Vincent. Set on a 50-acre stretch of land, the new resort will feature the adults-only brand's first two-story overwater bungalow, offering hammocks suspended over the water, a rooftop lounge with sweeping island and sea views and plenty of space to spread out.
The resort will also offer 16 restaurants and bars, an open-air beach club and bar and all the activities and entertainment Sandals resorts are known for. Reservations are now open, and guests who book through Oct. 27 will receive up to $1,000 instant credit on seven-night stays or longer, $775 credit on six-night stays, $505 credit on five-night stays and $375 on four-night stays through 2026.
A rose cabana is the place to be in Oahu
Lastly, I want to leave you with a place where summer seemingly never ends: the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii. More specifically, Turtle Bay Resort, a luxurious property with seven beaches spanning 1,300 acres. It's a place where you can watch world-class surfers while sipping a bacon-topped bloody mary from shore or spending an entire day getting pampered in the spa.
Related: The best hotels in Oahu
Now, the resort has teamed up with Provence, France-based Chateau d'Esclans to launch a collection of Whispering Angel cabanas filled with custom surfboards, plenty of pale pink and room to spread out for up to six people (or up to 12 people by combining two cabanas). A cabana rental also comes with a bottle of Whispering Angel rose wine, light bites like local fruit and a charcuterie board, and an exclusive menu of other foods and drinks. Cabana rentals start at $600, last for nine hours and can be made online.
What else you should know
- Dubai appears ready to legalize gambling. Does Marriott's new partner MGM Resorts have an advantage?
- Soho House's founder and CEO reveals major North American expansion plans
- Hilton rolls out plan to add 20,000 Tesla chargers across 2,000 North American hotels
Hotels you need to visit
- Swiss hospitality and lakeside luxury: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva
- You've never had an all-inclusive experience like Grand Velas Los Cabos
- The magic of Disney on the beach: What it's like staying at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort
- Fun for the family without many frills: My stay at the Great Wolf Lodge Maryland
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.