The shortest month of the year has come and gone — and with it, so have many important news stories from the hotel world.
I hope your February was full of fun moments, lovely Valentine’s Day plans and time spent celebrating Black History Month. (Though there are incredible destinations where you can celebrate and learn about Black history every month of the year.)
Last month, the hotels team and our TPG colleagues reported that if you want daily housekeeping at 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 “junk fees” tacked onto hotel stays, airfare and credit cards.
If you haven’t already, I would also recommend reading about the five biggest hotel industry changes that could affect your next stay — from my fellow hotel reporter Cameron Sperance — and a hot take on why hotel resort fees are out of control and need to end ASAP from executive 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 of those stories, there were still tidbits of news that deserve a little attention. Here’s the hotel news you might have missed in February.
Hyatt’s new properties in the Dominican Republic and Mexico
A Category 6 World of Hyatt resort, award nights are 25,000 points per night or around $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. Found on the beautiful beach of Cabeza de Toro in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, the 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 multiple pools and a water park as well as kids and teens clubs and a spa.
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As for restaurants and bars, options range from a teppanyaki-style Asian restaurant to seafood and Mexican outlets, plus an international buffet. There are 13 bars, including swim-up options, a sports bar and a beachfront bar.
A Category B hotel on Hyatt’s all-inclusive award chart, expect to spend 17,000 to 23,000 points per night or around $566 per night, based on double occupancy.
Ritz-Carlton is heading to Lake Como
If you’re a fan of luxury hotels, the beautiful village of Bellagio on Lake Como in Italy and the Marriott Bonvoy program, we have some great news that broke on the last day of February. The former Hotel Grande Bretagne will transform into The Ritz-Carlton, Bellagio, the first in Italy, with an expected opening date in 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 get a “complete conservative restoration and reimagining of the property with the utmost respect for the historical significance of the building,” Marriott, alongside Grimit S.r.l., said in a statement.
Once 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 feels too long to enjoy a Ritz-Carlton by the water, visit a Ritz-Carlton on the water by taking a vacation on the Ritz-Carlton yacht.
Four Seasons wants to take you for a ride
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 best resorts). However, 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 Napa Valley in California or the European Alps in a luxury car before resting your head at multiple 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 the Four Seasons Hotel Megeve.
In the fall, from Oct. 29 through Nov. 4, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley plays host to the Napa Valley Drive Experience; it explores Napa’s world-famous scenic views, culinary offerings and wineries alongside the San Francisco Bay, oyster farming in Tomales Bay and a hot air balloon ride.
More information, pricing and booking information is available through Four Seasons.
Celebrity chefs are turning up the heat for the Las Vegas Grand Prix
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 beverages also come alongside food crafted 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-day luxury accommodations at an MGM resort and the chance to go on a pit lane tour to watch the racers prepare for the big moment.
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