Viva Cruises is launching a new premium brand called Viva Boutique.
01.10.2024 - 15:09 / thepointsguy.com / Paris Hilton
For me, September is a hard one to see go. With it, those last little moments of summer slip away, the temperature starts to change and it's time to start pulling out your warm coats. My September was especially great, though. It started with cruising around the Mediterranean and checking out a few dreamy hotels in Italy, followed by a quick trip to Mexico to check out Hyatt's new all-inclusive brand.
While I was busy galavanting around, a lot of hotel news broke out over the course of this month. Graduate Hotels officially joined Hilton Honors, as did about 100 Small Luxury Hotels. Wyndham rolled out its newest luxury brand in the U.S., and Kimpton started taking reservations for its first-ever all-inclusive resort.
Here's some more hotel news you may have missed in September.
Now through the end of the year, Banyan Tree — a collection of wellness-focused resorts — is celebrating its 30th anniversary with activations, events and special experiences around the world. Some of the events include wellness activities and dining experiences at the original Banyan Tree in Phuket, Thailand; a sunset dinner and Urban Wellbeing Retreat at the new Banyan Tree Dubai; 60 curated activities at other Banyan Tree properties (like the new property in Kyoto); and a refresh of the brand's signature dining experience, Saffron.
From Oct. 4 to Nov. 1, Paris Hilton will take over The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles with the launch of two "Stay Like an Infinite Icon" suites. The over-the-top suites are "complete with a touch of glamour, fun, and, of course, lots of pink," Paris Hilton said in a statement. The socialite and original influencer added that she "grew up celebrating special moments" with her family at The Beverly Hilton.
For a chance to stay, Hilton Honors members can bid for a two-night stay that includes a "special Paris surprise," gift bags and round-trip airport transfer. Or, a few lucky people will be able to book the suite directly through the hotel's website, with stays running from Oct. 4 to Nov. 1
A new luxury resort set on more than 600 acres is set to open in St. George, Utah, near Zion National Park. It'll have direct access to Snow Canyon State Park — a great location for outdoor enthusiasts who also seek elevated dining and spa experiences. Black Desert Resort will unveil its first phase following the PGA Tour FedEx Cup tournament in October 2024. Its Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course will also be home to the LPGA Tour competition in May 2025.
The resort is in one of Utah's certified Dark Sky Places making it a great location for stargazing. Amenities also include nine Wellness Suites with direct spa access, 13 spa treatment rooms, more than 700 guest rooms, 45,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor
Viva Cruises is launching a new premium brand called Viva Boutique.
The traditional territories in Alberta are home to many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit who have called these territories home for time immemorial. We respectfully acknowledge the diverse histories, cultures, and territories of Treaty 6, 7, 8, 4, and 10, as well as the homelands of the Métis, the 8 Métis Settlements, the 6 Métis Regions of the Métis Nation of Alberta.
I've been obsessed with travel since I was young, and so far, I've ticked off more than 40 countries on my bucket list. Before I leave for a trip, I usually research the destination beforehand and put together a rough idea of the key sites I don't want to miss.
Daniela Jacobs, the founder and designer of Arc, a line of minimalist jewelry and home goods, is perhaps best known for her porcelain creations in shades of ecru and eggshell. But in 2018, a translucent organza garment that Jacobs created for a photo shoot led to such an unexpected swell of purchase inquiries that she decided to create a handful of one-of-a-kind garments to sell, titling it her Invisibles collection. Now, after 10 years in business, Jacobs is releasing a new batch of designs that explore the concept of invisibility with Arc Glass, a limited-edition capsule of rings, bangles, candle holders and plates made of borosilicate glass. In addition to pieces that are completely see-through, a handful of the designs are rendered in black, as well as a smoky hue that changes in different lights. “It almost has a turquoise tint to it, which feels right to me because of the Mediterranean vibe,” says Jacobs, who splits her time between New York and Majorca. As with her porcelain pieces, Jacobs’s glass creations require a bit of mindfulness when worn, but she insists that they’re made for everyday use. “I wear them on the subway. I wear them biking. I wear them when I’m in Spain. When I go to the sea, I take them off and put them on a rock; I come back, they’re fine,” she says.
Classic Vacations has recently unveiled significant technology upgrades aimed at empowering travel advisors. The centerpiece of this investment is an enhanced Online Booking Platform, allowing advisors to book multi-destination, multi-room itineraries with real-time rates and availability, including access to Classic's exclusive "Preferred" 5-star hotel inventory.
Rome is one of the most established tourist destinations in the world and 2025 is set to be a bumper year for visitor numbers.
It's been nearly a year since Scandinavian Airlines announced plans to leave Star Alliance, which it helped found over 25 years ago, as part of a financing deal with Air France-KLM. The airline officially exited SkyTeam at the end of August and has since been forging closer ties with its new SkyTeam partners, including Delta, with whom the Stockholm-based carrier signed a codeshare agreement that just went into effect on Sept. 25.
Whenever I realize a friend is in Paris — likely via a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower's shimmering lights or a snap of the sun hitting the Louvre Pyramid just right — my response is always the same.
There's been a major development in the merger of Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines, as the two carriers just launched the ability to transfer miles between their respective loyalty programs. While post-merger plans call for a single, combined loyalty program, this is an important first step — and opens up a lucrative new avenue for those with American Express Membership Rewards points.
Paris and Berlin will soon be connected by a new high-speed train service.
The opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics in Paris is designed to be a major spectacle on July 26. Yet issues have plagued the games before they’ve even begun. Just hours before the opening ceremony, arsonists attacked France’s high-speed rail network and disrupted travel to Paris from around Europe for 800,000 people — fans and athletes alike.
Iceland is known as one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights, as it sits just south of the Arctic Circle and is known for clear winter skies. But with numerous outdoor activities ranging from coastal hiking to horseback riding and trekking through ice caves, it’s a bit hard to stay awake every night to watch the skies.