Shrek's Swamp on Airbnb, Rosewood takes New Zealand and more hotel news you missed last month

01.10.2023 - 19:55 / thepointsguy.com / News

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 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.

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 [email protected]. This program is for cancellations occurring through Dec. 31, and the points will be given to the first 100 people who apply.

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