The Big Apple, and sunny destinations such as Orlando and Hawai’i are top of mind for travellers, a new study from Hilton says.
According to recent data from Hilton.com, the top searched destinations for stays of 5 days or more between December 23 and January 1 are as follows:
New York City
Experience the best of the holiday season in the Big Apple at the 1920’s classic landmark hotel Martinique New York on Broadway, Curio Collection by Hilton. The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of midtown, offering unparalleled access to all of NYC’s famous holiday happenings. Guests can enjoy a meal at The Press Club Grill, the hotel’s signature restaurant helmed by Chef Franklin Becker or a seafood tasting menu at the newly opened Nōksu.
Orlando
Waldorf Astoria Orlando is perfect for a holiday vacation as the hotel recently unveiled a property-wide reimagination, including a floor-to-ceiling transformation of all guest rooms and suites, a new lobby arrival experience, new design and culinary innovations at the award-winning restaurants Bull & Bear and Peacock Alley, enhancements to The Waldorf Astoria Spa and complete restoration of the esteemed 18-hole Waldorf Astoria Golf Club.
Cancun
Travellers looking for sun this holiday season should head to the newly-renovated 540-room Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort, centrally located in Cancun’s popular Hotel Zone and nestled along 600 feet of pristine beachfront resort between the Caribbean Sea and the Nichupte Lagoon. Guests can enjoy five diverse dining options, an array of entertainment, multiple pools – including an exclusive kids pool – and a kids and teens club.
Las Vegas
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Curio Collection by Hilton is the perfect playground. Take a dip in the hottest pool in town, unwind at the spa or enjoy a bite in the hotel’s 12 experiential food and beverage outlets. For those looking to party and play, located within the resort is the state-of-the-art 60,000-square-foot Mohegan Sun Casino.
Hawaii
Nestled on 40 acres of lush, tropical gardens fronting Wailea Beach, Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort offers a range of vacation experiences, from nine inter-connected pools through waterslides and swings sets, to eight dining experiences including the recently opened Olivine, a new oceanfront culinary destination where the natural bounty of Maui is perfectly paired with the art of coastal Italian cuisine.
Here’s a look at some new Hilton properties coming along next year:
Hampton by Hilton London Old Street
Anticipated Opening: January 2024
Description: Located in the heart of East London, Hampton by Hilton London Old Street perfectly blends modern comfort with access to immersive local experiences. A mere five minute walk from Old Street station, the 109-room hotel provides unparalleled convenience for business and leisure travellers.
LXR Hotel Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo Courtesy Hilton Hotels
Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts
Anticipated Conversion Date: February 2024
Description: Expected to open in February 2024, LXR Hotels & Resorts has plans to debut its first Hawaii property in Honolulu. Overlooking Fort DeRussy Park with views of the Pacific Ocean and Diamond Head in Oahu, the hotel is just steps from Waikiki Beach and the heart of Waikiki’s world-class restaurants, shops, entertainment and nightlife. This was formerly a Trump hotel.
Tempo by Hilton Nashville Downtown
Accepting Reservations For: March 1, 2024
Description: Slated to be the brand’s second open property, Tempo by Hilton Nashville Downtown is situated off the buzzing Broadway, surrounded by a wide range of restaurants, bars and Music City hotspots. Complete with a Bluestone Lane, the brand’s signature guest rooms with Get Ready Zones and wellness-oriented amenities, the hotel is another strong addition to Hilton’s Nashville portfolio of hotels and exemplifies the Tempo by Hilton brand. Wellness rooms complete with a Peloton bike will also be available at Tempo Nashville Downtown.
Canopy by Hilton Seychelles
Anticipated Opening Date: Q1 2024
Description: Located on Mahé’s Anse à la Mouche beach, famed for its calm and shallow waters, this resort is set to bring a new sense of vibrancy to the oceanfront community. The first Canopy by Hilton resort property in the world will offer 120 locally inspired guest rooms and spaces to accommodate more intimate meetings and events.
And here a couple of properties that are being renovated
A renovated room at the Hilton Toronto. Photo Courtesy Hilton Hotels
Hilton Toronto
Anticipated Renovations Completed By: February, 2024
Description: Hilton Toronto is undergoing a renovation of its guest rooms, lobby area, public spaces, and restaurant and bar. The multi-phase redesign is expected to be completed in Spring 2024. The reimagined space will capture the energy of the bustling downtown core and provide an entirely new experience of contemporary beauty and elegance. The hotel’s new authentically French dining concept will boast a traditional yet approachable brasserie-style restaurant featuring
everything from bite-sized croque-monsieur bar sliders to classic steak frites.
Hilton Vienna Danube Waterfront
Anticipated Renovations Completed by: End of 2023
Description: Hilton Vienna Danube Waterfront shines as the only Viennese hotel on the Danube waterfront and is completing a phased renovation that will be entirely completed by the end of 2023. The transformation of the 368-key Hilton Vienna Danube Waterfront extends to every aspect of the property. Travellers find a remarkable renewal encompassing guest rooms, conference facilities, executive lounge, terrace, wellness area, restaurant and bar.
FLAIR AIRLINES NOW FLIES TO VEGAS FROM WATERLOO, ONTARIO
Las Vegas. Zalman Grossbaum-Unsplash photo
Flair Airlines on the weekend launched its inaugural flight to Las Vegas from the Region of Waterloo International Airport in southern Ontario. While the new service will enhance travel options for residents, it also represents a significant milestone in the continued growth and development of air travel in Waterloo Region.
The Region of Waterloo International Airport is the fastest-growing airport in Canada and since Flair arrived in 2021, passenger traffic has continued to grow. This growth has triggered an expansion project that has doubled the size of the air terminal building to meet increased demand. Over 440,000 passengers are expected to travel through YKF by the end of 2023.
“We continue to see growing demand for additional low-cost flights through our partners at Flair Airlines out of YKF,” said Karen Redman, Chair of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. “We are pleased to see new routes to high-demand locations like Las Vegas, as well as the economic and cultural benefits that our growing airport is bringing to this community.”
“At Flair, our mission is centred on providing accessible, reliable, and affordable air travel, and this new routes perfectly aligns with that commitment,” said Flair CEO Stephen Jones. “We’re thrilled to launch a direct service to Las Vegas from the Waterloo Region.”
One-way fares begin at $59 CAD.
AIR CANADA LAUNCHES TORONTO-MARTINIQUE FLIGHTS
Saut Gendarme waterfall on Martinique. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Air Canada has launched direct flights from Toronto Pearson Airport to Fort-de-France Martinique. The route builds on Air Canada’s existing direct service from Montreal.
“Toronto passengers will now enjoy the comfort of a non-stop, 5-hour flight aboard an Airbus B737 MAX, with a capacity of 169 passengers, 16 Business Class seats (2X2) and 153 Economy Class seats (3X3),” Air Canada said. “Every seat has complimentary personal inflight entertainment.”
Here’s a story I wrote after a visit last month.
