Hospitality has a dirty little secret—and this hotelier doesn't want in
Your passport will never be the same after this monumental change. Plus, Cape Town, Champagne, and the Yucatán.
New cities from the sands of Peru, passports on the chopping block, and a travel forecast of chaos (bonjour, France). Too busy to keep up? We've wrapped up some buzzy travel intel, from the chicest stays to a brilliant hotelier's tell-all on how not to greenwash. Welcome to this week’s issue of Happenings. Let’s get you caught up, courtesy of HAP editor Luke Abrahams.👇
Our Top Articles From This Week 📣
Some Travel News for Your Thursday 📰
Europe Is on Strike! What Y'all Need to Know
Yes, it is that time of year when Europe likes to give air travel the middle finger. If you are traveling throughout the continent this month, be prepared for hefty delays and dreaded cancellations as unions from all over the continent strike in the name of all things more pay and all that shizzle. All the big hitters are affected from Italy to Portugal, Spain, and of course, France—they love going on strike, so it's nothing new from the French at all. If you are out and about, check out this handy guide to avoid the stress and start filling in those delay/repay forms. Here, you're welcome.
Say “Ciao” to Passport Stamps
I love a passport stamp, but, oh my goodness, the cost of a new passport is hefty nowadays. A British one will set you back a kidney and a liver transplant just to pay for one. And don't get me started on the processing times. Drivel aside, here's the tea. Basically, Europe is finally going digital, so all your fingerprints and faces will be stored in one big old mega digital cloud system. Dubbed The Entry/Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation Systems (ETIAS), it's all due to come into effect this October, and with it, 29 countries will phase out passport stamps. Devastating if you are a nostalgic type like me, but hey, look on the bright side, at least it saves a few more pages in your passport, right? Find out more about the new system here.
They Just Found a New City in Peru
Oh well, I'll be in a whole new city in one of the most beautiful countries in South America?! Take my money NOW. Savvy archaeologists recently announced the discovery and excavation of Peñico, a 3,500-year-old ancient city in northern Peru. It was the former seat of the ancient Caral civilization and was an important trading hub that once linked the high Andes with the Amazonian regions of the country. Ceremonial temples, houses, and more were all unearthed after a mighty long research expedition led by archaeologist Ruth Shady. And yes, you ca. visit it. Read the deep dive here.
Meet the Hotelier: Estelle Manor 🛎
It's back! In our latest Meet The Hotelier slot, we catch up with Daniel Baernreuther, the man behind the bucolic English country escape, Estelle Manor.
Luke: Sum up the Estelle hospitality style in a sentence.
Daniel: Estelle Manor is a hosted home, with old-school values of personalised service and discretion.
Luke: You are the master of the manor. Tell us what it's like running a big old country estate, and what are the challenges involved?
Daniel: Overseeing an 85-acre estate has many challenges as well as rewards! It’s crucial that the guest experience is seamless, whether they want to spend a lot of time indulging in Eynsham Baths treatments and the Thermal Journey, or if their ideal stay is more food-focused, sampling the dishes at our four unique restaurants. Some folk are keen to spend their stay enjoying the outdoor pursuits we have, from Lake Fishing at Blenheim Palace to the Falconry Forest Walk and Polaris RZR buggies. This means ensuring the logistics and flow around the property and off the property are as smooth as possible. Another challenge is hiring—we’ve been lucky to secure some incredible talent locally, and we’ve also sought to bring over some team members from our sister properties, Maison and Gleneagles. Oxfordshire is such a great place to live and work, though—so many staff members have been happy to make the move.
Luke: Who is your hospitality hero, and why have they had such a profound impact on you?
Daniel: While I worked with and for many fantastic leaders over the last 27 years in 5* hotels, I would probably say Kiaran MacDonald, my Managing Director at the Savoy in 2010. The way he brought together the team to re-open the hotel after three years of closure was remarkable and his leadership in those early years will always stay with me.
Luke: What's the one big thing you want to do at the Manor that the big boss still keeps saying no to?
Daniel: We’ll have to see! I’d love to work on some new partner activations, but I’ve yet to run them past my big boss. Stay tuned...
Luke: Name the travel trend you are currently sick of. Why?
Daniel: I don’t like it when technology is forced upon you—I’m sick of QR codes and digital this and digital that.
Luke: What do you think makes the perfect country house hotel?
Daniel: I think it’s a combination of location, the physical property, and the offering. Location-wise, I want to be looking out on acres of bucolic countryside and feel that I’ve escaped the city. From the physical property, I want some history and an architecturally interesting space, combined with next-level attention to detail on the design front. For the offering, I like lots of options for things to do! I have two children, so it’s really important that whilst my wife and I relax and indulge ourselves, the kids can enjoy outdoor pursuits and fun activities just for them.
Luke: Greenwashing is a huge problem right now in the luxury space. Most of it is just clever PR and marketing jargon. What are you doing at Estelle that is actually making a difference?
Daniel: I agree that this is an issue, and it’s crucial to have authentic and tangible green policies in place that a property can truly support. Our Walled Garden is home to a variety of seasonal herbs, fruits, and vegetables that are harvested for use in our dishes at The Glasshouse. Also, all electricity at Estelle Manor now comes from 100% renewable energy sources. We have 24 electric vehicle charger points, and our buggies and most estate vehicles are fully electric. To be honest, there is much more that we need and want to do, though.
Luke: Tell us your number one UK boutique hotel stay. What makes it stand out so much?
Daniel: Kinloch Lodge on the Isle of Skye is my number one boutique hotel in the UK. Isabella, the owner, is the most perfect host and makes you feel so welcome that you never want to leave.
Luke: What's happening next at Estelle? Any gossip to tell us?
Daniel: We’re gearing up for the festive season and the estate will transform into a midwinter soirée! We’re leaning into myth, mystery, and art deco splendour, and I can't wait to see the manor in her full winter glory!
Luke: Tell me your wildest travel story. Why does it stick out so much?
Daniel: Last February, my family and I travelled through India and spent a few days on the Andaman Islands. Our stay coincided with the first visit of the Indian President to the islands in 15 years, so the whole island was spruced up and the hotel we stayed at was located right at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, which is normally overrun with tourists. However, the president stayed in our hotel and therefore the entire beach was closed—apart from the 11 hotel residents. Miles and miles of deserted beach just for us... bliss.
The New Hotel Wellness Residency to Know ✨
We do love a good hotel residency here at HAP, so we were rather stoked to hear about Beaverbrook's wellness residencies at their swish Surrey hideaway. The award-winning boutique heartthrob has hosted everyone from witches to druids over the years in the name of all things holistic wellness, and this week, yours truly had an intimate breathwork session with visiting master and monk Master Geshe YongDong. Why did I do it? To learn how to expel all of one's negative energy, and trust me, you soak up a lot in the world of journalism, so it was time to say bye-bye. While Master Geshe is now long gone, the hotel often welcomes visiting masters, so if you are flying into London town anytime soon, make sure you check out who is in-house to help you rid your life of its daily stresses. Find out more here.
NYC Know-It-All: Vol. 16 🗽
Our weekly column from hospitality-obsessed city native Megan Shelton unveils the gotta-be-there spots across the Big Apple that are anything BUT basic.
Faena New York opened on September 9, unveiling 120 rooms and suites designed by Parisian firm Gilles & Boissier. Guests can now book stays and enjoy standout amenities, including Francis Mallmann's La Boca restaurant; speakeasy-style bar El Secreto; vibrant nightlife venue The Living Room; and the renowned Tierra Santa Healing House. Faena Art, the brand's 501(c)(3) nonprofit, continues its programming along The Plaza, while Faena Theater–set to open in Spring 2026–will showcase ambitious productions and the group's signature cabaret performances.
LDV Hospitality has launched Koju, a 14-seat modern sushi concept inside Ace Hotel Brooklyn. Helmed by Executive Chef Kevin Garrison and Partner Hiro Nishida, Koju offers a $145 nine-course omakase alongside inventive cocktails, rare sakes, and an immersive vinyl music program.
The Mulberry team announced Café Mulberry, opening this October in NoLita. Expect La Bicyclette pastries, SEY coffee, frosé, and a no-laptop ethos within a European-inspired space featuring a private garden patio.
NoHo's new two-story bathhouse–Lore–opened last week and boasts a Finnish sauna, infrared sauna, cold plunge pool, and hammam-style heated benches. The membership model and guided wellness programming offer a modern take on ritual bathing.
For more NYC + travel content, follow Megan, who doubles as HAP's NYC Know-It-All and Contributing Travel Editor, on Instagram, TikTok, and her Substack, Turndown Service
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