Introducing Hotels Above Par Weekly
Italy’s Olympics buzz, LVMH’s stance on the hotel business, and more.
Hello (HAP)ers!
Welcome to your new weekly newsletter, dutifully arriving in your inbox every Thursday with a mix of travel news, articles, and inspiration tailored especially for you: boutique hotel aficionados. Allow me to quickly introduce myself as your MC for these blasts. I’m Dan Howarth, a British, New York-based design, lifestyle and travel editor whose writing has appeared in Vogue, Architectural Digest, Wallpaper*, Galerie, Departures, Wine Enthusiast, and many other publications, including Hotels Above Par, of course. I’ve contributed to a variety of books, created content strategies for influential figures and media companies, and consulted for some of the world’s top brands. Find out more about me here, if you’re curious. I also run my own Substack channel, Far-Flung Corners, and you’re warmly invited to follow my global adventures over there, too.
Each week, I’ll introduce this zeitgeisty digest covering boutique hotels, travel culture, and the editorial travel business, and add my two cents. Then, HAP news editor Ruby Gregg will share the stories she pitched to our founder Brandon Berkson over the past seven days; senior editor Britney Eschelman will lend her expert eye and dulcet prose to the week’s topical theme; and a different guest author will bring their own voice, opinions, and flair to a subject of their choice. So without further ado, let’s get into it!
The Dolomites’ Olympic Glow-Up: Italy’s Most Beautiful Mountains Step Into the Spotlight
By Dan Howarth
This week, all eyes are on Northern Italy as the 2026 Winter Olympics events kick-off across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, and a few other spots in between. As an avid skier, I’m excited to tune-in for the Alpine events, though my guilty pleasure is figure skating. The sporting extravaganza is a particularly big deal for the Dolomites, a region that’s been simmering as an IYKYK travel destination for some time now.
I first visited this stunning mountain range that spans the south-eastern edge of the Alps on a high school ski trip, when we stayed in very humble lodgings in a tiny resort, and the demographic was predominantly Italian visitors. When I (hopefully) return again this spring, I’ve no doubt I’ll discover a completely transformed scene of international travellers packing chic restaurants, luxury boutiques, and lively après-ski spots.
In truth, Cortina d’Ampezzo has been bougie since the last time the village hosted the Winter Olympics, back in 1956, but the French and Swiss resorts gained more popularity with tourists—particularly Americans—thanks to their accessibility, infrastructure, and savvy branding. But Italy’s largest ski area has quietly been staging a comeback. The Dolomiti Superski pass encompasses almost 750 miles of interconnected slopes across 12 resorts, and the charming, chocolate-box South Tyrol villages that dot the valleys—each with both Italian and German names—offer a wide variety of options for winter sports enthusiasts, as well as hikers, cyclists, climbers, and wellness seekers during the warmer seasons.
Prior to the Olympics, the Dolomites’ reputation received a boost from high-design boutique properties like Forestis in Bressanone/Brixen, which many will recognize from photos of its minimalist architecture framing view of the serrated Furchetta peaks. The opening of the eagerly anticipated Aman Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano/San Ciascian last year also added to the buzz. Now, conveniently coinciding with the Games, new openings including the uber-luxurious Ancora Cortina, and Castel Badia, which occupies a renovated 11th-century fortress, will propel the Dolomites firmly onto the international travel map as an “it” European vacation spot. See you on the slopes!
What I Pitched To My Editor-In-Chief
By Ruby Gregg
I’m Ruby Gregg, HAP’s News Editor. Each week, I spotlight the travel, hotel, and lifestyle stories that made it onto our Editor-in-Chief Brandon Berkson’s radar—and should be on yours. Have an above-par piece of news? Pitch me at RubyGregg@HotelsAbovePar.com.
Ambassadors Clubhouse Opens in New York
London’s cult-favorite Ambassadors Clubhouse has officially landed in Manhattan, bringing its design-forward, high-energy social dining concept to the States. The opening marks the brand’s first U.S. outpost and stakes a claim in New York’s competitive hospitality scene—blending bar, restaurant, and private club energy in one seamless experience.
Delta Creates Lounge at Sphere in Las Vegas
Delta is bringing its SKY360° Club to Las Vegas’s Sphere, opening a branded lounge inside the city’s most futuristic venue. The move blends aviation loyalty with live culture—positioning Delta as a lifestyle brand, not just an airline.
Edelweiss Air Unveils New A350 Cabins
Edelweiss Air has unveiled redesigned A350 cabins aimed at elevating long-haul leisure travel. With more space, upgraded tech, and a warmer, residential feel, the refresh signals the Swiss carrier’s premium push—enticing travelers seeking both comfort and style in the competitive European leisure market.
A Civil Rights Museum Is Opening in Harlem This Year
Harlem will welcome New York City’s first civil rights museum this year, focusing on the often-overlooked Northern movement through immersive, interactive exhibits. Housed in the Urban League’s new Empowerment Center, the museum positions Harlem as a cultural hub for social history and offers visitors a deeply layered, narrative-driven experience.
Kindred Raises $125 Million to Expand Home-Swapping
Kindred just raised $125 million to grow its members-only home-swapping platform, carving out a new lane between hotels and short-term rentals. The move reflects rising demand for curated, trust-based stays—and the chance to live out The Holiday in real time.
LVMH CEO: ‘Vuitton’s Not Going to Go Into the Hotel Business’
Bernard Arnault has put an end to rumors that Louis Vuitton is entering hospitality, drawing a firm line between the brand’s fashion roots and the hotel world. The comment lands as luxury houses continue to consider lifestyle expansion, underscoring how carefully legacy brands are choosing which worlds to enter.
American Airlines to Return to Venezuela
American Airlines is preparing to resume service to Venezuela, becoming the first U.S. carrier to return since 2019. The long-paused route signals a cautious reopening of one of the region’s most restricted air corridors—and a potential shift in how U.S. airlines re-approach Latin American markets once considered off-limits.
An Olympian’s Guide to Park City, According to Halfdays Co-Founder Kiley McKinnon
By Britney Eschelman
For Kiley McKinnon, Park City has always been more than a ski town—it’s a throughline. Long before she co-founded women-led skiwear brand Halfdays, the former Olympian was carving these same runs as a competitive athlete, building the foundation of a career rooted in winter sport. Returning now, as a founder hosting public events and launching new product, feels distinctly full circle.
“A lot of Park City still feels exactly the same to me—Main Street especially,” McKinnon says, even as she notes the visible growth at Deer Valley and Canyons Village. That balance between nostalgia and evolution mirrors her own trajectory: shifting from athlete to entrepreneur, from personal performance to building community.
With the Winter Olympics on the horizon—and Park City’s legacy as a former host—global attention is once again reshaping how people experience ski towns like this one. For McKinnon, that spotlight transforms the mountain from a local escape into something shared. “People want to be in the environment,” she says. “It feels much more collective.”
That sense of place also inspired Halfdays’ new Storm colorway—a light gray reminiscent of a winter snowstorm rolling through Park City. During a recent brand trip celebrating the launch, the gear came alive against blue skies, quiet lift lines, and a group of women skiing together in matching sets—a reminder that winter, like Park City itself, is best experienced collectively.
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Am craving a Dolomite excursion now ❤️🔥 this is fabulous coverage!
Fun!!