New York's most famous hotel is about to disappear for a while. The Plaza, open since 1907, will close in January for a four-year restoration of the landmark facade of its 18-story building, per The New York Times. If sleeping at The Plaza is on your bucket list, there's one final window: travellers heading to the city for the holidays can still get a stay in before the scaffolding goes up. After that, it's a long wait until 2030-ish for the grand old girl to reopen.
Dallas, meanwhile, is getting its own design moment. The Knox, a new property from the Auberge Collection, is now taking reservations for stays from January 29, 2026. Set in the Knox Street district right off the Katy Trail, the hotel was designed by Martin Brudnizki and promises bars and restaurants, a spa and a pool — welcome given the Texas heat. Cash rates start around $800 a night, so this one is a splurge, but the location puts you within walking distance of good shopping and restaurants.
Luxury points collectors have a new option in India too. Hilton's upscale LXR brand has opened The Den Bengaluru, its first LXR in the country, with 226 rooms and suites, a rooftop restaurant serving Mediterranean and Indian food, The Sanctuary Spa, a pool and a game room called The Playhouse. Rates start around $176 a night, or 66,000 Hilton Honors points — a genuinely decent points redemption for a luxury property.
For millennial nostalgia seekers, Generator Rome has launched a "What Dreams are Made of" package riffing on The Lizzie McGuire Movie. It bundles a hotel stay with a Vespa day for two around Rome, a map of filming locations, a one-euro coin for your Trevi Fountain wish and two themed cocktails to finish the evening. Cheesy? Completely. But for anyone who grew up wanting an Italian pop-star romance, it's a fun spin on a Rome city break.
On the loyalty side, World of Hyatt has finally launched online points transfers between members — no more filling in a PDF and emailing it — and rolled out new promotions with Air Canada allowing temporary earning between the two programs. Small change, big quality-of-life improvement for anyone pooling points with family or friends.
Why it matters: this is a week of deadlines and openings. The Plaza clock is ticking if a landmark New York stay matters to you; The Knox gives Dallas travellers a reason to add a night to a Texas trip; and The Den Bengaluru offers an accessible luxury points redemption in a city most itineraries skip.
