Caitlin St John

🏖 In Big Sky, Montana, Olson Kundig designed One&Only Moonlight Basin for hospitality developer Kerzner International, emphasizing its natural surroundings. The resort includes 73 guest rooms, 19 cabins, and 62 private homes with rustic and luxurious decor. Public spaces like Sky Lodge and restaurants such as Akira Back highlight local history and offer diverse dining experiences. The spa and fitness center complements this luxury resort, which balances Western spirit with design-led hospitality.

🏖 San Juan saw a tourism boom in 2025, marking a fifth record year, with 6.8 million airport and 1.6 million cruise arrivals. Major projects include a $60M upgrade at Wyndham Grand Rio Mar and a $150M overhaul at Ritz-Carlton, San Juan. Four Seasons launched after a $40M renovation, and Hyatt Centric Isla Verde underwent a $30M transformation. La Concha Resort's $80M rebranding reflects Puerto Rican culture. Juan Carlos Morales invested $4.5M in Santurce's Patio Elba.

🏨 1947, Robert Swartburg completed the Delano hotel in Miami. In 1995, Ian Schrager and Philippe Starck reimagined it, sparking South Beach’s luxury transformation. The Delano closed for renovation in 2020 and reopened under Ennismore in 2026. New outposts include the 56-room Maison Delano Paris (2023) and 251-key Delano Dubai (2024). Upcoming locations include Delano London (67 rooms) and Delano SoHo New York (390 rooms). The Miami flagship retains its iconic design while integrating modern touches.

🏠 EHP Resort & Marina in East Hampton hosts Indonesian-French concepts Wayan and Ma•dé for a second season. Montauk Yacht Club introduces ALBA Spiaggia and offers new experiences. Marram Montauk features surf programs and workshops. Barlume Beach opens as a 19-key hotel in Montauk. Hotel Corduroy, a 29-key retreat, is unveiled by Blue Flag Capital. June sees Faraway Sag Harbor open with 67 rooms. The Oyster Estate, a 34-room hotel, launches in September. Penny Lane in Hampton Bays features 18 rooms.

🍴 In February 2024, Chef Yara Herrera opened Hellbender in Ridgewood, Queens, initially as a cocktail bar with a nine-item food menu. By 2025, it was named one of The New York Times' 10 Best New Restaurants. Herrera partnered with Martha Stewart for a May event. By March 2026, renovations created an open kitchen and enhanced dining space, featuring inventive Mexican-American cuisine. Hellbender reflects Herrera’s Los Angeles roots with musical and personal touches, aiming to offer an exciting dining experience.

🏨 In April 2026, the Hotel Indigo Nalati opened in Nalati Town, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, China, at the crossroads of the Duku Highway and Ili “Figure-8” Scenic Loop. Designed by CCD/Cheng Chung Design, the hotel features structures integrated with the grasslands and Tian Shan mountains. It honors Kazakh culture with elements like yurts and a hearth. The restaurant, Show · A Neighborhood Café, and guestroom designs reflect natural and cultural influences.

🍷 On Saturdays, Matchbook Distilling Co. in Greenport, New York, showcases the creative spirits of Leslie Merinoff Kwasnieski. The 38,000-square-foot distillery opened after a two-year renovation of a former storage facility purchased in 2016. The Shady Lady, revamped in 2018 as Lin Beach House, offers accommodations nearby. With her family's legacy in the beverage industry, Merinoff Kwasnieski draws inspiration from Long Island's geography for her innovative spirits.