1 Hotels New York, Hollywood and Miami

It’s no secret that I’m passionate about travel and all of the beauty that comes with it. I mean, I have made a career out of it after all. But more than just travel alone, uncovering beautiful hotels around the world, which can be matched with my clients, to create a dream travel itinerary is something that means more to me that people may think.…. and it’s becoming MORE important to me as I deep dive into the world of luxury travel.

Having worked in retail travel for a large Australian travel brand (for MANY years), I’m actually ashamed to admit that booking travel was rarely about the actual hotels. I was managing over 100 clients a month, so it was more about the airfares, the destinations, the cheap deals, the client’s price point or whatever I could do, to get the booking done (quickly).

I rarely questioned the hotels that were offered to me from our wholesalers in their package deals, and I would have a tried and tested selection of hotels that would be my ‘go to’ choices for each particular destination.

Bizarrely, I would also agree with the clients when they said – ‘oh, the actual hotel or room doesn’t really matter that much, as we will be out and about all day and won’t really be there’.

But, guess what? Through my years of personal travel and having made the break from the cookie cutter retail travel world (where I now DO have the time to carefully plan and research an itinerary), I can 100% tell you that the hotel you choose definitely DOES make a difference, and you WILL be in the room.

Your hotel can make or break your trip, so as your travel specialist, I want to make sure that we nail your hotel, so that it becomes as much a part of your vacation, as the destination itself.

It’s my responsibility to find my clients the BEST hotels and experiences out there (of varying styles and budgets), so when the opportunity arose to attended one of the luxury travel industry’s best trade shows ‘LE MIAMI’, I jumped at it and I’m so excited about some of the connections that were made.

This show allowed me to meet and connect with the hoteliers and sales teams behind of some of the world’s best hotels, discover new brands and industry partners, and learn about the latest trends in travel. This is one part of my job that I REALLY love, because in this business it really is about staying ahead of the curve, knowing your product (well) and being aware that the personal connections I make, will trickle down and make all the difference to my clients overall experience.

The other part of the trade show experience that I love, is when I come across a hotel brand that resonates with me personally and one which I know my clients will also really love. I mean, let’s be honest… I’m a hotel nerd at heart and in this case, I was able to experience ‘1 Hotels’ first hand, and I have to admit that I got pretty damn excited.

URBAN. ECO. CHIC. 

1 Hotels could be described in 3 words… Urban, Eco, Chic. Their overall vision and brand really resonates with me, and I know that you (my clients) will LOVE these hotels too.

As well as providing a luxury travel product, with impeccable service, beautiful rooms & chic public spaces, for 1 Hotels it’s all about their vision for a sustainable future. They intend to lead the way in the hotel industry and they aspire to be more than just a hotel chain. They aim to be a platform to spark conversations between innovators and guests, which will transform the industry and our lives.

What I love about these hotels is that every space is designed to bring the outside in, creating a unique and natural environment in the heart of these bustling cities. Think reclaimed wood, organic cotton, plenty of greenery, lot’s of natural light, triple filtered water and NO PLASTIC! (yasss!)

To give you more of an insight into the properties, check out the details of my visit to the their three hotels below.

1 Hotel South Beach

1 Hotel South Beach is a luxury resort on South Beach, Miami.

While it’s larger than the smaller boutique hotels that I would generally recommend to my clients, I understand that there is a time and a place for something larger, and this is it. There is just something about this hotel that keeps it feeling quite intimate, and it is just too awesome not to love.

As noted, their inspiration is drawn from nature, so as soon as you step out of the Miami heat and into the lobby, there is this pure sense of calm.

From their reclaimed wood finishes; that will seriously have you running your fingers over them, to feel the varied textures, to neutral shades and their thoughtful property lay out (including an epic adults only rooftop pool, huge ‘Spartan gym’ and soul cycle, spa, four pools, beachfront access, day beds and cabanas for rent… just to name a few), they’ve created an uber-chic beach vibe that is your ultimate Miami Oasis. The lobby even features a local, organic farm stand, where you can grab an apple before you claim your cabana for the day. #healthyliving

I should also mention that their rooms are HUGE for Miami. The lead in rooms can accommodate 2 x King Beds AND a day bed. Oh, and don’t get me started on their stunning Penthouses and homes. An element of the property that means it’s the perfect choice for large or multi-gen families, or groups.

This property is also a Virtuoso hotel partner of ours, which means that by allowing us to book your next stay (at no extra cost to you), you’ll receive:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Complimentary Full American Breakfast for two daily for duration of the stay
• $100 USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
• Early check-in is subject to availability
• Guaranteed 4pm late check-out for Premium Suites and Penthouses with all other room categories subject to availability
• VIP Welcome Amenity
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

All in all, as far as South Beach Miami goes, this is one of our absolute favourites and is pretty much THE hotel in Miami right now.

Check out our Instagram @wanderluxetravelco and check out our LE MIAMI HIGHLIGHTS tab for a tour of the property and more photos of our stay.

1 Hotel Central Park

This is the flagship property (but the 2^nd to open after South Beach) of the eco-friendly brand and it is well located just a block from Central Park (New York), on the corner of 58^th and 6^th Avenue.

Quoting the brands CEO Barry Sternlicht, he said ‘For those who travel the world, care about it’, and their eco-friendly ethos is instantly visible on your approach to the hotel, as the entire outside of the building is home to a beautiful, living green wall of English Ivy on all sides of the building. And like it’s South Beach sister property, the moment you step inside, you’re instantly transported to a planet loving, inner city oasis. And it’s absolute BLISS!

With many of the same design elements as 1 Hotel South Beach, you’ll find the beautiful reclaimed wood furnishings, neutral tones and light, bright rooms, kitted out with plenty of amenities, that allow 1 Hotels to offer a luxury product and ‘green’ design, which co-exists flawlessly.

I loved the yoga mats that were provided in the room (which they encourage you to use either inside or even outside of the hotel), and the beautiful organic cotton socks, which they offer for you to wear within your room (as they have hard wood floors). The other detail that I’m sure comes as no surprise (given that they are an Eco hotel) is that there is no plastic in site! No little plastic bathroom amenities, no plastic cups or straws or plastic bin liners… nothing! They do truly live up to their philosophy in every aspect of the property.

The hotel also features an onsite restaurant ‘JAMS’ which serves up wholesome, farm to table meals, sourced using the best of ingredients. A popular spot for both in-house and external guests, Jams is also where Breakfast is served, and it would be very un-New York of me, NOT to have an ‘Everything Bagel’ with smoked salmon and cream cheese… so I did, and it was melt in your mouth, perfection.

All in all 1 Hotel Central Park is truly a little Oasis in the beating heart of New York City, and I can honestly say that they have created a genuinely warm and grounding boutique hotel, with all of the facilities and service levels you’d expect from a luxury property. It felt like coming home in a sense, and it’s hard not to feel good, knowing that you’re somehow leaving less of a footprint on this beautiful planet we call home.

1 Hotel Brooklyn

Not everyone would choose Brooklyn over Manhattan for their New York experience, but I’ve found more recently that second or third time visitors to the Big Apple are being lured to the other side of the East River by the recent development of trendy upscale hotels, urban culture and great dining.

With Dumbo and Williamsburg being two of Brooklyn’s most exciting and upcoming neighbourhoods, the opening of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, which sits overlooking the iconic bridge itself, couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. Almost a year and a half on, it’s one of THE hottest spots on the block, and it’s easy to see why.

With sweeping waterfront views of Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty, the hotel boasts some incredible talking points, with the lobby alone enough to have you let out a verbal gasp in awe. Their stunning living green wall, large open living space and bright natural lighting makes for a pretty awesome first impression.

Then you’re introduced to the rooms, which were inspired by nature and designed with contributions from local artists, featuring locally-made furnishings, reclaimed wood flooring and views for days!

My room sat overlooking Brooklyn Bridge itself, and along with the organic cotton linen and yoga mats, one of my favourite features was the sliding window, where I could open it right up, allowing me to feel the breeze and hear the sounds of bustling Brooklyn below.

The pièce de résistance of this hotel though, is without doubt the rooftop, and we all know how important a good roof top is for the New York summer.

Since we know that the best views of the Manhattan skyline are going to be from outside the city, the vantage point from their rooftop is INSANE! You can sit up there, sipping your artisan cocktail with direct views to all of Manhattan (particularly lower Manhattan, with the Statue of Liberty, One World Tower and Brooklyn itself). It also features a pool, day beds, and fire pits which enhance the space and turn it into one of the best spots to see and be seen.

I could literally go on about the zillion other features that make this hotel special, but every aspect of the hotel, from the staff to the environmental mission statement (did I mention the hotel is 100% wind powered!?), 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is just flawless and must be your home away from home on your next visit to Brooklyn, or New York City in general.

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So, as I bid farewell to the USA and head home to winter in Sydney, I leave delighted by the fact that I’ve had the opportunity to experience these hotels for myself, and learn more about the 1 Hotels eco-mission.

1 Hotels are in no way done with their growth either, with more cities around the world earmarked for future 1 Hotel developments and personally I can’t WAIT to see where they pop up next.

Thanks to 1 Hotels for allowing me to experience the properties first hand, because like I said earlier, travel is much more than just the city you’re travelling to, or the sites you’re going to see, and you’ll thank me when you stay at a property that truly resonates with you. It changes the entire travel experience for the better.

Kate xx

PS – If you’re reading this and you’ve made it this far… congrats!! I know this was a long post, so thank you.

PPS – If you’re planning your own New York stay, please get in touch with us. We’d love to help and with our new found connections we know that you’ll be treated like the true VIP that you really are. xx