This is Window Shopping, a weekly briefing from Window Seat. Every issue covers essential news in luxury travel, spotlights one exceptional hotel, and shares personal updates or recent product discoveries.
Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway, and for all the kind words after 100 issues of Window Seat. I read every single one. 💙 Congratulations to the winners: Ava, who won the product bundle, and Erin, who won the $500 Luxury Escapes voucher. More giveaways to come!
If you’re flying soon…Godspeed. (Me, today.) More than 13,000 air traffic controllers have now gone over a month without pay as the government shutdown drags on. Starting today, 40 of the nation’s busiest air corridors will be cut by 10%. Travellers should brace for cancellations, delays, and long security lines.
Google just unveiled its first truly conversational driving experience for Maps, powered by Gemini. You can now ask layered, hands-free questions like Find me a vegan restaurant with parking along my route and it’ll do the rest. I love that you can add real context to what you’re asking; it feels conversational in a way tech rarely does. I don’t drive every day myself, but I can see this being incredibly helpful (and safer) for those who do.
As part of its centennial celebrations, Delta debuted a new uniform collection that revives the brand’s signature navy. and crimson hues. Designed by Lands’ End and accented with Missoni scarves, the looks were unveiled during a full-on fashion show at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta. There’s something really satisfying about seeing Delta return to its roots with a look that feels both timeless and unmistakably its own.
Last week, I was invited to stay at the newly reopened Waldorf Astoria New York with Hilton Honors and American Express, and it was every bit as special as I hoped. I spent a couple of nights in a Lexington Avenue Junior Suite, which had one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in, and was among the first guests to experience the just-opened Guerlain Wellness Spa. As part of the treatment, you’re able to choose a Guerlain fragrance to accompany your massage, and I surprised myself by picking Herbes Troublantes, a bright, citrus-floral scent I wouldn’t normally reach for but completely fell in love with. The hotel’s food and beverage program is equally impressive, but the standout to me was Yoshoko, a kaiseki restaurant that served one of the top ten meals of my life.
Then, earlier this week, I attended what might be my most ideal event…ever? Petrossian Caviar and Pringle of Scotland hosted an intimate “Cashmere & Caviar” evening at the Park Hyatt New York. It was a meeting of masters: three brands operating at the top of their craft in caviar, cashmere, and hospitality. The collaboration introduces a new in-suite experience for Park Hyatt guests, who can now indulge in a private caviar-and-champagne service wrapped in Pringle cashmere. The kind of partnership that just makes sense.
Asaba Ryokan — Shizuoka, Japan
Founded in the 1670s and still run by the same family fifteen generations later, Asaba Ryokan has long been a sanctuary for Japan’s creative class, from Yukio Mishima to Toshiro Mifune, who came seeking silence and renewal. Set in Shuzenji Onsen, its open-air baths overlook the koi pond and offer immersive tranquility. If I could transport myself anywhere right now, it would be here to sit cross-legged on a cushion, gazing out at the still water and cedar trees beyond. Every season offers a different vista, but each one feels equally cinematic.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you).
Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.