Window shopping #64
Two Window Seat-coded collabs, a very European airline upgrade, and the just-opened Mexico City hotel I'm desperate to book
This is Window Shopping, a weekly mini-letter from Window Seat—your stylish scroll through what’s new and noteworthy in the world of travel. Each issue blends timely headlines, personal favorites, and design-forward hotels to keep your wanderlust well-fed.
The Ritz-Carlton launched not one, but two very Window Seat-coded collaborations this week. They’re partnering with MERIT to bring activations, personalized in-room services, and limited-edition travel kits to select North American hotels, while The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection launched a limited-edition sleepwear capsule with Eberjey (who we already know does an amazing hotel collab, thanks to my stay at the Park Hyatt Chicago). The latter includes three blue-and-white washable silk pajama sets inspired by the movement of the sea, available online now and soon aboard Evrima, Ilma, and Luminara. Both partnerships are united by the same commitment to thoughtful design and uncompromising quality, with products that feel like natural extensions of the Ritz-Carlton world rather than standard hotel merchandise.
United is introducing a new Economy Plus setup with no middle passenger, though for now it will be limited to just one row on each of its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft. The center seat will instead become a shared table, giving the aisle and window travelers more elbow room and a setup that will feel familiar to anyone who has flown intra-European business class, where carriers often block the middle seat rather than install a truly different cabin. Lufthansa and Finnair already offer versions of the concept, but United says it expects to be the first U.S. airline to formalize it this way. Pricing and booking details are expected later this year, and while the rollout is tiny, it is still another sign that airlines are finding increasingly specific ways to monetize the thing economy passengers want most: personal space.
Rosewood launched Guided by Rosewood, a new series of highly curated, multi-destination itineraries designed to connect travelers more meaningfully with the places surrounding its hotels. The first editions span Mexico and Austria and Bavaria, with the latter structured as a six-day journey through Vienna, Lake Fuschl, and Munich, combining Rosewood stays with experiences like private museum access, artisan studio visits, Alpine traditions, local dining, and time on the lake. It is a smart extension of the brand’s long-running “sense of place” positioning—and part of a broader shift among luxury hotels from simply providing a beautiful room to shaping the entire trip.
Furnishing an apartment is a long game, and lately I have been deep in the rug phase of it. I’ve learned that rugs do so much more than fill empty floor space; they can help define a room and can make all the surrounding furniture finally feel intentional. Rugs, for me, are one of the last pieces of the puzzle. I’ve been looking for some that bring in color or personality without overwhelming the rest of the space, which is what keeps bringing me back to Ruggable. The appeal is obvious: the designs are actually stylish, but they are also washable, which feels especially practical for a home I am still actively living in and slowly making my own. Thinking this number for my office space (pictured above)? What do we think??
El Cortés — Mexico City, Mexico
This hotel only just started welcoming guests in Mexico City last month, and I’m already desperate to check in. Set inside a restored 1915 mansion in Roma Norte that once served as a presidential residence, the intimate 15-room hotel combines stained glass, ornate moldings, sculptural furniture, Mexican art, and a deliciously moody palette of oxblood, warm wood, and muted neutrals. It comes from Namron Hospitality (the group behind La Valise) and is now part of Relais & Chateaux, with a scale and residential atmosphere that make it seem more like an exceptionally stylish private home than a traditional city hotel. Add a location within walking distance of Roma Norte’s restaurants, galleries, cafes, and boutiques, and this might be one of the openings I’m most excited about this year.
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Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.
A new Mexico City hotel I'm desperate to book is always the best kind of Friday problem to have. Design-forward travel curation at its finest.