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 briefing from Window Seat. Every issue covers essential news in luxury travel, spotlights one exceptional hotel, and shares personal updates or recent product discoveries.
The Ritz-Carlton launched not one, but two very Window Seat-coded collaborations this week. The first is a collaboration with MERIT, bringing in-room amenities, pop-up activations, and limited-edition travel kits to select North American properties. The second is a washable silk sleepwear collection with Eberjey for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection that will roll out aboard Evrima, Ilma, and Luminara.
United Airlines is testing a new Economy Plus layout that eliminates the middle passenger, though it will initially be limited to a single row on its new Airbus A321XLR fleet. The center seat will be converted into a shared console table, giving aisle and window passengers noticeably more elbow room. It is a setup you might be familiar with if you’ve ever flown European intra-continental business class, where those carriers routinely block middle seats. While United expects to be the first major U.S. carrier to formalize the concept, the limited rollout underlines a broader trend: airlines searching for incremental ways to monetize standard economy footprint through 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 inaugural routes span Mexico and an Alpine itinerary covering Austria and Bavaria—a six-day route connecting Vienna, Lake Fuschl, and Munich. The package pairs Rosewood stays with private museum visits, artisan studio appointments, and regional dining. It’s a logical evolution of the brand’s longstanding focus on local context, reflecting how luxury groups are increasingly looking to control the entire itinerary rather than just the hotel stay.
Furnishing an apartment is an exercise in patience, and lately the focus has shifted to rugs. Finding pieces that establish structure and weight without overwhelming the rest of the furniture is deceptively difficult. Ruggable has been an unexpected solution here—the patterns are surprisingly subtle (which is more my speed), and I’m excited to have something with a washable construction because I’m guessing it’ll last 10x longer than other rugs I’ve had. I am currently considering 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 & Châteaux, with a scale and residential atmosphere that make it seem like you’re stepping into a private residence, which is always a welcome design marker for me. 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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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.
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.