Window shopping #68
Sky-high beverage innovations, field-tested gear for extreme weather, and a woodland retreat in South Tyrol
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.
American Express Travel announced the addition of 350+ premium hotels to the Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection programs this week, expanding its curated portfolio to more than 3,400 properties across 116 countries. As a Platinum Cardmember, you already know I’m an evangelist for FHR—between the early check-ins and room upgrades, guaranteed 4pm check-out, daily breakfast, and $100 property credits, the perks are simply unrivaled. (Plus, you can get up to $600 back per year on eligible bookings, which almost pays for the entire card). Some new additions I’m excited about: La Valise Mazunte in Mexico, The Carlyle in New York, and Le Marne Relais in Italy.
Cathay Pacific just launched an N/A version of their cult-fav Betsy Beer, making it the first airline to create its own alch-free beer. When the airline first released Betsy—a craft pale ale specifically brewed with higher carbonation and ingredients that actually taste good at altitude—it became an instant, in-flight hit. The new N/A version was brewed in collaboration with Hong Kong’s Gweilo Beer, which mixed a light malt base with bright yuzu lemon notes and a crisp, hoppy finish. As someone who loves a proper inflight beverage program (and appreciates sober-curious options in the sky), this is something I love to see.
Luggage giant Samsonite just announced it's acquiring an 85% stake in BEIS, the travel and lifestyle brand founded by Shay Mitchell. Since launching in 2018, BEIS has been redefining aesthetic, internet-viral luggage for the modern traveler, so watching it join the legacy powerhouse Samsonite is a big milestone. Shay will be staying on as Chief Creative Officer to run the design side, but expect to see this brand scale up in a massive, global way.
After spending the last few days navigating horizontal rain, heavy waterfall misting, and intense Icelandic wind gusts atop a glacier, my post-trip gear verdict is officially in. While I brought a full lineup of layers (which you saw me share last week), the absolute MVP of my trip was this jacket. I’d go so far as to say that a true waterproof shell is the single most vital item on your Iceland packing list. The weather is wildly unpredictable, and you need something heavy-duty that will actually hold up against the elements—emphasis on waterproof, not just water-resistant. It rained almost the entire time I was there, and when it wasn't raining, I was getting drenched by waterfall spray. But this goes for anyone planning any cold, wet, or high-wind adventures this year: consider this your sign to invest in serious technical outerwear.
San Luis Retreat — South Tyrol, Italy
I have quite a few mountainside stays on my radar, but there are the ones that are massive resorts and the ones that are more secluded. If you’re after the latter, this woodland village might just be the blueprint. Instead of a single building, it’s made up of 42 standalone chalets and treehouses tucked inside a private forest that surrounds a massive lake. Private hot tubs and in-room saunas are a couple of the amenities on offer, but what I really love is how your room service arrives: a little wooden carriage pulls up to your door with fresh local pastries and cheeses. What could be better?
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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.