Aman Miami Beach sells out its 22 residences before opening
All 22 branded residences at Aman Miami Beach have sold, with the 56-key hotel now targeted for 2028. The project sits in the Faena District, with design by Gathy and Kuma.
For advisors, the sell-out is a clear demand signal for independent ultra-luxury branded residences in the US. It also points to tight hotel inventory when the property opens. Residence owners are likely to become a steady source of Aman stays, which will compete with advisor-booked rooms.
Advisors with Aman clients should open conversations with the brand early and build waitlists well ahead of 2028. A US Aman opening will be a rare addition to the brand's American footprint.
Airbnb becomes Amex Travel's exclusive rental partner
Amex Travel now sells more than one million Airbnb homes through a new Homes tab, alongside hotels supplied by Expedia, which remains the B2B supplier. Airbnb is the exclusive vacation-rental partner.
The commercial concern for advisors is that a card-issuer channel, reaching Platinum and Centurion holders, now offers self-booked rentals in direct competition with curated villa programs. Some premium-card clients may default to that tab.
The response is to stress what a self-booked rental lacks: vetted properties, on-the-ground service, staffing and protection when something goes wrong. Those points matter most for villa clients who spend at the top end.
Clients keep shopping after they book
Skift and McKinsey data show 41% of travelers keep checking prices after booking, and 51% have switched hotels after seeing social posts. Lenient cancellation policies are driving the behavior.
For advisors, this cuts two ways. Rate monitoring and price-match service are easier to justify when clients are already watching prices. But confirmed stays are less settled than they look, and clients may second-guess them.
The practical step is to lock in value-adds and flexible terms at the time of booking, so a client has less reason to look elsewhere.
Paris and the Gulf: caution in the outlook, leverage for buyers
Accor has built caution into its fourth-quarter outlook because of unrest in France and conditions in the Middle East. France accounts for 23% of its room revenue, and Paris about 12%.
In the UAE, hotels are leaning on short-haul markets because jet fuel costs are keeping long-haul guests from the Americas and Australia away, amid the US-Iran war.
For advisors, softer Paris and Dubai demand may mean more room to negotiate rates and amenities. Clients may also ask about safety. Conde Nast Traveler has published a guide on travel to Paris during the protests, which is worth reviewing before those conversations.
Indonesian haze threatens November Southeast Asia itineraries
Haze from Indonesian fires is hitting Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Malaysian inbound operators report November cancellations, more than 2,600 Indonesian domestic flights have been disrupted, and Singapore itineraries are being cut short.
Advisors with clients in the region this November, including Bali and Langkawi, should check air quality forecasts, confirm flexibility on flights and hotels, and verify insurance coverage. Have rebooking options ready, particularly for domestic connections within Indonesia.
PS adds Dallas-Fort Worth and Miami to its private terminals
PS, which offers private terminals for commercial flyers, now operates at LAX, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Miami. The service includes private TSA screening and on-site customs for arriving international guests.
It is a sellable add-on for ultra-premium clients who do not fly privately but want to skip the main terminal. The CEO's comments in Skift's interview give advisors detail on how to position it.
New York inventory changes: carriages end, The Plaza closes
New York's City Council has passed a phase-out of horse-drawn carriage rides, ending the Central Park experience by mid-2028. The vote followed a tourist's death in June. Proposals that run past 2028 should plan alternatives.
Separately, Conde Nast Traveler notes in passing that The Plaza will close for renovation in January 2027. Advisors with clients booking New York in winter and spring 2027 should check availability and move suite or group holds now.
Crerar Hotels' Scottish collection is for sale at £90 million
Crerar Hotels' ten-property, 589-room Scottish country-house collection has been listed for £90 million. It includes Fonab Castle and Dunkeld House and can be sold whole or in parts.
The portfolio is more mid-luxury than ultra-luxury, but it is used in golf and Highlands itineraries. A new owner could change branding, rates and commission terms, so advisors who book these properties should watch for notices about agreements.