Suite ranking

2 San Antonio hotels check in as top Texas properties in new Conde Nast Traveler awards

Hotel Valencia Riverwalk is the tops in San Antonio, according to Conde Nast Traveler readers.

Hotel Valencia Riverwalk

Two San Antonio hotels are garnering some praise as two of the top properties in Texas, at least according to readers of Conde Nast Traveler.

On October 5, Conde Nast Traveler released the results of its 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards, listing San Antonio’s Hotel Valencia Riverwalk and Hotel Emma, among the best hotels in the Lone Star State.

Oddly, though Hotel Emma often ranks as the top local property on such lists, Conde Nast Traveler ranked it at No. 16, behind Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, ranked at No. 15.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by discerning travelers for these prestigious honors,” Juan Flores, Hotel Valencia Riverwalk general manager, said in a release. “During another challenging year in the hospitality industry, these awards confirm our commitment to providing outstanding accommodations while going above and beyond to prioritize the health and safety of our guests and employees. The Conde Nast rankings reinforce the appeal of our dedication to timeless hospitality and support our commitment to providing our guests with a keen sense of place, thoughtful amenities, timeless design, and attentive service.”

For this year’s Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, the magazine surveyed hundreds of thousands of readers from April 1 through May 31. Readers rated hotels on these criteria: rooms, service, food, design, location, value, and activities and facilities.

One Austin property appeared to be the big winner on the Conde Nast Traveler list, with the publication’s readers naming the Fairmont Austin as the top Texas hotel.

Aside from the Fairmont Austin, four other local hotels appear among the top 20 properties in Texas.

Here’s the full list of the top hotels in Texas, according to readers of Conde Nast Traveler:

Fairmont Austin.
Hotel Crescent Court, Dallas.
Archer Hotel Austin.
Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas.
Virgin Hotels Dallas.
HALL Arts Hotel, Dallas.
Hotel ZaZa Dallas Uptown.
Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection, Austin.
The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston.
Hotel Vin, Autograph Collection, Grapevine.
Hotel ZaZa Austin.
The Stella Hotel, Bryan.
The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, Houston.
The Joule, Dallas.
Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, San Antonio.
Hotel Emma, San Antonio.
Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District.
Hotel Saint George, Marfa.
Hotel ZaZa Houston Memorial City.
Lone Star Court, a Valencia Hotel, Austin.

vacation river-walk hotels rankings

Airline News

San Antonio gets nonstop flights to this Washington, DC airport

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

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American Airlines will soon introduce long-awaited nonstop flights between San Antonio (SAT) and Washington, D.C. (DCA). One flight will be scheduled daily, starting in March.

Tickets for the new service will be available on sale starting December 23 through aa.com or American’s mobile app.

The route was tentatively announced in October, but the U.S. Department of Transportation has now formally approved the application by American Airlines.

“This new service will offer convenient nonstop access to our nation’s capital for San Antonians, while helping further connect customers to our comprehensive global network," said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning, in a press release. "American thanks the many elected officials and citizens who supported our application, and we look forward to welcoming customers onboard this new service soon.”

Flight 1718, reflecting the year San Antonio was founded, will depart SAT at 6:35 am and arrive in DCA at 10:41 am. Flight 1947, reflecting the year the U.S. Air Force was established, will depart DCA at 7:45 pm and arrive in SAT at 10:43 pm.

“This long-awaited connection to our nation’s capital is a game changer for our community, opening doors to countless opportunities for travel and economic development,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “I’m grateful to those who have championed this effort and for the bipartisan support of our representatives in the Senate and House, whose advocacy was instrumental in making these flights a reality. We look forward to the positive impact this nonstop service will have for years to come."

San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh echoed the sentiments about economic development and pointed out some growth already happening in San Antonio. The release also notes that San Antonio is the largest city in Texas lacking nonstop service to DCA and the largest city in the U.S. with a majority Hispanic population without nonstop service to DCA.

“Serving the fastest-growing city in the country, SAT has achieved record-breaking passenger numbers throughout 2024. This nonstop service to and from DCA addresses a need for our military, business, educational and research communities, among others. It also promotes competition and offers more travel options for passengers flying to and from San Antonio, enhancing connectivity as we continue making progress on the airport Terminal Development Program.”

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