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San Antonio's Hotel Emma awarded 2 Michelin Keys in first-ever guide

Hotel Emma was one of three total Texas hotels to be awarded Two Michelin Keys.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Emma

San Antonio's esteemed Hotel Emma has earned very special distinctions for offering the most outstanding guest experiences in the world.

The hotel was recognized in the world-renowned Michelin Guide's first-ever North American "Michelin Key" selection, which highlighted 288 total hotels across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The classifications are awarded based on anonymous stays or visits by the Michelin Guide's inspection team, regardless of previous "labels, tourism stars, and pre-established quotas."

The hotel awards come as Michelin inspectors also are scouting restaurants around the state for their inaugural Texas guide.

Similar to the coveted Michelin Star designations for restaurants, the new Michelin Keys are broken down into three categories:

One Michelin Key for hotels that offer "very special" stays with service that "provides significantly more than similarly priced establishments."
Two Michelin Keys for "exceptional stays" where memorable guest experiences are "always guaranteed" with a special emphasis on the hotel's design or architecture.
Three Michelin Keys for hotels that provide "extraordinary stays" for "the ultimate in comfort and service, style and elegance."

In a lengthy profile, the Michelin Guide lauded Hotel Emma's historic background and its connection to Pearl Brewery owner Emma Koehler.

"Emma Koehler was the sort of fiery, no-nonsense dame that shouldered America’s pioneer tradition, once upon a time," the profile says. "In her day, she carried the floundering brewery through the unforgiving Prohibition years after her husband Otto died. In fact, believe it or not, there are actually three Emmas involved in the juicy, sordid backstory here; we’ll leave the rest of the sleuthing to you, as that’s part of the fun when it comes to a spot as historically rich as this."

Notable amenities that provide guests with the upmost comfort include luxurious Frette linens, Malin + Goetz bath essentials, Dos Carolinas robes, and much more.

Hotel Emma has 146 rooms and seven suites. Hotel Emma Facebook

Hotel Emma's restored design using Spanish porcelain, bronze accents, and mesquite-furnished terraces also add to the overall appeal for guests.

"146 rooms and 7 suites afford room for the design to subtly stretch; accommodations are split between the original brewery’s tower and contemporary digs in the River Cellars," the profile says.

The guide also praises the hotel's top notch dining and beverage establishments: New American restaurant Supper, "classic grocer" Larder, and Sternewirth cocktail bar.

Top-rated hotels and resorts elsewhere in Texas
Though there were no Texas resorts that were granted Three Michelin Keys, Austin came home with the highest number of awards statewide, totaling eight hotels. Commodore Perry Estate was the sole Austin resort bestowed with an esteemed Two Michelin Key rating.

Located on an expansive 10-acre property, this private retreat offers sumptuous amenities like wellness activities or indulgent sensory experiences — like chef-prepared dinners, personal tequila tastings, vinyl happy hours, or estate tours — and much more.

Earlier in 2024, the estate landed the No. 5 spot among Travel + Leisure's "Readers’ 5 Favorite Resorts in Texas of 2024."

Commodore Perry Estate was the one of three total Texas resorts to earn a coveted Two Michelin Key rating. Photo courtesy of Commodore Perry Estate

"[Commodore Perry Estate is] a Twenties mansion and satellite buildings in Italianate and Spanish Revival styles, and it’s all been brought entirely up to date by the expert hospitality designer Ken Fulk," the Michelin Guide's profile says. "The result sacrifices none of the estate’s throwback atmosphere, but brings it up to a 21st-century standard; like everything Auberge touches, it’s the very picture of modern boutique luxury."

The seven Austin resorts that earned One Michelin Key are:

Arrive Austin
Austin Proper Hotel
Fairmont Austin Gold Experience
Hotel Saint Cecilia
Hotel ZaZa Austin
Soho House Austin
The Heywood Hotel

The only other Texas resort to earn Two Michelin Keys was Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection in Fort Worth. In a statement, Bowie House said the new accolade reflects the resort's dedication to offering guests "a unique blend of Western heritage and modern luxury."

"From its thoughtfully designed interiors to its curated guest experiences, the hotel offers an unparalleled stay in the heart of Fort Worth’s cultural district," the statement said.

In addition to Bowie House, five other Dallas-Fort Worth resorts earned One Michelin Key, including:

Casa Duro, Dallas
Hôtel Swexan, Dallas
Hotel ZaZa Dallas
Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas
Hotel Drover, Autograph Collection, Fort Worth

Meanwhile, the four Houston-area hotels that earned One Michelin Key are:

Hotel ZaZa Houston
Hotel ZaZa Memorial City
The Post Oak Hotel
Carr Mansion, Galveston

The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park in El Paso also earned One Michelin Key.

"From retreats in the wildest U.S. canyons, Canadian forests, or Mexican coasts, to splendid architectural wonders; from flagship urban hotels to tiny properties nestled within former factories, campsites or isolated islands: every hotel awarded One, Two or Three Michelin Keys is a gem sculpted by talented professionals," said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, in a press release. "Using the Michelin Guide digital platforms, travelers can now filter their search and book hotels for stays that we hope will be unforgettable."

The full list of Michelin Key hotels in the United States can be found on guide.michelin.com.

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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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