High-end honor

Storied Dallas hotel unlocks surprising spot on prestigious list of world's best

A four-year, multimillion-dollar makeover wrapped up last year.

Photo courtesy of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

The upscale Robb Report has anointed Dallas’ Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek one of the world’s three best new big-city hotels for 2021.

Joining Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in the lofty trio are Le Bristol in Paris and the Mandarin Oriental Ritz in Madrid, Spain.

Technically, The Mansion isn’t a new property, of course. But the hotel, which opened in 1980, recently got a new look.

“In 2020, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts went back to where it all started by paying tribute to its first hotel — and the city in which the brand was born 40 years ago,” the Robb Report notes. “Set in a former private estate built in 1925, this property has long been an anchor in Dallas, and known as much for its ornate décor and setting in a leafy residential neighborhood as for its nationally lauded restaurant.”

A four-year, multimillion-dollar makeover wrapped up last year, with the 142 rooms and suites, entry rotunda, and lobby undergoing an extensive renovation.

“Signature (and fan-favorite) suite elements like French doors and elegant balconies now live alongside specially commissioned works that tie in elements of Texas and the original mansion,” the Robb Report says. “Fancy a pair of custom Miron Crosby boots? You can co-design them in a private appointment, one of the hotel’s new signature partnerships celebrating other Dallas luxury icons.”

The five-star property has long been a favorite of high-end travelers.

In 2020, it ranked sixth statewide and first in Dallas-Fort Worth on a key indicator for the financial health of hotels, according to a report from San Antonio-based hotel data provider Source Strategies. Despite the travel slowdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the property’s revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose to $153.45 in 2020 from $144.20 in 2019. The hotel ranked only 100th statewide for RevPAR in 2019.

Last year, Rosewood Mansion claimed the No. 1 spot on the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards list of the top hotels in Texas.

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'Hidden gem' Texas city soars onto 2026 top travel destinations list

Photo by Grace Estrada on Unsplash

El Paso was named one of the "Rising Star Destinations" to book for a vacation in 2026.

A new 2026 Travel Trends Forecast from vacation rental marketplace HomeToGo has unveiled the top U.S. cities that are on travelers' minds for the next year, and one unsuspecting far West Texas city was included on the list: El Paso.

El Paso was named one of six most sought-after "Rising Star Destinations" in the Southwest and Mountain West regions. Search trends revealed traveler interest in El Paso skyrocketed 191 percent year-over-year, with vacationers pining after "desert landscapes" and "frontier-style towns with modern Western flair."

To determine where travelers are planning on booking their 2026 vacations, HomeToGo surveyed 1,000 American adults from November 26-28, 2025 to discover which locales offer "both affordability and under-the-radar appeal." Search interest and price insights were based on observed searches executed via HomeToGo's website from August 1-November 15, 2025, with a check-in date during 2026.

The reports findings show the vacation accommodations in El Paso cost a median $62.21 per night, earning the city a reputation for being more affordable than Texas' major cities like Dallas or Houston. HomeToGo also said travelers are "increasingly turning to smaller [Southwestern] towns" to find accommodations rather than booking a stay at a large resort.

Additionally, younger travelers like Gen Zers and Millennials are driving the shift toward these hidden gem destinations after collecting inspiration from social media sites like Instagram and TikTok.

"Western destinations are seeing a rise in interest, fueled by a broader cultural moment that has placed such locations firmly in the spotlight," the report's author wrote. "In 2025, artists such as Beyoncé and Sabrina Carpenter brought fresh takes on the visual language of country music firmly into the mainstream, with this movement further amplified across social media platforms."

There's plenty to do in the self-proclaimed "Sun City," such as hiking in Franklin Mountains State Park or Guadalupe Mountains National Park, visiting local museums, and much more.

Other top "Neo-Western Revival" destinations to visit in 2026 include:

Marana, Arizona
Cañon City, Colorado
Yucca Valley, California
Queen Creek, Arizona
Bisbee, Arizona

"According to the survey findings, 76 percent of U.S. travelers plan to go on vacation in 2026, with over a quarter (26 percent) actively booking longer and more extravagant breaks," the report said. "Fifty-seven percent plan to spend more on vacations in comparison to 2025, indicating that the appetite for travel is clearly growing."

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