Hotel News

The Clara Hotel to open in Plano with shiny $4 million renovation

The Clara Hotel will debut this spring.

Photo courtesy of Clara Hotel

A newly transformed hotel will spring up in Plano, taking over where one left off: Called The Clara Hotel, it's a new hotel brand that will debut at 8201 Preston Rd., in the former NYLO Dallas/Plano Hotel space.

According to a release, it'll open in the spring, following a $4 million renovation.

Located on the Plano-Frisco border, the NYLO property was acquired in August 2025 by Dallas-based investment firm NewcrestImage, whose portfolio of hospitality and real estate assets across the U.S. includes partnerships with hotel firms such as Coury Hospitality and Summit Hotel Properties. Other renovations in which NewcrestImage has been involved include the Elmore Hotel in Southlake; they also acquired the Beeman Hotel near SMU in 2024.

The NYLO originally opened in December 2007. It was the first property launched by the NYLO Hotels brand and according to Wikipedia, was also the first loft-style lifestyle hotel to open in the U.S.

The Clara will maintain The NYLO's affiliation with Hilton's Tapestry Collection, but nearly every guest-facing element — interiors, food & beverage, service approach, and brand positioning — has been reimagined under the new ownership.

“We saw an opportunity to thoughtfully transform this property into something that feels deeply connected to its surroundings and to today’s traveler,” says NewcrestImage Managing Partner Mehu Patel in a statement. “The Clara Hotel represents our commitment to creating places that are not only beautifully designed, but intentionally experienced. From the materials and textures to the programming and hospitality approach, every element is being reimagined to deliver something distinctive for this market."

Decor
With 176 total guest rooms — including eight suites ranging from Junior Suites to One-Bedroom and Presidential Suites — the hotel is designed to serve both business and leisure travelers seeking comfort, intention and a sense of ease.

The design will incorporate natural textures, wood finishes, greenery, and a warmer color palette, conveying a more residential feel, anchored by tactile materials and calming tones.

Dining room at The Clara HotelThe Clara Hotel

Food
The Clara Hotel will incorporate two distinct new hospitality concepts:

Field & Vine, the hotel’s reimagined restaurant, will offer an approachable yet elevated dining experience designed for both guests and locals
The Library, a newly transformed space within the hotel, will operate as a library-inspired lounge by day and an intimate, reservation-only speakeasy Thursday through Saturday evenings.

Courtyard and event spaces
An already-existing heated outdoor pool will remain a central feature, but with a refreshed patio and courtyard experience. The courtyard is a 4,000-square-foot outdoor space that will receive new landscaping, turf, and flexible seating, creating a venue for events and gatherings of up to 300 guests.

Indoor meeting spaces include two meeting rooms with capacity for 30 or 50, as well as two boardrooms with capacity for 4 or 10 people.

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where to travel right now

Best Texas getaways in November include sipping, spa-ing, and shopping

Holiday Night Market at Pearl in San Antonio

Photo courtesy of Pearl

The holiday night markets and tree lighting ceremony at Pearl are can't-miss holiday happenings in San Antonio.

Holiday events are emerging everywhere around Texas in November, from artisan markets to tree lighting ceremonies, but that's not all that's luring travelers out of Dallas-Fort Worth this month.

A luxury wellness brand just debuted a supersized spa-resort outside Austin, and a new whiskey distillery is shaking up new cocktails in the Hill Country. A weekend celebration honoring legendary blues musician Robert Johnson is also taking place at a historic San Antonio hotel.

North Texans can stay close to home and spend time on the ice at CultureMap's City Ice Rink in downtown Dallas, or cross over into Cowtown for a weekend at a newly reopened Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth.

This is everything you need to know to plan a fun, festive, fall getaway in November.

The Hill Country

ICYMI: A new family-owned distillery has joined the Texas Hill Country's vast landscape of breweries, wineries, and other spirit-makers. The newly opened Briggs Distilling Co. is now serving cocktails, mocktails, and more at its spacious facility at 121 Brownson Ln. in Driftwood. Briggs has developed three expressions for whiskey drinkers to try, all made with Texas rainwater and bottled on-site: the Straight Rye Whiskey, Heritage Reserve Bourbon, and Wheated Bourbon. The property also features a treehouse-inspired children's area, family- and dog-friendly amenities, and an on-site food truck.

The long-awaited Hill Country resort Canyon Ranch Austin is now open for luxurious getaways on a sprawling 600-acre property in Spicewood. The resort notably boasts a 40,000-square-foot spa - touted as the largest in Texas - with an extensive lineup of fitness, medical, and wellness services. Other than the rejuvenating spa, guests can also enjoy four on-site food and beverage concepts. The signature restaurant Estella is led by Texas-born chef Val Cantú, who also owns a Californios, a three-Michelin-Star restaurant in San Francisco. All-inclusive nightly rates at Canyon Ranch Austin start at $1,325 per person, which covers lodging, meals, and access to daily fitness and wellness activities.

Spa Lounge at Canyon Ranch Austin This is one of the spa lounges that will be available for guests. Courtesy of Canyon Ranch Austin

Texas travelers can treat their wine-loving friends to an early holiday gift with a passport to the Texas Hill Country Wineries' annual Christmas Wine Affair running November 23-December 18. The deal offers pass holders 25 days of complimentary tastings at participating wineries, with up to four winery visits per day. Participants can also get a 10 percent discount on three or more bottles of wine with their passports. Five dollars from each passport sold will be donated to the Texas Hill Country Wine Industry Scholarship Fund. Christmas Wine Affair Passports are $65 for individuals and $100 for couples.

San Antonio

San Antonio's Historic Gunter Hotel is hosting a weekend-long celebration from November 12-14 in honor of blues legend Robert Johnson and the 90th anniversary of his music recordings in hotel room 414. The weekend will include guided tours of the Gunter Studio, a panel discussion with Johnson's family, live music showcases, and more. Johnson's grandson, Steven, will record his grandfather's songs in the same hotel room and in the Gunter Studio, which will be released at a later date. Most of the programming for the weekend is free to the public, but tickets must be purchased for the evening music showcases in the Studio Lounge and Crystal Ballroom.

San Antonio's historic Pearl District will brighten up for the winter season with a Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, November 27, followed by the Taste of Pearl Annual Festival on Saturday, November 28. Locals and visitors can enjoy all the twinkly lights and the festive Christmas tree while shopping for their holiday gifts and listening to live music. Both events are free to attend.

Austin

Neighbors Cafe & Wine Bar, the all-day café at 1 Hotel Austin, is hosting a festive fall candle-making workshop with Austin-based candle business House of Wick on Tuesday, November 10 from 6-8 pm. All supplies will be provided so attendees can develop their own signature autumn fragrance during this guided experience. Tickets are $48.19 per person and can be purchased via Eventbrite, and complimentary access will be offered to hotel guests and Mission Members as space allows.

Austin arts organization Future Front Texas will host its flagship holiday market, The Front Market, at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park from November 21-22. The Front Market is one of the biggest and longest-running craft markets in Austin that amplifies diverse Texas-based artisans, designers, and craftspeople. The event at Moody Amphitheater is family- and dog-friendly, and will have a rotating lineup of more than 175 vendors throughout the weekend. Admission is free or by donation.

The Front Market at Moody Amphitheater Holiday markets like The Front Market are a great place to find holiday handmade gifts from local artists and small businesses.Photo courtesy of Future Front Texas

Houston

With football season in full swing, Houston Texans fans can stay close to the game day action at InterContinental Houston and get some additional perks with the hotel's exclusive Tailgate Package. The package includes complimentary parking, late checkout, a $50 credit at The Naturalist Bar & Cafe, and a $25 Uber credit that can be used toward game day travel to or from Reliant Stadium, located two miles away from the hotel. For fans that can't make it to the games in-person, The Naturalist will be screening all Houston Texans games throughout the season. Rates with the Tailgate Package start at $299 per night.

Dallas-Fort Worth

CultureMap is bringing holiday magic back to Downtown Dallas' Main Street Garden with the return of the CultureMap City Rink this winter. The festivities kick off on opening weekend with the Tree Lighting Celebration on Saturday, November 21. Then, mark your calendars for the Dallas Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 5, a favorite holiday tradition, which passes right by the rink. The rink will be open 4-10 pm Monday-Friday; 10 am-10 pm Saturday; and 10 am-8 pm Sunday. Tickets are $18 for all ages, including skate rentals and 75 minutes on the ice.

Photo courtesy of Pearl

The holiday night markets and tree lighting ceremony at Pearl are can't-miss holiday happenings in San Antonio.

Fort Worth is gearing up for the grand reopening of The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 7 with public admission beginning at 12 noon. The reopening marks the completion of a $19 million expansion and will feature the debut of a two new exhibits: a photography showcase called "Gravity Defied: Trick Riders of the Cowgirl" that honors the legacy of rodeo’s most intrepid women, and "Miranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo," a display of costumes from the country superstar's residency in Las Vegas. Admission is $18 for adults with discounts for children, seniors, military, and first responders.

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