Golf news

Hilton Anatole in Dallas hops on hotel trend with virtual Topgolf suite

Topgolf Swing Suite.

Courtesy rendering

The Hilton Anatole has joined a trend among hotels in recent years by adding in-house virtual golf. According to a release, the Design District hotel has added a Topgolf Swing Suite in collaboration with the sports entertainment venue company, with three bays available for rent.

Topgolf Swing Suites is an extension of Topgolf, combining a simulated Topgolf experience but located inside hospitality and entertainment venues. Players hit golf balls that provide feedback on your shot's accuracy and distance. You get extra points for hitting targets.

There are also non-golf games such as zombie dodgeball, baseball, football, and hockey.

Rentals of a typical Swing Suite are usually by the hour, with rates starting at $40 during off-hours and up to $75 per hour during prime time. Exact prices at the Anatole, as well as availability and location of the suite, were unavailable. A press release says that the suite is open, but the reservation link they provide goes to Open Table. Dn't bother calling the Hilton directly: They don't answer their phone.

The first Topgolf Swing Suite inside a hotel was the 2017 debut of a suite at the Four Seasons Hotel. It caught on in Dallas in 2019. DFW now has suites at The Westin Stonebriar Dallas Golf Resort & Spa in Frisco, Doubletree Dallas/Campbell Center, Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Hyatt Place Fort Worth/TCU, as well as PGA Frisco.

While some of those are open to walk-ins, the Swing Suite at the Anatole must be booked in advance. It's open evenings only, from 4 pm-11 pm.

Like most of these suites, the Hilton offers food, namely shareable platters of finger foods such as wings, BBQ, chicken sliders, chicken spring rolls, crab cake rolls, nachos, and quesadillas.

The hotel’s Swing Suite does not accept Topgolf membership rewards from other locations.

hotels

TRANSPORTATION NEWS

Luxury shuttle startup Shutto launches routes from Dallas for under $100

Photo courtesy of Shutto.

Shutto's regular routes travel most of the Texas Triangle.

Dallas travelers now have a new way to hop around to other Texas cities, and it comes with Wi-Fi, leather seats, and a guaranteed Buc-ee’s stop: On Monday, May 25, a transportation startup called Shutto will launch luxury van service from Dallas to Austin, Houston Galleria, and The Woodlands, offering travelers a comfortable alternative to flying or driving.

Bookings are now available online. Fares start at $87 per person to Austin and $97 per person to Houston, positioning Shutto in a similar lane to Dallas-based Vonlane, which also serves major Texas cities.

Unlike other regional transit options, Shutto builds Texas road-trip culture into every journey. Each route includes a pit stop at Buc-ee’s pit stop so riders can stock up on Beaver Nuggets, brisket, and drinks.

“Our mission is simple: make it easier for people to move between Texas cities without the stress of driving, parking, airports, or unpredictable rideshare costs,” says Alberto Salcedo, Founder of Shutto, in a release. “Dallas is a key market for us, and connecting Dallas with Austin, Houston Galleria, and The Woodlands is a natural next step as we continue building the smartest way to travel between cities."

Shutto Shutto will depart from Cafe Brazil near SMU in Dallas.Photo courtesy of Shutto

Shutto, which launched service in San Antonio, Austin, and Houston last fall, enters the market at a time when highway congestion is a hotter topic than ever. With high-speed rail still years in the future, its model aims to provide fast, predictable service at commuter prices - for business, family visits, weekend trips, events, college travel, and airport-connected plans, they say.

The startup touts an on-time departure guarantee and a relaxed ride. Only 12 passengers fit inside each Mercedes Sprinter van.
Beyond the scheduled routes, Shutto offers private, customizable trips anywhere in the country, a service the company expects will appeal to corporate retreat planners, wedding parties, and tourists wanting to make a day of crawling Hill Country wineries and breweries.

In Dallas, the day-to-day service picks up at at Café Brazil on University Boulevard, directly across from SMU and Mockingbird Station.

In Austin, vans depart from the Pershing East Café parking lot at 2501 E. Fifth St., while Houston riders board at Paparuchos in the Galleria District, with additional service to The Woodlands.

“We are not just moving passengers from one city to another,” Salcedo says. “We are building a better travel experience for Texas — one that is more human, more comfortable, and designed around how people actually move today.”

Per the release, here's a breakdown of the new Dallas routes:

Dallas to Austin

Starting at $87 per person
Dallas pickup: Café Brazil, University Boulevard, near SMU and Mockingbird Station
Austin arrival: The Pershing Café, East Downtown Austin

Dallas to Houston Galleria

Starting at $97 per person
Dallas pickup: Café Brazil, University Boulevard
Houston arrival: Paparuchos, Galleria District

Dallas to The Woodlands

Service launching as part of Shutto's North Texas expansion, details to come.

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Stephanie Allmon Merry contributed to this story.

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