The Upgrade List: 01

Dropping in unannounced at an Auberge property, the next big hospitality opening in NYC, and #airportstyle concerns.

Santa Barbara Wine Country

Well, here we are in May—and the year is flying by like they all seem to. Faster and faster and faster. I suppose we have all of our travels to thank for that!

Slow down, you say? Never. We’re built for the road.

Adam’s been off in Hawaii with his now fiancée both working and celebrating the moment (send him a congrats!). And I’ve been in Los Angeles, NYC, and all over Florida over the last three weeks. You’ll see more coverage on all the above soon, not to mention the truly special destinations on our docket through summer and rest of year. So stay with us, folks!

We’ve been toying with the idea of integrating a more fast-paced column to our Substack publication where we keep things simple and share what’s on our collective brain. So here you have just that.

Let us know if you want more of this kind of thing! See you again soon.

- M & A

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DROPPING IN: THE INN AT MATTEI’S TAVERN

We recently dropped in unannounced at The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern—in the heart of Santa Barbara’s wine country. Originally established in 1886, it was once a historic hotel and stagecoach stop for travelers. Since 2023, it’s been an Auberge-renovated resort with luxury touches and a distinct western-flare.

While we were in the area predominantly for purposes of leisure, we can never miss out on an opportunity to preview a [purportedly] great property. We believe you can get a really good sense for what a hotel is all about without ever checking in! These first impressions are exceedingly important. And this one passed the sniff test…

Upon entering the reception/shop area, the staff immediately recognized we had finished a run through the rolling hills of wine country and offered us water. They struck up candid conversation without obviously sussing-out whether we were guests or not. There was an honest warmth to the space and the people that left an impression. Like the staff was truly content there. Like they greet each day with a smile. That’s something you want to be around! And it’s something every owner in hospitality should strive to cultivate.

The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern | Auberge Resorts Collection

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FAENA’S BIG OPENING IN NEW YORK CITY

Upcoming openings are always on our radar—especially in our own backyard. You probably know the Faena name from Miami: a property that’s consistently ranked among the top hotels in the US. Its signature is its sort of bold, experiential take on hospitality, including the full-scale theatre inside the hotel.

Now, on May 11th, Faena opens its NYC location. Sitting in West Chelsea, between the High Line and the Hudson River, it will be home to 120 rooms and suites, a 17,000-square-foot spa, and a restaurant helmed by Argentine chef Francis Mallmann (his first in NYC!). We’ll most certainly be dropping by when the curtain goes up!

Faena New York | West Chelsea, Manhattan

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A PLEA CONCERNING #AIRPORTSTYLE

It’s abundantly clear on our recent travels that the state of airport dressing has continued to erode. As I write this from the lounge at ATL, the scene is bleak. There are creatures roaming—in the concourse, sure, but also in the lounge! Sweatpants. Slippers. Stained shirts. And the cardinal sin: shorts. Let’s all revisit rule #1!

Rule #1: Never wear shorts on an airplane.

We can all do better. Even with just the slightest effort. We’re not asking for 3-piece suits and polished oxfords here (unless that’s your thing!). But maybe trade the sweatpants for a comfy-cotton, straight-leg trouser. What’s the closest thing to a slipper? Perhaps a well-broken-in loafer. It doesn’t take much. And you’d be surprised how good a little sartorial intention can make you feel..

In need of some inspiration? Study these classic #airportstyle references…

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That’s all for today. If you made it this far—we sincerely thank you for your support. Why not drop us a line in the comments and say hello? We’ll be responding to all of them. And if you like what you’re reading, please hit the heart (<3) on this post to show others that it’s worth subscribing.

As always, smooth skies to the lot of you!