Four Valencia thresholds that are more than just passageways
#1 IRVING’S FAMED PINK DOORS TO THE COURTYARD
The vibrant color serves as an accent to the Spanish mission architecture style. (Texican Court Hotel, Irving, TX)
#2 SAN JOSE’S GLASS COURTYARD DOORS
These European glass doors and canopy transport you from Silicon Valley to a bustling plaza in the heart of Spain. (Hotel Valencia Santana Row, San Jose, CA)
#3 AUSTIN’S ANTIQUE PUBLIC SPACE DOORS
The contrast of rustic and refined wood and brick is found in this common space’s entryway. (Lone Star Court, Austin, TX)
#4 SAN ANTONIO’S TERRACE DOORS
The riverside suites’ French terrace doors with plantation-style slats let you look out to the River Walk without those on the other side looking in. (Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX)
Austin, TX
Here’s how to live large in the “Live Music Capital of the World”, straight from the people who help make it the funky cultural melting pot that it is.
1. FREDDIE STEADY KRC
Texas Music Hall of Fame inductee, singer – songwriter, and session guitarist and drummer freddiesteadykrc.com
“South Austin Popular Culture Center is the first place I suggest visitors check out. It has quite a large collection of posters, prints, and photographs that go back through the 1960s. It showcases our pop history, revealing how Austin came to be the point of destination it
has become.”southpop.org
2. EVE MONSEES
Co-owner of legendary Antone’s Record Shop antonesrecordshop.com
“Mount Bonnell is one of those places that feels so removed even though you’re in the middle of town. On a pretty day, it’s a wonderful place to escape the traffic and everything.” mountbonnell.com
3. KAREEM BADR
Improvisational actor, co-owner of Hideout Coffee House and Theatre hideouttheatre.com
“Sweet Ritual is a vegan ice cream shop that’s just ridiculous. There are hilarious flavors like Cinnamonkey Elephantastic, and they mess around with savory flavors, like mixing in basil. I usually get Cubano Coffee. I’m a sucker for coffee.” sweetritual.com
4. RACHEL CLEMENS
Chief Marketing Officer, Mighty Citizen creativesuitcase.com
“The place where everyone from hipsters to hippies goes to escape the heat is Barton Springs Pool. You feel like you’ve been transported back to a time when you can dip your toes in a nice cool swimming hole – until thong guy shows up, snaps you back to reality, and reminds you that you’re in Austin.” austintexas.gov
5. VERONICA ROBERTS
Curator of modern and contemporary art at the Blanton Museum of Art blantonmuseum.org
“My new favorite restaurant is Launderette. Divine food, and I love the interior design – simple, not fussy.” launderetteaustin.com
Valencia Hotel Group Continues to Build Its World Class Brand and Lands Among the World’s Best Hotels, Resorts, Countries, Cities, Islands, Spas, Airlines, Airports and Cruises
San Antonio TX – October 5, 2021– Condé Nast Traveler today announced the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Valencia Hotel Group’s luxury and court hotels were named in the magazine’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards list. Hotel Valencia Santana Row was #1 in San Jose and #5 among top 20 hotels in Northern California. Additional hotels in the collection that made the top 20 list for Texas include Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, claiming the #1 spot in San Antonio and #15 in Texas and Lone Star Court, which made its debut as #5 in Austin and #20 in Texas.
The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry and are commonly known as “the best of the best of travel.” The full list of winners can be found here.
“We are honored to see our hotels recognized by discerning travelers for their remarkable service and memorable guest experiences,” said Doyle A. Graham, Jr., President and CEO. “During another challenging year in the hospitality industry, these awards reaffirm our highest commitment to providing some of the best accommodations in the business. We are extremely proud to add our Lone Star Court hotel in Austin to this prestigious list for 2021.”
Graham is the visionary and thought leader behind building the Valencia Hotel Group collection and attributes much of the company’s success to its unique management approach and efficient cost structure; these have made the Valencia Hotel Group a leading market performer with consistent customer satisfaction ratings above the 90th percentile.
The 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards are published on Condé Nast Traveler‘s website, www.cntravelerom/rca and celebrated in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler US and UK print editions.
About Valencia Hotel Group
Houston-based Valencia Hotel Group is a fully integrated hospitality company that provides management, development, branding and repositioning services for independent, full-service hotels owned by the company, in addition to third parties. Exceptional service, style and location have become brand trademarks. Earning both national and international recognition for their distinctive designs, amenities and settings, Valencia Hotel Group properties are destinations and gathering places within their respective communities, some further benefitting from and enriching their space within the cultural heart of a city. The company continues to forge a niche with hotels that anchor and add value to urban, mixed-use environments, which further support or enhance the guest experience with superior residential, restaurant, retail and office components. The Valencia Hotel Group portfolio currently includes Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose, CA, Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX, and The George™ in College Station, TX. The Court concept brands include Lone Star Court in Austin, TX, Cavalry Court in College Station, TX, Texican Court in Irving, TX and Cotton Court in Lubbock, TX. For more information, please visit www.valenciahotelgroup.com
About Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler is the world’s most distinguished travel title providing inspiration and advice for discerning travelers. Authoritative and influential, Condé Nast Traveler is a multi-platform, transatlantic brand. Publishing US and UK print editions under Editor-in-Chief Melinda Stevens, Condé Nast Traveler offers award-winning expertise in luxury travel from around the world. For more, visit www.cntraveler.com.
For press inquiries, please contact: awards@condenasttraveler.com
SAN ANTONIO, TX – October 7, 2021 – During the summer, Valencia Hotel Group’s annual signature promotion of Poptails was back again with a purpose. Each of the hotels at Valencia Hotel Group put a different spin on this initiative and partnered with local not for profits in each of their cities. The annual offering took a percentage of sales from Poptail beverages sold and donated back to their communities.
As summer began, the hotels at Valencia Hotel Group started to see weekend and leisure travel bookings increase as local and regional guests were eager to experience staycation or nearcations getaways. Several of those reservations booked the unique “Poptails with a Purpose” package, allowing the hotels to make these donations.
With over $4,500 raised over the course of the summer, the money raised will be donated to each non-profit in each city over the next few weeks. Poptails with a Purpose beneficiaries for 2021 were the Baylor Scott and White Irving Foundation in Irving, Scotty’s House in Bryan/College Station, Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley, Partnerships for Children in Austin, CASA of the South Plains in Lubbock and the San Antonio Food Bank.
“One of our core values at Valencia Hotel Group is connecting our hotels to the communities where we are built. Our hotels have a proven ability to give back through creative connections through special events and promotions like “Poptails with a Purpose,” said Amy Trench, Corporate Director of Brand Marketing and PR.
About Valencia Hotel Group
Houston-based Valencia Hotel Group is a fully integrated hospitality company that provides management, development, branding and repositioning services for independent, full-service hotels owned by the company, in addition to third parties. Exceptional service, style and location have become brand trademarks. Earning both national and international recognition for their distinctive designs, amenities and settings, Valencia Hotel Group properties are destinations and gathering places within their respective communities, some further benefitting from and enriching their space within the cultural heart of a city. The company continues to forge a niche with hotels that anchor and add value to urban, mixed-use environments, which further support or enhance the guest experience with superior residential, restaurant, retail and office components. The Valencia Hotel Group portfolio currently includes : Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose, CA, Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX, and The George™ in College Station, TX. The Court concept brands include Lone Star Court in Austin, TX, Cavalry Court in College Station, TX, Texican Court in Irving, TX and Cotton Court in Lubbock, TX. For more information, please visit www.valenciahotelgroup.com
LONE STAR COURT APPOINTS JAMES WILSON AS EXECUTIVE CHEF
Lone Star Court, a Valencia Hotel Group property in Austin, Texas, is excited to announce James Wilson as executive chef of the retro-inspired boutique hotel and on-site bar and restaurant, The Water Trough.
“We are thrilled to welcome James to the Lone Star Court team,” said William Barba, general manager of the hotel. “Aside from his impressive background, he leads by example and offers a deep understanding of the hospitality and service we aim to provide to our guests.”
A SEASONED PROFESSIONAL
Originally from North Carolina, Wilson started cooking in a professional kitchen when he was just 13 years old. After discovering a passion for creating recipes with local and sustainable ingredients, Wilson fine-tuned his craft at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin. His career has taken him across the country to dining establishments including the Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol, Morrison Management Specialists and ATX FIT CHEF.
Wilson comes to Lone Star Court from the University of Texas Southwestern where he served as executive chef. During his time there, Wilson oversaw all kitchen functions, managed a team of more than 250 people and elevated the banquet and catering functions across the brand.
ON THE HORIZON
As the new executive chef at Lone Star Court, Wilson will oversee all of the property’s culinary programs including group catering, room service and full-service eatery, The Water Trough.
“I’m overjoyed to be joining the Lone Star Court team,” said Wilson. “The property showcases true Southern hospitality and I look forward to engraining that thoughtfulness into each dish we serve.”
A high-res headshot of Chef Wilson can be downloaded here. For more information about Lone Star Court, please visit lonestarcourt.comor call 512.814.2625.
MEDIA CONTACT:
bread & Butter – lsc@wearebreadandbutter.com
MEDIA CONTACT
bread & Butter
Join us at our College Station Bar every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. as we feature alternating weeks of wine or whiskey and live music.
Everyone is invited! From hotel guests to area locals and 100 Park Residents receive a 10% discount.
This trendy form of travel means glamorous camping, and when you glamp at a Court Hotel, you won’t need a camper, tent, or an old dusty sleeping bag. Let us build a fire while you relax by our “swimming hole” and unwind sipping a signature cocktail on our sweeping porches. Our urban retreats have all the space you need to continue to social distance with our unique outdoor environment, which offers acres of fun for romance, GNO, or a local staycation getaway adventure with family and furbabies. Learn more about our Court Hotels.
Best Housekeeping 2020
AAA has recognized Valencia Hotel Group’s commitment to cleanliness and has awarded Hotel Valencia Riverwalk and Hotel Valencia Santana Row the AAA Inspector’s Best of Housekeeping 2020.
We understand that now, more than ever, that our guests need to travel with a sense of confidence. The safety of our guests and our associates is and always has been our primary concern. Our teams take pride in taking all precautions and staying ahead of industry best practices to keep our guests safe and comfortable during their travels.
Learn more about our cleaning protocols.