Best of the best

Fort Worth wins big in Travel + Leisure's 2024 World's Best Awards

The Hotel Drover is the No. 1 best hotel in Dallas-Fort Worth in 2024.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Drover

Fort Worth and its acclaimed Hotel Drover are shining stars in the travel world, according to Travel + Leisure's 2024 World's Best Awards. Fort Worth ranked No. 7 among the best U.S. cities, as determined by the publication's readers. Hotel Drover was deemed the No. 1 hotel in all of DFW.

The annual World's Best Awards asks Travel + Leisure readers to determine the ultimate travel experiences around the world, which include the top hotels, resorts, cities, and more. The 2024 survey had more than 186,000 responses from T+L readers with over 700,000 votes across 8,700 destinations and accommodations.

Fort Worth was one of just two Texas cities to make the list of top 10 best cities in the U.S., ranking No. 7 just behind San Antonio (No. 6). The best U.S. cities list are all bucket list-worthy destinations with "palpable history, walkable downtowns, regional cuisine, and robust cultural and artistic institutions," according to Travel + Leisure.

In the report, one reader described Fort Worth as a city where "cosmopolitan meets ranch." But it's the city's thriving arts scene – including the vast number of theater, ballet, opera, and symphony orchestra performances – that keeps visitors coming back for more.

"Though Fort Worth retains its cowboy image with one of the country’s best rodeos and a daily cattle drive through the streets of the [Stockyards] district, it’s not all ten-gallon hats — the cultural institutions, such as The Kimbell Art Museum, are world-class," the report said.

Hotel Drover is No. 1
When weary travelers are finished exploring the city, they can rest up at the rustic-luxe Hotel Drover, which was ranked the No. 1 best hotel in all of Dallas-Fort Worth in 2024. A lot of snaps and claps are in order for a hotel that's only been open since 2021.

Each standout hotel in T+L's best hotel rankings is critiqued based on its rooms and facilities, location, guest services, food, and overall value. This is the second year Hotel Drover was crowned No. 1, after it won the designation in 2022. The hotel ranked No. 4 in Dallas-Fort Worth in 2023.

Hotel Drover backyard We could use a dip in the pool.Photo courtesy of Hotel Drover

Many readers lauded Hotel Drover's top-notch guest service, as well as the hotel's attention to detail with its decor.

"Felt like the team invited me into their home and they took excellent care of everything we needed," a reader said.

In a press release, Stockyards Heritage Development Co. managing partner Craig Cavileer shared his appreciation for the achievement.

"Hotel Drover's arrival in the Fort Worth Stockyards marked a pivotal moment, acting as a catalyst for the positive transformation this historic district has experienced," Cavileer said. "We're proud to have played a role in revitalizing this iconic destination, and this award simply fuels our enthusiasm for the upcoming second phase of development."

The full list of Dallas-Fort Worth winning hotels, in order, are:

No. 1 – Hotel Drover, Autograph Collection, Fort Worth
No. 2 – Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas
No. 3 – Hotel Crescent Court, Dallas
No. 4 – The Joule, Dallas
No. 5 – The Adolphus, Dallas

"For nearly three decades, our World's Best Awards have set the standard for excellence in travel, as chosen by our dedicated and discerning readers," said Jacqui Gifford, Editor in Chief of Travel + Leisure, in a release. "The 2024 results highlight a blend of time-honored favorites and emerging destinations, reflecting the diverse interests of today's travelers. We're delighted to honor these exceptional places and experiences that inspire our audience to explore the world."

More North Texas accolades
In T+L's ranking of "Readers’ 5 Favorite Resorts in Texas of 2024," two North Texas resorts came out on top: Omni PGA Frisco Resort (No. 1) and The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas (No. 3) in Irving.

The Omni PGA has only been open since May 2023, making this a major accomplishment for the resort. What makes this resort stand out above the rest in Texas is its 18-hole championship courses, a 10-hole short course, four swimming pools, and (for the non-golfing foodies) more than a dozen restaurants.

Omni PGA Frisco Resort has two championship courses. Photo courtesy of Visit Frisco

"One reader described the property as a 'definite must see for golfers,' but non-golfers will find plenty to do off the course, too," the report's author wrote. "Options include eating your way through the 13 on-site dining destinations, indulging in a rejuvenating treatment at Mokara Spa, or gawking at the lush fairways from your suite’s outdoor balcony — ranch water in hand, of course."

Much like the Hotel Drover, T+L readers commended the Omni PGA's comfortable accommodations, exemplary guest services, and an overall attention to detail.

The full list of top Texas resorts, in order, are:

No. 1 – Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Frisco
No. 2 – The Woodlands Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, The Woodlands
No. 3 – The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas, Irving
No. 4 – The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, Houston
No. 5 – Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection, Austin

The full list of winners of Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2024 can be found on travelandleisure.com.

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Holiday News

American Airlines anticipates record-setting Thanksgiving 2024 travel

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

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The holidays are looming and American Airlines is ramping up. Over the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, the Fort Worth-based airline expects to welcome nearly 8.3 million customers across more than 77,000 flights.

According to a statement from American's COO David Seymour, the airline is having a good fall season and canceled fewer flights than its peers during October.

“Thanks to the hard work of our 130,000 team members, we canceled fewer flights than any of our major competitors this October and beat our own records for on-time departures and arrivals,” Seymour says.

This is encouraging news. One hates to rain on their parade, but in June 2024, the one flight I scheduled this year, my flight was canceled less than 24 hours before it was scheduled to take off. I had made hotel reservations, scheduled a pet sitter, planned events, and arranged for a friend to pick me up at the destination airport. One employee speculated that it may have been "insufficient crew." Their only option offered was: Feel free to reschedule your flight.

Thanksgiving facts and figures
American’s travel period runs from November 21 to December 3, and the airline expects to carry more than 500,000 more customers than it did last year.

The most-traveled day will be Sunday, December 1. The second most-traveled day will be Monday, December 2.

1,500 mainline and regional aircraft will travel nearly 65 million miles between November 21 and December 3.

The peak of peak: 1,035 mainline and regional aircraft will be enroute at 10:45 am on Sunday, December 1 — the highest number of flights handled at any given time during American’s travel period.

The airline expects to serve more than 6.8 million Biscoff cookies on board from November 21 to December 3.

Travel tips
Download the American Airlines app and check in for your flight, noting added any bags to your trip. This will save you time at the airport.

If traveling internationally, download the Mobile Passport Control app, which can speed up your entry into the U.S. Global Entry members can download the Global Entry app, which allows you to submit your entry and go straight to the officer.

Upon arrival at the airport lobby, scan your mobile boarding pass to print bag tags quickly at a kiosk. If you’re not checking bags, go straight to TSA security with your mobile boarding pass.

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