The Groundbreaking Hotel Site for Bravo Fans That Fuses Pop Culture and Travel
Burberry and H&M collaborate with two hotels, Madrid's grand dame reopens her doors, and why ice baths are popping up at hotel spas left and right.
My sincerest apologies for sending this a week late—we’ve been nonstop buzzing like a lobby bar at golden hour (all good things, luckily). Tonight, we’re hosting our first-ever public event: a summer travel panel, special-edition newspaper, and aperitif hour at The Wall Street Hotel in NYC. Anyway, I’m getting distracted, but yeah, welcome to another pour of Hotel Espresso by Hotels Above Par, your boutique hotel fix, plus my two cents. If you are new here, I’m Brandon Berkson, CEO of independent media brand, Hotels Above Par, and today we explore…
☕️ Burberry and H&M Home transform two hotels (I’m a sucker for epic collabs)
☕️ Why hotels are obsessed with ice baths right now
☕️ A one-of-a-kind travel website for those who love Bravo and the Real Housewives
This issue is a fun one. Happy reading, y’all. ⬇️
Industry News 📰
H&M Home debuts a new collaboration with Palm Heights, a hotel located in the Cayman Islands. Expect a 23-piece selection invoking 1970s style, from amber-toned glassware to striped beach towels, robes, and cushions.
In Madrid, the iconic Palace Hotel—erected back in 1912 and long a favorite of European elites—reopened, following a meticulous four-year renovation by Lázaro Rosa-Violán Studio. Located steps from the Museo del Prado and the Reina Sofía, the hotel now showcases an art collection drawn from private archives and the in-house design team's studio. The refreshed interiors blend restored heritage details, such as the stained-glass dome and Navona marble bathrooms, with modern touches—brushed brass, textured glass, botanical motifs, and custom tapestries inspired by the nearby Royal Botanical Gardens.
Burberry, led by creative director Daniel Lee, is taking over The Newt in Somerset through August 18, 2025, transforming the English countryside estate with a custom green check and activities that celebrate the “great British summer.” The collaboration features Burberry-branded experiences like croquet, hot-air balloon rides, and a pop-up boutique with its latest pieces, reinforcing the brand’s focus on British heritage and immersive storytelling
Burberry's badminton court at The Newt in Somerset.
Ice, Ice, Baby: How Hotels Are Betting Big on Ice Baths 🧊
Wellness at hotels is getting a serious upgrade. Forget the robe-and-cucumber-water routine—today’s travelers are diving headfirst into ice baths. No longer reserved for pro athletes and Silicon Valley biohackers, cold plunges have entered the boutique hotel space, bringing a bold, feel-it-in-your-bones energy that perfectly aligns with the intentional, design-forward world of independent stays.
The benefits are undeniable. Cold immersion reduces inflammation, boosts circulation, improves sleep, and sparks a flood of endorphins. It’s a full-body reset wrapped in a minimalist tub, often steps from your suite. Functional wellness, but make it chic.
The Santa Monica Proper Hotel has it down. At Surya Spa, guests can pair Ayurvedic therapies with access to a sleek, stainless-steel cold plunge pool. It’s maintained at a brisk 42°F, ideal for a revitalizing shock to the system post-treatment. The plunge is available to all guests; however, anyone with heart conditions or high blood pressure should consult a doctor before participating. The energy here is calm, sunlit, grounded—California wellness at its most elevated.
Half a world away in Byron Bay, The Swell Hotel brings a raw, elemental vibe to its 16-key sanctuary. This Aussie newcomer pairs its ice bath with an infrared sauna, giving guests a thermal circuit that’s perfect after a long surf session or slow morning walk along Wategos.
Ice baths are officially the amenity of the moment. Bold, transformative, and thoughtfully integrated into boutique hotel culture, they’re here to stay—and we’re fully on board.
A Q&A With the CEO of a New Hotel Site for Bravo Fans 📺
If you’ve ever planned a vacation based on where a Real Housewife flung a wine glass or had a spiritual awakening in a villa, you’re in the right place. My love of reality TV runs as deep as my obsession with hotels—and The Real Hotels is where those two passions check in together, with room service and receipts. From shady confessionals to five-star suites, this Bravo-fan-fueled site is less “TripAdvisor” and more “Trip-a-drama.” It’s a curated directory of every hotel and vacation rental featured on Real Housewives cast trips, complete with insider details and booking links—because why just watch the drama when you can sleep where it happened? I sat down and chatted with the website’s founder, Leigh Silkunas, asking her scores of questions about this niche, dream-come-true online publication.
For those who haven’t fallen down the rabbit hole yet—what is The Real Hotels, and what makes it stand out from your typical travel site?
At its core, The Real Hotels is a directory website that showcases all the hotels and vacation rentals where the Housewives have stayed during their cast trips. Beyond that, The Real Hotels is a site created by Bravo fans for Bravo fans, so in addition to booking a hotel where Reality von Tease was revealed or staying in the Spanish villa where Merse was featured in The Purse, there are genuine IYKYK giggles throughout the site.
Was there a lightbulb moment that sparked the idea? Maybe a particular instance at a hotel or an iconic Real Housewives episode?
The Real Hotels would not have happened without Lydia McLaughlin. I was on vacation at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, and I saw Lydia in line at the breakfast buffet (Housewives—They’re Just Like Us!) This experience got me thinking about how the cast trips are some of the most pivotal moments of each season, and being the boutique hotel fan that I am, I got curious about where they stayed… and realized that it wasn’t always that easy to find. It was a passion project, but one I had a feeling would resonate with fans.
What’s your favorite feature on the site—the one you’re most proud of? Is there a little Easter egg or nod to Bravo fans that they’ll especially appreciate?
I recommend checking out the series page for the one-season wonder that was The Real Housewives of DC.
Okay, let’s get real: What’s your all-time favorite Housewives franchise? And if you could jet off on vacation with any cast member (past or present), who would you choose and why?
All-time favorite is original RHONY. I was in my early twenties, living in NYC, when it aired, and it just felt so aspirational, relatable, and even somewhat attainable, or at least that I could find myself brushing shoulders with them on the street.
I can not fathom going on vacation with any wife—never meet your heroes! And I’m absolutely not sharing a room! If I had to choose, I think Erika Jayne would be a great hang. We could get glam, wear fabulous clothes, have a crazy night, and then drink regular Cokes with our sunglasses the next morning. I think Erika has lots of stories that don’t make it on air.
Of all the hotels featured, is there one that holds a special place in your heart (or Instagram grid)? Tell us about your favorite pick.
It’s been really fun to hunt down the hotels from early seasons before Bravo gave the hotel as much screen time or acknowledgement in the credits. We delved deep into Reddit and Google Image search to find some, and it was a thrill to discover hotels from some of the classics, like De L’Europe in Amsterdam, where Lisa Rinna threw her wine glass, or Hotel Ranga in Iceland, where Vicki was carried out in a wheelchair.
What’s next for The Real Hotels? Any plans to expand beyond the Housewives universe—perhaps into other Bravo shows or even broader pop culture tie-ins?
I’m open! We want to expand our “In The Wild” section to capture stories of Housewives in hotels when they're offscreen and develop more editorial content that offers value to our readers. Honestly, I’m delighted whenever someone discovers The Real Hotels!
That concludes today’s issue of Hotel Espresso by Hotels Above Par. Thank you for your stay—if you liked today’s read, please press the <3 button as it helps spread the word about this newsletter. To note, if you subscribe or unsubscribe via this Substack, it will only pertain to Hotel Espresso, not our other newsletters. You can sign up—or tragically remove yourself—from our twice-a-week Hotels Above Par newsletters here.