The HomeExchange and the HomeExchange Collection

by Karen Holly Berliner

With travel plans returning back to normal or even perhaps a “new normal” for many, it’s nice to be able to plan a dream honeymoon or maybe just steal away on a vacation in a new-fangled modern manner, yet in a “home away from home” style. In this way, you can enjoy the excitement of a trip but at the same time continue to appreciate the comforts of home, sort of a baby step in the right direction in travel. Baby steps become giant steps to an exotic locale, maybe a warm climate escape for those stuck in a cold weather season; a variety of spectacular high-end spots becoming more accessible and easier to plan and enjoy.

Enter The HomeExchange and the HomeExchange Collection.

HomeExchange is the global leader in home exchange vacations, offering authentic, sustainable and affordable vacation opportunities. With over 450,000 properties across 159 countries, HomeExchange makes last-minute vacations on a budget possible with a nominal annual membership fee, no hidden costs or cancellation fees and 24/7 assistance.

Member benefits, exclusive advantages and custom services for members include unlimited access to the private HomeExchange Collection platform selection of high-end homes and apartments, unlimited access to the HomeExchange catalog of properties, the ability to exchange with members of both the HomeExchange and HomeExchange Collection communities among other top notch services and benefits. For all questions, a dedicated member service is available 24/7in order to provide solid support. 

The HomeExchange Collection features unique local luxury homes, each with its own amenities and character. Offerings range from penthouses in cities across the globe and ancient villas and majestic castles to wilderness or wellness retreats and supreme luxury yachts.

Members of the HomeExchange Collection private community can exchange their homes over dates of mutual choosing. Homeowners are able to share their homes and destinations and in the process, provide first hand recommendations for sublime vacation experiences. Even better is the flexibility of declining reciprocity, as if a member wishes to lend their home without having the favor returned, their guest can offer GuestPoints as an  alternative. The host member can then use these GuestPoints to be a guest in another preferred HomeExchange Collection home. Each home is individually inspected and selected by the HomeExchange Collection team based on precise criteria of quality, location and amenities. Amenities evaluated include private tennis courts, a piano onsite, perhaps an in-home movie theater, other technological upgrades, wellness features such as a Jacuzzi, Sauna and a gym, personal services like daily housekeeping or a private chef, transportation offerings; even prestigious art work.

Family-friendly features such as cribs, a private playground and babysitting services make family travel simpler and turn-key. Recreational offerings like a private pool or boat are in high demand and graciously supplied.

The more recently added HomeExchange Collection currently features 300 homes in over 35 different countries. Locations include Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States. The annual subscription to HomeExchange Collection is $1,000.

In travel via the HomeExchange and the HomeExchange Collection, you can in fact, have your cake and eat it too.

homeexchange.com/collection

By Karen Holly Berliner

The 1991 hit song "Walking in Memphis" originally by singer and songwriter Marc Cohn, so powerfully recalls this iconic artists first visit to Memphis—the strong roots of some of the most influential musicians such as Al Green, Isaac Hayes and of course, Elvis Presley. Per the beautiful lyrics, the song embodies a lot of the spirit and character of the city and as you walk through town (as indeed you can cover quite a bit by just plain walking), lines from the song point out wondrous things about Memphis and some key sightseeing spots. First and foremost, to take in these simple and ready pleasures, it’s best to check into a lodging spot which allows you central access.

Enter Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis.

With its history infused location being the very first hotel on Beale Street (just 15 minutes from Memphis International Airport) Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis is scant footsteps from Downtown Memphis, where its distinct musical culture, Memphis-centric food, dining spots and vibrant nightlife await in all of its color and glory, quite proud and unapologetic at that!

This dynamic 227-room hotel opened April 2021 as the only hotel to tout a Beale Street address, resplendent with top notch cuisine, a sprawling rooftop bar and interior and exterior design elements, inspired by the heritage of Memphis, ‘Home of the Blues.’ Fusing history with contemporary flair, the front desk and concierge desk are made from repurposed metal and materials from the historic William C. Ellis and Sons Ironworks and Machine Shop Building, designed by the Memphis Metal Museum. Have a stroll throughout the hotel and take in the wall folk art, that akin to an old speaker, treble clef inspired light fixtures and hallway carpet pattern designed to mimic sound-waves. Keeping with the theme, the guest rooms and suites each have wallpaper behind the beds with images of original materials from the Ironworks building. The king rooms feature shower walls etched with the names of different signature elements for which Memphis is known.

BECK & CALL

At Beck & Call here again, guests will notice wallpaper that looks like the acoustic foam of a recording studio, as homage is paid throughout the many spaces. Perched eight stories high Beck & Call is a bustling rooftop whiskey bar serving uniquely crafted cocktails and small plates. The whiskey menu is comprised of a well curated collection of whiskeys and bourbons, including local flavor with libations from Grind City Brewery and Old Dominick Distillery, just steps away from the hotel. This is Memphis’ only rooftop bar and dining venue, showcasing unobstructed views of the Mississippi River and famous “M Bridge” (where the view of the M Bridge Light Show can be enjoyed!). The wrap-around balcony allows for panoramic views of both the riverfront and city skyline and features fire pits, an outdoor bar and intimate seating for gathering.

CIMAS LOBBY LOUNGE

CIMAS Lobby Lounge promises a vibrant and social atmosphere where you can sip to your hearts delight, on a variety of libations before or after a night on the town.

CIMAS is the hotel’s signature eatery situated on the Mississippi Riverfront, serving Latin-American inspired fare with a Southern twist. Look out for delightful menu choices fast becoming signatures, such as the Beale Street Burger, bacon, American cheese, shredded iceberg lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, smoked cheddar remoulade with barbecue spiced fries and so many other palate pleasers. Dine inside or dine alfresco on the outdoor patio with views of the river and its resort-style pool.

Meetings & Events Housed within the circa-1879 historic William C. Ellis and Sons Ironworks and Machine Shop Building, the hotel boasts about 9,000 square feet of meeting space (12,500 sq. ft. total.) The space has been restored to create a state of the art meeting venue, while keeping the building’s old world charm, including the original exposed brick walls and beams with dramatic arched windows overlooking the Mississippi. Though the warehouse itself is historic, everything inside is fully updated for the 21st century, including modern audiovisual technology.
The meeting spaces include THE FOUNDRY, PATTERN SHOP, WEDDING SHOP and the EVENT LAWN, all set up for ease in accommodating.

Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis at a Glance:
1. Downtown’s only resort-style pool featuring a zero-entry infinity pool, cabanas and a deck for hosting live entertainment
2. Beck & Call rooftop whiskey bar
3. Lobby dining options including CIMAS and CIMAS Lobby Bar
4. A 24-hour Lobby Market with handy grab-n-go beverages and snacks
5. 12,500 sq. ft. of meeting space
6. A state of the art 24-hour fitness center
7. 24-hour room service, complimentary Wi-Fi and valet parking
8. Pet-friendly accommodations up to 50 lbs.

And As You Walk Through Memphis……

……perhaps you will take a stroll across Big River Crossing, where you can have one foot in Tennessee and one foot in Arkansas or give your walking shoes a break and hop aboard an authentic vintage trolley car through historic Downtown.

GRACELAND HOME OF THE BLUES

Blues, rock-n-roll, soul and jazz music can be heard nightly along Beale Street and throughout the city, though what’s a trip to Memphis without visiting Elvis’ homeland, Graceland? Experience the magic of Graceland this holiday season with festive events to celebrate one of Elvis' favorite times of the year. In season, visitors can enjoy their Holiday Lighting Weekend on November 17-19 and special holiday tours of Graceland Mansion and grounds, decorated for the Christmas season from November 17-December 23. Graceland will be adorned for the holidays in 2022 from November 17, 2022, through January 8, 2023.

BEYOND THE MUSIC

The National Civil Rights Museum should not be missed, with exhibits tracing the history of the civil rights movement from the 17th century to the present.

The Big Mojo Tour

An inside look at Memphis’ music scene with the Big Mojo Tour, a fun, musical journey featuring Memphis’ greatest attractions including a guided tour of Sun Studio, where legends like Elvis, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis launched their careers. Also, the Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul Museum and Stax Museums offer guided tours and memorabilia from legendary artists such as Johnny Cash and B.B. King. THE FOOD SCENE
Mouthwatering barbeque fare awaits you at Memphis’ world famous BBQ at Rendezvous. Next time, enjoy an evening listening to the Blues live complete with a happy hour at BB Kings, right on Beale Street

The Orpheum

The Orpheum is a landmark performing arts spot that’s been an iconic part of Memphis since 1928. Check out the schedule and indulge in the magic of the live arts.

Miami, Florida

Novotel Miami Brickell is a 12-story property comprising 275 deluxe guest rooms and suites, with 5,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. The hotel also features a rooftop swimming pool, and Vista Pool Bar that boasts stunning views of Brickell’s striking skyline and Biscayne Bay. Located in the lobby area, UVA bar is your home to enjoy a wonderful selection of Chilean and Argentinian wines, signature Latin American spirits, light tapas-style fare, global news, sports and weather. The bar also features a daily happy hour from 4 to 7 pm. At Lima, the hotel’s signature restaurant, guests can experience the thrilling simplicity of flavorful contemporary cuisine with inventive yet well-balanced dishes for wholly delightful meals to enjoy.

Unparalleled Food and Beverage Options

Novotel Miami Brickell’s onsite food and beverage options are complemented by the neighborhood’s cocktail lounges, karaoke spot, and a bevy of fine-dining and casual eateries, including waterfront establishments and the choices along vibrant Mary Brickell Village. Miami’s special annual food and barrage promotion, Miami Spice, is in full swing from August through September, when dozens of top restaurants showcase special three-course meals for just $28 for lunch/brunch and $42 for dinner.

Central Location

Novotel Miami Brickell offers easy access to Virginia Key and Key Biscayne and its public beaches, nature preservers, parks and Miami Seaquarium. The Metro is steps away from the hotel, a convenient way to journey north to bustling Downtown Miami, home to various parks, theaters, museums, the FTX Arena and the Brightline, a high-speed line that runs from Miami Central Station to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. A quick ten-minute car ride south from Novotel is picturesque Coconut Grove and its CocoWalk of shops and eateries, Italian Renaissance-style Villa Vizcaya, as well as many historic sites and parks. Little Havana, Miami’s Cuban neighborhood, lies to the west with Latin restaurants and live music shows, while South Beach and its nightspots and beautiful beaches are about seven miles away.

Modern Easy Living

Novotel’s mantra of “Modern Easy Living” drives the brand to always offer guests a comfortable and memorable type of stay. Its intuitive and modern design, coupled with its innovative and cutting-edge technology, continually results in a relaxed, vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. The hotel exemplifies all the brand’s elements and is centrally located, making it the ideal place to stay for business and leisure travelers. Guests can enjoy its convenient access to the very best of Downtown Miami, Port of Miami, from the area’s top businesses, outstanding shopping, an eclectic dining and nightlife scene, world-class art, and more.

Sustainability Program

The hotel also prides itself on its strong eco-friendly actions. In 2011, its parent company Accor launched Planet 21, a sustainable program to improve its hotels’ performance with sustainable initiatives.

ABOUT NOVOTEL

Novotel Hotels, Suites & Resorts offers destination hotels designed as comforting and energizing places where guests can ‘press pause’ and take time to enjoy the moments that really matter. The brand’s wide array of hotels, suites and resorts offer a multitude of services for business and leisure guests

alike, including spacious, modular rooms with natural and intuitive design;

24/7 catering with nutritious choices; dedicated meeting spaces; attentive and proactive staff; family zones for the youngest guests; multi-purpose lobbies; and accessible fitness centers. Novotel, which has over 530 locations in more than 60 countries is part of Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique experiences in 4,900 hotels and residences across 110 countries.

ACCOR

Accor is a world leading hospitality group consisting of 5,300 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. The group has one of the industry’s most diverse and fully-integrated hospitality ecosystems encompassing more than 40 luxury, premium, midscale and economy hotel brands, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services, co-working spaces and more. Accor’s unmatched position in lifestyle hospitality – one of the fastest growing categories in the industry – is led by Ennismore, a joint venture, of which Accor holds a majority shareholding. Ennismore is a creative hospitality company with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Accor boasts an unrivaled portfolio of distinctive brands and more than 230,000 team members worldwide. Members benefit from the company’s comprehensive loyalty program – ALL - Accor Live Limitless – a daily lifestyle companion that provides access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. Through its Planet 21 – Acting Here, Accor Solidarity, RiiSE and ALL Heartist Fund initiatives, the Group is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States.

For more information visit group.accor.com, or follow Accor on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

It has been quite the long and difficult haul for all of us, given recent events. As we emerge out of our ever changing protocols along with life, travel and all social limitations, we were urged to stay put in quarantine mode for such a long stretch, we can now finally exhale a collective sigh of relief and resume; dip a proverbial toe into the water via dining, travel, work, socializing and life as a whole. What better way to break the ice than to travel to a destination escape, that not only touts itself as a haus aka residential-style hotel for a seamless transition from home to haus (per its fitting name), but absolutely lives up to it with all of the creature comforts one could wish for, escalated to a high level of luxury unsurpassed, while still maintaining a comfortable at home vibe. 

Located on a quaint side street off of Sixth Avenue in NYC’s Soho district, enter ModernHaus and absorb it in its entirety, from its location among other stately cast-iron buildings and authentic cobblestone streets, to its deliberate nod to its artsy neighborhood dynamic. Notice the splendor of the art adorning its walls, showcasing many of the most influential icons of the 20th century, the art-clad interiors making this building feel more like a collector’s loft than a towering Manhattan hotel.

Check in if you please, and enjoy a “turn-key” room awaiting you, featuring opulent king-sized beds, walk-in showers with rainfall heads, bath tubs resplendent with Le Labo bath products, all high-end accommodations and amenities. Be wowed by the floor-to-ceiling windows, which show off its skyscrapers proudly, including the breathtaking Freedom Tower, all buildings lit up at night with the lights of many workaholics still at task.

A rooftop pool is hard to come by, agreed?

Find your pool and full oasis along with it at ModernHaus’ top-floor Jimmy, a sleek, mahogany-clad bar with panoramic views of lower Manhattan, complete with a pool deck to lounge. With decor inspired by Picasso's Blue period, JIMMY has a cozy yet lively atmosphere, with both vintage and contemporary furniture and a roaring fireplace, all surrounded by 14’ windows with panoramic views of Midtown, Wall Street, the Hudson River, and the bridges spanning the East River. For further lounge access, Jumpin Jacks on the second floor is an all-day eatery that transforms into a lounge at night.

As for a magical and tasty dining experience, visit Veranda restaurant by Michelin-starred chef George Mendes in collaboration with restaurateur David Rabin and catering and events group Abigail Kirsch. Set beneath a retractable greenhouse, this dining room allows for flexible indoor/outdoor dining, with several indoor and outdoor cocktail area seating options. Enjoy such signatures as the hummus with tomato, chickpeas, grilled naan, crudité herbs and flowers and falafel or the steamed mussels with garlic, cilantro, grilled chorizo and olive oil. For an extraordinary treat, the duck rice features traditional duck leg confit, seared breast, chorizo, black olives, orange and crispy duck skin giving it a contemporary flair. 

Noteworthy is their in-room dining program, perfect for an impromptu breakfast in bed.

Why not treat yourself?

Located steps up from Veranda with its own entrance on 6th Avenue, The Back Bar at Veranda features several open-air terraces, adorned with pendant lights and a fireplace, with both high-top and table seating. Sip a signature cocktail such as the wanderlust; mezcal, green chartreuse, absinthe, coconut and lime. For a real treat for rose wine fans, the Rose Flight features three tastings of select roses.

An elegant option for events, The Signature Room features an arched wood ceiling, velvet seating, a private bar and a skylight under which an evergreen olive tree stands and warms the space perfectly.

As far as extra accoutrements, ModernHaus Soho is loaded to the brim with those.

For example, WundaMat @ ModernHaus Rooftop Pool offers Pilates for all levels.

As we all know, brunch is beloved to many. In that spirit, Chef George Mendes presents a seasonal menu that pairs perfectly with inspired cocktails to be savored under Veranda’s glass pergola. Sip your stress away and take in the spectacular atmosphere.

Getting restless?

SoHo is one of the most dynamic neighborhoods in NYC, offering sublime shopping, dining and cultural experiences.

Exit the building and just simply start walking in any direction!