Best of the best

Houston hotels win big in Travel + Leisure's 2024 World's Best Awards

The Woodlands Resort is the second best resort in Texas, according to Travel + Leisure's 2024 World's Best Awards.

Photo courtesy of The Woodlands Resort

Houston's acclaimed hotels and resorts are shining stars in the travel world, according to Travel + Leisure's 2024 World's Best Awards. The Woodlands Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton and The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa were ranked among the top five best resorts in Texas, as determined by the publication's readers. Lancaster Hotel was deemed the No. 1 hotel in all of Houston.

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.

In T+L's ranking of "Readers’ 5 Favorite Resorts in Texas of 2024," The Woodlands Resort landed at the top as No. 2, and The Houstonian Hotel earned No. 4.

Notable amenities that make The Woodlands Resort stand out above the rest in Texas is its two championship golf courses, a fitness center, the lavish spa, the Forest Oasis pool complex, and much more. T+L readers also praised the resort's family-friendly programming.

"The heart of excitement at The Woodlands Resort is the Forest Oasis pool complex, a vast poolside waterscape surrounded by three luxurious guestroom buildings with easy-access pool walkout rooms, the Panther Trail™ golf course, and the towering pines of the lush forest," the resort's website says. "During the fall and winter, both the waterfall pool and double helix slide/pool are heated to over 85 degrees, plus you can cozy up on the pool deck with s’mores and toasty beverages."

The Woodlands Resort, Lazy River The Lazy River winding through The Woodlands Resort. Photo courtesy of The Woodlands Resort

Meanwhile, The Houstonian thrives with myriad members and guests who enjoy the top-tier exercise and wellness offerings, family-oriented membership, and elite, if-you-know-you-know status. One reader lauded The Houstonian as "a true oasis in the middle of the city."

"The 27-acre resort has easy access to Houston’s iconic Memorial Park and bustling downtown area, while still managing to feel like a well-kept secret," the report said.

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 top five hotels in Houston
Many snaps and claps are in order for the luxurious historic Lancaster Hotel, which was crowned the No. 1 best hotel in all of Houston in 2024.

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 first year Lancaster was ranked at the top citywide.

Many readers appreciated the hotel's proximity to some of Houston's premier performing arts venues – the Lynn Wyatt Square for the Performing Arts, Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, and Alley Theatre – plus the hotel staff's top-notch guest service and the attention to detail with its decor.

"Superb luxury boutique hotel next to the theater," a reader said. "Staff was some of the best. Friendly, efficient and eager to help."

Lancaster Hotel afternoon tea Guests adored the classic afternoon tea service at The Lancaster Hotel. Photo by Teresa Rafidi

Guests additionally commended the Lancaster's vast amenities, including complimentary gourmet breakfast, complimentary in-room snacks, and the afternoon tea service.

The Lancaster Hotel also ranked No. 2 in T+L's "Readers' 15 Favorite City Hotels in the Continental U.S. of 2024."

The full list of Houston winning hotels, in order, are:

No. 1 – Lancaster Hotel
No. 2 – Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District
No. 3 – The Moran Citycentre
No. 4 – The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
No. 5 – Four Seasons Hotel Houston

"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."

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

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wave on wave

Exhibit on Jewish immigration to Texas lands at Galveston museum

Bryan Museum/Facebook

The Bryan Museum will open the new exhibit in November.

A new exhibit about the role Galveston played in bringing immigrants to Texas is set to open at the Bryan Museum. The exhibit will particularly highlight the wave of Jewish immigrants from Russia and Eastern Europe in the early 1900s as they fled increasing persecution and pogroms.

Port of Promise: Jewish Pioneers of Texas explores the history of the Galveston Plan, sometimes known as the Galveston Movement. Between 1907 and 1914, roughly 10,000 Jews left Russia after a series of bloody pogroms sparked by conspiracy theories that Jewish leaders had assassinated Tsar Alexander II. Developed with support from the Joan and Stanford Alexander South Texas Jewish Archives at Rice University, it shows how these immigrants spread through Texas as pioneers and entrepreneurs, building communities in America.

“The impact of The Galveston Plan cannot be overstated. These determined individuals overcame tremendous obstacles to becoming some of the most successful and philanthropic people in the history of Texas,” said Charles C. Foster, immigration attorney and historian.

Port of Promise opens November 7 and runs through January 21, 2027. Admittance is included with general tickets.

Though the exhibit is primarily focused on the Galveston Movement, the island's role as one of the largest immigration hubs in the United States during the 1800s is also explored. Known as the Ellis Island of the West, Galveston handled around 200,000 immigrants between 1845 and 1948. For much of this time period, there were no restrictions on immigration into the U.S., and people from Europe, Latin America, and South America were all processed through the Port of Galveston.

According to Foster, the wave of Jewish migration sparked anti-immigrant backlashes in the Northeastern United States, prompting Jewish community leaders to direct migrants to Texas.

“With anti-immigration policies and anti-native sentiments rising, Galveston was strategically chosen as a great alternative to the crowded cities of the Northeast,” said Foster. “It wasn’t just a port; it was a plan. A way to welcome Jewish immigrants into the heart of the country instead of concentrating them on the East Coast.”

With immigration a hot button topic in contemporary politics, the Bryan Museum felt it was important to celebrate how much previous waves have contributed to Texas.

"Texas has always been shaped by people who arrived seeking opportunity and the chance to build a better future," said Melissa Williams Murphy, Bryan Museum executive director. "This exhibition honors the extraordinary contributions of immigrants whose impact continues to be felt across our state while ensuring their stories are preserved for future generations."

In addition to the exhibit, the Bryan Museum will also host three special public programs throughout the run. These include a panel talk with Foster on the Galveston Plan; a presentation by Robert Sakowitz on his family's luxury stores in the state; and a lecture by Dr. Nancy Katz on Jewish Texas before and after the Galveston Plan. Tickets for these events are separate from admission and must be reserved in advance through the Bryan Museum website.

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wave on wave

Exhibit on Jewish immigration to Texas lands at Galveston museum