Montage vs. Pendry Hotels: The Luxury Hotel Collection You Should Know for Summer 2026
One of the biggest misconceptions in luxury travel is that all booking channels are equal.
They aren’t.
Part of the reason travelers work with a luxury travel advisor goes far beyond simply reserving a hotel room. It’s the relationships. The FaceTime. The ability to sit down with the people actually shaping guest experiences on property — the decision-makers behind upgrades, VIP treatment, dining access, and ultimately, how guests are cared for during their stay.
This week, I had the chance to connect with much of the Montage International and Pendry Hotels & Resorts team while they were in Philadelphia, and one thing became very clear: this is a hotel group worth keeping firmly on your radar.
Between exciting upcoming openings, exceptional domestic summer escapes, and two very distinct luxury personalities under one umbrella, Montage and Pendry continue to stand out in a crowded luxury hotel landscape.
First, What’s the Difference Between Montage and Pendry?
Montage International
Montage leans into refined, residential-style luxury with a strong sense of destination.
These properties tend to feel:
Relaxed yet elevated
Nature and wellness focused
Residential and spacious
Family and multigenerational friendly
Rooted in their surroundings
This is understated luxury done well. The kind of hotel where travelers genuinely settle in and slow down.
Pendry Hotels & Resorts
Pendry, meanwhile, brings more social energy and urban polish.
Think:
Rooftop cocktails
Stylish city atmospheres
Excellent food & beverage
Design-forward interiors
A strong sense of nightlife and culture
Pendry hotels feel connected to their neighborhoods in a way that makes travelers feel immersed in the city around them rather than removed from it.
The Upcoming Openings That Immediately Caught My Attention
Mexico City
A Pendry opening in Mexico City feels like an exceptionally natural fit for the brand.
The city already has incredible momentum among luxury travelers thanks to its food scene, architecture, art, cocktail culture, and overall creative energy. Pendry’s lifestyle-driven approach feels perfectly suited for a destination where travelers want luxury without sacrificing atmosphere.
I fell so hard for CDMX this February, and hope to make it an annual visit.
Valle de Guadalupe
This one especially excited me.
Mexico’s wine country has quietly become one of the most compelling luxury destinations in North America, equal parts culinary hotspot, vineyard retreat, and coastal Baja escape.
As travelers continue prioritizing experiential luxury travel centered around food, wine, and slower itineraries, this feels like a very smart addition to watch.
I fell in love with Valle de Guadalupe a year ago!
Abaco Islands
This one hit personally for me because I used to work in the Bahamas, and the Abacos remain one of the most special regions in the country.
The upcoming property sounds intentionally transportive — the kind of place where arrival itself becomes part of the luxury experience, with guests reaching the hotel by boat or island transfer rather than simply pulling up curbside.
That sense of remoteness and escape is increasingly what luxury travelers are looking for.
Some of the Best Luxury Summer Trips Don’t Require Crossing an Ocean
One of the best reminders from these conversations: not every luxury summer getaway needs to involve a complicated international itinerary.
Especially this summer, with airfare pricing fluctuating heavily, there’s real appeal in domestic luxury destinations that still feel immersive and special.
East Coast Summer Escapes Worth Knowing
Pendry Washington DC - The Wharf
This is one of the smartest luxury city hotel choices for an East Coast summer weekend.
The Wharf has completely transformed into one of Washington’s best lifestyle districts, and with America’s 250th anniversary celebrations ramping up, D.C. is going to have major momentum over the next year.
It’s an easy luxury escape from Philadelphia or New York without the stress of air travel.
Sagamore Pendry Baltimore
Baltimore is wildly underrated in the summer.
The Sagamore Pendry pool scene has become a destination in itself — and importantly, pool access is reserved for hotel guests, which keeps the atmosphere elevated rather than overcrowded.
For travelers wanting an easy luxury weekend close to home, this is such a strong option.
Pendry Manhattan West
If you’re heading into Manhattan this summer for concerts, theater, or long weekends in the city, Pendry Manhattan West is exceptionally well positioned.
And the food and beverage scene surrounding Manhattan West has evolved dramatically over the past few years.
Resort Escapes to Keep on Your Radar
Montage Palmetto Bluff
Montage Palmetto Bluff
One of my favorite examples of relaxed American luxury.
Think:
Lowcountry scenery
Golf and boating
Biking trails
Exceptional dining
Spacious accommodations
Easy multigenerational travel
It’s the kind of resort that genuinely works for both couples and families.
Pendry Natirar
This is the “wait… this is in New Jersey?” hotel.
The estate feels far more like an English or Scottish countryside manor than what most travelers expect from the Northeast. It’s refined, peaceful, and ideal for a long weekend that feels worlds away from the city without requiring extensive travel.
Montage Big Sky
Big Sky continues gaining momentum among luxury travelers wanting space, scenery, and outdoor access without some of the intensity of other mountain destinations.
Summer here is especially underrated:
Hiking
Fly fishing
Yellowstone access
Cooler temperatures
Massive open landscapes
Montage Healdsburg
If your ideal summer involves wine country, wellness, and slowing down a bit, Montage Healdsburg is one of the standout luxury resorts in California right now.
Set among vineyards in Sonoma County, the property feels deeply connected to the landscape rather than overly formal or staged. Travelers come here for wine tasting, long lunches, biking, spa time, and genuinely unplugging.
And unlike Napa, Healdsburg still retains a slightly more understated, relaxed atmosphere.
Montage Los Cabos
If you are willing to hop on a plane, Montage Los Cabos remains one of the strongest luxury resort options in Cabo.
The service is exceptional, the beach is swimmable (a rarity in Cabo), and the property manages to work equally well for couples, groups, and families.
One of the Best Urban Summer Hotels in America
Pendry Chicago
Summer in Chicago is honestly one of the best city experiences in the United States — and Pendry Chicago places you directly in the middle of it.
Located inside the historic Art Deco Carbide & Carbon Building, the hotel blends classic Chicago architecture with Pendry’s modern social energy. The location works especially well for architecture cruises, rooftop dining, Riverwalk access, shopping, and the city’s incredible summer festival season.
It’s also a perfect example of what Pendry does best: luxury hotels that feel deeply connected to the city around them.
Why Hotel Relationships Still Matter
Luxury travel is increasingly about outcomes, not just rates.
When advisors maintain direct relationships with hotel leadership and on-property teams:
Guests are recognized differently
Preferences are communicated ahead of arrival
Problems get solved faster
VIP treatment becomes more personalized
Experiences feel smoother overall
That’s the difference between simply booking a hotel and having someone actively advocating for your experience behind the scenes.
And after spending time with the Montage International and Pendry Hotels & Resorts teams this week, I’m even more convinced these are two luxury hotel brands travelers should absolutely keep on their radar for summer 2026 and beyond.
