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☆ Remember when Marissa Cooper wore fake Chanel on ‘The O.C’?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Before Blair Waldorf wore Oscar de la Renta to her high school prom, Marissa Cooper — the sun-kissed It Girl of “The O.C.,” which turns 20 on August 5 — was wearing Chanel to second period. Some fans have counted that she debuted six different Chanel bags in the first season alone. In an interview with Page Six in 2018, Welker said she resorted to buying fake Chanel bags to keep up appearances. Michael Yarish/Fox/Alamy Stock PhotoToday, the genre of high school TV drama has undergone a sartorial shift. “Those Chanel bags that (Cooper) carried, those weren’t something I could have on my budget,” she reportedly said.

Persons: Blair Waldorf, Oscar de la Renta, Marissa Cooper, —, Chanel, Cooper, Mischa Barton, Ryan Atwood’s, Imogen Heap, Julie Cooper, Alexandra Welker, Welker, ”, Michael Yarish, Heidi Bivans —, HBO Max, Miu Miu, Jean Paul Gaultier, “, ” Welker, Page Organizations: CNN, Fox, Alamy, HBO, Warner Media Discovery, “ Locations: Newport Beach , Orange County, Coperni, Downtown LA

☆ Mitch McConnell had 2 unreported falls this year, including a 'face plant' at an airport in July, reports say. That's at least 3 falls in 2023.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Mitch McConnell, 81, has had a history of falls this year, per several new reports. After falling and fracturing his rib in March, McConnell also tripped at an airport in July, per NBC. They said they did not see the fall in person but spoke to another passenger who assisted McConnell after his fall. ABC News also reported that McConnell fell while leaving his flight on July 14, citing unnamed sources who said he tripped on the air bridge. Including the two previously unreported incidents, McConnell has had at least three separate falls this year.

Persons: Sen, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Ted Budd, Ronald Reagan, North Carolina GOP Sen, Budd, McConnell's, curtly, he'd, California Democrat Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein's Organizations: NBC, Service, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, NBC News, ABC News, CBS, North Carolina GOP, Washington D.C, GOP, California Democrat Locations: Helsinki, Wall, Silicon, Ronald Reagan Washington, Kentucky, Finland, North Carolina, Washington, California

☆ A Ukrainian MP is being investigated for calling in sick during the war, and then showing up in the Maldives with his wife and kids
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Ukrainian lawmaker is under investigation after he was found vacationing in the Maldives. He left Ukraine in June on a trip to Poland, and called in sick while abroad on July 10, per officials. He and his family were then discovered to be staying at the Waldorf Astoria, authorities said. Aristov then called in sick on July 10, remotely registering with a private medical institution in Kyiv, the bureau said. The Ukrainian authorities raided Aristov's apartment and seized his passport, publishing a YouTube video showing immigration stamps for the Maldives dated July on the passport.

Persons: Yuriy Aristov, Aristov, Dave Pynt, Ruslan Stefanchuk, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mykola Tyshchenko, Tschenko, Stefanchuk Organizations: Waldorf, Service, Bureau of Investigation, State Bureau of Investigation, Michelin, Journalists, Slidstvo.info, holidaying, Facebook, People, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Maldives, Ukraine, Poland, Wall, Silicon, Ithaafushi, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Maldivian, Ukraine's, Aristov, Thailand

☆ Same old story with aging politicians
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The freeze is not an isolated incidentEarlier this year, McConnell could not hear reporters at a different news conference. Plus, McConnell is known to have fallen at least three times in the past year, according to CNN’s Manu Raju. His fall at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington led to a concussion and broken ribs that sidelined him for weeks. Nikki Haley got some early attention for her presidential campaign when she suggested a mental competency test for politicians over 75. The only other longer-serving senator is Sen. Charles Grassley, who is 89, and who won an eighth term last November.

Persons: it’s Mitch McConnell, McConnell, CNN’s Manu Raju, Raju, Feinstein, Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Democratic Sen, Patty Murray, John Fetterman, Nikki Haley, Joe Biden’s, Biden, ’, Donald Trump, Haley, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, Harry Enten, midterms, hasn’t, Charles Grassley, he’d, West Virginia Sen, Robert Byrd’s, Byrd Organizations: CNN, Republican, Senate, Hill, Reagan National Airport, Capitol, Feinstein Democrats, Democratic, Pennsylvania, Former South Carolina Gov, Republicans, Trump, Voters, Social Security, GOP, West Virginia Locations: convalesce, Finland, Washington, Kentucky, California, Former

☆ McConnell has fallen multiple times this year, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, who froze during a news conference Wednesday and earlier this year suffered a concussion after falling down, has also endured two other falls this year, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. And just this month at Reagan National Airport in Washington, McConnell was getting off the plane when he tripped and fell, a source familiar with this incident said. His falls have at times caused serious injuries, like in 2019, when McConnell fell at his Louisville home and fractured his shoulder. In October, McConnell told CNN he would definitely complete his term for the seat he’s held since 1985. But in May, after he suffered his concussion, McConnell declined to entertain the question about his plans to stay in his seat or run for leader.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Sauli Niinistö, hasn’t, Sanjay Gupta, CNN McConnell, ” McConnell, “, I’m, ” Organizations: CNN, GOP, Senate, Reagan National Airport, Capitol, NBC, McConnell, Louisville Locations: Finland, Helsinki, Washington, Kentucky

☆ Remote work has made downtown DC a ghost town as federal office buildings sit mostly empty
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But unlike many other US cities, much of DC's downtown office space is controlled by a single landlord: the federal government. There are three major issues when it comes to empty federal building space, Marroni said. Many congressional Republicans have also demanded that the Biden administration both restrict telework and get rid of unused office space. The White House Office of Management and Budget asked federal agencies in April to "substantially increase meaningful in-person work" by limiting telework. But there are concerns — including from employee unions — that restricting remote work could hurt the recruitment and retention of federal workers.

Persons: Muriel Bowser, hasn't, —, David Marroni, Marroni, She's, Biden, Scott Perry, they've Organizations: Office, DC, Service, Republicans, Transportation, Infrastructure, GAO, Pennsylvania Republican, White, Office of Management, Department of Education, Department of Veterans Affairs, Post, Trump International Locations: Wall, Silicon, Washington, DC's, Pennsylvania

☆ 3 Hilton credit cards are offering whopper welcome bonuses of up to 150,000 points plus a free night at nearly any Hilton hotel, but it's your last chance to apply
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Joseph Hostetler | Jasmin Baron | Sarah Silbert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +31 min

The Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card , and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card are offering a higher number of points than usual, plus a Hilton free night award certificate valid at just about any Hilton hotel (worth as much as 150,000 points). Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Those bonus points worth $650 in travel, based on Insider's valuation of Hilton points as worth 0.5 cents each. Details Rewards Earn 12x Hilton Honors Points at Hilton per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. The best Hilton card for you depends on your spending habits and how often you stay with Hilton.

Persons: Hilton, Conrad, Amex Hilton, Wells, We're, we've, Hilton Cons Organizations: Hilton, Conrad, Waldorf, Read, Service, Hilton Honors, Express, Hilton Honors American, Hilton Honors American Express, American, Honors American Express, Card Citi, Card, Target, Walmart, Citi, U.S, Honors, Chevron, Reading Chevron, Express Card, Honors American, Gold, Business, Diamond, Hilton Business, Jumeirah, eBay, Hilton Honors American Express Business, Honors American Express Business, Hilton Gold, Amex, Global, American Express Locations: Conrad Maldives, Wall, Silicon, U.S, City, Dubai

☆ Michelin starred hotels around the world, from Italy to Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Chris Dwyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +24 min

Courtesy CoteArgentinian maestro Mauro Colagreco was the first ever non-French chef to earn three Michelin stars in France, at Mirazur on the famed French Riviera. Gastronomic restaurant Plénitude by chef Arnaud Donckele marked an extraordinary debut by being awarded the pinnacle of three Michelin stars just six months after opening. Since 2021, they have held three Michelin stars for their cuisine, which celebrates peerless produce from their sustainable farm just seven miles away. Lung King Heen, Four Seasons Hong KongLung King Heen was the first Chinese restaurant to hold three Michelin stars. Capella Hotels & ResortsFinally to Vietnam, where Michelin published its first ever guide in June 2023.

Persons: Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, it’s, Heiko Nieder, carne ”, Ben Benoliel, Alex Nietosvuori, Ally Thompson, Hjem, morel, Cigliutti Enrico Crippa, Piazza, Crippa, Ferran Adrià, Mauro Colagreco, Côte, Raymond Blanc, Paul Wilkinson Chef Raymond Blanc, Lady Gaga, Queen Elizabeth II, ”, ” Blanc, Luke Selby, Plénitude, Cheval Blanc, France Plénitude, Sylvie Becquet, Blanc Paris, chef Arnaud Donckele, Chopin, Maxime Frédéric –, Aled Williams, Gareth Ward, Il Ristorante Niko Romito, Ristorante Niko Romito, Niko Romito, Romito, Giacomo Amicucci, Kyle, Katina, Michel Bras, Le Saint, Martin, Château Saint, France Le Saint, Chef Jean, Luc Lefrançois, Saint, –, sommelier Vincent Arhuro, King Heen, Hong Kong Lung King Heen, Heen, who’s, Chan Yan Tak, Rome Cavalieri, Pergola, Heinz Beck, Hatta, Ushikubo, Raby Hunt, Raby Hunt's Michelin, James Close, Maria, Chef Maria, Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, Germany Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, Lorenz, Young, Reto, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, John D, Waku, Ghin, Tetsuya Wakuda, There’s, Tetsuya, they’re, kinome, It’s, Denmark There's, Jean Marchal, Maria Coppy, Jakob de Neergaard, iberico, Sven Wassmer, “, Lumnezia, Douglas, Koki, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Bill Bensley, Chris Dwyer Organizations: CNN, Michelin, Duomo, Capella, Rosewood, of, Notre Dame, Resorts, Dubai Michelin, Resort Dubai, Reale, peerless, ”, Le Saint, Hong, Hong Kong Lung, Seasons Hong, Rockefeller, Sands, Royal Suite, Royal, Swiss, Koki, Capella Hotels, Capella Hanoi Locations: Bangkok, Piedmont, Hanoi, Tokyo, Zurich, Switzerland, Northumberland, Hadrian's, Swedish, England, Wall, Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy, Japan, Spanish, Capella Bangkok, Thailand, France, Mirazur, Thai, Rosewood Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Chaat, Oxfordshire, ”, Cheval Blanc Paris, of Light, City of, Powys, Wales, Bulgari, Dubai, UAE, Italy’s Abruzzo, SingleThread, California, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Toya, Le, Provence, French, Vence, Marseille, Seasons Hong Kong, Yunnan, Peking, La, Rome, Eternal, County Durham, Darlington, romaine, Berlin, Germany, Brandenburg, Young Swiss, Europe, Marina, Sands, Singapore, Australia, Shizuoka, Hokkaido, d’Angleterre, Copenhagen, Denmark, Marchal, Hibana, Capella Hanoi, Vietnam

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). I opened a new credit card for a single hotel stay largely because I knew it was the best card for my spending. Read Insider's guide to the best travel rewards credit cards. Let's look at how much value I gained simply by opening and using a Hilton credit card — and my earning potential had I not opened a Hilton credit card. What I would have earned without a Hilton credit cardHad I not opened a Hilton credit card, I'd have put my bill on one of my other credit cards.

You can use a Hilton free night certificate at just about any Hilton hotel, including the stunning Waldorf Astoria Grand Wailea Resort in Maui. Hilton HotelsYou can earn Hilton free night certificates with select Amex Hilton credit cards. Hilton free night reward certificates are valid at almost any Hilton hotel, including luxury Conrad and Waldorf Astoria properties. Best Hilton hotels for using a free night certificateYou'll usually get the most value from your Hilton free night certificate by redeeming it at expensive properties or luxury beach resorts. How to use Hilton free night certificatesWhen you've earned a Hilton free night certificate, you'll receive an email from Hilton Honors letting you know your award is in your Hilton account.

The opulent hotel with a soaring clock tower, located on Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the U.S. Capitol, opened shortly before Trump was elected in 2016. The hotel became a gathering spot for Trump supporters, lobbyists and foreign dignitaries, who Democrats and watchdog groups complained could patronize the hotel in order to curry favor with Trump when he was in office. Lawsuits accused Trump of violating the U.S. Constitution's anti-corruption provisions by maintaining ownership of his businesses including the Washington hotel while in office. The justices ordered those cases dismissed because they became moot with Trump leaving office in 2021 after his election loss to Biden, a Democrat. Some of the lawmakers who sued are no longer part of the committee while some others are no longer in Congress.

☆ 3 Hilton credit cards are offering whopper welcome bonuses of up to 150,000 points plus a free night at nearly any Hilton hotel (even the fanciest resorts)
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Joseph Hostetler | Jasmin Baron | Sarah Silbert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +31 min

☆ North America’s best bar for 2023 serves pizza cocktails
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —This week in travel news: Crowns are handed out to pizza joints, bars and an English king. And we reveal why going on a hiking trip might be one of the best ways to find love. Award-winning bars and restaurantsDouble Chicken Please, a cocktail bar-slash-chicken joint on New York’s Lower East Side, took the No.1 spot in North America’s 50 Best Bars 2023. A newly published Italian list names the Best Pizza in Europe 2023, all outside the home country. King Charles gets his crownThis is what you can expect to see at King Charles III's coronation 04:04 - Source: CNNLondon airports were expected to greet more than 2 million arrivals this week, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium, as the country prepares for the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday.

☆ Here are the 5 key takeaways from this year's Milken Global conference
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Dakin Campbell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

The pullback by banks is raising the hopes of those in the private credit industry. Some panelists and others who spoke in the hallways of the event suggested that there was a large-scale handoff from private equity to private credit. Many private-equity firms are scrambling to raise private credit funds to take advantage. "I don't think this is the end of private equity, but the environment certainly favors private credit," he said. And that will show up in lower returns for private credit funds, she said.

☆ Inside Qatar’s ‘city of the future’
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Like others, it has moved from the capital Doha to this, Qatar’s newest city – 10 miles north. Andrej Isakovic/AFP/Getty ImagesLusail claims to be Qatar’s first sustainable city – no easy task for a newbuild in the desert. There’s an extensive choice from food trucks at the Lusail Marina Food Arena, abundant cafes, and fine dining restaurants.”A sprawling city of the futureThe Marina area is fast proving a hit for residents. Al Tara – the district, by Al Maha Island, where Warner lives – is home to the Lusail Marina. There is a rumor – as yet unsubstantiated – that Lusail might eventually become Qatar’s capital city.

The Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card , and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card are offering a higher number of points than usual, but these offers are about to disappear. Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Details Rewards Earn 12x Hilton Honors Points at Hilton per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card. The best Hilton card for you depends on your spending habits and how often you stay with Hilton.

☆ Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized after a fall at a hotel in Washington, D.C.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was hospitalized after a fall on Wednesday evening. McConnell was at the Waldorf Astoria when he tripped and fell, per Punchbowl News' John Bresnahan. "This evening, Leader McConnell tripped at a local hotel during a private dinner. The GOP leader in 2019 fractured his shoulder after tripping on the patio of his Kentucky residence. McConnell was born in February 1942, and is one of the oldest lawmakers in the US Senate.

☆ Factbox: Chinese business tycoons, executives who disappeared from public view
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Following is a list of some other high-profile Chinese executives who have abruptly gone missing from public view in recent years. Three months later, On Nov. 27, the company said Yang had resumed his duties after assisting an investigation in China. Shares and bonds related to CEFC China Energy plunged on the news, which was first reported by Chinese magazine Caixin. Chinese financial regulators in 2020 took over brokerages, trust companies and insurers linked to the group. Reporting by Brenda Goh and Xie Yu; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ See before and after photos of an old hotel being transformed into an example of Hilton's new brand for budget travelers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

See before and after photos of an old hotel being transformed into an example of Hilton's new brand for budget travelersThe before and after of Spark by Hilton hotel. Hilton In January, Hilton unveiled Spark by Hilton, a new hotel brand for economy travelers. Hilton In January, Hilton unveiled its 19th brand, Spark by Hilton. Hilton Despite being a budget brand, Spark hotel rooms will still have plenty of amenities like a refrigerator, adjustable desk, and open closet. Hilton Read next Hilton Hotels Business Visual Features More...

☆ How to earn, redeem, and maximize Hilton Honors rewards points — from luxurious Conrad resorts to family-friendly Hampton Inns, there are options for every traveler
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Carissa Rawson | Freelance Writer | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +44 min

How to earn Hilton rewards pointsHilton has two main categories of points: bonus points, which help you earn rewards via special promotions, and elite-qualifying base points. You can do so at the following ratios:HawaiianMiles : 1 HawaiianMile = 1.5 Hilton Honors points: 1 HawaiianMile = 1.5 Hilton Honors points Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 1 Virgin Atlantic point = 1.5 Hilton Honors pointsEarn Hilton points through your elite statusJoining Hilton Honors can be especially lucrative if you're on the road often. Finally, Lyft and Hilton have teamed up to offer 3x Hilton Honors points on Lyft rides, or 2x Hilton points for shared Lyft rides. Redeem Hilton Honors points for event creditsIt's also possible to redeem your points for events at a Hilton, though this isn't generally considered a good way to maximize your Hilton points value. Here's how much the credits cost:25,000 points = $5050,000 points = $10075,000 points = $150125,000 points = $250250,000 points = $500Exchange Hilton points for airline milesIf you'd rather have airline or rail points, you have the option to transfer Hilton points to partner airlines, though redemption rates vary.

Hilton HotelsYou can earn Hilton free reward night certificates with select Amex Hilton credit cards. Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year. If the annual fee of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is too high for you, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a good option. Details Rewards Earn 12x Hilton Honors Points at Hilton per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card.

☆ Hilton misses 2022 room growth view on China COVID curbs; Q4 profit jumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Priyamvada C | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hilton, which owns brands including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, reported a net unit growth of 4.7% in 2022, below its earlier forecast of about 5% growth. China's strict COVID-19 curbs, which have now been lifted, had halted construction of some luxury properties and impeded travel to a key global tourism markets. "They probably for the first time in quite a while missed on unit growth blaming on China so that obviously one of the reasons that their unit growth has been a bit softer," Bernstein analyst Richard Clarke said. Hilton expects annual net unit growth between 5.0% and 5.5%. Capital returns are projected to be between $1.7 billion and $2.1 billion, compared with $1.7 billion last year.

☆ Hilton profit, revenue beat on high room tariff, travel demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] People enter a Hilton hotel in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., March 23, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File PhotoFeb 9 (Reuters) - Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc (HLT.N) reported better-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue on Thursday, as the hotel operator sold rooms at higher prices benefiting from strong travel demand. Hilton, which owns brands including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, expects to post an adjusted profit per share between $5.42 and $5.68 per share for this year. For the fourth quarter, Hilton said revenue per available room, or RevPAR - a key metric for investors - rose 24.8% on a currency neutral basis from a year earlier. Excluding items, Hilton earned $1.59 per share for the quarter ended Dec. 31, beating analyst expectations of $1.22 per share.

American Express issues four co-branded Hilton credit cards, but only one — the Hilton Honors American Express Card — has a $0 annual fee. For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card also have excellent elevated welcome bonus offers and come with Hilton Gold status, which gets you free breakfast (currently awarded as a food and beverage credit at US hotels) and better perks. Amex OffersLike other American Express cards, the Hilton Honors American Express Card includes targeted discounts and bonus rewards at participating merchants through Amex Offers**. However, if you stay at Hilton hotels with any regularity, a card like the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a better choice. The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a great card for those who are skeptical about the value of travel rewards credit cards.

Earn 6x Hilton Honors Points on business purchases at U.S. gas stations, shipping providers, and wireless phone services purchased directly from service providers. Earn 6x Hilton Honors Points on select travel purchases at U.S. restaurants, flights, and car rentals. Earn 6x Hilton Honors Points on select travel purchases at U.S. restaurants, flights, and car rentals. Details Rewards Earn 12x Hilton Honors Points at Hilton per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card.

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