18 FLOORS OF FUN

New hotel finds a home in the heart of downtown Austin

Graduate Austin will span 18 floors.

Photo courtesy of Graduate Hotels

Travelers wanting to immerse themselves in the center of the bustling city are getting some new accommodations.

An 18-story Graduate Austin hotel at the corner of Guadalupe Street and West 18th Street is currently in the works, with an expected opening date in 2025.

Graduate Hotels was founded in 2014 by Ben Weprin and currently has 33 properties in the United States and United Kingdom. The hotels are often located near universities, hence their characteristic name. Graduate currently has another location in progress in Dallas.

The Austin Graduate will incorporate the city’s “weirdness” with signature eclectic patterns and design techniques that bring University of Texas culture inside the walls of a guest’s hotel room. The building will have glazed terracotta finishes, checkered cement tile, and the interior will feature grasscloth wallpaper with warm-toned color palettes.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy the hotel’s event space, fitness center, and meeting room for any exercise or workplace needs. The ground floor will have a café and bar, and the rooftop will also have its own bar, restaurant, and pool.

Graduate Hotels CIO Tim Ryan said in a press release that a hotel in the Lone Star Capital City has “long been a dream location” for the company.

“The city’s distinct personality, creative energy and adventurous spirit align perfectly,” Ryan said. “We’re huge fans of this community and all things UT, and we look forward to delivering a space that reflects and celebrates those sentiments through design that’s rooted in storytelling, gracious hospitality, best-in-class food and beverage offerings and more.”

More information about Graduate Austin can be found on graduatehotels.com.

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WestJet goes South

Canadian airline launches nonstop route between Austin and Vancouver

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

WestJet is offering the route three times a week.

Austin residents eager to visit this country's neighbors to the north will have a new nonstop route to Vancouver International Airport (YVR), beginning May 11, 2025: WestJet, a major Canadian airline, will fly the route three times a week.

A release heralds "significant tourism and economic opportunities in both destinations."'

According to the City of Austin's list of nonstop flights out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), there are already routes to Vancouver offered by Air Canada. This route was launched in 2022. However, they are not currently available to book online.

The WestJet release mentions the airline's summer schedule, but does not specify an end date or whether the route will change seasonally.

Flights will depart Vancouver at 6 pm and arrive in Austin at 12:17 am. In the other direction, they'll depart Austin at 8 am and arrive in Vancouver at 10:38 am.

"As we continue to strengthen our service across Western Canada, we are proud to add new WestJet service between Vancouver and Austin as part of our expanded summer schedule," said Daniel Fajardo, WestJet's Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning, in the release.

"This service will provide a valuable connection between the Greater Vancouver Area and Southern U.S.," he continued, "offering guests a convenient and affordable way to explore Austin's thriving music scene and renowned culinary culture, while also providing U.S.-based guests access to one of Canada's most iconic metropolises."

Another WestJet exec also points out Austin's reputation as a music city. The carrier also announced new routes to Boston and Tampa.

Earlier in November, budget carrier Frontier Airlines announced it would double its options by adding four U.S. destinations from AUS, and Delta Airlines announced new nonstop service to Jacksonville, Florida — the only such service currently available.

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