Latest news with #outdoorhospitality
Skift
09-07-2025
- Business
- Skift
Marriott Seeks Trademark for New Brand: 'Outdoor Collection'
The most likely use for proposed new brand Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy would be to house its recent brand additions, Postcard Cabins and Trailborn. But documents suggest that Marriott has a larger ambition in the great outdoors. Marriott has filed 12 trademark applications worldwide since April for a new brand called "Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy," signaling the hotel giant's push into outdoor recreation. Last December, the company said it had "plans to launch an outdoor-focused collection in 2025." Separately, franchise disclosure documents posted recently on Marriott's site for developers make several references to outdoor hospitality and detail a brand called "Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy," stating that "one or more brands ... may operate"
Forbes
19-06-2025
- Forbes
Inside Look: Postcard Cabins Eastern Catskills Review
With 29 outposts across the U.S., outdoor hospitality brand Postcard Cabins offers custom-built cabins all within a two-hour drive of a major city. Formerly known as Getaway, the brand launched in 2015 with the goal of providing busy city dwellers easy access to the beauty and tranquility of nature. As a millennial professional who has called New York City home for the past seven years, I was naturally drawn to this concept and excited to experience one of the cabins myself. After hearing of Postcard Cabins' recent acquisition by Marriott, I decided to check out the Eastern Catskills outpost for a weekend escape. Read my full review below. Exterior of Postcard Cabins Eastern Catskills. Upon my arrival in the Catskills, I was greeted by a gravelly main road leading into a quiet enclave of miniature cabins, all surrounded by private woodlands consisting of spruce, oak and pine trees. Signs with the names of each cabin (named after family members of the Postcard Cabins team; mine was Dawn) are posted on the trees or signs lining this main road, and smaller driveways branch out from it and lead to the secluded cabins. The cabins were quite close together (I could see the cabin across from me on the main road, for instance), but there was enough foliage around each cabin to provide a feeling of solitude. Amenities at Postcard Cabins Eastern Catskills. The Postcard Cabins team was great at texting me several hours before check-in time (3 p.m.) with instructions and a code to the door lock, as well as a PDF of a map of the neighborhood. When I reached my cabin, I was pleasantly surprised by the outdoor setup, which featured a picnic table, a hammock, a fire pit with wood and firestarter bundles, as well as a chef's station to prepare meals (or s'mores, which was what I did). The foliage around this setup was thick enough that I couldn't see the neighboring cabins on my side of the main road, and these woods were filled with the pleasant sounds of various birds. By the time I got to the cabin, it was already 8 p.m., so it was quite dark; luckily, there were outdoor string lights already turned on, which gave the outdoor area a warm, welcoming glow. I stayed in a Cabin Standard, an entry-level category, which felt cozy at just 150 square feet. Upon walking in, I was able to immediately assess almost every amenity available: There was an electric lantern already charging via USB by the door, a basic set of cookware, dishes, cutlery, cooking tools, glassware (including heat-safe mugs), kitchen towels and a tea kettle. There were also provisions like coffee, tea and a s'mores kit on offer for an additional fee, but I brought groceries I needed for the weekend along with me. During the weekend of my stay, there happened to be a public health notice on the tap water at this outpost, which the Postcard Cabins team warned me about; luckily, there was a full gallon of clean spring water available, which lasted me the entire two nights of my stay. Sleeping area at Postcard Cabins Eastern Catskills. It was quite a stressful Friday for me with work and travel, including carrying a weekend stay's worth of clothes and groceries on my back, so I was pleased to find freshly made ben linens and a bathroom fully stocked with towels, toilet paper, shampoo, body wash and conditioner. WiFi information, a 24-hour support phone number, check-in and check-out times, neighborhood information, and details on how to operate the string lights were all readily available, setting my mind at ease. There was also a lockbox for my cellphone if I wanted to disconnect for the weekend. Despite the small space, the cabin's layout and design were thoughtful enough that it didn't feel cramped at all. A wall-to-wall bedside window that reached up to the ceiling provided the feeling of camping while still enjoying the comforts of air conditioning, a queen-sized bed, an internet connection and protection from the elements. There was also quite a bit of storage space under the kitchen prep area, as well as a mini fridge, a magnetic knife block on the wall and a small sink with a drying rack, all contributing to saved space. One of the steps next to the bed also functions as a seat for the dining table (in addition to the other movable chair). Kitchen prep area at Postcard Cabins Eastern Catskills. The actual kitchen prep area itself, which includes the induction stovetop, prep space and sink, felt quite cramped, so I wouldn't recommend cooking any elaborate meals here. There's also not a lot of room to chop and set aside ingredients or to wash a big pile of dishes (drying them would involve setting the drying rack on top of the sink). The provisions and gallon of spring water on the other side of the stovetop also took up quite a bit of counter space. Still, this wasn't a dealbreaker for me as I did not cook anything intricate (I settled for a simple meal of pasta accompanied by red wine, which I enjoyed under the glow of the outdoor string lights). I didn't bring a car, so my plan was to enjoy a weekend of solitude, journaling and meditation in the quiet of nature. However, having a car does provide the easiest access to the area's best nature experiences—and even local culture if you want to mix it up. Hiking trails abound in the area, but the biggest draw is the 260-foot Kaaterskill Falls, which happens to be New York's highest cascading waterfall and is only 2.5 miles from the cabins. Other nearby hiking trails include the Overlook Mountain Trail and the North-South Lake, both about 4 miles away. You might be lucky enough to spot Golden eagles, bald eagles or hawks on your hike. There's also the Tousey Winery and the Last Chance Cheese Tavern in the area if you want to dine out. Postcard Cabins Eastern Catskills is a 2.5-hour drive from New York City, but you can also get there via Amtrak from Penn Station to Hudson; from the station, you can take a taxi or an Uber/Lyft to get to the cabins, which takes about 20 minutes. Guests can also take a Greyhound bus from New York City to the Catskill Park and Ride and take a cab to the Outpost, which is about a seven-minute journey.
