Latest news with #SonestaTravelPass
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
David Shaw and Tarriona ‘Tank' Ball Bring the Heat to New Orleans' Musicians on Musicians Event
Even with Bourbon Street bustling outside, nothing matched the buzzy energy of The Jazz Playhouse at The Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans as musicians David Shaw of the Revivalists and Tarriona 'Tank' Ball from Tank and the Bangas sat down with Rolling Stone senior music editor Joseph Hudak for the latest installment of the 'Musicians on Musicians' series in partnership with Sonesta International Hotels. Sitting on stage, closely surrounded by Sonesta Travel Pass guests and a lucky handful of their biggest fans, Shaw and Tank bonded over their unique artistry, friendship, and connections to New Orleans. 'The real focus is how place and location influence your creativity,' said Hudak, referring to the city's culture and how deeply entwined it is with both Shaw and Tank's music. More from Rolling Stone Making Music and Memories in Myrtle Beach How TikTok Is Rewriting the Rules for Emerging Artists How to Buy 'Rolling Stone Presents: Amplified, the Immersive Rock Experience' Tickets Online Shaw described moving from Ohio to New Orleans in 2007 to work for a gas company during the rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. 'I was a construction worker and also making music,' he said. Coming from what he described as 'cowshit and cornstalks,' New Orleans 'felt so different and foreign in such an amazing way…Immediately I could tell the city had a special feeling to it.' Still, he is careful to pay homage to the local musicians whose hard work and legacy have carved out the Crescent City as a premiere destination for great live music: 'Not being from here, it's really about respect and respecting the lineage.' As a spoken-word artist, Tank—who won her first Grammy in 2025 for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album with Tank and the Bangas' The Heart, The Mind, The Soul— got her start at local open mics. 'What made my open mic night really special is it was a poetry open mic and so I always felt so comfortable to be myself because the poets were so encouraging,' she recalled. It was this support and community that provided her with the space to create her signature combination of R&B and poetry. 'New Orleans is about authenticity,' Shaw added. 'Just be you and the wind will carry you.' Both artists have been fans of each other for a long time and recently played together at this year's Jazz and Heritage Festival. 'I love a good live show and I love a good live singer,' Tank gushed to Shaw. 'You're like a rock star to me!' Mentioning her influences (which range from poets Maya Angelou and Nicky to musicians like Queen and Tina Turner), she was also quick to add, 'The Revivalists are dope, too.' Asked what people get wrong about New Orleans music, Tank and Shaw encouraged visitors and locals alike to explore the city's culture beyond the big events like Mardi Gras. 'There's an underbelly of a different type of artistry that locals make come alive,' explained Tank. 'People in New Orleans entertain every day and half the time the music is free…They pour their life into it because it is a part of us.' Following the conversation, guests refreshed their cocktails, which included spicy palomas and local rye-based favorite the Vieux Carré, snacked on beignets, then settled in for intimate sets by both artists. Shaw, playing the acoustic guitar, kicked things off with 'Come Back Home' off his solo album Take a Look Inside. He then introduced a new song 'Lost and Found,' saying, 'It's probably my favorite song I've written in awhile…I'm a pretty shy guy, but—dammit—I'm proud of this one!' After more songs and stories, he reluctantly finished with 'When You Love Somebody,' telling the audience, 'Someone's gonna have to cut me off because I'm having too much fun.' Next, Tank took the stage with the Bangas, first playing the contagiously joyful 'Spaceships' from 2019's Green Balloon. The band's energy never flagged as they moved onto songs including 'Boxes and Squares' and a cover of fellow New Orleanian Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World,' with a special spoken word addition by Tank. Calling to the happy audience, she sang, 'If you love New Orleans, say it's a wonderful world!' As the Sonesta International Hotels hosted 'Musicians on Musicians' events continue, Sonesta Travel Pass members will have the opportunity to attend and cheer on celebrated artists in multiple cities throughout this year. Stay tuned for more updates! { pmcCnx({ settings: { plugins: { pmcAtlasMG: { iabPlcmt: 1, }, pmcCnx: { singleAutoPlay: 'auto' } } }, playerId: "ac5f547a-22e1-4877-8050-448c6e0f365c", mediaId: "95d58362-53f9-4b97-b818-1f6d938d13e2", }).render("connatix_player_95d58362-53f9-4b97-b818-1f6d938d13e2_1"); }); Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Choice Bumps Hyatt From Best Hotel Program, New Study Says
Choice Privileges, a rewards program for guests at Comfort Inn & Suites and other Choice hotel brands, is named the best program in a new study. (Photo: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg) Choice Privileges has knocked World of Hyatt out of the No. 1 ranking for best hotel rewards program, according to a new study released Wednesday. The study by personal-finance website WalletHub compared the nine most popular hotel rewards programs based on 21 metrics, including point-earning and redemption polices and rewards value. Choice Privileges, which finished 6th in WalletHub's study last year, captured the top ranking this year 'by delivering unmatched value for travelers,' says Chip Lupo, WalletHub's writer and analyst. 'The most significant driver was its massive increase in rewards value, rising from $10.87 to as much as $14.49 per $100 spent. That's the best return of any major hotel loyalty program this year.' Choice Hotels International has 22 hotel brands and franchises more than 7,400 hotels with nearly 570,000 rooms in more than 40 countries and territories. Its brands include Radisson, Comfort, Cambria, Quality Inn, Ascend, EconoLodge and Clarion. Other factors that contributed to the No. 1 ranking of Choice Privileges were improved earning policies and membership perks, Lupo says. 'While some limitations remain, such as uneven award night availability and volatile redemption rates, Choice's strategic focus on maximizing member value clearly paid off,' he says. The World of Hyatt rewards program didn't drop far in WalletHub's ranking, falling to No. 2 Hyatt's World of Hyatt rewards program ranks No. 2, according to a new study. (Photographer: Michaela Nagyidaiova/Bloomberg) 'The slight drop can be attributed to a few key changes in performance metrics, particularly a noticeable decline in rewards value,' Lupo says. 'Hyatt's average rewards value fell from $12.68 to $11.65 per $100 spent year-over-year, which pushed it down to third place in that category.' World of Hyatt, though, 'maintained strong scores in critical categories like redemption options, blackout policies and brand inclusivity,' Lupo says. Other hotel rewards programs 'gained ground by offering wider geographic coverage and better perks for moderate and light travelers—areas where Hyatt continues to trail,' Lupo says. 'While Hyatt remains a top-tier program, the competition simply narrowed the gap and, in some cases, surpassed it in key categories.' Besides the Choice and Hyatt programs, WalletHub evaluated Marriott Bonvoy, Wyndham Rewards, Hilton Honors, Sonesta Travel Pass, IHG One Rewards, Best Western Rewards and Drury Rewards. Best Western Rewards is the only program in which points do not expire because of inactivity. Six of the nine programs allow point redemptions at all of their hotels, according to the WalletHub study. Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and IHG One Rewards are the exceptions. 'This is typically because of franchise agreements that let certain hotels opt out, especially in the luxury property segment where owners may be reluctant to accept points for high-value stays,' Lupo says. 'It's a reminder that not all loyalty points offer equal flexibility, so travelers should check the rewards program's rules carefully beforehand.' What should travelers take away from the new WalletHub hotel program study? 'Travelers should definitely take these results as a useful guide but not as a one-size-fits-all approach,' Lupo says. 'Choice Privileges tops the list this year, because it offers the highest rewards value across light, moderate and heavy travelers. However, loyalty programs vary a lot, depending on your travel habits, preferred locations and budget.'
