Formula 1 in the Lone Star State
A modern, cosmopolitan city with a vibrant, edgy culture, Austin has evolved with time while not forgetting its roots. As such, the city lends itself to the modern, luxury traveller with October’s Grand Prix representing a world-class opportunity for a sport-inspired getaway. Here’s our guide to the luxury side of Austin, Texas.
Arts and cultural backbone
Known as the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin draws in lovers of the arts year-round, especially during the world-renowned Austin Film Festival and South by Southwest (SXSW) festivities. Additionally, installations such as The Contemporary Austin and the Blanton Museum of Art showcase world-class modern art exhibitions as well as a wide selection of artful events and programmes.
Austin’s business boom
As the capital of one of the USA’s largest and most culturally significant states, Austin has held a status of relevance throughout the history of the country. An educational hub since the late 19th century, Austin later became a centre of technological development, as the ‘Silicon Hills’ emerged as a major player in the tech sector.
For those who require business facilities while away, co-working spaces such as The Riveter offer exclusivity, while accommodations including the Fairmont Austin cater to high-end corporate needs by providing top-of-the-range business facilities.
Where to stay and eat
Austin’s luxury hotel offerings include the 5-star Four Seasons Hotel Austin with its views of the idyllic Lady Bird Lake and top-of-the-range amenities. Situated downtown, the hotel has incorporated the city’s particular brand of cool into its every detail.
As an alternative, set on a welcoming 10-acre site in the heart of the city, the 5-star Commodore Perry Estate blends relaxed European elegance with true Texan hospitality. The restored historic mansion, a treasured Austin landmark, has been re-envisioned with modernity at its core, exuding a new level of contemporary glamour against Austin’s gritty backdrop.
As for Austin’s culinary landscape, it’s nothing short of spectacular. While the city isn’t recognised in the Michelin restaurant guide, it certainly does not lack fine dining options. Restaurants showcase local ingredients and innovative techniques often in slightly more informal settings.
The legendary steak house, Jeffrey’s, pays tribute to the city’s barbeque heritage by offering upscale New American cuisine with two unique spaces for private dining. The intimate residential-style Apartment room is ideal for close-nit intimacy, while the Napoleon Room sits within the restaurant’s award-winning wine cellar.
The Pirelli United States Grand Prix 2024
Here at Blend Group, we love planning and organising F1 experiences for our high-net-worth clients. In recent years the sport’s excitement and drama levels have amplified, leading to even more adrenaline-fuelled, gasp-inducing entertainment.
In October Austin hosts the second of the USA’s three Grand Prix meets at the Circuit of the Americas, which first opened in 2012. Regarded as one of the world’s great modern race tracks, the action can be enjoyed from the comfort of premium hospitality areas which promise a quintessentially American spectacle and world-class food and drink.
If you’d like to speak to us about a bespoke F1 experience in Austin we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch here so we can curate a tailored experience which includes luxury accommodation, travel requirements, fine dining options, race day hospitality and additional once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
