Last week I was whisked away to New York via a black SUV hired car courtesy of American Express Travel. A short 90-minute ride later and I was at The Greenwich Hotel in Lower Manhattan to celebrate the unveiling of American Express Travel’s 2020 Trending Destinations.

The list, based on cardmember booking data, showcased some of the best destinations around the world — and some you might not expect.

In the seventh-floor penthouse the rooms were decorated to highlight some of the most popular, unique and interesting destinations on the list, including Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cairo, Egypt; Cayman Islands; Côte d’Azur, French Riviera; Kauai, Hawai’i; Northern Italy, Italian Alps; Montana; Osaka, Japan; Shanghai, China; and The Whitsundays, Australia.

I walked through the venue enjoying the different themes, with salsa dancers and live music for Buenos Aires, hand massages and traditional music for Osaka and incredible Italian cuisine paired with French wine to end the night. This immersive experience was a great way to showcase some of the best destinations in the world while adding the American Express Travel touch with high luxury, style and incredible attention to detail.

To better represent each destination to avid travelers, American Express Travel expanded its list of Fine Hotels & Resorts properties, including Cap Estel in the French Riviera, Le Massif in the Italian Alps and InterContinental Osaka in Japan.

— Angelique Platas, associate editor