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Hoteliers Deck the Halls and Create Holiday Programming

Hotels See Demand from Families, Small Groups

The Logan Hotel's "Holiday Lodge" suite is designed to host families and small groups. (The Logan Hotel)<br>
The Logan Hotel's "Holiday Lodge" suite is designed to host families and small groups. (The Logan Hotel)

Hotels across the U.S. are in full swing with holiday programming and decor.

Curated packages like Thompson Central Park New York's "Skate and Stay" package and The Logan Hotel's "Holiday Lodge" suite are meant to give guests the opportunity to treat their families or small groups to something special after putting other holiday traditions on pause due to the pandemic.

For more on how hotels are decorating and entertaining for the holidays, read below.

Another view of The Logan Hotel's "Holiday Lodge." (The Logan Hotel)

The Logan Hotel

Philadelphia-based Logan Hotel, part of Sage Hospitality's portfolio, this year offers the Holiday Lodge suite, which was first created in winter of 2020, said Courtney Pugh, regional marketing manager for the property.

"We were inspired by people wanting to safely celebrate the holidays but either didn't have the space to do so or weren't comfortable traveling to their typical holiday destination," she said. "And while they may have had to skip their annual visit to grandma's house or winter ski resort, we wanted to create an experience where people felt that they were still getting away to enjoy something truly special and festive this holiday season."

The more than 1,400-square-foot suite includes warm, inviting and festive decor such as seasonal pillows, garland in each doorway and hallway, a Christmas tree, holiday rugs and themed wall decor. Working with its in-house restaurant partners at Urban Farmer Philadelphia, the hotel put together an exclusive menu inspired by the films "Home Alone" and "Christmas Vacation."

Since creating the Holiday Lodge suite in 2020, Pugh said the hotel saw steady booking pace for weekends in December.

"These stays were primarily families who wanted to treat their kids to something special in lieu of missing some of their other holiday traditions due to the pandemic," she added. "This year, we have seen a huge increase in weekday stays varying from families within our drive-in markets to couples who live close and wanted a fun date night experience. We are also beginning to see interest from guests looking to use the suite to host their annual friends gift exchange."

Shown here is the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Casa de Campo Resort and Villas. (Casa de Campo Resort and Villas)

Casa de Campo Resort and Villas

Casa de Campo Resort and Villas in La Romana, Dominican Republic, this year has a series of Christmas events, first kicking off with its with tree lighting ceremony at the property's amphitheater accompanied by a live stream chamber orchestra concert, said Jason Kycek, senior vice president of sales & marketing at Casa de Campo.

Following programming includes a Santa Claus-themed house and Christmas Eve dinner.

Kycek said the Christmas Eve dinner has a variety of salads, Christmas rice with grapes, roasted pork, stuffed turkey, plantain and beef and Dominican desserts.

"We believe that if there is ever a time to desire the abundant delicacies and variations of cuisine the Casa de Campo resort has to offer, it is the holidays. It is highly anticipated by the families in general who come every year to celebrate this season in the Caribbean. Christmas and New Year’s Eve bring with them special dinner menus thanks to Casa de Campo’s restaurants and catering services making enjoying the festive season stress-free for hotel guest and villa residents," he said.

Guests can also purchase locally handmade ornaments, with proceeds contributing to support of the the local nonprofit Hogar del Niño PBO foundation.

Thompson Central Park New York

The New York City-based hotel this year is decking its halls with oversized wreaths to draw eyes up to its 30-foot ceilings, said Amanda Reed, director of sales and marketing at Thompson Central Park New York.

Programming at the hotel this season includes a "Skate and Stay" package in which guests who book a stay receive two tickets to the Wollman Rink, which is a quick walk from the Thompson Central Park. The Wollman Rink has recently reopened under new management, with a new look, programming and food and beverage.

The Thompson Central Park's other holiday package is the "Big Apple Circus" through a partnership with the Lincoln Center.

"To celebrate the partnership, the hotel has unveiled an exclusive ‘Big Apple Circus Package’, which includes a chef-driven circus-themed amenity and selection of fan-favorite Big Apple Circus swag offerings. For the holiday season, the hotel will offer over-the-top VIP guest experiences that include an exclusive behind-the-scenes package with post-circus lessons and executive ringside access," she said.

Additionally, the hotel is doing contests and giveaways to help grow its customer base since reopening on Nov. 1, 2021.

"Our social agency ... has found that incorporating giveaways that offer experiences not only help our growing accounts’ metrics, but we’ve found just as much value in genuine engagement through reacting to our content or through messaging. We plan to incorporate these giveaways to celebrate other seasons and showcase our partnerships," she said.

The "Statler Season Holidate" private dinner at The Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton. (The Statler Dallas)

The Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton

To help couples, families and staycationers get in the holiday spirit this year, The Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton, created three packages, said Natalie Frazier, director of marketing, hotel & residences, at The Statler.

Couples who book the "The Statler Season Holidate" package can enjoy a private chef dinner complemented with wine pairings in a private dining room dressed in holiday decor.

Frazier said the "Home for the Holidays" package, which offers a 25% discount on the best available room rate, was created to help ease the financial burden of holiday travel for anyone coming to Dallas or those doing staycations.

Also catering to staycationers is the "Winter Whispers" package, which includes discounted cocktails at the hotel's 19th floor rooftop bar and lounge that has been converted into a ski-club themed experience, she said.

"Considering all three of these hotel packages are brand new this year, two of them are for a limited time only, and our typical booking window for transient leisure guests during this time of year, we feel they are performing well," she said. "The direct feedback from our guests has also been positive. We do plan to offer these next year and roll them out earlier in the quarter than we did this year."

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