If you are an event planner, venue coordinator, or group travel organizer, now is the time to embrace the festive season. Planning your holiday event early is a strategic move that lets you secure top-tier hotels, negotiate the best rates, and create customized experiences for your group.
By planning ahead:
-
- You unlock access to high-demand hotels and avoid last-minute stress
- You can personalize event packages with festive themes, décor and entertainment
- You get early access to seasonal extras like lighting crews or décor rentals
- You’re more likely to secure room blocks—and gain negotiating power—when you book your holiday party and guest rooms at the same hotel
A hotel that’s fully decked out for the holidays brings built-in festive charm, making your event feel more immersive and visually cohesive with no extra effort.
Festive Hotels That Shine During the Holidays
Here are several standout hotels known for their immersive holiday displays and programming.
With locations in Tennessee, Florida, Colorado, Texas and Maryland, Gaylord Hotels create full-scale holiday environments.
Notable features include:
-
- ICE! experience featuring immersive festive holiday scenes, cold weather sports and larger-than-life sculptures up to 30 ft in height.
- Millions of pounds of ice used to carve elaborate holiday scenes
- Family-friendly performances, light shows, interactive walk-throughs, and craft workshops designed to delight all ages
- Exclusive perks for overnight guests like early access and skip-the-line privileges
- 3.2 million square feet of flexible exhibit and event spaces across all Gaylord properties
Each property starts planning months in advance, making July the perfect time to lock in your group event.
Why choose this hotel?
Gaylord properties are designed for group-friendly holiday experiences, with built-in entertainment like ICE! exhibits, atrium light shows, and on-site dining, all under one roof. Ideal for turnkey holiday events.
Highlights include:
-
- Thousands of twinkling lights and birch trees
- 3 time winner of USA Today’s Best Hotel for the Holidays
- Seasonal events like Teddy Bear Tea and holiday brunches.
- A rich tradition that draws both locals and travelers
- 60,000+ total square feet of event space spanning 23 separate meeting rooms
Why choose this hotel?
A New Orleans holiday icon, The Roosevelt offers upscale ambiance, a legendary lobby lighting display, and walkable access to the French Quarter. Perfect for elegant, centrally located celebrations.
This Bavarian-style inn lives in permanent holiday mode and celebrates the Christmas spirit year-round.
Highlights include:
-
- Festive suites with Christmas trees and lights
- Activities like cookie decorating, ornament making, and storytime with Santa
- Year-round holiday charm perfect for family gatherings
- A “Singing Santa” playing guitar and singing Christmas carols throughout the year
Why choose this hotel?
This festive boutique hotel is made for cozy group gatherings with themed suites, year-round holiday décor, and built-in seasonal programming.
Nicknamed the “Pink Paradise” for its iconic blush exterior, The Colony Hotel carries its whimsical, beachy charm into the holidays with festive, coastal-inspired décor.
Highlights include:
-
- 8,300 sq ft of flexible indoor/outdoor event space across five venues; largest room seats 200
- Signature 12-ft seashell-and-pink-orchid Christmas tree curated by Aerin Lauder, part of a 75-year tradition that began in 1947
- Pool-deck wreaths, palm-frond garlands, and a Christmas tree covered in seashells
- The sun-drenched Solarium with statement-making chandeliers doubles as an art gallery when it’s not booked for intimate events of up to 40 guests
Why choose this hotel?
The Colony pairs boutique intimacy with over-the-top tropical décor. July contracts secure prime dates before Palm Beach’s peak season, letting planners wrap their event in ready-made holiday magic without extra décor rentals.
At Christmastime, the Bellagio becomes a festive playground for planners—offering both elegant event spaces and over-the-top seasonal charm that guests won’t soon forget.
Highlights include:
-
- More than 200,000 sq ft of meeting space, including three ballrooms and 50 meeting rooms
- Two on-site wedding chapels perfect for intimate celebrations of up to 100 guests
- 3,933 guest rooms available for groups large and small
- 14,000 sq ft Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens becomes an indoor winter wonderland; this holiday display typically runs from mid-November through early-January
- Fountains of Bellagio present holiday-scored water shows throughout the season
Why choose this hotel?
Bellagio lets you pair world-class convention facilities with one of the Strip’s most Instagram-worthy holiday attractions. Locking in your dates early guarantees meeting space that lines up with the Conservatory’s holiday schedule—perfect for receptions amid thousands of poinsettias.
Home of the National Gingerbread House Competition™, the Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa transforms into a festive retreat ideal for corporate gatherings, client appreciation events, or team celebrations.
Highlights include:
-
- The largest National Gingerbread House Competition, a holiday tradition since 1992
- More than 86,852 square feet of total meeting space, including the Grand Ballroom that can accommodate over 1,000 guests.
- Festive holiday buffet feasts surrounded by an atmosphere that captures the magic of the season
- 513 guest rooms many featuring views of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains
Why choose this hotel?
Groups visiting during Gingerbread season can soak in the festive atmosphere with themed trees, twinkling lights, cozy fireplaces, and holiday buffets—making it the perfect backdrop for a seasonal gathering.
Event Ideas for the Holiday Season
No matter the group or purpose, holiday events can bring people together meaningfully.
Consider planning:
-
- Corporate holiday parties with seasonal themes, buffet spreads, and custom entertainment
- Family reunions featuring private dining, hotel suites, and on-site activities
- Charity fundraisers with candlelit dinners, live music, or toy drives
Each of these events can be elevated by choosing a venue that already embraces holiday magic.
Benefits of Booking Early
Booking your holiday event early offers tangible advantages, including:
-
- Better availability and pricing before peak demand hits
- More time for personalization, from menus to décor
- Exclusive access to limited-time event packages or preferred vendors
Hotel pricing is dynamic and often increases closer to the event date. Planning now can set you up for both success and savings.
Wrap-Up: Why Now Is the Time to Plan
By embracing the Christmas in July mindset, you give yourself the breathing room to create a high-impact, stress-free celebration. Whether you’re gathering coworkers, family, or community members, choosing a hotel that already brings holiday magic to life means less work and more joy.
Start your planning journey today with GroupSync. The platform lets you:
-
- Search and compare hotels and event space for festive holiday parties
- Request custom proposals
- Book space and room blocks with ease
Create your free GroupSync account and let the holiday cheer begin, months ahead of the rush.
GroupSync™ helps event planners save up to 60% off hotel room rates
Get access to the best rates with risk-free cancellation.
