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Though Halloween is still just around the corner, Gaylord Hotels is already preparing for its annual immersive Christmas art experience, “ice!”
More than 300 master ice artists from Harbin, China, will be sculpting millions of pounds of ice at eight Gaylord and JW Marriott hotels around the country. Sculptures include characters from holiday classics such as Home Alone and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
“Welcoming the artisans back to our resorts is one of the most anticipated milestones of the holiday season,” said Johann Krieger, regional vice president of Marriott International. “Their exceptional talent, technical skill and unwavering dedication transform ordinary blocks of ice into immersive works of art, creating the magic that has defined ice! for more than 20 years.”
Displays open next month.
The International Luxury Hotel Association (ILHA) added investment, development and brand sessions to its INSPIRE 2026 conference agenda. The conference is scheduled for December 15–16 at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa in Florida.
The association announced a “fireside chat” with Xenia Hotels & Resorts President & COO Barry Bloom, Fort Hospitality President Keith Space and JF Capital Founder & CEO Jonathan Falik about owning and operating luxury hotels in 2027. The chat will be the final conversation of the conference, ILHA said.
“Every owner is going into 2027 asking the same two questions: what will the luxury guest pay for, and what will it cost to deliver it?” said Falik, in the October 19 announcement detailing the fireside chat. “Barry and Keith answer those questions from the ownership seat every day. Ending INSPIRE with their view of the year ahead means everyone in the room leaves knowing where capital is heading and what it will reward.”
Other new sessions ILHA announced include “Value Creation Roadmap: Where Smart Capital is Moving in Luxury Hotels,” “Building the Brand: Luxury Development in 2027,” and more.
Find more information here.
A collection of independent, neighborhood-inspired hotels from Hyatt Hotels Corporation is expanding with two new debuts by year’s end.
The JdV by Hyatt brand opened The Mindaro, JdV by Hyatt in Portland, Oregon, this month. The 90-room property features a collection of food and beverage outlets, including the Pacific-Northwest-inspired Jawfish, immersive dining outlet Le Petit Chef, and a coffee and cocktail venue. The Mindaro also boasts more than 8,000 square feet of event space.
Opening this December, the Miramar Resort, JdV by Hyatt is a beachfront resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Inspired by the nearby Gulf of Mexico, the Miramar offers guests a resort-style pool, a selection of guest rooms with Gulf views, rooftop restaurant Solara, and convenient access to St. Pete Beach dining outlets, shops and nightlife.
The AIC Hotel Group, a luxury and lifestyle hospitality company, declared Alliance Connection as its North American public relations and marketing agency, the group announced on October 19.
“As travelers increasingly discover brands through creators, social platforms, earned media, AI-powered search, and cultural influence, AIC Hotel Group is investing in a more connected approach to brand visibility, storytelling, and guest experiences,” AIC Hotel Group said.
The appointment expands a longstanding relationship between the two and points to the future of hospitality marketing.
“Travel and tourism PR has fundamentally changed,” said Melissa Mango, Founder and President of Alliance Connection. “Consumers no longer experience brands in channels; they experience them through moments, conversations, recommendations, and culture. The old model of separating PR, influencers, social media, partnerships, and guest engagement simply no longer reflects how modern visibility works.”