INTERNATIONAL REPORT—’Tis the season for turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings. While there’s no place like home for the holiday, hotels are serving up festive dining options for Thanksgiving—and even Friendsgiving, a celebration with one’s friends—for guests eager to gather around the table for a taste of the season.
Here’s a look at what hotels are doing to celebrate the holiday:
Doing Good in the Neighborhood
Hyatt Regency Dallas is delivering a turkey lunch—made by a few of the hotel’s chefs and culinary staff—to a local fire station to say thank you to the first responders on duty that day, as well as their families, who are invited to dine at the firehouse. The gratitude doesn’t stop there. The hotel team will be delivering a turkey lunch to workers at City Hall on Thanksgiving, too.
“Giving back to our local community is a core pillar of Hyatt Regency Dallas. It’s our purpose to care for people so they can be their best. That includes not just our guests, but our neighbors, so we can extend our service beyond the walls of our hotel,” said Michael Koffler, general manager of Hyatt Regency Dallas. “In addition to our 20-plus year tradition of delivering a Thanksgiving turkey lunch to a local fire station, we also provide 80 dinners every month to the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, donate coins from our lobby fountain to various local nonprofits and volunteer with community partners throughout the year.”
A Mexican Twist on Thanksgiving
Guests staying in the Signature Villa and Ty Warner Mansion of the Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, are in for a memorable holiday feast. Butlers joined by a private chef will prepare a Thanksgiving dinner, including traditional recipes as well as festive-inspired dishes with a Mexican flare. For guests who still wish to cook, an immersive pie-making class with the resort’s pastry chef will be available on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
“Here at Las Ventanas al Paraíso, guiding our guests through a seamless experience to create lifelong memories is our priority. We noticed that our visitors were looking for opportunities to celebrate the holidays with their families with the services of a five-star resort, yet still wanted a traditional setting,” said Managing Director Frederic Vidal. “The home-away-from home Thanksgiving offer was created for multigenerational families looking for a way to reconnect in a relaxed atmosphere without the added stress of preparing meals and activities. For a special twist, we incorporated unique programming such as Thanksgiving-themed tacos with tequila pairings and a post-Turkey Day Bootcamp led by Moduvated, our new partner and the premier health and lifestyle company in Los Cabos.”
Get Holiday Cheer at Gurney’s Resorts
Available to guests who book the suites, recently renovated cottages and open to residence owners at Gurney’s Montauk in New York, there’s live music and beach bonfires for stargazing and s’mores and on Thanksgiving Day, guests can watch the annual Macy’s Parade and football on the big screen in The Regent Cocktail Club.
Over at Gurney’s Newport in Rhode Island, the property has an ice skating rink and an Après Skate menu with festive cocktails such as the Naughty Hot Chocolate, Fig Cosmo and dishes like a Chili Cornbread Jar, Firecracker Shrimp and World’s Best Grilled Cheese & Tomato.
At both properties, Gurney’s Thanksgiving dinners will be prepared by the chef and enjoyed in the comfort of private accommodations, featuring a whole roasted turkey carved tableside with stuffing and other seasonal favorites such as cranberries, sweet potatoes and warm pumpkin pie.
“As the only year-round resorts in their respective destinations, both Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa and Gurney’s Resort & Marina have become the home-away-from-home for guests and locals alike,” said Michael Nenner, area general manager of Gurney’s Resorts. “We created ‘Gather at Gurney’s’ at both properties to offer our guests a memorable experience over the holidays whether for a family reunion, Friendsgiving or traditional Thanksgiving getaway throughout the entire month of November. The package also presents the opportunity for our guests to enjoy the recently renovated oceanfront cottages and suites at Gurney’s Montauk or the beautifully revamped suites at Gurney’s Newport.”
A Tradition Continues at Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa
It’s a family tradition for hundreds of Midwest resort guests and local residents in The Galena Territory of Illinois. Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa opens the Eagle Ballroom on Nov. 28 for one of the largest communal Thanksgiving dinners in the U.S. More than 800 diners will gather at the resort’s Annual Thanksgiving Day Feast to celebrate the bounty of the season with more than 40 dishes, including a selection of traditional Thanksgiving pies and desserts. In addition, the hotel will host Santa’s arrival and children’s workshops on Nov. 29, and Breakfast with Santa on Nov. 30.
Celebrate Thanksgiving in Grand Style
This Thanksgiving, Acqualina’s oceanfront resort will serve a gourmet Thanksgiving affair for guests who reserve an oceanfront suite. Inside the suite, there’s a separate living room, an expansive kitchen and water views. Newly appointed Head Chef Jose Casals is preparing a special menu with all the traditional trimmings.
Tribute Portfolio Offers Friendsgiving Options
At participating Tribute Portfolio hotels, bookable now and available for stays from November 10-30, guests can convene with travel partners, friends, loved ones and a community of like-minded characters to revel in the holiday’s spirit of camaraderie.
It all begins with an indulgent dining experience complete with a spirited take on traditional holiday trimmings. At The Guild in San Diego, award-winning chef Justin Vaiciunas, a past competitor on the Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, will prepare a meal along with multiple wine-paired courses, including special dishes like a seared Hudson Valley duck breast served with olive oil poached vegetables and Greek yogurt as well as roasted pork tenderloin served with a honey herb pesto, whipped goat cheese and a wild mushroom chocolate cream sauce.
Also in San Diego, The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe is serving a local version of holiday staples, including Executive Chef Chris Haas’ signature drunken lamb—a guest favorite. The next morning, guests can take advantage of one of Thanksgiving’s most beloved perks: leftovers. Complimentary breakfast will be inspired by some of the best flavors and memories from the night before to keep the holiday vibe alive.
Friendsgiving packages are available at participating hotels across America, including in New York, Houston, San Diego, Denver and Miami. Tribute Portfolio hotels in Amsterdam, Paris, Bali and Jakarta, Indonesia, among others, will also offer this limited-time package.
A Buffet With Southern Roots
JW Marriott Nashville’s Stompin’ Grounds Restaurant is offering a buffet of holiday staples with a Southern take on Nov. 28 from noon to 9 p.m. The menu will include classic Southern dishes such as Maple Pumpkin Bisque, Smoked Pork Belly Deviled Eggs and a carving station with Cider-Brined Turkey Breast and Fire Roasted Bone-In Ham.
Make Memories at Martinhal Sagres
Martinhal Sagres, a family resort, will provide a traditional Thanksgiving feast from Europe’s most south-westerly point—Sagres, Portugal. Located within protected conservation land, the resort has coastal views for a memorable holiday feast.
