Create That Christmas Feel for the 65% of Travelers in Hotels for the Holiday

From the lobby to private rooms, there are plenty of ways to make it the most wonderful time of the year.

Gift shopping. Budgeting. Parties. Travel plans. Cooking. Tricky family and social obligations. The holidays are a time of celebration and giving, but there are moments that feel overwhelming and stressful – especially when lots of travel is involved. According to a survey sponsored by Motel 6, 85 percent say the hassle is worth it to spend time with family and friends. You can add even more ease and comfort to their hectic holidays.

Two-thirds (65 percent) of those traveling will be staying at hotels this holiday season. That’s almost a 20 percent increase from last year. In the survey of more than 2,000 respondents, more than half said they begin looking forward to their alone time after four hours into holiday celebrations. About 20 percent said they look forward to it after only two hours. As social batteries rapidly diminish, hotels will be on the frontlines and acting as safety nets for wary holiday travelers.

Christmas is a holiday that feels warm and cozy for those who celebrate. There’s nothing quite like the twinkling lights that touch so many buildings within a community. You can be a part of that, and by doing so, you’ll create a safe haven for those who stay with you.

So how do you capture that holiday cheer?

Start early

Plan ahead for the environment you’d like to create and begin executing that plan early on. This is less for the benefit of the guests and more for you and your staff. Feeling rushed to create a magical atmosphere within the week of the holiday could lead to a lot of unnecessary stress. You’ll have more time to plan and order anything necessary. Spreading out the decoration tasks over a more extended period also enables better workload distribution among your staff. When you’re decorated early, you’re also able to present a Christmas atmosphere to the guests who are coming a bit early.

Inviting lighting

Opt. for warm and inviting lighting that creates a festive atmosphere. Choose soft, warm-toned lights for a cozy ambiance, and strategically place them to highlight any key décor elements. Early planning allows for testing and adjusting lighting setups to achieve the desired warm glow that contributes to a cheerful and welcoming environment.

Seasonal scents

You can enhance the holiday experience by incorporating seasonal fragrances and scents into the decor. Consider notes like pine, cinnamon, or gingerbread to create a sense of nostalgia and bring back memories of holiday traditions. Early planning allows for the selection of high-quality scents and ensures their strategic placement to create a sensorial experience that contributes to the overall holiday cheer. Selecting high-quality scents and placing them strategically creates a well-rounded experience for holiday travelers.

Consistent theme

Be consistent in your theming, that might include emulating a classic winter wonderland, a rustic cabin retreat, or a modern and chic celebration. Whatever theme you decide to stick with, choose a coordinated color palette that aligns with the chosen theme and exudes holiday cheer. This can include shades of green, red, and gold. Or perhaps blue, white, and solver. Whatever you choose, just be consistent. Keeping things coordinated promises a more visually appealing experience for your guests.

Familiar décor

Of course, there are the basics: Christmas trees as well as garlands and wreaths. These should be included, and not haphazardly placed. Just because they are a given doesn’t mean they should be passed over. These are decorations heavily integrated into the holiday. The grander you can be, the better. Include lights and beautiful ornaments. On those trees and around your space, try to use local artists and add your own touches. Incorporate elements that reflect your hotel’s unique location or other cultural influences. This can include regional crafts and locally sourced ornaments.

Bring the holiday cheer to guest rooms

There are several things you can do without inflating your budget. Consider finding holiday-themed chocolates and candies like those that are peppermint flavored or shaped like snowmen and other fun motifs that you can provide freely in rooms. Alternatively, you could also provide hot chocolate packets. You can also create unique offerings on your room service or other meal menus. That can once again include hot chocolate – but add more options than what you’d leave in the room like whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate shavings, and peppermint sticks. Also, consider adding cookies that are more seasonal like gingerbread. You can add a holiday tea assortment.