When you’re gathering the family for a milestone event, the venue can make all the difference. After all, a special occasion calls for a special hotel with amenities, services and accommodations that will suit all the folks (and all ages!) in your group.
Whether you’re planning a large family reunion bash or a more intimate vow renewal ceremony, here are six hotel venues that suit a variety of family celebrations.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Family Reunion: Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui, Hawaii
Meet up with far-flung family to play in the sun, sand and surf at oceanfront Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui, where hotel amenities appeal to all ages. Few settings prove more epic for a family reunion: The property boasts multiple open-air event spaces, like the Makai Ballroom, which dazzles with panoramic ocean views; the sprawling Kaho’olawe Lawn which overlooks the sea, and the intimate Mei Court with its banyan tree backdrop.
Relative of all ages will enjoy their downtime — teens can splash around the adventure pool with Maui’s longest resort waterslide while grown-ups kick back in a floating cabana at the adults-only infinity-edge pool. Children ages 5 to 12 are able to make new friends and learn about Hawaiian culture at the on-site kids club.
The interactive on-property luau, with its expansive dinner buffet and traditional music and dance performances, is a must-do family experience. Or opt to gather and share tales of the day’s fun around a table at Humble Market Kitchin featuring Hawaiian-inspired fare.
Thanksgiving: JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa, Florida
Let someone else cook Thanksgiving dinner on your November vacation at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa. You’ll have no food to prep or dishes to clean when you give thanks at one of the hotel’s on-site dining venues, such as the casual Unreserved Food Bazaar or Michelin Guide Recommended Restaurant Sear + Sea Woodfire Grill.
And if you’re planning a more extended family gathering, you’ll even have the option of reserving a private event space (the outdoor rooftop terrace with skyline views is a guaranteed crowd pleaser).
This Orlando hotel welcomes families with its Family Loft Suites featuring kid-friendly loft beds. There are also guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that face nightly Walt Disney World Resort fireworks.
The resort offers regular shuttle service to Disney Springs and the Disney theme parks, but there’s also tons for families to do without leaving hotel grounds.
Race up all four sides of a freestanding climbing wall, play a round of mini-golf at the 9-hole course overlooking the Bonnet Creek Preserve and Orlando skyline, or go on a scavenger hunt to find all of the whimsical little “fairy doors” throughout the property.
Wedding Vow Renewal: Delta Hotels Toronto, Canada
For an urban vow renewal ceremony, you can’t go wrong with a celebration at Delta Hotels Toronto. Located on the hotel’s fourth floor, The Roof at SOCO is an al fresco event space that includes a romantic rooftop with views of the Toronto skyline.
Whether you’re affirming your love in the presence of your immediate family, or opt for a grand gathering, this high-rise hotel in the heart of the city has the ideal setting for you. Plus, if you can’t imagine your pup missing the big moment, they’re welcome to join you at this pet-friendly property.
Delta Hotels Toronto occupies an excellent sightseeing location between Old Town and the Harbourfront. It’s also less than a block from the iconic CN Tower. Don’t miss nearby St. Lawrence Market, where more than 100 local vendors sell produce, baked goods, specialty foods, artwork, clothing and more.
Back at the hotel, regroup with a workout in the fitness center or a dip in the indoor pool, followed by drinks at speakeasy-style Char No.5 Whisky & Cocktail Lounge and dinner at cozy SOCO Kitchen + Bar.
Quinceañera: JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE, California
In the heart of downtown Los Angeles, JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE makes a fabulous spot for celebrating a festive quinceañera with its incredible 135,000 square feet of flexible venue space.
The luxury hotel’s on-site planning team can help you with all the details to create a glamorous affair for your 15-year-old, family and friends — from the perfect music and right-sized dance floor to dazzling decorations and delicious food.
Guests will appreciate the hotel’s location adjacent to the bright lights of L.A. LIVE, a massive sports and entertainment complex complete with a 14-screen movie theater, an 18-lane bowling alley and more than a dozen restaurants and bars.
The Grammy Museum features exhibits and events that celebrate the history of music and its creative process. One permanent display is a tribute to the legacy of Michael Jackson and includes an outfit he wore in the music video for “Thriller” and his trademark sequined white gloves.
B’nai Mitzvah: Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Aurora, Colorado
Entertaining a gaggle of tweens and teens is easy with a b’nai mitzvah celebration at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, just 30 minutes outside downtown Denver. The sprawling resort with sophisticated alpine decor can accommodate huge events in more than 500,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. But floor plans and venues are adaptable to smaller, kid-friendly parties, too.
Families won’t lack things to do on the property, with its year-round heated outdoor pool with a seasonal lazy river, as well as its indoor pool with water features and a twisty water slide.
The resort’s entertainment programming is vast, so kids can take part in regularly scheduled activities that might include scavenger hunts, campfire s’mores, pool parties, drive-in movies and live animal encounters.
Deluxe Family King room configurations are especially appealing to families, with twin bunk beds in their own sleeping area plus a king-sized bed.
Sweet 16 Birthday: Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, Illinois
If your newly minted 16-year-old loves to shop, Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile is a great home base for a Chicago getaway. The high-rise hotel sits amid a plethora of retail outlets, not only along the Magnificent Mile (a 13-block stretch of North Michigan Avenue) but also at the nearby four-story Shops at North Bridge.
The hotel is within short walking distance of Navy Pier, where teens might like to hop aboard the giant Centennial Wheel for a bird’s-eye view of the city or take an exciting Seadog Extreme Thrill Ride on Lake Michigan in warm-weather months.
With dozens of event spaces — from sprawling ballrooms to intimate salons, as well as on-site event planners and caterers, the hotel easily brings every aspect of your teen’s party plans to life.
Gather the family for an unforgettable party at one of our 30 hotel brands. Whether you’re looking to host an intimate gathering, full-fledged reunion, coming of age celebration, or anything in between, you’ll find the perfect place to celebrate with Marriott Bonvoy Events™.
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