• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, November 2, 2023

Diehard fans of Hallmark Channel’s renowned Christmas movies will get a chance to belly up to a gingerbread bar, sleep in a Santa-themed bed and gaze upward at a ceiling of Christmas lights thanks to a unique marketing and promotion partnership of Hallmark and Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

All that and much more are now available as immersive experiences through the holiday season in specially decorated Hilton hotel suites in New York, Houston and Chicago.

This elaborate promotion is intended to promote Hallmark’s annual “Countdown to Christmas” season of brand-new holiday TV movies and, presumably, to draw visitors to Hilton hotels during the holidays.

Reservations became available just yesterday (November 1) for Hilton’s Hallmark suites at Hilton New York Times Square, Hilton Americas-Houston and Hilton Chicago.

Stays start November 7 and run through January 1, 2024 in New York and Houston, and December 30 in Chicago.

For Hallmark movie fans, these suites have been decked out with the sights, flavors and even the aromas of Christmas.

They are designed like fantasy Christmases -- which is one way to describe the cheerful holiday-season TV movies that have become Hallmark’s trademark.

At the Hilton New York suite, the aroma of the season is achieved with scratch-and-sniff wall decals “to smell the joyous aroma of the season at every turn,” said a press release sent out by Hallmark on Wednesday.

The rest of the suite is a Christmas candy lover’s dream, including an in-room Hallmark Channel candy store, a Christmas tree with candy garlands and DIY candy ornaments that visitors can create with family and friends.

Décor in the New York suite includes “candy cane-inspired props and other delightful décor for the ultimate holiday photo ops,” says Hallmark.

Meanwhile, suites in the other two cities are each themed for a new, upcoming Hallmark Christmas movie.

In Houston, the suite is inspired by “Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up,” premiering on Saturday, November 25, and starring Hallmark stalwart Lacey Chabert. 

Hallmark calls the Houston suite “jaw-dropping,” and that sounds accurate. In keeping with the movie, the suite is “lit up” with “enchanting light pillows, a light-up holiday village that will dazzle the world’s biggest Christmas enthusiasts [and] a custom holiday light decorating station.”

This is the suite that features “a twinkling Christmas light ceiling,” along with “a custom Hallmark Channel light-up marquee.”

There is even a gingerbread bar, which goes un-described in the Hallmark press release, but sure sounds tasty. The only thing missing in this suite is Lacey herself.

In Chicago, the suite theme is Santa, inspired by “The Santa Summit,” another new Christmas movie premiering this Sunday (November 5) on Hallmark.

This Santa suite includes “life-sized reindeer [presumably not real ones], a Santa-themed bed and cookie kit [and] a heartwarming wall installation for Letters to Santa,” says Hallmark’s press release.

The Hallmark-inspired Christmas theme extends to the Hilton Chicago lobby with a 24-foot Christmas tree and a gingerbread replica of the hotel and the surrounding skyline.

In all three cities, the suites will each have a hot cocoa station and branded takeaways, including Hallmark Channel Wine, Bissinger’s cocoa mix and hot cocoa bombs, Republic of Tea products and glasses, mugs and other items.

“Our partnership with Hilton is the perfect holiday pairing,” said Lara Richardson, chief marketing officer for Hallmark Media.

“These festive, showstopping stays are the ultimate ‘suite’ treat that will deliver on our fans’ growing desire to immerse themselves in the Hallmark brand and the wonderful world of Hallmark Channel Christmas movies,” she said.

The suites are all roomy and come with great views, Hallmark says. The rates vary in the three cities, but not by much.

In Houston, the nightly rate starts at $1,050 for a suite that sleeps 8-10 guests. The New York nightly rate starts at $1,249 and sleeps eight. The Chicago suite sleeps up to eight guests for a nightly rate starting at $1,100.