Key Takeaways

• Hotels are bringing back B&B-style socializing with organized programs that encourage guests to interact.

• Guests are loving the chance to mingle, unwind, and maybe even meet a new travel buddy.

• Southern stays like Mills House and Cuthbert House offer social hours inspired by the classic front porch visit.

Gone are the days when guests are expected to stick to themselves during hotel stays. In an increasingly disconnected world, a growing number of hotels are offering an amenity you’d usually expect to find at a B&B: authentic social interaction.

From ice cream parties to game nights, organized social events are one of the hottest trends in the hospitality industry right now, and our Southern hearts couldn’t be happier to see hotel lobbies buzzing and more people talking to… gasp.. strangers!

“It’s about creating those unexpected moments of connection where a glass of wine becomes a conversation, and a stranger becomes a neighbor, if only for the night,” explains Vicki Poulos, Vice President of Luxury & Lifestyle Brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts.

How Hotels Are Making It Happen

Hotel Fontenot in New Orleans, The Kimpton Brice Hotel in Savannah, and Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel in Charlotte are just a few of Kimpton properties that have begun offering a nightly social hour for guests in the lobby.

“Guests often tell us that our social hour is one of the most memorable parts of their stay,” says Poulos. “Some come for the wine, others for the conversation, and many just to people-watch with a great playlist in the background.” She adds that it’s not uncommon for people to meet a “travel buddy” for the rest of their trip at a social hour, either.

JW Marriott and Omni Hotels & Resorts are also embracing travelers’ increasing need for community on the road.

“Guest feedback showed a clear appetite for more organic ways to create meaningful connections on property—experiences that feel relaxed and authentic,” explains Michael Innocentin, Chief Marketing Officer of Omni Hotels & Resorts.

To satisfy this appetite, Omni introduced Tiki Social, a Tiki-inspired cocktail experience where guests can gather to celebrate. Earlier this summer the company rolled out Scoop Social, a playful, nostalgic ice cream hour that brought guests together around sweet treats and conversation.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive—guests are not only showing up and booking experiences, they’re staying, mingling, and sharing these moments long after their trip ends,” notes Innocentin.

Not New Around Here

We should note that there are many boutique hotels, inns, and B&Bs that have been offering some version of a social hour for years. Those too are becoming more popular.

At Cuthbert House in Beaufort, South Carolina, guests are invited to the front porch daily where to mingle with other guests, sip wine, and snack on hors’devours. A bit north, Mills House in Charleston hosts “Old Fashioned Good Time Hour” on their porch every day from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. As Mills House general manager Michael Linder told Thrillist, the complimentary champagne and sweet tea is a tribute to the Southern hospitality you’d receive when visiting a friend’s home in the afternoon.

“Typically, it’s customary—and even considered good manners—for the host to offer guests a beverage when they come over,” he explained. “We took that concept and weaved it into our hotel check-in process.”

The Horseshoe Farm in Hendersonville, North Carolina, doesn’t have specific social hour programming, as it happens 24/7.  In addition to a nightly communal fire and s’mores offering, guests have access to The Farmhouse Gameroom. The “central hub” of the boutique hotel, here guests of all ages can enjoy unfettered access to the record player, pool table, board games, bicycles, and more. 

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