The centerpiece of any Christmas display is the quintessential tree. Trimmed to the nines in glittering garland, metallic tinsel and baubles and lights galore, the elegant evergreens are a hallmark of the holiday.
With that said, these high-end hotels are upping the ante with elaborate spruces and fantastical floral displays you won’t want to miss this season.
This Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star London grand dame’s annual Christmas tree is always newsworthy. For its 10th anniversary collaboration, the stylish stay makes headlines by partnering with acclaimed French designer Christian Louboutin, who created an entire frosted forest complete with a life-sized train dubbed Loubi Express — step inside for libations served by a cocktail conductor.
The centerpiece of it all is the crown-topped fir dressed in gold and red with fairy lights, ornamental gift boxes and, of course, gingerbread stilettos in homage to the designer’s signature footwear.
This sleek Five-Star Vancouver skyscraper is pulling out all the seasonal stops with its own designer fir. In partnership with legendary jeweler Tiffany & Co., the luxury hotel is showing off a 15-foot tree adorned in Tiffany blue and silver ornaments that would made Audrey Hepburn swoon. A steaming sip from the pop-up Hot Cocoa Cart adds extra holiday cheer.
Surrounded by snow-covered hills, this Four-Star Zurich hideaway is magical this time of year. Anchoring the Christmas spirit is the Swiss hotel’s towering 18-foot Nordmann fir. This locally sourced tree is a sight to behold, trimmed with more than 5,500 ornaments and 12,000 twinkling lights.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
A contemporary interpretation of a classic Christmas staple, this Four-Star Waikiki resort’s poinsettia tree is an Instagram-worthy creation. Imagined by CURATE DÉCOR & DESIGN, the golden installation is made up of metallic-hued pinwheels arranged in a distinctive conical shape. Perched in the porte cochere, the “tree” spins in the island breeze, adding a touch of whimsy.
Head inside to find a 15-foot version of the golden poinsettia tree hanging in the lobby.
Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley
Befitting its classic ski-lodge-inspired décor, this Five-Star Park City retreat’s Christmas tree looks straight out of a Hallmark card. The 32-foot fir is assembled and decorated by hand with red and gold baubles and shimmering lights. The labor of love took about a week to complete, but the effect of oversized ornaments and ornamental gifts at the base are worth the wait.
This regal Five-Star hotel may be one of London’s most storied, but it still has a few tricks up its sleeve. This year, the classic spot is engaging in child’s play by partnering with The LEGO Group to create the Twelve Rebuilds of Christmas. This fun rewrite of the traditional Yuletide tune includes imaginative installations like a rocket ship/castle hybrid, a shark swimming in the lobby fountain and a dragon-shaped Christmas tree made of 150,000 tiny bricks.
The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort and Spa
While it may not be exactly the white Christmas you were dreaming of, this Forbes Travel Guide Recommended resort’s soft sand beaches certainly deliver holiday cheer. Inspired by these stunning surroundings, the Grand Cayman hotel’s glimmering white Christmas tree catches the Caribbean light in the most stunning way with its champagne, gold and silver ornaments and hundreds of shimmering lights.
Centered around a twinkling 17-foot evergreen, this Five-Star Adirondack lodge’s grand living room is the place to hole up for the winter. With its locally inspired ornaments, the towering tree (hand-picked by hotel staff at a nearby farm) complements the buffalo plaid couches and a reading of A Christmas Carol.
Lighting up Mount Street in Mayfair is an impressive installation from this chic Five-Star stay and abstract artist Sean Scully. A unique interpretation of classic tree trimmings, the nearly 30-foot Norway spruce is adorned with 25,000 bulbs in vibrant hues of blue, purple, red and yellow in the Irish painter’s modernist style. Snap a selfie in the snow to see the fresh powder illuminated in brilliant shades of light.
City of Dreams Manila
This sprawling entertainment complex (which houses Five-Star Nüwa Manila and Four-Stars Nobu Hotel Manila and Hyatt Regency Manila) in the Philippines’ capital is raising the bar this season with a larger-than-life display (think gigantic stuffed animals and oversized blocks) anchored by a 32-foot Christmas tree dressed in 10,000 glistening lights and ornaments. You can enjoy the glow even more knowing that all the glittering LEDs are lit with solar power.
