If you need a dose of holiday cheer, step into a luxury hotel. No matter where they are in the world, posh properties tend to decorate for the season in grand fashion, whether it’s an avant-garde aesthetic or a traditional look.
We peeked inside hotels from Atlanta to Tokyo and found stunning Christmas trees that will make your holidays a bit brighter.
The Vegas hotel transformed its 14,000-square-foot botanical gardens into A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore (it famously begins, “’Twas the night before Christmas…”). A 45-foot fir crowned with a Swarovski star and covered in 35,000-plus mini-LED lights and 8,700 ornaments is flanked by a vintage carousel and a life-sized gingerbread house.
Claridge’s, London
British designer Paul Smith decked the Mayfair hotel’s 19-foot tree with 100 mechanical birdhouses. “When designing this year’s tree, I automatically thought of a birdhouse, friendly and optimistic, a symbol of home which reflects the welcoming spirit of Claridge’s,” Smith said. The tree’s chirping soundtrack also will greet you.
One&Only The Palm, Dubai
The Tannenbaum gets a modern makeover with fashion brand Elie Saab’s trio of metallic trees. The eye-catching sculptures are crafted from polished mirrors and brushed steel. After admiring the designer trees, enjoy the Elie Saab holiday tea, featuring treats like chocolate caviar tarts, through Jan. 10.
The Windsor Court, New Orleans
Surrounded by white reindeer and polar bears, the New Orleans hideaway’s classic tree stretches two stories with the sparkling chandelier as its star. While the 19.5-foot Michigan Fraser fir is the showstopper, The Windsor Court also sprinkles seven North Carolina trees throughout its halls to support hurricane recovery efforts in the region.
The Five-Star hotel’s Christmas centerpiece looks deliciously decadent: it’s a 12-foot tree made of oversized Ladurée macarons in gold, cream and teal along with dried florals, bright baubles and St. Regis ornaments. A teal velvet bow on top ties it all together. If it leaves you craving sweets, visit the nearby Ladurée macaron cart.
Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
Enter a shiny winter wonderland from designer Jeff Leatham. A large red geometric bear guards the main tree festooned with red bows and multi-colored twinkle lights. Elsewhere in the lobby, larger-than-life green and red balls are carefully piled, two smaller trees light up and a giant gold geometric deer watches over the festivities.
The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza and The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon
These sister properties make a sustainable statement with their wooden trees — Ginza showcases a woven design and Toranomon uses circular pieces. They enlisted Kengo Kuma, the architect of both hotels, to devise trees that could transform into tables after the holiday. The furniture will be auctioned off with some proceeds supporting Make-A-Wish.
A flock of 1,450 gold origami doves pauses midflight in the lobby of this Geneva hotel. Hanging from the ceiling, the gleaming birds form an aerial Christmas tree shape. Belgian artist Charles Kaisin envisioned the installation as an homage to Mandarin Oriental’s Asian heritage, and doves represent peace and harmony.
Standing at 19.7 feet, the Paris hotel’s enchanting Nordmann fir sparkles with golden glitter. But take a closer look and you’ll discover offbeat surrealist accents, like eye ornaments and feathers. Ritz Paris celebrates surrealism’s 100th anniversary — and a legacy hosting surrealists such as Dalí, Picabia and Cocteau — through its holiday offerings.
To mark Baccarat’s 260th anniversary, the famed crystal company built this unusual tree with two Baccarat x Marcel Wanders 24L and 40L Le Roi Soleil spherical chandeliers and red gift boxes at the base. You also will encounter Baccarat’s glassware in MO BAR holding holiday cocktails and at the Christmas tea.
Towering at 20 feet, the Atlanta hotel’s “A Partridge in a Plum Tree” riffs on the famous Christmas carol. Fashion and accessory brand MME.Mink and designer Jan Haedrich brought the song to life with more than 100 feathered white partridges, deep sugar plum velvet ribbon and 564 hand-painted ornaments.
Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island
For gift inspiration, stop by this bejeweled Tiffany & Co. tree, which consists of glass baubles holding the brand’s most popular pieces from the Lock, HardWear, T and Knot collections. Follow it up with the Tiffany-themed tea, which ends with a snowball dessert with pear winter berry marmalade and maple mousse.
Solaz, A Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos
This Los Cabos hotel embraces nature, and it even does so with its outdoor Christmas tree. Composed of delicate pampas grass, the distinctive tree embodies Solaz’s blend of organic elegance and architectural harmony. Its soft, earthy tones evoke the surrounding desert landscape, and it’s topped with a large dark gold star.
The Connaught, London
The 30-foot Nordmann fir from Denmark outside The Connaught lights up thanks to British artist Conrad Shawcross, who plays with science and geometry in his artwork. He fashioned 90 lanterns from aluminum and hand-painted them with a silver coating. The bright star at the apex symbolizes hope for the holiday.
Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai
For an “Enchanted Night” theme, London company Garrard — which was appointed the first official crown jeweler in 1843 — adorned the Five-Star hotel’s gold tree branches with midnight-blue baubles. A glowing ribbon woven throughout adds a celestial touch. Near the tree, peruse Garrard’s prized jewels at its pop-up through Jan. 10.
In the Miami hotel’s art deco lobby, Neiman Marcus Bal Harbour trims the tree with ornaments from Jim Marvin, who created holiday displays for Jackie Kennedy and Andy Warhol. The tree dons a soft palette of pinks, golds and blues, and the large balls echo the circular lights lining the curved lobby wall.
