In an increasingly isolated world, hotels are embracing the charm of B&B-style socializing through organized programs that encourage guests to interact. Guests are loving the opportunity to mingle, unwind, and perhaps even meet a new travel companion. Hotels like Mills House and Cuthbert House in the South offer social hours inspired by the classic front porch visit, where guests can sip wine, snack on hors d'oeuvres, and mingle with other travelers. The days of guests being expected to stay to themselves during their hotel stays are long gone. Hotel Fontenot in New Orleans, The Kimpton Brice Hotel in Savannah, and Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel in Charlotte are just a few of Kimpton's properties that have started offering a nightly social hour for guests in their lobbies. Guests often tell hotel staff that the social hour is one of the most memorable parts of their stay, whether they come for the wine, the conversation, or simply to people-watch with a great playlist in the background. JW Marriott and Omni Hotels & Resorts are also embracing travelers' increasing need for community on the road. Omni introduced Tiki Social, a Tiki-inspired cocktail experience where guests can gather to celebrate, and earlier this summer 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. It's not just luxury hotels that are embracing this trend. Many boutique hotels, inns, and B&Bs have been offering some version of a social hour for years and are becoming more popular. At Cuthbert House in Beaufort, South Carolina, guests are invited to the front porch daily to mingle with other guests, sip wine, and snack on hors d'oeuvres. 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., with complimentary champagne and sweet tea as a tribute to the Southern hospitality you'd receive when visiting a friend's home in the afternoon. 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, a central hub where guests of all ages can enjoy unfettered access to the record player, pool table, board games, bicycles, and more. In conclusion, the rise of hotel social hours is a welcome trend in the hospitality industry, offering guests the chance to create meaningful connections and experience authentic social interaction during their stays. Whether it's a glass of wine on the front porch or an ice cream social in the lobby, these events are creating memories that will last long after the trip ends.
