Fairmont Le Château Montebello will invite guests to play Scrabble and chess beside the fireplace in its log lobby this festive season, with seasonal cocktails and hot cocoa. Elsewhere, the holiday plans include cross-country skiing through Whistler’s snow-covered forests, wreath-making over mulled wine in Cheshire and meditation beneath a banyan tree in Puerto Rico.
Fairmont’s 2026 festive collection, “Wrapped in the Moment”, brings together crafts, storytelling, social gatherings and wellness. The hotel group says destination-specific programming will run across its portfolio of more than 90 properties in over 20 countries, with selected experiences also supporting Make-A-Wish.
The choice ranges from Christmas traditions in grand hotel lobbies to restorative treatments in the Riviera Maya. These are some of the most distinctive experiences to consider when planning a festive stay.
Wreath-making and lakeside celebrations in Cheshire
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere will host a florist-led wreath-making workshop on 26 November, welcoming participants with mulled wine and traditional mince pies before they create a Christmas wreath to take home.
The lakeside resort near Knutsford opened in July 2026, with 116 rooms, including 23 suites, across a 157-acre estate. Its spa occupies a restored Victorian stable block, with three pools and seven thermal experiences, giving a countryside break plenty of scope for quieter hours between celebrations.
The hotel’s festive afternoon tea runs from 27 November to 1 January. For a more dressed-up evening, December party nights in the Grand Ballroom cost £99 per person, including an arrival drink, three-course dinner, DJ and live saxophonist.
Christmas Day brings a choice between a seasonal menu at Gordon Ramsay at The Mere and a six-course Grand Ballroom lunch. The New Year’s Eve Gala Ball adds a Champagne reception, live band, DJ and fireworks over the resort, with admission restricted to guests aged 16 and over.
Afternoon tea and piano music in Toronto
Fairmont Royal York’s historic grand lobby will provide the setting for festive afternoon tea at CLOCKWORK, its champagne and cocktail lounge. Running from 21 November to 3 January, the experience pairs sweet and savoury treats with freshly poured tea and live piano music, surrounded by seasonal decorations.
The hotel’s holiday celebrations begin with its annual tree lighting on 18 November at 5pm. Carol singers, live music and a visit from Santa will accompany the lobby gathering; guests are asked to arrive at 4.45pm.
Gingerbread & Co, a seasonal pop-up inspired by an old-fashioned holiday confectioner, will run from 18 November to 31 December, combining cocktails with nostalgic decorations.
REIGN’s festive brunch runs from 25 to 27 December, with dishes including duck confit chestnut hash, turkey with brioche sage stuffing, roasted with herbs, and sticky toffee French toast. A five-course tasting menu follows on New Year’s Eve.
Snowy outings and fireside stories in Whistler
Fairmont Chateau Whistler will offer guided cross-country skiing at Whistler Olympic Park, travelling through snow-covered forests and mountain landscapes at a pace intended to encourage time spent appreciating the surroundings. The hotel’s Whistler Experience Guides will lead the outing.
The property’s winter holiday season centres on 18 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. Set at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, with slope access close by, it also offers heated indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs and a cedar barrel sauna where guests can warm up after winter activities.
A fireside Bear Talk on 19 December will bring guests together with a local wildlife expert, sharing personal stories and knowledge about Whistler’s bears. On 24 December, families can gather for Bedtime Stories with Mrs. Claus. Chocolate bark-making adds another activity to the seasonal plans.
The drive from Vancouver to Whistler takes approximately two hours, with travel time dependent on road and weather conditions. The concierge can arrange shuttles and private transport, while the village shuttle and Whistler Experience Guide activities are included in the resort experience fee. The hotel advises arranging dining, transport and winter activities before arrival, and checking pass blackout dates before finalising travel plans.
Handmade keepsakes in Montebello and Tokyo
Fairmont Le Château Montebello’s Santa’s Workshop will run on the weekends of 6 and 13 December, giving families the chance to write a letter to Santa and place it in a special North Pole mailbox. Candle-making and wool workshops will also form part of the château’s holiday programme.
The fireplace-side games in the log lobby add a screen-free option between scheduled workshops.
Fairmont Tokyo will offer a Christmas Workshop led by the expert florists responsible for the hotel’s festive displays. Participants will make their own decoration, working with the artisans on a design that reflects their individual style.
Creole-spiced cocktails in a new New Orleans hotel
Fairmont New Orleans is scheduled to open on 2 November, just ahead of its first festive season. The 250-room hotel will occupy the former Bank of New Orleans tower at 1010 Common Street, in the Central Business District near the French Quarter.
Rockwell Group’s planned interiors place a cocktail bar at the centre of the lobby, with reception, lounge seating and gathering spaces arranged around it. That setting will host Martinis, Marys & Mistletoe at Café by Emeril, bringing holiday-inspired drinks and edible garnishes into the hotel’s public spaces.
The drinks will include a gin martini with a stuffed olive trio, alongside Bloody Mary variations incorporating Creole spice, pickled okra and Gulf shrimp. Christmas cocktail classics will also be reimagined, giving the programme a distinctly local flavour.
The planned hotel facilities include a rooftop pool and lounge overlooking the Mississippi and a 10,000-square-foot spa, adding places to unwind between festive drinks and time exploring the city.
Restorative rituals in the Riviera Maya and Puerto Rico
Fairmont Mayakoba’s Celebration Glow Vinotherapy Ritual will begin with grape seed body exfoliation and a wine body mask, followed by a massage using warm grapeseed oil. The property will also offer a New Year Awakening Temazcal ceremony as part of its seasonal wellness programming.
The spa at Mayakoba sits within the Riviera Maya’s jungle and mangrove environment, with a rooftop vitality pool, two couple’s suites and 20 private treatment rooms. Its established temazcal experience is a customary sweat-lodge rite, conducted by a local guide with steam, heat and herbs.
The Serenity Room has floor-to-ceiling mangrove views, a juice and tea bar, and linked lounging spaces inside and outside.
Fairmont El San Juan Hotel will offer Sound Therapy: Moonlight Meditation beneath its banyan tree, combining mantra meditation with sound healing. Its Well & Being Spa will also introduce the seasonal Fa-La-La-La Facial, while ornament-making provides a creative activity elsewhere in the festive programme.
Caña by José Enrique will serve seasonal Puerto Rican-inspired menus alongside special dining events.
Christmas music and afternoon tea in Rio
Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana will host Christmas Afternoon Tea on 19 December, with a seasonal menu and live acoustic piano performances. Proceeds from one signature creation will support Make-A-Wish Brazil.
Orquestra do Forte will perform its Christmas repertoire at Spirit Copa Bar on 20 December. The orchestra is also a social project that creates opportunities for young musicians from Rio’s favelas, widening access to culture and supporting emerging talent.
Traditional Christmas choir performances will follow on 23 December, giving the hotel’s festive calendar several distinct musical gatherings. For travellers planning a Rio stay, the dates offer a useful sequence: afternoon tea first, the orchestra the following day, then choir performances closer to Christmas.
Giving back and booking your festive experience
Fairmont’s Make-A-Wish partnership will feature in several seasonal activities. At Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Wishworthy Hot Cocoa will be served in the Lobby Lounge from 1 to 31 December, priced at AED 55, with each cup supporting Make-A-Wish UAE. Selected hotels, including Fairmont Austin, will sell holiday postcards featuring artwork by a Make-A-Wish child, with proceeds supporting the charity.
Make-A-Wish says fundraising through the partnership supports wishes locally. Participation varies by hotel and region, so the charitable element depends on the experience chosen.
Travellers can book directly with the relevant Fairmont hotel. Some activities are reserved for overnight guests, while others welcome local residents and visitors. Check the individual property’s dates, participation requirements and availability before making plans, as selected experiences require reservations.
