Lodging establishments are getting residents through their doors with fun attractions, events and other offerings.
Tourists visiting The City aren’t the only ones turning hotels near Union Square into happening destinations during the holidays. Local lodging establishments are luring San Francisco residents through their doors throughout December — all without their customers having to book out-of-town travel — by offering fun attractions, seasonal treats and special events.
Hotel operators say their efforts infuse their venues with vibrance while also drawing visitors to a neighborhood that’s gaining momentum in its post-pandemic recovery. “Being able to share that sense of warmth and cheer with our community is one of the most rewarding parts of the season for our team,” said Clif Clark, general manager of the Westin St. Francis. Union Square has long been a tourism hot spot, thanks to its high concentration of hotels. The neighborhood has been slow to recover in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but 2025 has marked a turning point. The San Francisco Travel Association projected hotel occupancy to increase, and the openings of many new stores and businesses in Union Square have also been encouraging signs. The Westin St. Francis has been open in Union Square since 1904. The Powell Street hotel is currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of its seasonal star attraction — a 12-foot-tall sugar castle created by executive pastry chef Jean-Francois Houdre and his crew in 2005. Weighing 1,200 pounds, the display features 20 towers and 30 rooms, half of which are illuminated. Clark said celebrating the castle’s 20th anniversary this season has been “incredibly special for us.” “It’s a beloved San Francisco tradition that instantly sparks joy for locals and visitors alike,” he said. So is the suite designed after “The Nutcracker” ballet, Clark said. The room, which overlooks the Union Square Christmas tree, can be booked at a nightly rate of $949, excluding taxes and upon availability. It includes themed decorations and props, as well as a keepsake ornament modeled after a cable car. The hotel also hosts ticketed holiday events, with the first taking place last weekend. Guests feasted on a buffet-style breakfast and basked in views overlooking The City, while also enjoying an appearance by Santa Claus, who read a children’s book to young diners in attendance. Ex // Top Stories SF health workers say they fear hospital stabbing ‘can happen … to any of us’ Killing of Alberto Rangel is latest in a concerning trend, they say Will Cal Academy replace Claude the 'gator? The museum will take time to mourn but then consider what to do with Claude’s swamp Word on the Street: For the holidays, there's no place like SF If The City doesn’t hold the record for most tree-lighting ceremonies, it should The Westin has also hosted its second annual Dollie and Me Tea, during which the hotel’s in-house pastry team served young visitors treats before they made seasonally themed doll crafts. Clark said the hotel’s holiday offerings “create moments of wonder, celebrate the season and contribute to the collective holiday spirit that fills San Francisco at this time of year.” Meanwhile, the lobby of the nearby Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel on Geary Street is filled with lighted Christmas trees. Isabelle Matter, the hotel’s general manager, said the venue and its nearly 100-year-old Redwood Room have “long held a legendary place in San Francisco’s cultural history.” “We see that legacy as something to be activated, not just preserved,” Matter said, pointing to the hotel’s monthly “Making History Fun Again” speaker series. Joining in on Union Square’s holiday cheer is just another way in which the hotel can give “people a reason to gather, explore and rediscover downtown at a moment when that sense of connection matters most,” she said. Holiday joy has also spread to the top of Nob Hill, where the Fairmont San Francisco’s 22-foot-tall gingerbread house has returned. Consisting of nearly 4,000 cookies cemented together with royal icing, the structure includes two rooms that guests can privately book for meals. Hotel spokesperson Michelle Heston said the return of the larger-than-life structure each year is “always one of the most magical moments of the holiday season for our team.” “Seeing this beloved tradition come to life each year and watching the joy it brings to both San Franciscans and visitors from around the world is incredibly special,” she said. The Fairmont has also continued to offer holiday afternoon-tea service in the hotel’s Laurel Court restaurant and a pair of suites designed to look like Santa Claus’ home at the North Pole. This year’s new entries include a special tea party taking place this weekend, during which Santa Claus will visit restaurant diners, as well as a pop-up holiday market. Held on the hotel’s rooftop garden, more than 30 vendors will spend this weekend selling handmade goods under twinkling lights while holiday music is played. Heston said that hotel operators work to ensure that residents’ experiences during the holiday season go “beyond decor” by elevating sights, sounds and scenes. “To offer a space where holiday cheer is felt the moment you step through our doors is something we’re honored to do year after year,” she said.
Holiday Season Hotels And Resorts
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