For years, destination celebrations largely meant one thing: Weddings. But travelers are increasingly finding reasons to gather that have nothing to do with walking down the aisle.
Milestone birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, vow renewals, bachelor and bachelorette parties, multigenerational getaways and even annual trips among friends are becoming occasions worthy of a plane ticket. And instead of gathering for a few hours at a restaurant or ballroom close to home, groups are stretching celebrations into long weekends filled with memorable meals, adventures and plenty of quality time together.
Event planner JoAnn Gregoli, of Elegant Occasions by JoAnn Gregoli, says she’s seeing clients turn milestone birthdays into opportunities to create lasting memories with family and friends rather than exchange gifts. Increasingly, those birthdays are becoming destination events.
“People want experiences, not just things,” Gregoli says. “Travel, food, activities and shared experiences can feel more meaningful than receiving gifts or hosting a traditional event.”
Social media has certainly helped fuel the trend, Gregoli says, but she also points to a broader shift in how people think about their time together. The pandemic prompted people to be more intentional about gathering with friends and family, she says, while destinations allow groups to spend more than just a few hours celebrating together.
Isaac Beyda, Founder and CEO of Saber Travel Group, is seeing the definition of a celebration trip widen even further. He recently planned an 80th birthday that brought four generations of one family together. His requests also include annual friends’ trips, destination bar mitzvahs and even quick trips built around the Super Bowl.
“If there’s a reason to celebrate, people want to do it somewhere extraordinary,” Beyda says.
There can be a practical argument for traveling, too. Beyda says clients sometimes find that the cost of hosting a large local event often isn’t dramatically different from taking a smaller group somewhere special. The latter, however, gives them several days together.
Most importantly, today’s travelers don’t simply want to transplant a party to a hotel’s ballroom, but rather have unique gatherings that feel personalized.
“The destination itself has become part of the celebration, not just the backdrop for it,” Beyda says.
For hotels and resorts, that creates an opportunity to turn birthdays, anniversaries and reunions into experiences that couldn’t happen anywhere else. Ahead, find destinations that are leaning into the new era of celebration travel.
Wine Country Celebrations: Silverado Resort in Napa, California
Photo: Silverado Resort/Kristen Loken
A milestone birthday, an anniversary or simply getting a group of longtime friends or family together can be enough of a reason to plan a trip to Napa Valley. Celebration groups tend to build their stays around experiences that really take advantage of being in Napa Valley, says MaryJoy Martini, Director of Sales at Silverado Resort in Napa.
“Of course, wine is often at the center of the itinerary, but there are so many ways to experience it beyond a traditional tasting,” she says. “Groups can arrange private or reserve tastings, cave and barrel tours, wine blending experiences, food-and-wine pairings or even a vineyard lunch.”
Beyond the wineries, guests can curate experiences like the Napa Valley Wine Train, hot-air balloon rides, cooking classes, private chauffeured tours, spa days and golf that fit into a celebratory itinerary. Downtown Napa is also great for groups that want to explore restaurants, tasting rooms and live music without having a structured itinerary, she says.
Photo: Visit Napa Valley
At Silverado, friends and family celebrating together can tailor the celebration to their interests.
Two championship golf courses lend themselves to outings, tournaments or putting competitions, while tennis, pickleball and bocce offer more opportunities for friendly competition. Those looking to unwind can opt for spa treatments, yoga or pool time. Come evening, groups can gather for cocktails and dinner at Matchplay, overlooking the golf course, or arrange a private dinner at The Garden.
Western Adventure: Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, Arizona
Photo: Tanque Verde Ranch
At Tanque Verde Ranch, a milestone celebration can involve saddling up for a trail ride, lounging by the pool, gathering for a cowboy cookout and ending the night swapping stories around a fire and underneath the stars.
The Arizona ranch adjacent to Saguaro National Park and Rincon Mountains is seeing continued interest in milestone birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, vow renewals, bachelor and bachelorette celebrations and multigenerational gatherings. The common thread: “Guests are increasingly looking for meaningful experiences that bring families and friends together, and the Ranch is a natural fit because the experience is about much more than simply gathering for a meal or event,” says Agnelo Fernandes, CEO of Cote Hospitality.
That format works especially well for family reunions because guests of different generations can choose their own adventures. Horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, breakfast rides, pool time and Western activities can all be folded into an itinerary, while the ranch’s all-inclusive setup makes for a seamless stay.
Some families make the tradition an annual one. One legacy family has been returning to the ranch for 58 consecutive years and creates a new family video during each visit.
“The Ranch offers something that is difficult to replicate at a traditional hotel or resort,” Fernandes says. “A celebration can become an entire Western Arizona experience.”
Big Easy Celebrations: Royal Sonesta New Orleans in Louisiana
Photo: The Royal Sonesta New Orleans
Few cities embrace a celebration quite like New Orleans.
The Royal Sonesta New Orleans is seeing more travelers turn birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, retirements, bachelor and bachelorette trips and multigenerational gatherings into full destination weekends. There are even “just because” trips designed around reconnecting with friends and family, says Adrienne Breaux, Director of Sales and Marketing at The Royal Sonesta New Orleans.
“Celebration groups want experiences that feel unmistakably New Orleans. Their itineraries often include private dining, live jazz, cocktail experiences, second lines, river cruises and time exploring the French Quarter,” Breaux says.
Guests staying at Royal Sonesta can keep much of the celebration under one roof, with dinner at Restaurant R’evolution, which has Creole fare and a 10,000-bottle wine cellar, live music at The Jazz Playhouse, cocktails in the courtyard or a private balcony overlooking Bourbon Street.
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Weekend: Hotel Bardo Savannah in Georgia
In Savannah, there’s a celebration for just about every stage of life. Hotel Bardo Savannah has hosted milestone birthdays from 30th and 50th celebrations all the way up to a 90th, while bachelorette trips, girls’ weekends and babymoons are also bringing travelers together.
“Savannah is a great fit for celebration travel because there’s so much to do without having to over-plan the weekend,” says Molly Daines, Brand Coordinator at the resort. “Groups often build in walking or history tours, food tours, ghost tours, rooftop drinks, live music and plenty of time exploring the city’s squares and historic district.”
For a longer weekend, celebrants can add a day at Tybee Island or get out on the water. Savannah’s walkability also makes it easy to leave some breathing room in the itinerary for wandering through the squares, stopping for a cocktail or following the sound of live music.
Back at Bardo, friends and families can take a class together at The Cooking School at Saint Bibiana, where classes might focus on everything from pies of the South to the art of gnocchi; spend an afternoon at Saltgrass Spa; claim a pool cabana; or take a Moke for a spin around Savannah. After the sun sets, Club Bardo keeps the festivities going with programming that can include DJs, live jazz, game nights and mahjong.
Memorable Birthday Celebrations: The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia
At The Omni Homestead Resort, milestone birthdays have been especially popular, with groups of friends and family using the occasion as an excuse to reconnect and spend a few days together. Guests celebrating big birthdays often arrive with oversized gold number balloons, confetti cannons and more decorations to transform their rooms into personal birthday party headquarters.
Photo: The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa/g@gordongregoryphoto.com
That flexibility makes the property especially well-suited to celebrations where the guest list spans different ages and interests. A birthday itinerary could include spa treatments for part of the group while others head outside for golf or hiking. Other celebrants can try falconry, while dining and entertainment bring everyone back together later in the day.
“We continue to see guests choosing the resort as a destination where they can reconnect, celebrate important moments, and enjoy quality time together in a memorable setting,” says Rachel Winthrow, Senior Wedding & Catering Sales Manager at The Omni Homestead Resort.
Celebrations Decades in the Making: Pier Sixty-Six in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Photo: Pier Sixty-Six
At Pier Sixty-Six, celebrations can start poolside and carry straight through sunset.
The iconic Fort Lauderdale resort is hosting milestone birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions and other gatherings in its restaurants, private cabanas and Pier Top Lounge. A group might spend the afternoon in a cabana with dedicated food and beverage service, then head to Pier Top for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres with 360-degree views of Fort Lauderdale and the marina before sitting down to a waterfront dinner.
Photo: Pier Sixty-Six
For longtime visitors, celebrating here can also come with a dose of nostalgia. The landmark spire-topped tower and its Pier Top lounge have been part of Fort Lauderdale’s waterfront for generations, serving as the backdrop for vacations, milestone moments and special occasions. Following a sweeping redevelopment, the storied property is welcoming a new generation of guests while holding onto the sense of place that made it a local landmark.
But some of the resort’s most meaningful celebrations are decades in the making.
“One of the most rewarding aspects is witnessing the property's legacy continue through generations,” says Daniella Fernicola, Private Dining Manager at Pier Sixty-Six. “It’s not uncommon for guests to share that their parents or grandparents celebrated a milestone here decades ago, and now they’re returning to celebrate their own milestones at the same iconic resort.”
Beach Weekend with the Whole Crew: Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Photo: Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is seeing growing interest in family reunions, multigenerational weekends and milestone birthdays. Wedding groups are also stretching out their festivities, too, arriving earlier in the week for bachelor and bachelorette events before the main celebration begins.
“The common thread across all of these celebrations is a desire to spend quality time together and create lasting memories,” says Jordan Yoder-Coates, Director of Wedding and Special Events Sales at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.
At the resort, a celebration might include a group beach day with reserved loungers, games and food and beverage service, or a spa day that pairs treatments with lunch and pool access. Golf outings, tennis tournaments and other friendly competitions give groups another way to spend time together.
Photo: Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
“We're always excited to create something unique that reflects our guests' vision and gives them a truly personal connection to the destination,” Yoder-Coates says.
The property also has geography working in its favor: It’s about 30 minutes from Jacksonville International Airport and within driving distance for many guests coming from Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, making it easier to gather the group without turning the celebration into a complicated travel puzzle.
Celebrations with Good Fortune: Bermuda
Photo: Bermuda Tourism Authority/The Reefs
With pink-sand beaches, turquoise waters and plenty of only-in-Bermuda experiences, the island gives milestone trips a setting that feels celebratory from the start.
On the island, travelers marking a milestone can build celebrations around experiences that feel distinctly Bermudian, says Christopher Keane, Director of Sales for the Bermuda Tourism Authority. At Lili Bermuda in St. George’s, guests can create a custom perfume or cologne, with the formula kept on file so they can have the scent made again on a return trip. The experience can also be paired with afternoon tea in the perfumery’s garden, making it especially fitting for bachelorette parties and friends’ getaways.
For multigenerational groups, there’s plenty to do across age groups, including Crystal Caves, where visitors descend underground to see dramatic stalactites and stalagmites reflecting in azure pools. The caves have an adventure-story-worthy origin, too: They were discovered in the early 1900s by two boys searching for a lost cricket ball. Afterward, travelers can make a stop for ice cream or head to the historic Swizzle Inn for a rum swizzle, a frosty, fruity punch. The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo and, of course, the island’s beaches offer more options for families traveling together.
Photo: Bermuda Tourism Authority
Another distinctly Bermudian backdrop for a celebration is the moongate, a circular limestone arch said to bring good luck. At least 40 can be found around the island, including at Hamilton Princess & Beach Club - A Fairmont Managed Hotel, Grotto Bay Beach Resort & Spa, The Reefs Resort & Club and Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa. For weddings, vow renewals, anniversaries and other milestones, posing beneath one offers a fitting way to capture the occasion, with a little good fortune thrown in.