Aruba
Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino completely transformed its 414 guest rooms and suites in a multimillion-dollar renovation that began last spring and wrapped December 2025. The guest-room redesign blends elegance with coastal living to encapsulate the Caribbean experience. Color palettes feature sand, tan and taupe. Also reflective of the coastal destination, art and portraits in the room depict palm trees, sea and sand. Double vanities, back-lit mirrors and marble countertops are new amenities in guest bathrooms.
The resort boasts the largest spa on the island: the 6,500-square-foot Mandara spa, which upgraded its saunas, steam rooms and decor across its 12 treatment rooms. Also new to the spa’s outdoor courtyard is a hot tub, cold plunge and additional outdoor seating. More amenities at the resort include 10 onsite dining options, an adults-only club, multiple pools and the island’s largest casino, with more than 400 slot machines and 17 game tables.
Indoor and outdoor venues are available for meetings at the property. The resort has more than 10,000 square feet of space including the 8,435-square-foot Grand Ballroom, which has a capacity for 880 guests.
Puerto Rico
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Puerto Rico opened in November in Rio Grande, approximately 30 minutes from San Juan. The resort sits along two miles of beach and is surrounded by its own 483-square-acre private nature reserve and two additional protected nature sanctuaries.
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Puerto Rico aims to connect guests to the property’s natural beauty and help them understand the culture of the island. The property’s expert guides can help guests navigate more than seven miles of hiking trails, bike paths and waterways.
The renovations also include a complete redesign of the resort’s 144 guest rooms and suites. The hotel offers nearly 30,000 square feet of meeting space. The largest space can host groups of up to 450.
South Carolina
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, nestled on 11 acres along the Atlantic Coast, concluded phase two of its multimillion-dollar transformation in fall 2025. Phase one of the renovation tackled its 340 guest rooms and was completed in 2024. The rooms offer views of the Shipyard Plantation, lush tropical gardens, pool and ocean.
[Related: 8 Group Activities to Consider When Visiting the Coastal Carolinas]
The second phase of Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island’s renovation enhanced group offerings at the resort and included a full transformation of 17 meeting rooms. The resort offers 23,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space that can accommodate up to 800 guests. The largest indoor space is the 10,000-square-foot Santee Ballroom, and the largest outdoor space is the 7,000-square-foot Oceanfront Pavilion.
Renovations also paved the way for two new dining venues: Driftwood Rum Bar and The Patio. Driftwood Rum Bar is a costal-inspired lounge that is finished with vertical sea-glass-hued tile. The patio is an open-air dining experience that utilizes garage doors that are open to an outdoor patio.
Texas
Hotel Daphne emerged in the Houston Heights neighborhood in December. Also referred to as “The Heights,” the neighborhood was originally planned to be a utopian community, and the hotel’s interior design idea was drawn from this concept, with other design elements inspired by Greek mythology.
The 49-room hotel offers guests an Italian-style bar and restaurant, a library, a courtyard and a retail shop. The boutique property has three spaces for meetings. The largest space is the hotel’s restaurant, Hypsi, which offers homemade pasta, a mozzarella cart and serves as a 1,500-square-foot event venue for nearly 50 guests. Planners can tack on extra space by utilizing the 2,100-square-foot courtyard for an additional 49 attendees. The hotel’s library is also available for intimate gatherings, private dinners and small meetings of up to 16.
Fuel Your Next Meeting With F1
F1 Arcade Atlanta opened in February. Located at The Interlock in West Midtown, the 15,000-square-foot arcade is a dining and racing experience for corporate events, teambuilding, holiday parties, social celebrations, client entertainment and more. The space—full of 68 racing simulators—was created with group experiences in mind, combining social gaming and hospitality for action-packed networking.
FI Arcade Atlanta offers full buyouts for groups of 450. A private space, the Briefing Room, offers seating for 90 guests. Outdoor space is also available on the arcade’s terrace.
