Guntram Merl, General Manager, Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas "From Fairways to Festivities: Putting on the Ritz in Las Colinas"
Oct 15, 2026 · 10 min · 6 segments
Oct 15, 2026 · 10 min · 6 segments
And it's interesting to see the transition that's gone out there because, like I say, this is a unique thing.
I mean, they've got a lot of out-of-towners who come in and a few locals who come by and eat at the restaurants, hang out at the Rattlesnake Bar, something from time to time.
But you've really got to have this sort of mixed appeal to travelers, to resort, but also to the local market.
Yeah, it's an interesting mix, right? Obviously, we are a relatively large hotel, over 400 rooms.
And our business mix really, depending on a group base that we bring in, from all over the US or even further than that.
And then the second piece is really what we call our leisure market, right? And I think the resort has started to establish itself as kind of a weekend staycation type of environment.
So it's an interesting mix, right, which kind of also gives a business point of view that is very, very business-like during the week and then very leisure-driven on the weekends.
I know, again, I think we talked about this time last year, but you were getting ready to kick off the tree lighting and the seasonal cocktails and the gingerbread decorating contests and experiences and trying to get all the families involved.
Yeah, listen, and of course, right, the holidays, what an incredible time of the year for families.
We will start right off, we will do a traditional Thanksgiving brunch in our restaurant, but then we'll start off with a really fabulous Christmas tree lighting this year.
So one of the things that we're actually doing or what we aligned with, we aligned ourselves with a local designer, Kellen Ray Design.
She's a glassblowing artist that actually will earn her team and some helpers that she actually got from the Girls and Boys Club.
They will decorate the Christmas tree this year, right? So it will be fabulous ornaments that will go on there.
Some of the stars that the girls from the Girls and Boys Club have done at her studio will be also part of this.
And it's interesting to see the transition that's gone out there because, like I say, this is a unique thing.
I mean, they've got a lot of out-of-towners who come in and a few locals who come by and eat at the restaurants, hang out at the Rattlesnake Bar, something from time to time.
But you've really got to have this sort of mixed appeal to travelers, to resort, but also to the local market.
Yeah, it's an interesting mix, right? Obviously, we are a relatively large hotel, over 400 rooms.
And our business mix really, depending on a group base that we bring in, from all over the US or even further than that.
And then the second piece is really what we call our leisure market, right? And I think the resort has started to establish itself as kind of a weekend staycation type of environment.
So it's an interesting mix, right, which kind of also gives a business point of view that is very, very business-like during the week and then very leisure-driven on the weekends.
I know, again, I think we talked about this time last year, but you were getting ready to kick off the tree lighting and the seasonal cocktails and the gingerbread decorating contests and experiences and trying to get all the families involved.
Yeah, listen, and of course, right, the holidays, what an incredible time of the year for families.
We will start right off, we will do a traditional Thanksgiving brunch in our restaurant, but then we'll start off with a really fabulous Christmas tree lighting this year.
So one of the things that we're actually doing or what we aligned with, we aligned ourselves with a local designer, Kellen Ray Design.
She's a glassblowing artist that actually will earn her team and some helpers that she actually got from the Girls and Boys Club.
They will decorate the Christmas tree this year, right? So it will be fabulous ornaments that will go on there.
Some of the stars that the girls from the Girls and Boys Club have done at her studio will be also part of this.
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