Southern Hotel Nights: What’s New

Prevue Staff

September 9, 2025

The AC Hotel Arlington National Landing has emerged from a major renovation.

The South is buzzing with new opportunities for groups. Curious about what these charming southern locales have to offer?

Explore the options awaiting your next gathering at these hotels and destinations.

The Alida Already in the Holiday Spirit

This year, the holiday magic is arriving early at The Alida. Located in Savannah’s historic district, The Alida is decking the halls and spreading cheer all year long. Whether reconnecting with loved ones in Savannah or simply seeking a little seasonal sparkle, The Alida welcomes both locals and visitors to celebrate in style. The “Holiday Spirit” Package is the perfect way to toast the season, ideal for office parties, family gatherings, Friendsgiving feasts, or any festive occasion.

Book a Holiday Event by September 30, 2025, and enjoy the choice of THREE exceptional perks:

Waived Bartender Fee
Reduced Venue Rental Rate
Complimentary Champagne Toast
Complimentary Hot Toddy or Alida Nog Bar
One Complimentary Passed Hors D’oeuvre
Two-Night Stay Gift Certificate, Including $100 Food & Beverage Credit, Waived Amenity Fee, And
Waived Valet

The hotel features indoor and outdoor event spaces, local catering menus, and a rooftop bar with views over the Savannah River, ideal for celebrating the season in style.

North America’s Largest AC Hotel: Virginia Has It

AC Hotel Arlington National Landing is officially open, unveiling a multimillion-dollar transformation. The reimagined property joins Marriott International’s AC Hotels brand portfolio with distinction, as it’s the largest AC Hotel in North America with 355 European-inspired guest rooms. Highlights also include the debut of the sophisticated AC Kitchen & Lounge, a brand-new lobby and AC Library, 8,800 sf of completely refreshed meetings and events space, a reimagined exterior facade, and a 4,000-sf state-of-the-art fitness center.

Formerly the Crystal City Marriott, the AC Hotel Arlington National Landing is located in the heart of Arlington’s National Landing district, steps from the Crystal City Metro and minutes from Reagan National Airport.

With more than 8,800 sf of newly renovated, flexible meeting and event space, AC Hotel Arlington National Landing can accommodate gatherings of every scale—from high-level board meetings and corporate conferences to elegant receptions and intimate celebrations. All 11 venues are conveniently located on the same floor, offering minimalist interiors that serve as a sophisticated canvas for planners to customize or use as-is. A dedicated team of onsite event and A/V professionals is on hand to ensure a seamless experience from start to finish.

Saddlebrook Resort Offers Sportscasting Experience

New sportscasting experience at Saddlebrook makes a great teambuilding activity.

For meeting and event planners looking to break out of the ballroom and into something buzzworthy, Saddlebrook Resort’s newest guest experience offers exactly that, with a broadcast-quality twist.

As part of its $92 million resort transformation, the iconic 480-acre Saddlebrook Resort near Tampa has teamed up with Play-by-Play Sports Broadcasting to launch a one-of-a-kind program that puts participants behind the mic for a full-scale, hands-on sports broadcasting experience.

Key details for corporate groups and MICE planners:️

Engaging, team-based formats: podcasting, sideline reporting, debate panels, “hot takes” and more.
Sessions led by professional broadcasters, offering real skills in communication, storytelling, and performance
Saddlebrook’s new 13-acre driving range.

Customizable experiences: 2-hour quick hits, half-day intensives, or multi-day programs
Newly renovated venues: over 40,000 square feet of indoor meeting space plus outdoor recording opportunities at golf, tennis, or poolside locations
Perfect for team-building and leadership development or just as a memorable off-agenda experience

This launch continues Saddlebrook’s evolution into a next-generation destination for meetings and incentives, rooted in an emphasis on sports that includes a new driving range and the reconfiguration of two 18-hole golf courses into three interchangeable nine-hole courses. For racquet sports enthusiasts, Saddlebrook also boasts 41 courts—including all four Grand Slam surfaces—and 8 dedicated pickleball courts.

And speaking of sports:

Visit Savannah Plays Ball

Visit Savannah took planners out to the ballgame.

The Visit Savannah sales team, alongside several of their hotel partners, recently hosted 60 meeting planning professionals at Chicago’s Rate Field (formerly Guaranteed Rate Field) for a sold-out Savannah Bananas game—part of the team’s wildly popular Banana Ball World Tour. Visit Savannah said the gathering wasn’t just about the fun of Banana Ball (though it certainly delivered on that front); but was about showing planners that Savannah isn’t afraid to think outside the box.

By creating experiences that are both authentic and unexpected, the bureau aims to demonstrate the kind of creativity, hospitality, and sense of place that groups can expect when they bring their meetings to Savannah.