Holiday destinations benefit from the increasing popularity of dinner parties

Dinner parties bring people together. Sharing meals with friends and loved ones while talking and laughing has always been an essential part of how we connect with one another. Whether it’s a casual or formal event with six or sixty people, a dinner party fosters camaraderie.

According to many reports, the year 2024 is the year of the dinner party. Whether it Generation Z longs for connectionnew Cookbooks for dinner parties with a cult-like following or seasoned veterans looking for opportunities for hard-hitting entertainment, one thing has become increasingly clear: hotels want in. Surveys show that authentic, meaningful connections are paramount when choosing a destination, and what better way to do that than by breaking bread and sharing a drink with other travelers (and sometimes locals).

Here are some examples of hotels transitioning to a “dinner party atmosphere” in their food and beverage offerings in 2024 and beyond.

A Vincentian dinner party in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

At the centre of the new Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines is Buccan, a novel, large-format dining concept that uses a Vincentian cooking technique conducted in clay yabba pots over an open fire pit. The popular tradition is reminiscent of family reunions or “river cooks” where food is cooked over fire and stone (also known as “three-stone cooking”). Guests who arrive as strangers and leave as friends, bonding over heart-warming food framed by palm fronds and the crackle of fires burning solid fuel, are welcomed by this popular tradition. During two coveted seatings each night, tables for eight enjoy a delicious family-style culinary journey with Vincy staples flowing in waves from fire to table. What follows is a two-hour journey of dishes flowing in waves from the fire: a fresh watermelon and charred tomato salad, crispy fare like yucca and breadfruit, yabba pot rice, lamb curry, chicken skewers.

A dinner party in a 16th century Beaujolais castle

Contikithe social travel company for 18- to 35-year-olds, is no stranger to bringing together groups of travelers who leave as friends. Their exclusive, palatial 16th-century estate, the Chateau de Cruix, is nestled in the idyllic Beaujolais wine region and offers visitors a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience. After a day of hiking the surrounding vineyards, practicing yoga on sprawling lawns, and plein air painting, guests enjoy large family-style meals outdoors (with wine, of course) and snack on French staples like regional cheeses, meats, local produce, and more. Commonly served dishes include ratatouille made from garden vegetables with zucchini, tomatoes, and eggplant, and the famous crème brûlée to finish a meal. To add a “party” to the “dinner party,” guests often end the evening with a celebration in the beautiful garden pool or at the estate’s famous Le Cave nightclub.

A floating dinner party in Fiji’s Blue Lagoon

The hotel is located on a 500-hectare private island in the Yasawa Archipelago in Fiji. Turtle Island is one of the world’s most sought-after destinations. A full 50% of couples eventually return to Turtle Island, and the property cites dinner party-style dining as one of the main reasons why. With only 28 guests on the island at any one time, Turtle Island foregoes a traditional restaurant in favor of a floating communal table that travels night after night to scenic locations, from the property’s sprawling gardens to the top of Mount Ford, inviting all guests to get to know one another over dinner parties. Even honeymooners eventually sit down at the table and stay for the duration of their stay, making new friends. Fijian food is inspired by the island’s just-harvested bounty and local specialties, including kokoda, consisting of raw fish in a refreshing marinade of citrus, coconut milk and spices, or lovo, the Pacific version of barbecue.

7-course dinner without waste on the high seas

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, a global leader and pioneer in expedition cruising, has introduced invitation-only concept dinners on board its two newest ships, National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution. Each guest on the luxury expedition ships is invited at least once per cruise via discreet, hand-delivered postcard to join fellow travelers in an intimate dining room on the ships’ upper decks; Charlie’s Table (Endurance) and Cook’s Nook (Resolution), for the seven-course concept dinners. Each menu is created by the chefs over 300 hours in the making, demonstrating their commitment to sustainable practices and a better future for the planet. Creativity is on full display, with the culinary team presenting dishes ranging from the “Kelp Forest Soup,” which highlights the importance of kelp to the marine ecosystem, to the “Ode to Bees” dessert, which alludes to the importance of bees in global food ecosystems.

Tailor-made dinner party experiences

The Thompson Hotels

The Thompson Hotels brand has launched A Taste of Thompson 2024 dinner parties, offering bespoke dinner party experiences in destinations across the U.S. Guests can assemble groups of up to 20 friends and choose from a range of special offers to enjoy the end of summer and create the dinner party of their dreams with fun experiences. True to the epicurean philosophy of Thompson’s signature restaurant Savannah Volatilethe Taste of Thompson Party features the best seasonal produce from the region’s coastal landscape and waterways. We celebrate hyper-local ingredients with a four-course meal of your choice or a cocktail party with accompanying appetizers, with no two parties being the same. An ode to the typical New York City hotel stay, Thompson Central Park New York has created a culinary dinner party experience in the comfort of its signature suites. The menu celebrates NYC cuisine with an elevated twist, with a new course served in each room, culminating with chef-prepared desserts in bed or a champagne toast in a warm bubble bath.