These Hotels Are Offering Literary-Themed Getaways For Book Lovers (by Michelle Gross)
While set-jetting continues to be one of the biggest travel trends of 2024, bibliophiles now have a chance to book a vacation based on an emerging trend in literary themed trips.
Every year, National Book Lovers Day is celebrated on August 9, and according to recent data from the website Explore, the surge in literary inspired google searches including “secondhand bookstores near me,” has skyrocketed by 4,750% over the last month, as readers seek out book-inspired activities when they travel.
“This past year more than ever, data has shown that travelers want to ‘unplan’ when traveling, detoxing from social media and really diving into all their favorite nostalgic activities away from the screen, like destination tours, outdoor picnics, or reading a book.”
To sweeten the hotel’s “Blind Book” deal, The Loutrel will also include an itinerary to go along with the book that includes suggested experiences around Charleston tied to the books theme. For example, a book about romance will include restaurants, waterfront locations, and colorful gardens ideal for a romantic Charleston getaway. The package concludes with a complimentary round of drinks on the hotels rooftop Veranda Lounge.
In Key West, Florida, The Marker Key West Harbor Resort now offers guests a deeper dive into the city’s rich literary history through ‘The Ernest Hemingway Package. Inclusive of a bottle of Papa’s Pilar Rum and tour of Papa’s Pilar Distillery, the new literary themed package also comes with tickets to The Hemingway Home where the famous author lived with his wife, Pauline Pfeiffer as well as a sunset sail or fishing charter.
Not a Hemingway fan? No problem. Guests of The Marker are also invited to experience a unique reading experience through the hotel’s aptly named ‘Literary Haven.’
Prior to your arrival, guests can describe their “perfect reading environment,” and from there, the concierge team will re-create that atmosphere in your guest room with everything from aromatherapy diffusers, earplugs, pillows and extra cuddly blankets to creating a cozy reading corner. An in-suite comfort food dining menu is also available, the hotel said.
In July, Loews Hotels & Co. announced an exclusive summer celebration with Jenna Bush Hager of The Today Show to help guests indulge in literary escapes at each of their 25 hotels and resorts across the United States and Canada.
Part of Lowes’ Local by Loews Hotels program, guests can now purchase books through Shop TODAY, or select from their choice of ebooks and audiobooks during their stay. The initiative, also includes curated kids’ reading lists and access to Hager’s summer travel picks, along with a hand-selected Summer(fest) Reading List curated by Hager herself.
Back at The Loutrel in Charleston, General Manager Karl von Ramm says there’s never been a better time to immerse yourself in the world of literary travel.
“We thought this could be a unique activity to integrate into our experiential programming to allow guests to detox with a book, which is in some form related to Charleston, but also allow them to explore the city even further by including a suggested itinerary with each book,” von Ramm said. “We’re hopeful guests can spend their time connecting with themselves and with Charleston on a deeper level.”
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