Hotels and resorts usually decorate the arrival, the lobby, the front desk, the restaurant and bar, and any ballroom or event space, with outdoor grounds added at resorts. The lobby tree is the centerpiece and the photo guests remember, so most of the budget goes there. At our catalog prices, a boutique hotel lobby and front desk can be done for under $8,000, a full-service hotel with a 14 foot decorated atrium tree starts at around $38,000, and a resort outdoor program with a lit tower tree and walk-through photo displays starts at around $38,000, before freight.
Where decorations go in a hotel
| Area |
What usually works |
| Arrival and porte-cochère |
Large lit wreaths, garland on the canopy and columns, an illuminated photo arch or gift box display where guests step out of the car |
| Main lobby |
One centerpiece tree sized to the ceiling, with room for guests and luggage to pass |
| Front desk |
Garland along the desk front, or a smaller pre-decorated tree to one side |
| Restaurant and bar |
Wreaths on walls, garland on the bar back, flat or slim trees where floor space is tight |
| Ballrooms and event spaces |
Freestanding pre-decorated trees that can be moved between events |
| Resort grounds, pool deck, casino entrance |
An outdoor tower tree, walk-through ornaments or arches, lit displays along the arrival drive |
Carry one theme through every public area. Guests move from the arrival to the lobby to the restaurant in a few minutes, and a consistent look reads as the property's own style rather than a collection of purchases.
The lobby tree
Measure the ceiling height where the tree will stand and leave visible room above it, remembering that the topper adds height. Then check the floor: the base widens as the tree gets taller, and a hotel lobby has to keep clear paths for guests with luggage, bell carts and the route from the door to the front desk.
Our pre-decorated trees run from 6 to 9.5 feet, and indoor tower trees for double-height lobbies and atriums start at 14 feet. Our article on how tall a commercial Christmas tree should be covers sizing by venue in more detail.
For atriums, the Indoor Deluxe Pre-Decorated Tower Tree starts at $27,319 for a 14 foot tree with light ornamentation. A 16 foot tree with heavy ornamentation and a base surround is $39,012, and taller sizes are available.
Pre-decorated trees and decor packages
Most hotels decorate during their busiest weeks, when staff time is short. A pre-decorated tree arrives with lights and ornaments chosen to match, so the result does not depend on who happens to be on shift.
Our pre-decorated tree packages come in themes including Classic, Traditional, Silver and Gold, Copper and Bronze, Coastal and Jewel Tone. A 6 foot tree with its package is $1,790, a 7.5 foot tree is $2,050 to $2,250, and a 9.5 foot tree is around $2,850 to $3,200 depending on the theme and tree. The decoration package alone starts at $1,000 for properties that already own trees. Using the same theme in the lobby, the restaurant and the ballroom is the simplest way to make a multi-venue property look planned.
Artificial trees for hotels
Artificial commercial trees suit hotel public areas. They are reused for several seasons, they do not dry out or drop needles over the guest period, and local fire codes may restrict cut trees in public buildings. Check your local requirements and your brand standards before ordering, and ask us for material information on any piece you are considering.
Where floor space is tight, such as a restaurant corner or a narrow corridor, flat Christmas trees sit against the wall and start at $175 for a 5 foot tree.
Wreaths and garland for hotels
Commercial wreaths run from 3 feet up to 12 feet in diameter. Size each one to the distance it is seen from: a wreath on a restaurant wall is read from across the room, while one on a facade or porte-cochère has to read from the arrival drive. A 6 foot LED lit decorated wreath is $1,550 and an 8 foot is $2,375.
Garland is sold in 10 foot sections, from 12 to 24 inches in diameter. Use thinner garland on the front desk, staircase railings and the bar back, and thicker garland on columns and exterior canopies. Measure the real path the garland will follow, including drape, rather than the straight-line distance.
Photo displays for guests
Holiday photos taken at a hotel are shared with the property in the background, so a dedicated photo spot works harder than most pieces a hotel can buy. The Giant Illuminated Gift Box Arches ($6,495) stand 10 feet tall and include a customizable gift tag for the hotel's name or message. The 11 foot Giant Walk Through Ornament ($7,595) works indoors or outdoors, and the 15 foot Star Arch ($15,975) is built for outdoor plazas and entrances. Place a photo display where guests can stop without blocking the entrance or the path to the front desk.
Resorts and outdoor grounds
A resort's arrival drive and grounds need decor built for weather. The US-made Premium Commercial Panel Tree is built on a solid steel frame for outdoor installations, comes lit with C-7 LEDs, and runs from $5,300 at 14 feet to $50,550 at 38 feet. For anything large or elevated outdoors, confirm anchoring and wind load with a qualified engineer; our article on wind rating explains why.
What it costs at three levels
These examples use current catalog prices for the product only. Freight and installation are extra.
| Property |
Example pieces |
Product cost |
| Boutique hotel |
9.5 ft pre-decorated lobby tree (about $2,950), 6 ft pre-decorated front desk tree ($1,790), two 6 ft LED lit entrance wreaths ($1,550 each) |
About $7,840 |
| Full-service hotel |
14 ft Indoor Deluxe Pre-Decorated Tower Tree ($27,319), Giant Illuminated Gift Box Arches ($6,495), two 8 ft LED lit wreaths ($2,375 each) |
About $38,560 |
| Resort grounds |
22 ft Premium Commercial Panel Tree ($14,540), 15 ft Star Arch ($15,975), 11 ft Walk Through Ornament ($7,595) |
About $38,110 |
Commercial decor is bought for several seasons. Our warranty covers five seasons on steel frames and garlands, three seasons on electrical wiring, and one season on other parts and accessories, excluding bulbs and strands. See how long commercial Christmas decorations last.
Installing in a property that never closes
- Plan installation for the quietest hours, such as overnight, and stage it so the lobby is never half finished during check-in.
- Keep routes from the door to the front desk, elevators and exits clear for guests with luggage.
- Know where outlets are and keep cords out of walkways. LED lighting draws less power than incandescent; see our LED and incandescent comparison.
- Ballroom decor has to move between events, so choose freestanding pieces the banquet team can shift.
- Decide where the decor lives for the rest of the year before you buy it.
When to order
Pre-decorated garland, wreaths and trees typically ship in 2 to 6 weeks, and that window gets longer as the season approaches. In stock items can ship as quickly as the next business day. Custom pieces and large atrium or resort programs should be started 3 to 6 months before installation. Because pre-decorated items can take up to 6 weeks, place the order at least 6 weeks before the date the decor has to be up, and earlier for anything custom. See when to order commercial Christmas decorations for the full calendar.
Buying for a hotel or hotel group
Purchase order payment terms are available to qualifying businesses, and larger orders can go through a formal quote for ownership, management company or brand approval. Oversize decor ships by LTL freight, quoted for the specific order.
What to have ready before requesting a quote
- The areas you want to decorate: arrival, lobby, front desk, restaurant, ballroom, grounds
- Ceiling height and floor space where the lobby tree will stand
- Photos of each area
- Brand standards or colors the decor needs to follow
- Any fire safety requirements from your property or local authority
- Your approximate budget and the date decor needs to be up
Send us your property details
Common questions about hotel Christmas decorations
What Christmas decorations does a hotel need?
Start with the lobby tree, then the arrival, the front desk, the restaurant and bar, and any ballroom. Resorts add outdoor grounds. One theme across all of them makes the property look planned rather than assembled.
How much do commercial Christmas decorations for a hotel cost?
For product alone at our catalog prices, a boutique hotel lobby, front desk and entrance is about $7,840. A full-service hotel with a 14 foot decorated atrium tree, a gift box photo arch and two 8 foot wreaths is about $38,560. Freight and installation are extra.
Do you offer Christmas decor packages for hotels?
Yes. Pre-decorated tree packages come with tree, lights and matched ornaments in themes such as Classic, Silver and Gold, Coastal and Jewel Tone, from $1,790 for a 6 foot tree. Decoration packages alone start at $1,000 for hotels that already own trees.
Should a hotel use artificial or real Christmas trees?
Artificial commercial trees suit hotel public areas. They are reused for several seasons, do not shed needles, and avoid the restrictions some local fire codes place on cut trees in public buildings.
What size Christmas tree fits a hotel lobby?
Measure the ceiling and floor first. Our pre-decorated trees run from 6 to 9.5 feet, and indoor tower trees for double-height lobbies and atriums start at 14 feet. Leave room above the topper and keep clear paths for guests with luggage.
What size wreaths and garland should a hotel use?
Size them to viewing distance. Wreaths run from 3 to 12 feet in diameter. Garland of 12 or 14 inches suits handrails, doorframes and interior use, and 18 or 20 inch garland suits facades, thick columns and long exterior runs.
When should a hotel order Christmas decorations?
Order at least 6 weeks before the decor has to be up. Pre-decorated items typically ship in 2 to 6 weeks, longer late in the season, and custom or large programs need 3 to 6 months.
Can a hotel group buy on a purchase order?
Yes. Purchase order payment terms are available to qualifying businesses, and larger orders can be issued as a formal quote for approval by ownership, management or the brand.
