The rising trend of „skillcations“ encourages travelers to learn new skills reflecting their vacation destination, offering unique souvenirs like sapphire mining in Montana or falconry in Georgia. Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report indicates 72% of travelers want to explore personal passions while away.
Hotels are embracing this desire by offering exclusive, location-specific classes and workshops. For example, Alila Ventana Big Sur in California provides nature-integrated experiences such as beekeeping, botanical hydrosol classes using foraged plants, and knife handle-making with local wood. This trend allows guests to deeply connect with their surroundings and return home with a newfound skill.
As the buzzy portmanteau “skillcations” suggests, perhaps the best souvenir to take home from vacation is a new skill learned—and bonus points if it reflects a sense of place. Maybe you won’t be able to think about Montana without calling to mind that time you mined for sapphires near Gem Mountain. Sea Island, Georgia, might be where you mastered the art of falconry, while it was in the Hudson Valley where you had your first taste of via ferrata rock climbing.
According to Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report, 72% of travelers expressed a desire to take time off to explore a personal passion, skill, or hobby. Hotels are tapping into this growing consumer desire by offering guests exclusive classes, workshops, and local experiences that reflect their unique locations. From the green hills of Vermont to the islands of Hawaii, here are 10 thoughtful hotels across the US leaning into the “skillcation” trend, offering everything from jewelry-making classes to beginner’s archery.
Bronwyn Knight
Bronwyn Knight
Alila Ventana Big Sur
Big Sur, California
With an emphasis on mindful disconnection, a stay at Alila Ventana Big Sur is all about highlighting the surrounding Pacific waters and redwood forests of California’s Central Coast. The Alila Experience program is filled with workshops integrated with nature, such as „Dive in the Hive,“ where you’ll delve into the art of beekeeping at Ventana and enjoy a guided honey tasting, or a hydrosol class, where you can learn about botanical distillation using foraged plants from Big Sur. There’s also a course on knife handle-making, which makes use of locally sourced wood from the property.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
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