“A Taste of Thompson” dinner parties bring bespoke dining experiences to 13 hotel properties

Kevin Gray

Sensing a need for unique private dinner spaces that don’t just rely on the same prix fixe menus and perfunctory service, Thompson Hotels has just launched “A Taste of Thompson” dinner parties, which lets guests and locals host bespoke and highly curated dinner parties at 13 Thompson hotel properties across the globe.

“A Taste of Thompson Dinner Parties elevate what you’d expect from a basic group dinner to offer something truly personal and unique,” Crystal Vinisse Thomas, vice president and global brand leader for Thompson Hotels, said, adding that the parties are “more than just gatherings, but also experiences that act as a canvas for creativity, a glimpse into the soul of a destination, and above all, a beautiful way to bring people together.”

Once an experience is booked, dinner party hosts can tap into each property’s culinary, beverage and event teams to custom design menus and décor, and even to curate live music and interactive elements, taking the experience beyond a standard dinner party.

Guests have access to big names like Tom Colicchio (The Beekman in New York), James-Beard-nominated chef Todd Ginsberg (Thompson Atlanta - Buckhead), and two-Michelin starred chef Danny Grant (Thompson Dallas).

The events vary by property and take place in intimate spaces throughout the participating hotels. They’re meant to accommodate between six and 20 attendees.

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At The Beekman, chef Tom Colicchio offers a “high-low” four-course dinner featuring fried chicken, caviar, and a selection of grower champagnes. 

Thompson Savannah dinner parties include a custom beverage cart, with the host’s choice of wine pairings, martini variations, champagne and champagne-based cocktails, or a whiskey cart with the hotel’s own single barrel rye. Hosts can also add a live painting exhibition to the experience, in which local artist Adrienne Berkland will paint a portrait of the dinner party while it is ongoing. Hosts will get the original artwork, while guests will receive prints to commemorate the occasion.

Thompson Nashville events take place on the hotel’s terrace and include a private serenade by a top local musician. And the Thompson Dallas experience starts with an in-suite, five-course dinner, followed by a sleepover in the penthouse suite, and ends with a recovery breakfast for the hosts.

The dinner party series is an extension of the brand’s ongoing “Culture Lives Here” programming, which highlights creatives in each Thompson Hotels market across music, art, fashion, design, and culinary. For now, these bespoke dinners are available to book through the end of 2023, covering summer and fall events and the holiday season. But if the program is well-received, it may continue into next year and beyond.

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“We’re excited to see how Thompson properties collaborate with hosts to customize dinner parties for their groups through the seasons to come,” Vinisse Thomas said. “As always, we’ll listen to our guests and members to evaluate the continuation of this offering at the end of the year based on response and continued demand.”