4 Ways Hotels Have Been Leveraging the Pokémon Go Craze
Pokémon Go fans, rejoice! While many businesses and public venues, from mom-and-pop shops to local libraries, have been getting involved with the worldwide app craze, hotels and resorts, we're proud to report, have as well. Here's a look at how properties have been getting in on the game, and how you can turn your next vacation into a Pokémon Go player's paradise.
1. Welcoming Onsite Pokéstops and "Gyms"
Major cities and destinations are now hotspots for the augmented reality app game, as much as they already have been for tourism in actual reality. Hotels and resorts across the globe are not only near main fixtures of the game — spots where players can catch the creatures, item-spewing Pokéstops and coveted "gyms" (where battles take place) — but many have been lucky enough to have all these valuable features available within their walls.
The Hilton Anatole in Dallas, for instance, is home to nearly 15 Pokéstops, a few gyms, and several rare and evolved Pokémon characters. The Borgata in Atlantic City also has been lucky enough to have Pokéstops and gyms within its resort property — the Borgata and other hotels sporting similar app features within their walls have also engaged with the Pokémon Go community by either creating posts on their websites about the app or chatting about it with fans via social media.
2. Creating Special Tools and Perks You Can Only Find There
Some places are even taking things a step further and creating special tools to help their Pokémon-training guests. The Karma Kandara in Bali is rapidly becoming the island's premier Pokémon Go stomping grounds, giving guests and their families the chance to catch the little monsters in the midst of the property's outstanding natural landscapes. To aide them, the hotel has created a Pokémon Go tour map — you can also sip Pokémon-themed cocktails (and mocktails) onsite after a long day's hunt.
Stateside, the Center Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas offers $2 draft beers when guests show the bartender their in-game character while visiting the popular PokéStop.
3. Offering Poké-Packages and Other Deals Geared Toward Players
Properties are taking advantage of the active aspect of the app by offering packages that'll keep guests moving around. The Palmetto Dunes resort in Hilton Head Island has a four-day, three-night kid-friendly vacation package that includes bike rentals for all guests so they can bike across the island to visit different spots for game play. The "Hatch Eggs on Hilton Head Island" promotion is especially helpful to those hoping to collect special critters that'll hatch eggs with a surprise Pokémon inside — the resort even ensures guests pedal at a leisurely pace of less than 12-20 mph on the bikes, since anything faster won't allow the eggs to hatch. With the package, which starts at $80 per person per night, the resort provides an area Pokémon Guide and a $15 iTunes gift card to purchase Pokécoins, just in case guests wish to purchase "incubators" to help more eggs hatch simultaneously.
With a focus on saving travelers money, the Radisson Hotel Corning in upstate New York is offering a Poké-package, which includes a 10% discount on your stay, a Pokémon-inspired in-room gift and complimentary breakfast for children ages 12 and under. As the property has pointed out on its promotion page, it's situated near 38 Pokéstops and six gyms.
Kicking hotel packages up a notch to help you experience the world of Pokémon on a larger scale, The Peninsula Tokyo, a luxury hotel in the upscale Marunouchi business district of Japan's capital, has launched the city's first customized, interactive Pokémon hotel experience. Exclusively designed for the hotel by the The Pokémon Company, the Pokémon Hotel Adventure: The Power of Ten experience is an imaginative hotel-wide quest designed to help younger trainers find lost creatures. The package includes exclusively designed goodies, like two Pikachu hats and two original Pageboy Pikachu plush dolls, as well as VIP access to the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo, a Pikachu greeting and photo session, complimentary entry and access to activities at the Osaka Pokémon Expo Gym and a 10% off voucher valid at the gift shop.
4. Getting the Entire Brand On Board
While many individual properties have been getting on board with the Pokémon Go phenomenon, Marriott seems to be the only hotel group to really get behind the app — the hotel brand jumped in on the social media conversation right away following the app's release and has continued to engage with guests, even listing a guide on its Traveler site. Marriott also partnered with Expedia to send America's first Pokémon Go master on a trip around the world to catch the remaining creatures exclusive to several different continents, an exciting journey that involved staying at the Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe Hotel, the Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel, Pier One Sydney Harbour (an Autograph Collection hotel) and the Tokyo Marriott Hotel.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees