The Woodlands Resort wins special recognition as “One of the Top 10 Hotels in Texas” in Travel + Leisure magazine

THE WOODLANDS, TX – It’s become a trope – bordering on a tiresome cliché – to describe a location as a ‘hidden gem.’ Ordinarily at Woodlands Online we strive for better grammar and storytelling; however, when it comes to discussing The Woodlands Resort - Curio Collection by Hilton, we’re hard pressed to find a better description.

What started off a decade ago as a small, intimate destination hotel and conference center nestled behind the trees off of S Millbend near The Woodlands’ Town Center has over the years evolved and morphed into a beautiful, exotic, and luxurious member of the Curio Collection by Hilton family. The Curio Collection is a global upper upscale portfolio of more than 115 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts handpicked for their distinct character.

Last month, The Resort received the glowing honor of placing fifth in Travel + Leisure magazine’s annual “Top 10 Resorts in Texas.” Our Woodlands-based oasis was one of only two in the metropolitan area to receive the award.

Woodlands Online recently sat down with David Federico, Director of Resort Operations, to discuss The Resort’s past, present, and future. It has been in operation for nine years now, originally constructed as part of Howard Hughes Corporation and envisioned as part of the golf course. Over the years, the property grew to the extent that a year and a half ago Hughes sold it and it is now property managed by Coral Tree; this new management company in turn partnered with Hilton and inspired the upgrade of The Resort to part of the Curio Collection.

The Resort consists of 422 rooms sitting on more than 44 acres. It is connected with two golf courses totaling 36 holes. But the magnificence of the property has always eluded being able to be spotted by travelers along the main road.

“It’s hidden away among all these beautiful trees, and as a result sometimes people forget we’re here. And when they find us, they’re so surprised. It’s truly a hidden gem,” said Federico.

During the summer, The Resort is definitely a family-centric destination; during the winter it specializes in the convention season where major businesses of multiple industries come in to make use of a meeting area that has more than 80,000 square feet of space.

While the indoors features reception and dining areas walled with stonework and sconces and luxurious rooms and suites, the outdoors is festooned with the Cool Water Cafe, a splash pad, three major pools, a fourth smaller pool, three water slides, and a lazy river with waves.

“Kids love that,” said Federico. “We provide all the tubes. We also have a great arcade that people can enjoy when they need to get out of the water and indoors for a while.”

Federico credits the award with what he describes as the “wonderful exposure” from families posting updates and reviews online letting people know how much they enjoy the hotel.

“When we do holidays, we really do go all out, utilizing specific events with recreation teams. Coral Tree gives us the freedom to try so many different things, events and services that fall outside of the typical hotel box. We strive to entertain our guests and create a memorable experience for them, and we have these special meetings to get the creative juices flowing with that support.”

The Resort boasts an overall fun environment; activities run every day from 10 in the morning until 6 in the evening. “We have so many things that we cater to the kids, because happy kids make happy parents. We work so hard at that, that I believe if we allowed children to give us reviews, we wouldn’t just be in the top 5; we’d be number one all the way.”

Some of the family-and-kid based activities the hotel offers include kayaking on the lake, foam parties, weekend karaoke and pool parties, hula hoop contests, water aerobics, scavenger hunts, and much more. One activity in particular that stood out was goat yoga.

“For our goat yoga, we have baby goats wandering freely in the area,” said Federico with a laugh. “As the yoga master puts people in their positions, the goats jump on their backs and stretch with them. They’re only about 20 lbs each, so it’s an easy pressure that makes you feel like you’re getting a massage while you do yoga. It’s become so popular that we have people on hold sometimes because we don’t have enough goats, which is something you definitely don’t hear every day.”

There is also live entertainment on Thursdays through Saturdays. “We can’t wait for the weather to turn because we have this gorgeous patioed area overseeing Hole 18 of the course; it has lots of dancing space and a fire pit,” said Federico.

For dining purposes, the Back Table is where the original Robard’s used to be; now it’s a three meal a day restaurant. Chef Jonathan leads it with an innovative, delicious Southern cuisine flair, frequently mixing oysters from the New Orleans area with great meats; dishes so creative that diners keep coming back. For the kids, there are floats, ice cream presentations, and special dishes.

For Federico, the sense of community is paramount. “Within our culture, we want to make sure we’re recognized as partners with the community. The Resort has been here for quite a while, but it wasn’t the large size back then that it is now. It was a smaller hotel and convention area and the local community used it as such – from church gatherings to local businesses – and now it’s grown to such a major resort that brings in greater audiences. I’ve actually encountered businesspeople who say that their parents brought them here when they were kids living in the area.”

He continues: “Whenever there’s a big event in the Township, we’re always one of the first places called to ask how we want to participate and give back to the community. We work very closely with the local fire departments and law enforcement agencies, church groups, the Chamber of Commerce, and it’s a focal point for them. The local community supports us as much as we support it.”

He is eager to see what the near future holds for the hotel. “We’re just starting our renovation, going over carpets and draperies, bathroom upgrades, more décor in the rooms, updated technology, and more. Every two to four years, we invest significant resources in upgrades, from carpets to restaurants, from amenities to services.”

Federico’s pride – which is matched by all the staff – is apparent. “We cater to everybody. During the week, we’re focused on a lot of conventions, but the weekends bring out the families. Other hotels rely on the businesses and tend to slow down on the weekends; but for us we live for the influx of families looking for a break from the week. Our team is very engaged in providing the best possible experience, and this award from Travel + Leisure is proof of our efforts.”