Hallmark Holidays: It’s a Dreamy Delta Getaway – Kelowna BC

Did someone say Christmas in July?

Well, if you’re a Hallmark Christmas movie fan like I am, you’ll notice one streetscape in a postcard-pretty valley looks familiar.

Somehow, I ended up in Kelowna, BC, where I recently played the role of foodie detective for an upcoming feature travel article in DreamScapes magazine.

What I didn’t know was that my stay at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort in downtown Kelowna, BC, Canada, is where all the action is.

You see, a few days before my arrival, movie trucks were on location (not for Hallmark movies). And, during my entire stay, the popular lakeside resort morphed into “Christmas in June and yes, July.”

The other big surprise: a major overhaul was completed at this two-tower resort and conference center. Experience a total refresh of room interiors and a new lobby design with a brand-new anchor restaurant. Head to the spa, and splash around at the indoor and outdoor pools.

For those conference center types, expect refreshed interiors, new AV capabilities, and improved Wi-Fi, with conference space renovations completed in 2024.

For me, it was a (Hallmark) dream come true.

Here’s why.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

I can see why NHL hockey players sneak away here—Located on unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan people, it’s a four-season playground with soft adventure all around. Meshed between heaven and earth, you get misty mountains, fabled Okanagan Lake, with all the outdoor thrills. Skiing in the winter. Sailing in the summer.

To boot, golf whenever you can!

Let’s flashback to 1992, the year this waterfront hotel and conference center opened.

Back then, it was called Grand Okanagan Resort & Conference Centre. Kelowna was a city positioning itself in leisure travel with a bent toward agri-tourism.

Think winery tours, golf, seasonal fruit picking, and more. All these activities are still possible with more choices now than ever.

My interest in staying at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort was in the city’s food scene. And this hotel on Water Street is within walking distance to trendy restaurants, big on authentic local charm.

The Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort is right where the action is—steps from the Kelowna Art Gallery, the Cultural District, the waterfront boardwalk, public parks, and a beach. See a new open-air stage called Island Stage, where the  Canadian  Country Music Awards, for the first time, will boot-scoot in Kelowna this fall.

Yes, artists from around North America will gather at this unique venue just steps from the resort. The hotel is pegged as the stage backdrop. Don’t be surprised if you share an elevator with a Stetson-wearing heartthrob.

SUITE HIGHLIGHTS

I swing open the French doors of my corner suite—Room 1001 in the South Tower—and boom: city and lake views for days. Light floods the space in a palette of creams and soft greys. It’s got that clean, cozy luxury thing down to an art.

Then, there’s the bathroom. 

Find a plunging Jacuzzi soaker tub, and a modern walk-in shower with soft-glow lighting, perfect for either Hallmark movie stars or foodie detectives. (I raise my hand).

There’s a surprise welcome basket for this Marriott Bonvoy gal: handcrafted truffles, organic honey, and a bottle of local B.C. wine that had a subliminal message, “Open me immediately.” Naturally, I obeyed.

Now, full confession: I was on a cherry mission. That mini-fridge became my cherry vault. I bought bags at the market and rationed them like rubies.

My dad would be proud. Back in the ‘80s, he packed the whole family into our Chevy Malibu for a “see the country” road trip. No Delta Grand then. Just tents, bug spray, and Dad’s relentless optimism.

As a teen, I pined for my friends. Now? I see he was onto something.

He sparked the travel bug that’s still in full buzz.

HOTEL PERKS

Okay, there’s a $45 resort fee daily – but here’s what you get.

Perk or not, you get a daily $10 food and beverage credit per room, a complimentary 1-hour wine tasting and spirits for 2 guests; a 2-hour bike rental (free) for you and a guest; a daily 1-hour peddle boat and kayak rental for you and a guest, and daily enhanced high-speed internet access.

The above are the seasonal offerings worth exploring.

Also, the Pantry on the main floor, located near the reception, is a snack haven.

A separate key card gives Marriott Bonvoy members carte blanche access. Fresh fruit, creamy popsicles, and, depending on the time of day, breakfast grab-and-go options or savory hot snacks are at the ready.  

DIVERSIONS: ON PROPERTY

Find a gym open 24/7, pick your pool preference, indoor or outdoor.

The hotel regularly schedules on-site activities.

In my case, it was Family Pizza Party Day, a Grinch Movie Marathon, and keeping with the Christmas in July theme, Tea Time and Stories with Mrs. Claus.

Just download a QR code and purchase activation tickets online or at the front desk to enjoy these kinds of ‘hotel activations.’

So what happens when a lakefront resort throws a party? Sunny Saturday Pool Party is for guests where treats are available from the Quench Poolbar. Find your boa, wear your sequins, get that tiara, put on those sunglasses, and get ready to paaahr-tee like it was 1992!

DIVERSIONS: OFF PROPERTY

But the real cherry on top? This resort sits minutes from downtown Kelowna’s restaurant row.

Bernard Avenue is lined with cafés, bistros, and gelato stops. My fave? A pasta-making class at Lakehouse Kitchens with Chef Travis Pye. I stuffed three kinds of pasta—ravioli, tortellini, you name it—and learned pro pasta-making tips while bonding with couples on work retreats and locals who knew all the foodie gossip.

On market day, I Uber to the Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market and discover my personal Eden: baskets of cherries, herbal teas with cheeky names, artful quilts, and fruit-crate furniture I don’t need but want anyway. I scarf homemade ice cream between sips of artisanal pour-over coffee. Life = complete.

And because those carbs won’t burn themselves, I sign up for a guided e-bike tour with Lakeside Eco-Sports. These sleek Rise bikes—proudly made in Vancouver—boost me uphill with throttle magic. Calories? Maybe not. But views? 100%.

To finish strong, I joined a “Taste of Kelowna Food Tours” with Andrew, who leads me on foot through a seven-course movable feast of the local culinary scene. Each bite has mystery and magic:  hot tamales, gooey pizza, cuke cocktail, and—yes—more ice cream.

FOOD AND DRINK

Let me introduce my daily haunt: Oak + Cru, the hotel’s new anchor restaurant.

The outdoor patio overlooks the lagoon where ducks waddle and lovers paddle. I grab breakfast here daily—an extensive buffet of eggs any way, granola mountains, and buttery pastries with enough flakiness to rival your ex.

But lunch steals the show: fresh fish tacos so zesty and light, I consider ordering seconds (okay, I did). The service is snappy, the plating’s camera-ready, and the vibe? Relaxed chic.

At night, the energy shifts. Twinkly lights flicker. Wine flows.

And I quietly raise my glass to this corner of the world where summer wears a Santa hat and the food scene makes my heart (and tastebuds) sing.

Author Ilona Kauremszky showcases her Corner Suite at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna, BC.

FINAL IMPRESSIONS

 So here I am—sun on my shoulders, cherries in my tote, and enough Christmas cheer to fuel a snow globe factory. The Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort delivers all the feels of a Hallmark holiday with the indulgent trimmings of a luxury summer escape.

It’s the kind of place where movie sets collide with mountains, and every hotel corner tugs at you with a clever mantra: “Stay just one more night.”

From art walks to wine trails, spa soaks to pasta classes, this Kelowna hotspot lets you choose-your-own-adventure in lakefront luxe.

And if you’re anything like me, and think snowflakes and sunshine pair perfectly together, pack your bags.

Because summer just got a whole lot more magical.

Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com, or visit the website of Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort.

Photo credits: Ilona Kauremszky 

Hotel-Scoop Columnist Ilona Kauremszky stayed at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort as a media guest of Tourism Kelowna.