Hotel news

Epic Waterpark in Grand Prairie adds walking-distance on-site hotel

New hotel combo at Epic Waterpark.

Hilton

A new Hilton hotel has opened in Grand Prairie’s buzzy entertainment district EpicCentral, located between Dallas-Fort Worth off SH-161 just north of I-20.

The property is a dual-branded Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton, located at 2935 S. State Hwy. 161, opened just in time for spring break.

According to a release, its debut marks the first overnight accommodations in the district, best known for its splashy Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark.

Operated by Concord Hospitality, the property features a total of 276 rooms, divided between the two brands:

Hilton Garden Inn: 129 guest rooms, executive lounge, restaurant, pool, and fitness room
Homewood Suites: 147 guest rooms, with studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites with kitchens available

Room rates at the Garden Inn begin at $126 per night. Rates at Homewood Suites - Hilton's larger, apartment-like extended-stay concept - begin at $157 per night.

The property also has a shared 10,000-square-foot ballroom and conference center.

“With a joint mission in furthering family-friendly experiences and adventure, Hilton is the perfect partner to offer on-site stays to our guests,” says Lauren Brown, director of sales and marketing for Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites.

EpicCentral has a partnership with Candlewood Suites which is just under 3 miles away, and there is also a LaQuinta and a Coutyard By Marriott nearby. But the Hilton is the only hotel nestled within the 172-acre entertainment district, making them walking distance to various entertainment and dining options on site.

In addition to the Epic Waters waterpark, the district’s highlights include The Epic, a 120,000-square-foot fitness, arts, and entertainment space; Bolder Indoor Adventure Park, an indoor rock climbing facility; Chicken N Pickle, the indoor/outdoor restaurant and pickleball complex; and The Summit, a fitness center specifically catered to seniors.

hotels

Holiday News

American Airlines expects record-setting travel on Thanksgiving 2024

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

American Airlines ready for takeoff.

The holidays are looming and American Airlines is ramping up. Over the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, the Fort Worth-based airline expects to process nearly 8.3 million customers across more than 77,000 flights.

According to a statement from American's COO David Seymour, the airline is having a good fall season and canceled fewer flights than its peers during October.

“Thanks to the hard work of our 130,000 team members, we canceled fewer flights than any of our major competitors this October and beat our own records for on-time departures and arrivals,” Seymour says.

That's surely good news. One hates to rain on their parade, but in June 2024, the only flight I booked this year, my flight was canceled less than 24 hours before take-off. I had made hotel reservations, scheduled a pet sitter, planned events, and arranged for a friend to pick me up at the destination airport. One employee speculated that it may have been "insufficient crew." Their only solution offered was: Feel free to reschedule your flight.

Thanksgiving facts and figures
The travel window runs from November 21 to December 3, and the airline expects to carry more than 500,000 more customers than it did last year.

The most-traveled day will be Sunday, December 1. The second most-traveled day will be Monday, December 2.

The peak of peak: 1,035 mainline and regional aircraft will be enroute at 10:45 am on Sunday, December 1 — the highest number of flights handled at any given time during American’s travel period.

The airline expects to serve more than 6.8 million Biscoff cookies on board from November 21 to December 3.

Travel tips
Download the American Airlines app and check in for your flight, noting added any bags to your trip. This will save you time at the airport.

If traveling internationally, download the Mobile Passport Control app, which can speed up your entry into the U.S. Global Entry members can download the Global Entry app, which allows you to submit your entry and go straight to the officer.

Upon arrival at the airport lobby, scan your mobile boarding pass to print bag tags quickly at a kiosk. If you’re not checking bags, go straight to TSA security with your mobile boarding pass.

holidays