GALVESTON ISLAND, TX (Oct. 6, 2011) – What do Santa Claus, the Mayor of Galveston and Queen Victoria all have in common? They will all be attending the City of Galveston’s Holiday Lighting Celebration at Hotel Galvez & Spa, A Wyndham Grand^® Hotel, on Friday, Nov. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. This free holiday event is open to the public and marks the start of the holiday season in Galveston. As part of the evening, Hotel Galvez will be accepting monetary donations for the Salvation Army to help those in need.

The Holiday Lighting Celebration will kick off with the lighting of the hotel’s 35-foot Christmas tree on the front lawn. The event will feature a special visit from Santa Claus, gifts and holiday entertainment provided by the Galveston Ballet, Houston Children’s Choir, bagpipers and more. Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski and Dickens on The Strand’s Queen Victoria are also scheduled to make an appearance.

Inside the hotel, Executive Chef Antonio Rodriguez and his staff invite guests to see the hotel’s holiday gingerbread display. The event is hosted by hotel owner George Mitchell and the Mitchell Family and presented by Mitchell Historic Properties and Hotel Galvez & Spa, A Wyndham Grand^® Hotel.

In conjunction with the Holiday Lighting Celebration, the hotel is offering a special holiday package during the Thanksgiving weekend. The Thanksgiving Getaway package, available beginning Nov. 23 or Nov. 24 includes a two-night stay, Thanksgiving brunch for two and complimentary valet parking. The two-night package is priced from $399 for a deluxe Gulf view room or $369 for a deluxe city view room, based on double occupancy. Pricing does not include tax.

As the holiday season continues, Santa Claus will make special appearances at Hotel Galvez’s Sunday Brunch with Santa on Dec. 4, 11 and 18, where guests are invited to dine and take pictures with Santa. During the month of December, the hotel’s live entertainment will take on a holiday theme every Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

About Hotel Galvez & Spa

Hotel Galvez & Spa, A Wyndham Grand^® Hotel, is the only historic beachfront hotel on the Texas Gulf Coast and was named Outstanding Property of the Year for 2010 by the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts^® brand, one of the highest honors in the upscale hotel chain’s portfolio. This 224-room, 100-year-old historic hotel offers 13,000 square feet of meeting space, a 9,763-square-foot spa, fitness center, full-service restaurant, lobby bar and pool with a swim-up bar. The hotel is rated four diamonds by AAA and owned by Galveston preservationist George Mitchell as part of Mitchell Historic Properties. For reservations, call (800) WYNDHAM, or visit www.WyndhamHotelGalvez.com and check special offers.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, LLC, a subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), offers upscale hotel and resort accommodations throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, China and the Caribbean. All Wyndham® hotels are either franchised by the company or managed by Wyndham Hotel Management, Inc., one of its affiliates or through a joint-venture partner. Additional information and reservations for all Wyndham hotels are available by calling (800) WYNDHAM – (800) 996-3426 – or visiting www.wyndham.com.

About Galveston Island

Galveston Island is the No. 2 tourism attraction in Texas for in-state and out-of-state travelers. Galveston is a historic beach town located just 50 miles south from Houston, Texas – the fourth largest city in the U.S. A diverse cultural town, Galveston Island is a unique destination offering 32 miles of beaches, a variety of family attractions and resorts, one of the largest and well-preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country and Texas’ premiere cruise port.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Christine Hopkins, APR

Public Relations Manager, Mitchell Historic Properties

(409) 457- 1055, chopkins@mitchellfamilycorp.com/Mitchell Historic Properties Pressroom