Outdoor Movies are 'In' for Hotels and Cruises

Hotels and cruise lines began adding outdoor movie screenings as a summer amenity, projecting films onto building walls or large poolside screens. Several hospitality brands launched programmes around the same period, reflecting a broader trend.

The Flatotel in New York City began projecting Italian cinema classics onto a 30-foot wall at its outdoor restaurant, MODA Outdoors. Executive chef Eric Mason got the idea from the film Cinema Paradiso, in which movies play in an Italian piazza. The programme features works by Federico Fellini, Roberto Rossellini, and Bernardo Bertolucci, all with English subtitles. Cruise lines joined the trend as well: Carnival launched a 22-foot LED screen on the Lido deck of the Liberty, while Princess Cruises started poolside movies on the Caribbean Princess before expanding to additional ships.

Additional hotel programmes:

• Loews Annapolis Hotel, Annapolis, MD — Sunday outdoor screenings free to attend; “pet-friendly” film picks such as 101 Dalmatians and Beethoven, with pets welcome. Food and drinks from the Weather Rail Lounge.
• Westin St. John Resort & Villas, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands — “Dive-in” movies next to the 13,000-square-foot pool (the largest in the Virgin Islands); guests can watch while floating on the water.
• Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson — Saturday poolside screenings at no charge; family programming; free snacks, with heartier fare at the pool bar.