This winter, Tower Club Dallas has transformed its 48th-floor space into a ski lodge-inspired retreat, offering locals a taste of the slopes without leaving downtown.
General Manager Irakli “BB” Jorjadze collaborated with event designer Macy Pulliam to create an inviting atmosphere adorned with twinkling lights, seasonal decorations, and even a life-sized bear named Bruce, reported Candy’sDirt.
The space, which can host various events, quickly became popular for members and non-members seeking picturesque settings for celebrations.
Despite the ski lodge decor disappearing by Valentine’s Day, the club’s commitment to engaging its community continues. Exciting events are planned for the year, including a fashion show celebrating local talents.
Here is the rest of the story by Candy’sDirt on this upscale venue:
For those who don’t have the time or budget to hit the slopes and bask in the afterglow at a genuine ski lodge, Tower Club Dallas has the latter experience on tap downtown this season.
The upscale business and social club on the 48th floor of Santander Tower has been decking its halls to resemble a mountain ski lodge the past few winters, transforming roughly 3,500 square feet of its space into an alpine-inspired escape.
One of the city’s premier hotspots for networking and private events, Tower Club Dallas took a hit just like every other venue in town when people took to social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Irakli “BB” Jorjadze, the club’s general manager, told CandysDirt.com he had to think about how to reinvigorate operations in the aftermath. He decided to focus on one of the club’s rooms, which was dedicated for wedding ceremonies.
“On any other date, [the room is] pure white with mirrors and whatnot,” Jorjadze said. “We were not doing as many ceremonies in there. I came back from Aspen, and I was like, ‘We gotta do something with that room to generate more revenue.”
Executing the Concept
Jorjadze credited his friend Macy Pulliam, owner and creative director of the event design and planning firm Social Llama Events, with executing on the concept.
“I told her I want to do something Aspen, something ski lodge that our members can utilize, have a photo opportunity, give our members another space they can hang out besides the main area,” he said. “Macy and her team did an amazing job.”
Twinkling Christmas trees, seasonal wreaths, snow-white fur pillows, and a life-sized stuffed black bear named Bruce comprise just some of the adornments that leave visitors feeling like they just finished hitting the slopes and are due a cocktail or two.
“Every year we add a little nuance to it. We enhance it every year, add some more pieces,” Jorjadze said.
One thing that might distract from the ski lodge theme but is in no way a negative is the view. The club offers a great perch from which to take in the bustle of downtown and the sprawling cityscape. While the metroplex lacks mountains, it offers some great depth of field.
The ski lodge can accommodate a standing cocktail reception for up to 100 visitors. A formal sit-down event can also be arranged for 50 guests or so. While it was originally imagined as just another space that could be enjoyed by Tower Club Dallas members, it quickly took off as a favorite for members and non-members alike to book private events.
“All the weekends are booked right now. We have January availability during the week, but we also throw a couple of parties [for members] when there’s availability. We do an after-ski party. That’s something we do almost every month,” Jorjadze said.
While the ski lodge decor will all be gone by Valentine’s Day, Jorjadze said there are a number of special events and developments members can look forward to next year.
“We’re going to have a fashion show for Steven Goudeau in February to celebrate Black History Month and showcase … local talents,” he said. “You know, we are also looking at transforming one of the rooms into a podcast studio for our members to use. We think, ‘How can we utilize the space to not only host and engage but also support our local communities?’ I think that is the key to our success.”
Tower Club Dallas is a private club that caters to paying members. It is owned by Invited, the owner-operator of hundreds of golf, country, city, and sports clubs across the U.S.
“That’s the beauty of us, that we have such a huge network of clubs that individuals can cross-utilize. … They can come host their events at the club or have dinner and vice versa,” Jorjadze said. “Even when you travel … you get access to this network, and I think that’s the beauty of Invited, the power of Invited. Our motto is ‘building relationships and enriching lives,’ and I think that’s the core of our purpose. I think we do that very well.”
Membership doesn’t exactly come cheap though. The two tiers of membership for Tower Club Dallas are currently priced at $238 and $286 per month.
Regardless, there is still time for new and old members alike to check out the ski lodge when it isn’t booked for a private event, with the special theme running through January 2025.