Hilton just made six travel lovers very happy.
The New Ways to Stay campaign lifted off in a bright and bold way under the sparkling lights of Times Square on Nov 5 when attendees came out for a chance to be whisked away on a mystery getaway and discover where their next stay could take them.
Comedian Heather McMahan was in the heart of the Bid Apple to help launch the moment and celebrate the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drop everything and run off on a dream vacation.
‘”Hilton called me and said we’re doing this cool activation where you get literally whisked away. People are just showing up and we are sending you on a trip!” McMahan enthusiastically described to The Knockturnal. “Nearly 80 percent of people say that they need a break before the holidays even get here. 80 percent of people desperate for a vacation and would take the opportunity to drop of a dime to go somewhere. So I just feel like it’s such a cool opportunity for folks to like take a moment for themselves.”
“I just feel like it’s such a cool opportunity for folks to like take a moment for themselves, you know. And especially like as women, I feel like we do so much for our families and so much for everybody else. And finding that time to like clock in and say I need something for myself is a you know to like feel like you can go ahead and do that and take that time is I think amazing. But I think also having trust in the the brand, trust to Hilton. Like yes, I don’t think everybody would do that if they didn’t have trust in the name Hilton. Oh yeah, you know when you’re showing up to a Hilton property, it’s like everything has been taken care of, and it’s going to be great. And listen, as somebody who stays on the road as much as I do, I always try and find a Hilton. If whatever town I’m in, I’m like, I know they’re going to get a great night’s sleep. There, you know, there it’s just going to be a fantastic experience. So, and also like, who doesn’t want to go to Tulum? You know. But also, we I feel like we live in such a rat race culture. We’re never taking time for ourselves, and it’s like if you don’t go see the world, you’re gonna forget that it’s there. And I, you know, as somebody who travels for work, there are days where I have to go. I actually need to go out and see the city. Like I need to see what this is about. It’s not just like clocking in and going from the next thing to the next thing. It’s like, hey, can you got 48 hours? Let’s go somewhere and like reconnect with the people that you love. Take friends. Take family. Also, I was telling a couple of people, I was like, everyone’s about to go to the holidays, and everybody can’t stay in their families. So I think a great hostess gift is if you’re going like you know your sisters for the holidays, send her on vacation for two nights by herself, so she can have a solo trip to decompress from dealing with the entire family and cooking for everyone and cleaning up after everyone, I think that’s a great gift. I would want that. I love it. Yeah, and I have like traditions with my family where we don’t, you know, we don’t have kids yet, so we don’t do gifts, and we travel every year. We try and go somewhere new, preferably somewhere tropical. So we’re gonna try and figure out where we’re going this year for Christmas because I’m like, you know what? I want a new memory and a new experience every year. No, it’s true. Yeah, and people now want the gift of experiences. Yeah, it’s not about the purse. How much shit do we need? You know, I want to go somewhere. I want to travel. I want to see new things. I want to meet new people, and that’s what you know. And that’s why this was just kind of like serendipitous when they called me. I was like, “Yeah, I already stayed at all of the Hiltons.” And today I’m coming. I’m staying at the Waldorf, and then I’m flying to another property, the Conrad in Tulum. Love it.
Joyful anticipation kicked off the morning that saw Hilton loyal fans come out to experience two hotel-inspired installations that opened the gateway for visitors to get a glimpse at the unexpected stays they can discover across Hilton’s growing portfolio.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: A view of Hilton’s New Ways to Stay one-day experience in Times Square, challenging New York City residents and visitors to drop everything to be whisked awayon November 05, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hilton)
“Sometimes the best trips are the ones you don’t overthink,” said Dan Reynolds, senior vice president, Global Marketing, Hilton. “This activation is about giving travelers the ultimate excuse to drop everything, embrace the unexpected and take some well-deserved time for themselves. It brings our latest campaign, New Ways to Stay, to life in a way that’s surprising, personal and unmistakably Hilton.”
From boutique hideaways and design-led hotels to resorts and outdoor escapes, the pop-up perfectly showcasedexperiences inspired by Hilton’s New Ways to Stay campaign and properties around the world, including Maison Heler Metz, Curio Collection by Hilton and La Valise Tulum, an SLH hotel.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Heather McMahan visits the installation inspired by the Maison Heler Metz, at the Hilton New Ways to Stay Whisk Away one-day experience on November 05, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hilton)
The six winners with their passports in-hands took off on the grand adventure from Times Square, which was also the point of the newsworthy Nasdaq MarketSite happening of Hilton ringing the opening bell to highlight its next chapter of innovation and growth.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Whisk Away winners celebrate with their new Away luggage at the Hilton New Ways to Stay Whisk Away one-day experience in Times Square on November 05, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hilton)
Hilton just transferred its common stock listing, HLT, from the New York Stock Exchange to Nasdaq, marking the latest milestone in the company’s evolution as an innovative, fast-growing hospitality leader.
