Starwood Will Turn Bryant Park Into a Summer Wonderland Tomorrow

Which would you prefer: hotel pool in South Beach--or ice-rink in the city?

If you live in NYC or have been in town this winter, you may have noticed that Bryant Park has been transformed into The Pond, a free skate rink with assorted other wintry activities on tap. Tomorrow, however, Starwood is flipping the seasons and turning the Pond into a pop-up summer shop, promoting the idea of a winter getaway to one of its hotels and resorts in Florida and the Caribbean.

Drop by between noon and 6 p.m. tomorrow and you'll see beach cabanas, a beach-ball-filled igloo, chicks getting their hair braided and people bowling with coconuts. You know, just another day in New York.

Starwood's various brands will hold court in the cabanas, each offering visitors a different activity: Sheraton is hosting make-up consultations for brides-to-be; St. Regis is doing mini-spa treatments by Laboratoire Remède; W Hotels will be taking glamour shots free of charge; and Westin is going after the kiddies, with sand art, and the aforementioned coconut bowling.

There'll be opportunities to win getaways and SPG Starpoints throughout the afternoon, with contests ranging from guessing the number of beach balls inside the igloo to brides and grooms showing up in their best wedding attire.

By Hotelchatter.com Photos: HotelChatter; Pond at Bryant Park