Snow Laughing Matter: This Holiday Wonderland Proves That Family Fun and Festive Surprises Never Melt Away.

November 3rd, 2025

By Riviera Beach Prep Journalism students

Snow may never fall in South Florida, but at The Ben Hotel in West Palm Beach, a frosty dose of holiday cheer has arrived all the same. Returning for its second year, Winter Wonderland has transformed the waterfront hotel into a festive escape where palm trees meet pine, and locals of all ages can glide across real outdoor ice under the glow of twinkling lights.

At the heart of it all is General Manager Bernardo Neto, whose passion for hospitality and community shines as brightly as the holiday décor itself. “My favorite thing about this hotel is the team,” he shared during a lively group interview with local students. “We have about 300 associates, and we work together to achieve hard things, like putting together Winter Wonderland.”

And “hard” might be an understatement. Creating and maintaining a full-sized ice rink in Palm Beach County’s subtropical climate is no small feat. Neto explained the process with the enthusiasm of a proud engineer: “We hired a company with proprietary technology that runs aluminum coils underneath the rink. A chiller keeps the refrigerant at negative temperatures, so the water stays frozen and forms a sheet of ice.”

Bigger, Brighter, and More Community-Focused

This year’s Winter Wonderland is more than just an encore. It is a complete reinvention. The hotel expanded the rink to 50 by 66 feet, up from last year’s 40 by 66, while also making the event more accessible. “Last year guests had to pay just to enter the tent,” Neto said. “This year it’s free to come in. We wanted more community.”

That spirit of giving back is reflected in one of the event’s most heartwarming features: a forest of 30 Christmas trees, each decorated by a local non-profit organization. “They do incredible things in Palm Beach County,” Neto said. “We wanted to give them a chance to shine.”

The layout invites guests down a red-carpeted path through the tree-lined wonderland, leading to cozy corners where children can craft gifts in Santa’s Workshop or send handwritten Letters to Santa. Every corner is designed to feel less like an attraction and more like a memory in the making.

From Portugal to Palm Beach

Neto’s journey to The Ben is as global as it is inspiring. Originally from Portugal, he came to the U.S. in 2001 to attend Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island. Since then, his career has taken him from Hawaii’s island of Kauai to Europe, then to Las Vegas, where he helped open Park MGM, home to residencies from stars such as Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.

When asked how those experiences influence Winter Wonderland, Neto said it all comes down to crafting moments that matter. “People don’t just want a hot chocolate; they want an experience. So here, we don’t just sell tickets to skate, we create memories.”

Bringing the Christmas Spirit to Life

If you ask Neto what it means to bring the Christmas spirit to life, his answer comes without hesitation. “It’s family fun, unpredictable fun,” he said with a smile. “You come with one expectation, but then you find new experiences. Maybe you think you’re just coming for a drink or to see one Christmas tree, but then you discover this zigzag forest of trees, you go ice skating for the first time, and you leave with a memory that lasts a lifetime.”

And yes, Christmas is his favorite holiday. “It’s when I get to see my family,” he said. “For half my life I lived away from them, my brothers and my mom, so it’s the one season I’m guaranteed to be with them.”

A Lesson Beyond the Ice

Perhaps the most poignant moment came when Neto offered a bit of life advice to the young interviewers. “Put your phones away and get out on the ice,” he urged. “You’ll remember every second you’re out there. You might fall, but you’ll get up, and that’s the best part.”

He also spoke candidly about his toughest professional challenge: launching The Ben Hotel just five weeks before the pandemic hit. “That was tough,” he said. “You’re responsible for a team, for people’s livelihoods, and you don’t have control over what’s happening. But we got past it, and now we even have ice in Palm Beach.”

For Neto, Winter Wonderland isn’t just a seasonal attraction. It’s a reflection of what hospitality can be at its best—welcoming, imaginative, and full of heart. “Sometimes the best things in life are the simplest,” he said. “A cup of hot chocolate, a night with friends, a few laughs after falling on the ice. That’s what we wanted to give people.”

And with The Ben’s Winter Wonderland glowing against the South Florida skyline, it’s safe to say that spirit of joy has found a home, frozen solid in the middle of paradise.

Event Details

What: The Ben Hotel’s Winter Wonderland
Where: The Ben, Autograph Collection, 251 N Narcissus Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL
When: Select dates through the holiday season
Admission: Free general admission; ice skating sessions available for purchase
Highlights: Real outdoor ice skating, Santa’s Workshop, Letters to Santa station, 30 Christmas trees decorated by Palm Beach County non-profits
More Info: The Ben Hotel Winter Wonderland