Dec. 15, 2025

It was time to celebrate this month at the Canopy by Hilton hotel — and guests on Dec. 4 were invited to the party.

Those checking in that day, which officially marked the one-year anniversary of the seven-story hotel at The Steel District in downtown Sioux Falls, were greeted with personalized cards and chocolate bonbons in their rooms. Guests at the on-site Cascata Italian Cuisine restaurant enjoyed complimentary mini cheesecakes from Chef Chris Hodapp and a prosecco toast.

The event marked the culmination of a successful year for the 216-room property, according to general manager Hristiyana Ralinova.

“It’s been a great first year,” she said.

“Our first year has been an incredible success. Despite the challenges of opening in December, the launch was smooth and well received, and momentum has continued ever since. Monthly occupancy trends show steady improvement, with a notable increase in leisure guests alongside corporate bookings. The property has earned strong positive feedback from everyone who visits, reinforcing our position as a top destination in The Steel District.”

When it opened, the Canopy represented the most upscale brand to enter the market, bringing not just new options for overnight guests but a range of corporate and social events.

“This year has been a milestone for the Canopy and The Steel District,” Ralinova said.

“After an extremely busy summer that carried into fall, our event space has been fully booked multiple times, hosting several events simultaneously and welcoming thousands of guests. The Canopy is no longer seen as ‘new’ — brand awareness and familiarity have grown significantly, and we anticipate even greater activity across The Steel District moving forward.”

This holiday season has brought new efforts to attract guests.

A designated holiday suite designed by Sioux Falls retailer Simply Perfect offers an immersive Christmas experience, complete with a letter from Santa at check-in, decorated trees in the room and a hot chocolate bar and sweets curated by Hodapp.

It includes one king bed and one queen sleeper sofa and overlooks Winter Wonderland at Falls Park.

“We wanted to create a holiday oasis for guests to really enjoy the view and an elevated experience that’s available for locals and travelers,” said Rachel Pritchett, director of sales. “It’s a ‘wow’ effect from the moment you walk in.”

The suite still has some availability and can be reserved through Jan. 5, the final night for Winter Wonderland.

“The holiday theme is throughout the hotel — we have Christmas trees on almost every floor,” Pritchett said. “So it’s a continuation of the holiday experience where we’re welcoming guests and locals to see the Falls and the Canopy and embrace the holiday spirit.”

The Canopy partnered with Oakridge Nursery on a large live tree decorated with custom ornaments for the lobby.

It will serve as the backdrop when Santa visits the Canopy from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 21, and the event is open to anyone. Kids can decorate Christmas cookies while adults can visit Torrent Coffee Bar, which is offering specialty winter drinks.

“We’re inviting the locals to take part, learn more about The Steel District and the Canopy and the options we have, plus highlight Torrent and Cascata,” Pritchett said.

Cascata Italian Cuisine will host a plated Christmas Eve dinner featuring holiday specials, including beouf bourguignon and chateaubriand for two. The plan is to participate in the Downtown Burger Battle in January — after finishing runner-up in the Pork Showdown this year — plus do a Dry January mocktail menu.

Private dining options are available for groups to book at Cascata, which also looks out to Falls Park.

“There’s still room availability for holiday travelers and staycation guests,” Ralinova said. We’re offering affordable rates tailored to leisure travel. Local demand is strong — families are even gifting staycations to loved ones. Just today, three gift certificates were sold for this purpose, showing how much the community values what we offer.”