A Special Christmas Wish Granted And More Stories From A 40-Year Career As Concierge At The Mansion On Turtle Creek

Nestled in the heart of Dallas is the celebrated Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, the inaugural Rosewood hotel of a now vast and global collection. Originally built in 1925 as a palatial private residence, the property retains an intimate ambiance with 16th-century Italian Renaissance style and rich European architecture. The 142-room hotel blends its heritage with modern amenities as well as superb dining within both The Mansion Restaurant and The Mansion Bar. With all that the Mansion offers, however, inarguably one of its most valuable assets is Mary Stamm, the Mansion’s concierge for the past 39 years.

Mary Stamm began her hospitality career at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee followed by the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill in San Francisco. In 1983 she walked into the lobby of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and started her career at Dallas’ most iconic hotel. Her first role at the Mansion was at the front desk where she worked numerous positions and started developing strong relationships with each guest. A few years later, she became a concierge. She has been a Les Clefs d’Or concierge since 1990 and has won numerous awards during her nearly four decade career at the Mansion. Mary is an original founding member of the Dallas Hotel Concierge Association and has served as President and Vice President. Her passion is to find and cultivate new talent and mentor them to great success in hospitality as she has with her associate concierge, Evan Baker, who was recently named Les Clefs d’Or USA’s Young Leader for 2023.

As one might expect, Mary and her staff have received – and accommodated – many special, unique, and sometimes over-the-top requests from guests at the Mansion over the years, including during the Christmas holidays…

A Christmas Wish

“One of the most over-the-top, yet favorite, requests was creating a very special Christmas at the hotel for a family who was here to adopt a baby. The father called me and said they were concerned about their older daughter feeling special during this period of transition and asked for help to make this visit memorable for her. We decorated the suite with multiple Christmas trees, a touching photo of the new baby, personalized ornaments, a monogrammed chair for the daughter to enjoy in a reading nook, presents waiting every day, and more. We were also tasked with finding a same-day Santa Claus to come and read to the daughter on Christmas Eve, which was not an easy feat. We ended up creating a beautiful and especially memorable stay for the family, and once the new baby was able to visit the hotel, the team was prepared with a welcoming committee, champagne for the parents, treats for the daughter, and a card signed by every member of the Mansion family.”

More stories from Mary-From Borrowing Cowboy Boots For a Guest to Special Surprises

“We once had a guest looking for an outfit for a ranch party that was happening that night. We rallied the team, and it turned out one of our associates had a pair of old boots of her brother’s that worked perfectly. The guest also requested a cowboy hat to complement the look, so we had someone from our team go to a vintage shop to help source while showing the guest real-time images of the options to find something. The same day, we had a guest request somewhere they could have their silver spoon cleaned. Though this was an interesting request, the spoon showed up at my desk and I of course provided a list of options of where the guest could go.”

“We once had a guest receive a baby carriage delivery from London that needed to be shipped to Mexico. It was originally boxed up and prepared to go on the plane with the couple, but last minute, the plane changed and the carriage had to come back to the hotel because it didn’t fit. We worked closely with the couple to arrange to get the package driven down to Mexico and ensure they had everything they needed in a timely fashion. The mother of the guest had recently celebrated her 60th birthday at the Mansion so we knew that this was an important request to handle.”

“We once had a 6-year-old girl request to stay at the Mansion for her birthday (her grandmother had brought her once for the first time and she loved it and wanted to come back). We learned that they were seeing Frozen that night and decorated the room with a Frozen theme & décor to ensure a special birthday surprise.”

“We’ve had a variety of celebrations at the Mansion, including last-minute proposals on New Year’s Eve. The team helped execute such a special surprise that the same couple is getting married at the Mansion in May 2023. We always have couples who return yearly to the Mansion for anniversaries, including a couple that always visits on Valentine’s Day for lunch. We surprise them with roses and ensure that they have a memorable meal. “

“Our guests are always visiting Dallas and the hotel for different reasons and coming from different places. We once had a long-term guest staying with us and he was celebrating his 50th birthday. He had recently been traveling, reminiscent of a ‘world tour,’ and our team wanted to help celebrate uniquely. We helped him make band T-shirts for his guests and curated photos around his room that reminded him of his travels.”

Every Guest Gets A Christmas Tree in Their Room

Special touches are nothing new for this property. This holiday season, throughout December, a personal Christmas tree may be placed in guests’ rooms to provide a warm welcome upon arrival. Whether guests choose to send their own tree trimmings in advance of their stay or work with the hotel’s guest relations team to curate an assortment of ornaments to their liking, all will be encouraged to bring the time-honored Christmas tradition to the Mansion and enjoy the extra dose of holiday spirit from the comfort of their accommodations.

As the holidays can often be stressful, the Mansion will also offer in-suite guided meditation to rebalance your body and mind. This in-person session will help guests channel their inner calm, boosting mental clarity and leaving them revived and refreshed for the holiday celebrations ahead.

Go Big or Go Home

Everything is bigger in Texas and this definitely is the case when it comes to the holidays at the Mansion. Guests are transported into an enchanted winter wonderland with elegant and grand decor throughout the entire property. The holiday decor is designed by local Texas designer Todd Fiscus of Todd Events along with the property’s floral partner Avant Garden. This year, the atrium foyer was installed with thousands of poinsettia blooms, falling crystal garlands that created glistening windows, and drifts of rose gold-toned German-blown glass that created a snow-like effect. This year’s décor is inspired by the holiday season at a regal home, utilizing the unique and historical elements of the original Mansion that remain in parts of the hotel to this day.

Mary Stamm’s Top 5 Things to do in Dallas

1. Spend the holidays at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek! Including having a drink at The Mansion Bar and a meal at The Mansion Restaurant.
2. Attend a Dallas Cowboys Game.
3. Attend TWO x TWO, a contemporary art auction benefiting amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art, held annually at the Rachofsky House in Dallas, Texas.
4. Spend the day in Fort Worth (where the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek concierge team can help curate the perfect trip).
5. Experience the great shopping in Dallas, including checking out Neiman Marcus (the brand’s headquarters and flagship store are located in Dallas), Northpark Center, Highland Park Village, and more.