Move Over Pickleball And Padel: Make Way For Mah Jongg At Posh Resorts

Forbes

18-06-2025

Mah Jongg tiles
Given the most recent wave of interest in Mah Jongg, it's not surprising that the game has become a coveted amenity at luxury hotels and resorts.
Mah Jongg has been featured on morning talk shows, with Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager (of the Today Show) professing their love for the game.
Celebrities like Julia Roberts, Jessica Parker, Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler and Meagan Markle have publicly talked about playing Mah Jongg. It even appears on Instagram and TikTok threads, and there has been an explosion of Mah Jongg games in app stores.
Boutique Mah Jongg set at The Dunlin
The Dunlin, an Auberge Resort, is a coastal property with southern charm on the Kiawah River on Johns Island, South Carolina. The luxury resort's immersive location lends itself to outdoor adventures, including canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, birding, fishing, picnicking, swimming, and more.
But on alternating Thursday afternoons, many guests head to the Dunlin's Willet Room bar to learn how to play Mah Jongg or to join 'open play' games with other devotees. Locals often join them, creating a unique opportunity for guests to mingle with the resort's neighbors.
The resort sets up tables with eye-popping pastel Mah Jongg sets with racks, custom mats, and tiles from Bam Bird Boutique. The $25 per participant fee to play includes a complimentary signature cocktail. Instructor-led introductory lessons are $135 per person.
'The Dunlin is meant to move and feel like an eternal summer home for our guests and visitors and the Willet Room is a natural gathering place for conversation and great cocktails,' says Michael DeCanio, the resort's general manager.
'Adding Mah Jongg felt like an extension of us and a new way to invite guests to connect, learn something new, and enjoy the simple pleasures of good company, as they would at a friend's home,' says DeCanio.
Not only has the popularity of Mah Jongg grown in numbers, but it has also expanded widely across different ages and ethnicities.
Annelise Heinz, an assistant professor of history at the University of Oregon, is the author of Mahjong: A Chinese Game and The Making of Modern American Culture, an encyclopedic history of the game and its multicultural roots.
In an interview with Forbes.com, Heinz emphasized Mah Jongg's multigenerational appeal.
New retirees turn to the game as a way to socialize, connect and build community. Baby boomers and millennials, often drawn by childhood memories and stories of mothers and grandmothers playing, appreciate its nostalgic appeal. Young mothers view the game as an opportunity to relax and socialize with other grown-ups.
'Mah Jongg isn't only a game, it's a way of life,' says Anna Rosen of Winter Park, Florida. Rosen has taught Mah Jongg for over 30 years to new players as young as ten to over 90. 'My students have included women, couples, businessmen, doctors and dentists of all backgrounds'
Cover of Mahjong: A Chinese Game and The Making of Modern American Culture
'There is a rhythm to the game,' says Heinz. 'A game lasts about 15 minutes and it takes more time to rebuild the wall than it does to play.' This hiatus allows people to chat and check in with one another.
Mah Jongg combines elements of luck and strategy. Several studies have cited its cognitive benefits, particularly among older adults.
'Learning the basics of the traditional game does not take long—like gin rummy, it can be learned in the span of an afternoon,' she writes in her book. 'Mastering the scoring and strategy, however, can take a lifetime.'
Jill Fox, a travel advisor and co-founder of Crak Your Bags, a boutique woman-owned travel agency specializing in Mah Jongg, says the game spreads like wildfire through word of mouth.
'Every game has four players and each one tells a group of their friends about it,' says Fox.
Mah Jongg at Bowie House, Fort Worth, Texas
A recent study by Marriott Bonvoy found that nearly all U.S. travelers (96%) want to explore their personal hobbies while traveling.
Mah Jongg programming at hotels and resorts is geared both to novices and devotees of the game.
Lake Austin Spa Resort in Texas Hill Country is an all-inclusive wellness resort. Set on the picturesque lake, guests can enjoy indoor and outdoor fitness classes, boating and lake activities, curated wellness programs, and personalized skin and body treatments.
'The resort's newest programming celebrates the rich tradition of Mah Jongg, complete with friendly competition, wellness vibes and a touch of playful luxury,' says JoAnn Lenhardt, the resort's general manager.
'Classes range from beginner, which introduces the strategy and joy behind the timeless tile game, to those for experienced players, with a Spa-jong twist, held inside the LakeHouse Spa.'
Bowie House, also part of the Auberge Collection, is a Western-style, urban retreat with a keen sense of place in Fort Worth, Texas. The hotel is a social hub for the community, with communal dining spaces and on-site social activities that facilitate people gathering together. It also offers bespoke guest experiences in and around the city.
Mah Jongg is offered at Bowie House's Billet Room every Monday evening. It features introductory lessons by a skilled instructor or the opportunity to play with other experienced players. It's become a popular draw for the community, creating a loyal following. The lessons ($78) and open play ($30) are ticketed events that contribute ancillary revenue while enhancing the overall guest experience.
Rancho La Puerta, in Tecate (Baja California, Mexico), has been family-owned and operated since 1940. The wellness resort and spa is considered one of the pioneers of the contemporary fitness and spa industry. It offers guests who return year after year transformative experiences and a sense of community.
The resort and spa have also become a Mah Jongg mecca. Toby Salk, who teaches Mah Jongg in the Bay Area, leads beginner retreats at Rancho La Puerta. Over the course of four 60-minute sessions Sunday through Wednesday, guests learn the basics of the game, focusing on tile recognition, rules, and strategy.
A Mah Jongg table in aozy corner of the Willet Room, The Dunlin, Johns Island, SC
Hotel and resort guests are rediscovering engaging pastimes like pickleball and Padel.
Similarly, Mah Jongg, a game with roots in the U.S. that stretch back more than a century, is experiencing renewed popularity.
Not only is the game relaxing and fun, but it connects people, fosters friendships, and creates memorable moments—making Mah Jongg an appealing addition to any vacation itinerary.