A party which takes place in a hotel. Often associated with conventions of the non professional sort or just groups of people too large to fit in anyone's livingroom/bedroom/patio/pool etc. They usually involve everyone pitching in to rent two adjoining rooms in a hotel and thereby having license to invade the pool, lobby and conference areas. Sometimes involves booze and drugs and promiscuous filking.

A hotel party need not take place in an actual hotel. More generally, a hotel is a party which spans multiple rooms, each of which has a different "theme". The hosts of the party will often dress more formally than the guests. When put on by a sorority or fraternity the rooms' themes usually center around different alcoholic beverages. For example, one room may be full of guests mingling over wine and cheese, while another might be serving buttery nipples.