Crossword Genius

Hotel popular around November (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

inn

'hotel' is the definition.
(inn is a kind of hotel)

'popular around november' is the wordplay.
'popular' becomes 'in' ('in' can mean trendy).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'november' becomes 'N' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'in' going around 'n' is 'INN'.

(Other definitions for inn that I've seen before include "English country pub" , "Pub with lodging" , "Swiss river" , "Jamaica, for one" , "Pub providing food and accommodation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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