By Rama Gaind
CHRISTMAS is all about giving, caring and sharing and it will be a month full of warmth, love, colour and joyful laughter as Swissôtel Sydney with its inaugural Christmas Tree of Hope Charity Program until December 24, 2011.
The Christmas Tree of Hope Charity Program aims to grant the Christmas wishes of disadvantaged children around Australia with the assistance of charitable organisation – A Start in Life. 250 simple and endearing wish cards, handwritten by the children, are hung on the hotel’s almost 6 metre Christmas tree in the lobby.
The public and hotel guests are encouraged to grant these affordable, heartwarming Christmas wishes by picking one or two or as many wishes from the tree to put a smile on the faces of the children.
A dedicated Christmas Wish Counter is available from 10am to 5pm at the hotel lobby on Level 8 until Christmas Eve to assist guests in the wish granting process. All presents received will be sent to the children with the help of A Start in Life.
According to the general manager of Swissôtel Sydney, Daniel Fueglister, “We are just as excited as the children and their families to be able to make their Christmas dreams come true. The Christmas Tree of Hope Program is a unique one as its main objective is to give the children exactly what they want for Christmas. With wishes as simple as a soft toy or a gift card, we do hope to be able to fulfill all 250 wishes and make this charity program an annual event”.
Spirit of Christmas
A Christmas tree, the largest gingerbread house in the city and feasts fit for royalty.
Crackling fireplaces and white snowy rooftops are not exactly what you would expect to see in Sydney, but the spirit of Christmas is obvious at Swissôtel Sydney as the hotel showcases the city’s largest gingerbread house and a bejewelled Christmas Tree until December 25, 2011 along with a host of other festive activities. Stumble upon a child’s dream come true at the hotel lobby on Level 8 and discover the city’s largest gingerbread house deliciously decorated with giant gingerbread tiles.
At 2 metres tall, the gingerbread house is a life-size play house the little ones can call their own. Adjacent to the gingerbread house stands an almost 6 metre bejewelled Christmas tree with 250 hand- written wish cards bearing the Christmas wishes from disadvantaged children living in Australia. Aptly named The Christmas Tree of Hope, their simple and endearing wishes are open to be granted by hotel guests and the public and can be done at the hotel’s Wish Counter also located at the hotel lobby.
Not to be missed out, the warm sense of the festive cheer is abundant at Jpb Restaurant and Crossroads Bar. Get a taste of festive joy over a selection of Swissôtel Sydney’s very own honey flavoured Christmas cocktails or indulge in a hearty mug of eggnog at Crossroads Bar from December 12-25.
Yuletide favourites
Serving up a charming spread of Yuletide favourites, Jpb Restaurant’s Christmas Eve set dinner and Christmas Day buffets are a gastronomic affair. Enjoy an intimate Christmas Eve celebration over a well deserved 3-course Christmas set dinner priced at $80 for adults and $40 for children or opt for a lighter option of a 2-course set dinner at $65 for adults and $34 for children. The Christmas Eve set dinner menus include dishes such as Kervella goats curd wrapped in katifi pastry with beetroot carpaccio and cabernet sauvignon dressing, Berkshire pork belly with pickled baby vegetables and brioche farce and White chocolate pannacotta with lychee and raspberry salad.
To celebrate the season of joy, Jpb Restaurant’s lunch and dinner buffet spread on Christmas Day will ensure guests have a delightful mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas favourites ranging from fresh seafood choices and traditional Christmas fare that include organic turkey with cranberry pan juices, Tasmanian smoked salmon with preserved lemon, chives and baby capers, chilled Gold Coast tiger prawns with dippers and squeezers and blanched asparagus with poached egg, shaved parmesan and lemon oil salad.
To end on a sweet note, a dessert wonderland of Christmas pudding with brandy custard, warm mince pie with kirsch butter and Lindt chocolate fountain, to name a few treats. The Christmas Day buffet lunch and dinner is priced at $105 for adults and $55 for children. Be sure to look out for Santa as he makes a special appearance during lunch with a bag filled with goodies for the little ones.
Donate to the Christmas Tree of Hope Charity Program and book now for Christmas Eve dinner and Jpb Restaurant’s lunch and dinner buffet on Christmas Day. You’ll be so glad you did!
DETAILS
Swissôtel Sydney
68 Market Street
Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 9238 8828
www.swissotel.com/sydney
