3 January 2014
“TEN PERFECT TREATS” – THE MOST GLAMOROUS AND STYLISH
WAYS TO CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR 2014
WITH THE PENINSULA HOTELS AROUND THE WORLD
The Peninsula Hotels Rings in the Year of the Horse with “Ten Perfect Treats”
With its long history stretching back to 1866 as China’s first luxury hospitality brand, The Peninsula Hotels celebrates its Chinese heritage and rings in the Year of the Horse with fascinating initiatives, festive delights and special décor throughout the holiday period. “Ten Perfect Treats” – a collection of the most glamorous and creative highlights – have been carefully curated at the nine properties around the globe to invite guests and their families to celebrate Chinese New Year in the ultimate Peninsula style and sophistication.
Festive Treat One: Auspicious traditional lion dances to start a new year
Traditional lion dances fill all nine Peninsula Hotels with joyful ambience, while loud drumbeats and strong cymbal crashes scare away evil spirits. Following tradition, children wish their parents and older relatives a good year ahead on the first morning of the Chinese New Year and receive “lai see”, or lucky money, in red envelopes. The Peninsula hotels continue the tradition and give guests red envelopes, a symbol of good luck, during the Chinese New Year.
Festive Treat Two: Holiday decor to bring in fortune and luck
To let travellers soak up the holiday atmosphere when away from home, The Peninsula Hotels are festooned in festive hues inside and out. The colour red represents joy and luck in Chinese culture, and so hotel facades are illuminated in red, with plentiful red lanterns hanging inside, while adding to the spirit of the season, each hotel Lobby will be decked out with red flower arrangements, pink-blossomed plum trees and kumquat bushes laden with golden-orange fruits, signifying good luck and prosperity. Guestrooms will also feature festive delights, including tangerines, melon seeds, dumplings and chocolate coins – all representing prosperity.
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Festive Treat Three: Quintessential gourmet delicacies to share with friends and family
Food plays a key role in Chinese culture, and never less so than at Chinese New Year. On the last day of the old year, families feast together on special delicacies and traditionally end the night with firecrackers to drive evil spirits away. At the nine Peninsula Hotels, guests can indulge and celebrate with special Chinese meals at the signature restaurants. Special highlights at Yi Long Court at The Peninsula Shanghai include “Poon Choi”– the traditional Hong Kong Chinese casserole served in large basins (originating during the Mongol uprising in the Sung Dynasty (960-1279) when the Emperor and his army fled to Southern China and locals prepared food for them in basins as there weren’t enough dishes) reimagined by Chef Dicky To by adding premium ingredients to make three luxury versions, namely ‘Fortune’, ‘Wealth’ and ‘Longevity’. “Yee Sang”, a shredded salmon salad symbolising wealth and prosperity, will also make its debut at The Peninsula Shanghai.
Festive Treat Four: Signature Peninsula Afternoon Tea with a Chinese twist
Chinese New Year is a time of reunion and savouring an afternoon tea with family and friends at The Peninsula Hotels guarantees a perfect experience for the occasion. The signature Peninsula Afternoon Tea features a distinctively festive Chinese flavour at The Peninsula Bangkok and the three Peninsula hotels in America.
Festive Treat Five: Benefits and special rates to symbolise good fortune
Guests staying at the nine Peninsula properties around the world during the Chinese New Year will be thrilled with privileges and surprises. The Peninsula Bangkok greets their guests with offerings including spa certificates and complimentary horse racing at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club among other VIP benefits; the three Peninsula hotels in America will also surprise guests with distinctive programmes to celebrate this prominent Chinese festival, offering special gifts from Van Cleef & Arpels and a special room rate at US$ 888, with eight considered a lucky number signifying good fortune in Chinese culture.
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Festive Treat Six: Experience authentic Chinese culture at The Peninsula Academy
The Peninsula Academy is a learning and activity programme exclusively designed to give guests unique and unprecedented access to historical, cultural and local lifestyle experiences in each Peninsula destination. Recommended classes to learn about the essence of Chinese traditions include “Hong Kong’s Traditions Well Served: A Revival of Disappearing Arts and Crafts” offered at The Peninsula Hong Kong, “Art of the Century: An introduction to contemporary Chinese Art” at The Peninsula Shanghai as well as “The Tastes and Sounds of Beijing: The Art of Dumpling Making” available at The Peninsula Beijing.
Festive Treat Seven: Enjoy spectacular views and festive favourites at Peninsula parties around the world
Hong Kong’s Chinese New Year firework displays are famous the world over, and The Peninsula Hong Kong is the ultimate viewing spot. Serving a special firework dinner menu in all restaurants on 1 February (the second day of the Chinese New Year), guests are treated with champagne on the Sun Terrace to view the spectacular fireworks over Victoria Harbour, while a stylish Chinese New Year Celebration Party will also be held at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, with red packets containing dollar bills given to party guests to bring them luck in the new year.
Festive Treat Eight: Tour the city in style with The Peninsula’s transport options
Share the indulgent nature of the festive season with family and friends with The Peninsula transport choices, ranging from The Peninsula’s fleet of chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce Phantoms and helicopters (available at certain Peninsula hotels) available for luxurious airport transfers or sightseeing, or relaxing tours along the Huangpu River with The Peninsula Shanghai’s new motor yacht.
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Festive Treat Nine: Festive rejuvenation with The Peninsula Spa
Guests can pamper themselves with Peninsula Spa treatments amidst busy gatherings with family and friends. The Peninsula Spas at each Peninsula Hotel combine indigenous therapies with advanced techniques and products to provide guests with an ultimate holistic experience.
Festive Treat Ten: Unique Peninsula gifts to spread holiday blessings to family and friends
The Peninsula Boutique offers a splendid array of delicacies and gifts to make new year’s shopping a breeze. From the famous Peninsula chocolates, teas, home-made sauces, biscuits, jam and selected specialties to porcelain mugs, shopping bags, silver-lined frames and jewellery boxes – or if the choices are too overwhelming, surprise loved ones with Peninsula Gift Certificates (available at The Peninsula Hong Kong only).
Many more special Chinese New Year initiatives are offered by each Peninsula Hotel to celebrate with guests the most important festival on the Chinese calendar to wish them another year of good fortune.
From 15 January 2014 onwards, check out our latest short film on the very best of Chinese New Year customs and traditions and more information on the exciting programmes, please visit our mini-site for Chinese New Year at www.peninsula.com/cny.
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About The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH)
Incorporated in 1866 and listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (00045), HSH is the holding company of a Group which is engaged in the ownership, development and management of prestigious hotel, commercial and residential properties in key locations in Asia, the United States and Europe, as well as the provision of transport, club management and other services. The hotel portfolio of the Group comprises The Peninsula Hotels in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills, Bangkok and Manila; while The Peninsula Hotels in Paris and London are under construction. The property portfolio of the Group includes The Repulse Bay Complex, The Peak Tower and The Peak Tramways, St. John’s Building, The Landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and the Thai Country Club in Bangkok, Thailand.
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For further information, please contact:
Ms Sian Griffiths
Director of Communications
The Peninsula Hotels
8/F, St George's Building, 2 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong
Telephone: +852 2840 7239
Fax: +852 2840 7499
E-mail:
Website: www.peninsula.com
Visit The Peninsula Hotels’ News Room on www.peninsula.com/newsroom – press releases, images, broadcast quality video, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and more.