Joys of the season at Marriott

A spectacle towers proudly at the lobby of the Manila Marriott Hotel at Resorts World Manila, marking this year’s Yuletide season with an unapologetic elegance.

The photogenic Christmas tree is adorned with dried leaves and recycled trimmings, matched with rose gold and silver detailing, giving off a feel of both lux and local flair. Entering the hotel lobby, it immediately becomes apparent to the guest setting foot in the Philippines, where Christmas time is the longest across the world.

The monumental 20-foot tree was officially unveiled last Nov. 7, in a program hosted by KC Montero. After Montero opened the event with his usual antics, Ballet Philippines gracefully took over with an awe-inspiring performance of a Yuletide classic, “The Nutcracker.”

Bruce Winton, cluster general manager for Marriott Manila, Sheraton Hotel Manila and Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo, led the tree lighting ceremony. He made the act more meaningful by sharing the moment with underprivileged kids supported by Save the Children. Joining Winton as the hall lit up were the kids coming from Pasay City as well as organization ambassador Katarina Rodriguez, former Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental and Miss World Philippines.

With the tree lit up, Santa Claus came down the staircase, much to the delight of the guests. As the halls echoed with festive Christmas carols, the child-like excitement was palpable.

Knowing all too well that Christmas in the Philippines is also about the merrymaking, Marriott Manila invited guests to the Manila Ballroom, which was transformed into a Pinoy Carnival by Claudine Sycip of Do Me a Favor. The venue was replete with gaming booths, where attendees happily played Coin Toss, Pop the Balloon, Color Game, Ring Toss and Shoot the Can.

As Christmas is a perfect season to give love, of course, the event proved to be a great venue to share the good work undertaken by Marriott Manila which celebrated its Global Customer Appreciation Week.

Winton thus shared the charitable efforts of Marriott Worldwide Business Councils-Philippines along with their partnership with Save the Children, from Run to Give and the 1st Annual Golf Tournament.

Later in the night, Belarusian acts Limerence Duo and Acro Salsa gave heart-stopping performances. These dancers from Belarus performs weekly at the Grand Bar of Resorts World Manila. As guests chatted, DJs Regina Reynoso and Stephanie Moreno filled the ballroom with a playlist of familiar Christmas tunes and songs from the 1990s.

Gastronomy was another highlight at the Yuletide gathering, with Marriott Manila recognizing the importance of food in every Pinoy’s Christmas.

The hotel’s culinary team came up with solid evidence of their world-class skill as they offered a mouthwatering 12-inch Christmas Giant Pan of chicken sisig and roasted maple-glazed bone-in leg of pork, served with potato wedges, among others. Guests were also delighted with Christmas-theme desserts of log cakes, gingerbread, stollen bread, holiday nougat bites, chocolatey goodies and more.

When you visit the Christmas tree for that social media posting, try spotting the edible life-size gingerbread train loaded with treats that you can purchase for your loved ones.

Marriott Manila, with its elegant Christmas décor and other offerings at the end of the year, shows off how it has truly mastered the Christmas sensibilities and fantasies of Filipinos.

For inquiries and updates about Manila Marriott, call 8988-9999 or visit their website at manilamarriott.com, and social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ManilaMarriott.