A festive Thanksgiving celebration was held on November 27 at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel (CCMH) as they marked the beginning of the Yuletide season with a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the hotel lobby. After having decided to forego with like event last year – and, instead, donated all funds of its Christmas celebrations to help victims of typhoon Yolanda – this year’s tree lighting broke the hotel’s two-year silence with a unique Christmas celebration.
As crowds gathered in anticipation of the lighting of the Christmas tree, guests were surprised with a flash mob that formally began the program. Merriment of harmonies warmed the hotel lobby with the music by the Celestial Voices Choir and the Knapsack dancers and a special performance by the Ballet Center Cebu. The tree was lit by CCMH’s executive committee members alongside Amparito Lhuillier and Cebu City Tourism Commission Executive Director Cinbeth Orellano.
Simultaneous with the lighting of the six-meter Christmas Tree lit, a life-size train made of pure gingerbread and delicious frosting was displayed in the hotel lobby. The Marriott Gingerbread Train is now at Level 1, Paseo Solana of Ayala Mall until December 28, offering Christmas bakeries and unique gifts to give to loved ones this Christmas.
To further highlight the event, a social media activity was initiated where guests were encouraged to take a selfie or take festive photos during the tree lighting and post the photos on their social media channels with the hashtag #MarriotChristmas. The best photos posted were entitled to exciting prizes.