Joyful Annual Traditions Connect Family and Friends
CHARLOTTE, NC – Capturing the magic of the season, The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge features an assortment of signature events such as cooking classes, holiday brunches and Visit with Santa, as well as imaginative offerings including the 2nd Annual Biggest Little Office Holiday Party and Etiquette Tea with Mrs. Claus. In addition, The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge celebrates giving back to the community with Gingerbread Lane to benefit Levine Children’s Hospital and The Spa at Ballantyne’s Gift of Giving program to support cancer rehabilitation at Presbyterian Cancer Center.
Chocolate and Confections Cooking Demonstration
Just in time for the holidays, The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge's Pastry Chef will give a demonstration class on preparing homemade chocolates and truffles on Saturday, November 7, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Techniques will include molded chocolates, hand dipped chocolates using transfer sheets and classic hand rolled truffles. Wine and cheese will be served. The cost for this session is $45. To make a reservation, please call 704-248-4100.
Cooking School for the Holidays
On Saturday, November 14, learn how to prepare root vegetables and winter game paired with holiday wines. On Saturday, December 12, discover how to prepare holiday fit food and revamped classics. Each class is 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., and the cost for each session is $65. To make a reservation, please call 704-248-4100.
Holiday Room Rates
For visiting family and friends or an escape from the holiday frenzy, The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge is the place to stay with a special rate starting at $159. The holiday rate is available November 20 through November 30, December 11 – 13 and December 18, 2009 through January 4, 2010. To make a reservation, visit www.theballantynehotel.com or call 1-888-627-8048.
Holiday Events at The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge
Looking for a festive venue to host a holiday party? From elegant ballrooms to Gallery Restaurant’s intimate Ardissone Room, The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge offers a variety of elegant event space options for social events. As a festive incentive, The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge is offering complimentary room rental. The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge’s staff of experienced event managers will plan the event from start to finish, taking care of all details and providing special accents for that personalized touch. For more information, please call 704-248-4035.
Thanksgiving Brunch
Join The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge for a favorite tradition with Thanksgiving Brunch on Thursday, November 26, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Leave the cooking to The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, and enjoy an endless array of seasonal salads, decorative displays, carving stations with regional accompaniments and decadent desserts. Cost is $48.95 per person, $25.95 for children ages 7-12, $7.95 for children ages 3-6, and children under 3 are free (plus tax and gratuity). Private dining rooms are available. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, please call 704-248-4100 or visit www.gallery-restaurant.com.
Gingerbread House Professional & Amateur Competition
The gingerbread house competition offers two independent categories for professional and amateur entries. The grand prize in both categories is an overnight stay in the luxurious presidential suite at The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge with breakfast in bed and dinner for two in Gallery Restaurant. Entry forms are available at www.theballantynehotel.com. Please contact Erin Hunter at 704-248-4038 or ehunter@theballantynehotel.com for more information. Gingerbread houses must be submitted by Monday, November 30. Judging will take place on Tuesday, December 1 at 4 p.m.
Gingerbread Lane
Enjoy a magical collection of gingerbread houses throughout the holiday season. From December 1 through December 26, the creative display is open daily to the public. Attendees may vote on their favorite gingerbread house with $1 minimum donation per vote. All proceeds will benefit Levine Children’s Hospital, dedicated to caring for the physical and emotional needs of children and their families.
The Gift of Giving
Give back to a worthy cause while relaxing at The Spa at Ballantyne. Throughout the month of December, for every treatment valued at $90 or more purchased Monday through Thursday, The Spa at Ballantyne will donate $5 to Presbyterian Hospital Foundation to support cancer rehabilitation. To make an appointment, please call 704-248-4141.
The Biggest Little Office Holiday Party
A festive alternative to the traditional office holiday party, join the 2nd Annual Biggest Little Office Holiday Party on Friday, December 4, 6:30 p.m. - midnight. Whether a group of four or 40, enjoy live music from The Dickens, a three course plated dinner, dessert and coffee station and two drinks per person. The cost is $64 per person (plus tax and gratuity). To make a reservation, please call 704-248-4035.
Etiquette Tea with Mrs. Claus
A festive, fun way to learn table manner lessons, children will love the treats, crafts and story time, and parents will appreciate the etiquette tips on Sunday, December 6, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. in the Fairway Ballroom. Children are encouraged to wear their holiday best. Activities include crafts and story time. Cost is $40 per child and $20 per adult. For groups of six or more, the cost is $35 per child and $15 per adult (pricing is inclusive). Reservations are required at 704-248-4055 or concierge@theballantynehotel.com.
Visit with Santa
Santa Claus is coming to The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge for an exclusive one weekend only engagement. Children of all ages will enjoy sitting on Santa's lap in The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge's very own enchanting holiday village. Visit with Santa will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, December 12 and 13, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Children will be able to get their photograph with Santa, receive a special gift from Santa and enjoy holiday refreshments. The cost is $30 inclusive per photo, and reservations are not required.
Ultimate Cupcake & Cookie Challenge
The holiday season presents the perfect opportunity to showcase a favorite holiday treat or special family recipe at The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge. On Saturday, December 12, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., enter a homemade cupcake or cookie in the Ultimate Cupcake & Cookie Challenge. The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge’s culinary team will select three winners in each category based on taste and presentation. The grand prize for each category is an overnight stay in a Parlor Suite with breakfast in bed. To enter a recipe, please complete the entry form available at www.theballantynehotel.com. Registrations are due by Thursday, December 10. Contact Katie Saunders at 704-248-4007 or ksaunders@theballantynehotel.com for more information.
Christmas Day Brunch
The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge will offer a festive holiday brunch on Friday, December 25, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Ballantyne Ballroom. The elaborate buffet will include a variety of salads, an assortment of cheese and seafood displays, breakfast items with omelet station, carving station and indigenous desserts. Cost is $48.95 per person, $25.95 for children ages 7-12, $7.95 for children ages 3-6, and children under 3 are free (plus tax and gratuity). Private dining rooms are available. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, please call 704-248-4100 or visit www.gallery-restaurant.com.
New Year’s Eve Package
Enjoy an elegant room at The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge with an upgrade to the next available room category, a four-course dinner in Gallery Restaurant, breakfast-in-bed the following morning and a late check-out of 4 pm. Reserve online at www.theballantynehotel.com or by calling 1-888-627-8048 (offered December 26, 2009 through January 3, 2010). Pricing starts from $294 single and $394 double occupancy.
Ring in the New Year in Gallery Restaurant & Bar
After dining in Gallery Restaurant on New Year’s Eve, enjoy a live-spinning DJ in the Great Hall beginning at 9 p.m. The Gallery Bar menu will also be available.
About The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge
The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, a member of Starwood’s The Luxury Collection, is a Mobil Four-Star and AAA Four-Diamond award-wining hotel located in Charlotte, NC. Featuring 214 luxurious guestrooms, The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge offers a Conde Nast Johansens award-winning Spa and Golf Club, professional tennis and golf instruction, health facilities, 20,000 square feet of meeting space, four-bedroom Cottage and a 40,000 square feet Lodge group retreat with 36 spacious guest rooms. The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge was awarded the 2008 Tiffany Trophy, an annual award presented by The Luxury Collection to the hotel or resort with the highest overall guest satisfaction score in North America. The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge ranked among the top business hotels in the U.S. and Canada in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Business Hotels 2007 readers’ survey. The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge is owned by Bissell Companies. For information and reservations, please contact The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge toll-free at (866) 248-4824, or visit the website at www.theballantynehotel.com. Become a fan of The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge at www.facebook.com/ballantynehotel or follow The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge at www.twitter.com/ballantynehotel.
About The Luxury Collection
The Luxury Collection® brand, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc., is an elite group of distinctive properties ranging from imperial palaces to romantic hideaways, from historical landmarks to tropical resorts, recognized as some of the finest hotels in the world. To sophisticated travelers worldwide, The Luxury Collection delivers the finest hotel experiences through their unparalleled attention to their guests’ needs and preferences, their exceptional and distinctive properties and seamless integration of the customs, culture and environment of each property’s locale. There are over 50 The Luxury Collection hotels and resorts in more than 25 countries, each reflecting the true essence of the destination.
###
Contact
Christina Thigpen
704-248-4042
cthigpen@theballantynehotel.com
