Inspired by 150 years of timeless elegance, the Hotel Grande Bretagne welcomed the festive season by illuminating the most dazzling Christmas tree of Athens! On Wednesday November 27, during a special evening marking the beginning of the festive season, “The Grand Dame of Athens” delighted its guests with a high-quality spectacle, in collaboration with the Greek National Opera. Guests were also informed about the important mission of the “ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with Cancer”.
Adorned with elaborate decorations and garlands, the famous Christmas tree – a towering 8-meter-tall fir tree that came from Chalkidiki – was illuminated with 10,000 twinkling lights, enchanting the guests and filling the Lobby with festive charm. The Athenian night shone even brighter with breathtaking projection mapping on the emblematic building’s façade, featuring images of iconic personalities who have graced its rooms and halls over the years.
This year, the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony featured a surprise artistic performance curated by the Greek National Opera. Under the artistic direction of Marina Satti, the renowned female choral ensemble CHÓRES performed Greek and Western Christmas carols, with vocal coaching by Eirini Patsea and movement direction by Stavros-Alexandros Ikbal. The internationally acclaimed soprano of the Greek National Opera, Celia Costea, accompanied by Frixos Morzos on the piano, impressed audiences with her interpretation of demanding excerpts from operas and musicals. Additionally, students of the GNO Professional Dance School presented a surprise performance at the Winter Garden and Lobby, under the guidance of Υorghos Matskaris. The dancers wore impressive costumes as well as the iconic uniforms of the Hotel’s staff, incorporating elements of the hotel’s history and its contribution to the urban culture of Athens in the choreography.
At the same event, the Hotels Grande Bretagne & King George, members of a socially conscious company dedicated to making meaningful contribution to society, announced a special charity initiative. Specifically, from 1/12/2024 and for the next 10 months, visitors at GB Roof Garden and Tudor Hall restaurants will be able to donate €2 per bill to support the invaluable mission of the “ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with Cancer”.
