Lights Out at Sofitel for Earth Hour

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. March 25, 2011

25 March, 2011 - In support of Earth Hour, Sofitel Luxury Hotels across Australia and the Pacific will turn off the majority of hotel lights, appliances and external signage on Saturday 26th March from 8.30pm - and encourages its guests to do the same.

In a show of solidarity, each hotel will commence its Earth Hour celebrations with an extended, grander version of its nightly candlelight ceremony which is traditionally held at dusk in Sofitel hotel lobbies around the world, 365 days of the year.

While Sofitel's regular candle ritual is notably inspired by the brand's French origins and the Parisian invention of candlelit lanterns (which earned it the name, 'City of Lights)', the Earth Hour version of Sofitel's ceremony to be held this Saturday is dedicated to taking a stand against climate change and helping create a more sustainable planet.

A more elaborate and amplified rendition of Sofitel's nightly custom, each hotel and resort will be illuminated with numerous tea lights, candles and lanterns, or traditional 'tiki' torches in French Polynesia and Fiji.

Guests will also be treated to a range of creative candlelight experiences and 'unplugged' musical moments at bars and restaurants at Sofitel hotels and resorts across the region including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast in Australia; Queenstown in New Zealand; and Fiji this Saturday night.

Sofitel's Earth Hour hotel highlights will include:

• Sofitel Brisbane Central - Daquiris in the dark
  The multi award winning Prive 249 will host an exclusive three course candlelit dinner on Saturday in celebration of Earth Hour. Guests will be able to savour the flavours of a Jamon Iberico de Belotta entree, Wagyu rib fillet main and a warm Banana cake dessert with salted caramel ice cream, for just $78 per person. The hotel's Cuvee Lounge Bar will be flickering with hundreds of additional tealight candles in support of the Earth Hour initiative, and guests are invited to enjoy the subdued lighting and romantic ambiance while sipping on exclusive Earth Hour cocktails - a frozen passionfruit inspired daiquiri.

• Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach - Harp inspired harmony
  At the Sofitel Gold Coast, a Harpist will play harmonious tunes throughout the evening and guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner at the hotels signature restaurant, Room81.

• Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa - Jazz piano and Pinot for the planet
  This Sofitel will make great use of the antique Steinway piano which now graces its foyer to set a five-star tone following its recent $2 million hotel upgrade. Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa will welcome pianist Les Richardson between 8.30pm and 9.30pm to entertain guests on the classic Steinway for a night of Jazz, champagne, cocktails, and Central Otago Pinto by candlelight.

• Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa - Lali drums and tribal tiki torchlight
  As the sun sets over Nadi Bay, the beating of a traditional lali drum will signal the start of Earth Hour proceedings at the Sofitel in Fiji, and its candle and torch ceremony. The resort will illuminate every corner from its beachfront and languid lagoon pool through to the hotel's grand bure-style lobby. Sofitel's immense pool will be lit by traditional torches and floating candles carefully positioned in the shape of the number 60+, which is the new campaign creative that has been chosen by Earth Hour organisers in 2011. More than 25 Sofitel resort staff have volunteered to be Earth Hour ambassadors for the evening, and will wear easy to spot Earth Hour Fiji shirts and carry Fijian torches while assisting resort guests by escorting and directing them to dinner and to other areas of the resort.

Now in its fifth year, Earth Hour is a global environmental campaign created in Australia and taken up by the world.

From its debut in one city in one country in 2007 - Sydney, Australia - when 2.2 million individuals turned their lights off to take a stand against climate change, Earth Hour has become a truly global movement, embracing 128 countries and territories in 2010. For more visit www.earthhour.org.au

Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance

Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents with 120 addresses, in almost 40 countries (more than 30 000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today's more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New York or Beijing, or nestled away in a country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, Fiji Islands or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French “ art de vivre”.