Christmas and Holiday Festivities at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona. (November 17, 2010) – Full of enchantment, twinkling lights, epicurean delights and one magical, musical 40-foot tree, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is bringing the splendor of the season with a host of new holiday experiences at the AAA Five Diamond resort:
NEW “CHRISTMAS AT THE PRINCESS” FESTIVITIES
Tree Lighting Ceremony
As the grand centerpiece for the Fairmont Scottsdale’s new “Christmas at the Princess” festivities, the resort invites the public to its Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Tuesday, November 30, 2010. The event features the lighting of the resort’s all-new, four-story Christmas tree in Princess Plaza. Specially-designed for the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, the tree will have 65,000 LED lights which “twinkle and dance” to 10 holiday songs. The evening also includes a performance by the Phoenix Boys Choir, a visit from Santa and a special, nationally-known entertainer. Complimentary hot cider, cookies and other seasonal treats will round out the fun.
Toys for Tots
The tree lighting ceremony kicks off the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess’ toy drive for Toys for Tots. The Scottsdale Fire Department will be on-hand with a fire truck to accept unwrapped toys that evening. The resort will also be a drop-off location for Toys for Tots through Dec. 20, 2010.
More About the Four-Story Musical Tree & Resort Decor
Starting December 1, local residents can see the tree’s synchronized lighting and music show 6 p.m.– 9:30 p.m., nightly, playing approximately every 10 minutes. During the day, this dazzling, four-story tree is a visual experience, with hundreds of mirrored stars that glisten and a 5-foot tree topper.
Inside the lobby, guests can enjoy the beauty of four natural green trees, embellished with colors that capture the heritage of the Southwest: copper, silver, turquoise and peacock blue. Angel statues of delicately hammered silver, wreaths, swags and candles will illuminate the lobby, with a six-foot gingerbread nutcracker adding to the holiday decor.
A 25-foot decorated tree will also adorn La Hacienda Plaza near Willow Stream Spa.
Holiday Activities
Carolers stroll the grounds singing holiday favorites from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday nights through Christmas Day. Other holiday activities include a nightly menorah lighting in the resort lobby through Hanukkah (December 2-9), tennis, fishing and basketball tournaments, craft-making, cookie decorating, a holiday decor class and dreidel-making for the kids. Holiday resort activities vary throughout the season.
HOLIDAY VACATION PACKAGES:
Christmas “All Wrapped Up” Family Vacation
Santa’s elves make holiday magic happen with the new “All Wrapped Up” vacation package, so families can relax and enjoy their time together. This package includes cozy overnight accommodations with a $100 resort dining credit, a small Christmas tree delivered to the room, a family stocking filled with Christmas treats, cookies for Santa at turn-down and admission to National Geographic Explorers Camp with daily crafts and activities for up to three children. The Fairmont Scottsdale also offers personal shopping and gift wrapping services. This package is available November 21 – December 28, 2010, and rates begin at $299 per room, per night.
Hanukkah “Family Traditions” Package
For families visiting during Hanukkah, the Princess can be their home-away-from-home for eight special nights. The Family Traditions Package includes overnight accommodations with a welcome gift of a chocolate “gelt” giving bag and dreidels, $100 resort dining credit, a nightly Menorah lighting ceremony and full-day admission to the National Geographic Explorers Camp for up to three children, with daily crafts and stories celebrating the Festival of Lights. Traditional Hanukkah latkes with apple sauce are on the menu at LV Bistro during Hanukkah week. This offer is available December 2 – 9, 2010 and rates start at $299 per room, per night.
“Sip, Savor & Soothe” Package
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess’ “Sip, Savor & Soothe” package starts at $239 per night and includes a $50 daily credit which can be applied toward any of the resort’s four signature restaurants or Willow Stream Spa. The package is available through January 27, 2011.
NEW WILLOW STREAM HOLIDAY TREATMENTS
Cinnamon and Honey Body Glow
Indulge the skin with propolis from the rainforests of Brazil. The treatment begins with a gentle, exfoliating blend of brown sugar and honey, warmly wrapped as the omega and vitamin-enriched elixir deeply penetrates the skin, resulting in a healthy, luminous glow. The 60-minute treatment is $165 and the 90-minute (with 30 additional minutes of massage) is $235.
The Peppermint Pedi
The delicious aroma of sweet peppermint is infused into this winter pedicure, with a relaxing leg massage, for $79.
Both treatments include use of the 44,000 square feet Willow Stream Spa for the entire day.
24-HOUR ‘DRIVE-THRU’ SPA GIFT CERTIFICATES
How’s this for convenient? Husbands will be heroes (without leaving the comfort of their car) with 24-hour curbside pick-up of a Willow Stream Spa gift certificate. Fast, easy, pre-wrapped — and best of all, luxurious — Willow Stream gift orders can be placed daily from 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. by telephone and the certificate can either be mailed to the recipient or picked up curbside at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 24-hours-a-day, with a minimum three-hour notice. These gift cards can be made in any dollar amount and are valid in the Spa Boutique, which offers a wide selection of quality skincare and aromatherapy products, stylish active wear, hand-crafted jewelry, books, candles, plush robes and more. Gift card purchases of $100 or more receive a refreshing Neroli aromatherapy spray; $250 or more includes a holiday box also with a Willow Stream make-up bag, while supplies last.
Also available at the resort are Fairmont Gift Cards, which may be redeemed at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts around the globe. For every gift card sold this holiday season, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will donate USD $5 to Mission Blue – an action-oriented marine conservation initiative of the National Geographic Society (NGS). Fairmont gift cards may be purchased at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, or for more information, visit www.fairmontgiftcard.com.
CHRISTMAS DAY BRUNCH AT PRINCESS FALLS:
Saturday, December 25
Four distinctive restaurants are joining together for one festive, culinary marketplace at the resort’s Princess Falls on the lower level of Princess Plaza. Every member of the family is sure to find their favorites among sustainable seafood, modern Mexican cuisine, the finest cuts of beef, fresh from the farm produce, artful pastries and live entertainment. The featured restaurants are La Hacienda by Richard Sandoval, BOURBON STEAK by Michael Mina, The Grill and LV Bistro. Selections include a Southwest omelet station, seven types of seafood, steaks, brine-roasted turkey, assorted breads and cheeses and brioche French toast with a toppings bar. Sugar plums will certainly be dancing with all of the sweets including peppermint mocha torte, gingerbread cheesecake and caramel chestnut yule logs.
Christmas Day Brunch is available for overnight guests and local residents alike from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $70 per person and $29 for children age 6-12. Children 5 and younger dine free with the purchase of an adult brunch.
CHRISTMAS DINNER OFFERINGS:
Saturday, December 25 – Each of the resort’s four signature restaurants will feature a prix fixe menu for Christmas dinner, in addition to their regular menus:
BOURBON STEAK by Michael Mina
Special holiday selections can be ordered a la carte: Belgium endive salad with Point Reyes blue cheese, Bosc pears, pomegranates, pumpkin seeds ($8), as well as stuffed quail with cinnamon cous-cous, maple lardon, dried fruit gastrique ($14) and Angus beef Wellington and wild mushroom and truffle Duxelle, Savoy spinach, pinot noir reduction ($52). Dessert is a butternut squash cake, topped with brandied apples and eggnog ice cream ($10). Christmas dinner hours are 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
La Hacienda by Richard Sandoval
Spicing up the holiday, this menu features cochinita pibil, achiote braised pork shoulder with pickled onions and habanero. The price is $32 for adults; $16 for kids 6-12 and free for children 5 and younger with the purchase of an adult entree. Christmas dinner hours are 5:30 p.m. -10 p.m.
The Grill at TPC Scottsdale
In a classic clubhouse setting, diners enjoy Diestel natural roast turkey with lobster and dill cornbread stuffing, Cognac gravy with baby root vegetables and buttermilk mashed potatoes. The price is $32 for adults, $16 for kids ages 6-12 and complimentary for children 5 and younger with the purchase of an adult entree. Christmas dinner hours are 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
LV Bistro
Located near the scenic South Pool, LV Bistro will have two prix fixe menu choices: roast turkey with giblet gravy, chestnut stuffing with roast garlic mashers, maple glazed baby carrots, haricot verts and porcini cream for $28, or Humboldt Fog crusted beef tenderloin with peppercorn demi, Anna potatoes, mustard braised Brussels sprouts and butternut squash for $45. Christmas dinner hours are 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
FALL/HOLIDAY COCKTAILS
In the “spirit” of the season, the resort’s signature restaurants and lounges are serving special fall/holiday cocktails. Prices range $8-$14.
BOURBON STEAK
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: 2 oz. Cognac 3/4 oz pumpkin syrup 1/2 oz lemon juice 1/2 egg white 1/2 oz Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur. Shake all ingredients vigorously over ice, serve up, garnished with old-fashioned bitters and cloves.
Spiced Pear Martini: 2 oz. Hangar One spiced pear vodka, 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice, 3/4 pear nectar and a dash of simple syrup.
Stone Rose Lounge
Pumpkin Patch: In a shaker stir until dissolved: 1 tsp light brown sugar, 1 tsp Agave (or honey)
Splash lime juice. 3 dashes pumpkin spice seasoning. Add ice and 1 oz Herradura Silver Tequila
1 oz Apple Cider, 1 egg white. Shake vigorously. Served in snifter glass. Garnish with dash of cinnamon.
Bon Bon: In a mixing glass muddle: 3 raspberries. Add ice and equal parts (3 oz. Total):
Amaretto di Saronno, Chambord, Frangelico, Chocolate Syrup (1 squeeze), splash of cream
Shake and strain over raspberries. Served in a port glass.
S’mores: 1 oz. blended Whiskey, 1 oz. dark crème de cocoa, 1 oz. cinnamon schnapps. Splash of milk. Garnish with graham cracker crust rim and 3 mini marshmallows. Serve in a martini glass.
La Hacienda
Spiced Pumpkin Margarita: 1 1/2 oz. Herradura Anejo, 1/2 ounce Cointreau, splash of pumpkin puree, sour mix. Orange/holiday spice sugar stick.
Horchata Flaming Coffee – an incredible experience, only at La Hacienda!
The Grill at the TPC
Cranberry Cooler: A hurricane glass filled with ice 6 mint leaves, torn; 2 oz. sake
Muddled, 3 oz. orange juice, top with Champagne. Garnish with cranberries.
Ginger Snaps: Double rocks glass, filled with ice, 4 dashes ginger simple syrup, 2 oz. Hennessey Cognac. Fill with eggnog, garnish with gingersnap rim.
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is located at 7575 East Princess Drive in Scottsdale, Ariz. For information, please (480) 585-4848, toll-free (866) 540-4495 or visit www.scottsdaleprincess.com.
ABOUT THE FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE PRINCESS:
Set against the backdrop of Arizona’s McDowell Mountains, the AAA Five-Diamond Fairmont Scottsdale reflects its Southwestern setting with Spanish colonial-style architecture, expansive plazas and lush, flower-filled gardens. The resort features 649 oversized guest rooms, including 69 new Fairmont Gold rooms and suites, five heated swimming pools, the luxurious 44,000 square-foot Willow Stream – The Spa at Fairmont and championship golf at the adjacent TPC of Scottsdale. Dining options include BOURBON STEAK, an award-winning steakhouse by the acclaimed Michael Mina, LV Bistro: local and fresh for the whole family and The Grill with stunning views overlooking the 18th green at the TPC of Scottsdale Stadium Course. Stone Rose is a contemporary bar and lounge presented by nightlife entrepreneurs Rande Gerber and Scott Gerber, is the spot for cocktails in Princess Plaza.