NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The award-winning Royal Sonesta New Orleans is welcoming back its “Royal Snownesta” theme to celebrate the 2019 holiday season. From the hotel’s unique showcase of lighting and décor, to its beloved Royal Teddy Bear Tea tradition, all the way through to a memorable Christmas Day champagne brunch extravaganza, a myriad of long-lasting holiday memories occur at one of the Crescent City’s most-cherished hotels, located in the heart of the French Quarter at 300 Bourbon Street.
EVENTS
Royal Sonesta New Orleans is kicking off its holiday campaign with its beloved yearly event, Lighting of the Balconies on Wednesday, Dec. 4 inside the property’s lush interior courtyard. With a ceremonial flip of the switch, two patients from Children’s Hospital will magically illuminate thousands of twinkling lights that adorn the hotel’s classically designed wrought iron balconies. The tradition is regarded as one of the most memorable local celebrations of the season. Once again, this signature event will be infused with plenty of surprises, along with some great entertainment designed to make the holiday season bright for the hotel’s guests and patrons.
The holiday magic of both sights and sounds will continue throughout the month of December, when each weekday at noon beginning Dec. 2, New Orleans-area elementary and high school choirs will spread holiday cheer with musical performances, held directly inside the hotel’s main lobby. A schedule of performances is available here. Guests and visitors should plan to stop in throughout the season to enjoy the hotel’s elaborate holiday décor, including its glittering arcade of real Christmas trees.
On Christmas Day, the hotel creates even more magic. Executive Chef Jason Routzahn and his talented culinary team are providing an extravagant Christmas Day Champagne Brunch, with all the delicious and decorative trimmings of the season, inside Royal Sonesta New Orleans’ Grand Ballroom. Brunch will feature multiple food displays and live entertainment, on top of free-flowing champagne and mimosas as well as a Bloody Mary bar. Guests can book reservations with half-hourly seatings from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The cost is $85 for adults and $35 for children under 12. Children under 5 years old dine for free.
And at Restaurant R’evolution, located inside the hotel at 777 Bienville St., both visitors and locals can spend more time with family and friends, and allow the talented culinary team to create holiday feasts for the senses. In addition to daily happy hour, the restaurant will also offer extended lunch service Wednesday-Friday throughout December. In celebration of Louisiana’s holiday tradition of Réveillon,Restaurant R’evolution will feature a classic Réveillon menu on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. A Réveillon prix fixe menu will also be available for dinner or Sunday Brunch (B’Reveillon) throughout the entire month for all to enjoy. For reservations and more information on restaurant hours, call 504-553-2277 or visit RevolutionNola.com.
The Jazz Playhouse adds a fun twist to the lineup of festivities, with “Tease the Season” Burlesque Ballroom shows every Friday in December. Featuring Trixie Minx and a lineup of her star entertainers from Trixie Minx Productions, the fun begins each Friday at 11 p.m., with vocal performances by either Romy Kaye, Angie Z or Anais St. John. Guests are invited to enjoy the show with an accompanying Snownesta Royale cocktail, a concoction featuring spiced rum and crème of coconut, with a garnish of freshly shaved coconut to resemble falling snow.
At the close of the year, traveling visitors and local revelers alike can countdown to 2020 with a memorable evening of dancing and live entertainment from Sierra Green and the Soul Machine at The Jazz Playhouse’s New Year’s Eve Party. Doors open promptly at 8:30 p.m. The fun kicks off at 9 p.m. and wraps at 1 a.m. following a special champagne toast at the stroke of midnight. General admission tickets are $180, and VIP are $270. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
GIVING BACK
Every year during the holiday season, Royal Sonesta New Orleans partners closely with Children’s Hospital to give back to the community. Through collecting toys for a Toy Drop, hosting patients at a special Royal Teddy Bear Tea and bringing the Royal Teddy Bear Tea to the inpatients at Children’s Hospital inside its new atrium, this multifaceted collaboration not only provides unique and memorable Christmas experiences, but also meaningful financial contributions to those who need it most.
Royal Sonesta New Orleans embraces a corporate ‘Culture of Caring,’ and in 2019, the hotel is asking guests and patrons alike to open their hearts and contribute to this meaningful cause. For every $5 holiday donation in support of Children’s Hospital via the hotel, participants will be entered into a raffle to win a grand-prize package. The randomly selected raffle winner will receive 60,000 Sonesta Travel Pass points, which can be used for a two-night stay at Royal Sonesta New Orleans or another Sonesta Hotels property, as well as a $100 gift certificate to experience on-site venues Restaurant R’evolution, Desire Oyster Bar and/or The Jazz Playhouse.
“Children’s Hospital New Orleans is proud to be a part of this very special event to officially kickoff the holiday season in New Orleans,” said Children’s Hospital President and CEO John R. Nickens IV about Lighting of the Balconies. “Giving our patients the opportunity to be part of the Lighting of the Balconies is a very special moment. It is incredible to see the spirit of joy and hope that this season brings to the kids.”
SPECIAL OFFERINGS
The holidays are also an opportune time to take advantage of all Royal Sonesta New Orleans has to offer. With its Papa Noel Holiday Package, guests receive the hotel’s best rates, starting at only $149 per night Sunday through Thursday, and from $199 per night on Friday and Saturday. Returning this year, the Papa Noel Royal Package will reserve guests a spot on the exclusive R Club level, with prices starting at $229 per night. Plus, all Papa Noel guests automatically receive the tremendous Sonesta Savings Pack, containing more than $500 in discounts to New Orleans’ most popular attractions and museums.
Royal Sonesta New Orleans strives each year to provide local guests and travelers an ideal way to experience a truly unique holiday getaway, one unlike any other, while providing unexpected amazing moments and creating lasting holiday memories. To learn more or to book reservations for any of the Royal Snownesta events, please call 504-586-0300 or visit Sonesta.com/NewOrleans.
