27 November 2007
Cologne - Cologne is known for having the most impressive Christmas Market in Germany and the biggest Christmas tree. Gingerbread has a long history. The most culinary gingerbread house is situated in the lobby of the Cologne Marriott Hotel.
The lobby smells like cinnamon and freshly baked cookies at Christmas time. The gingerbread house is made of pastries and cinnamon. When you look inside the house you will find an angel smiling at you. The first class hotel situated in the heart of the city and near the cathedral has started its Christmas season. The gingerbread house is unique in a German hotel. It connects convenience with culinary: there you can find freshly backed cookies and the right idea for a Christmas-brunch, event and New Year`s Eve. Since the opening of the Cologne Marriott Hotel in 2006 the gingerbread house is the point of reference for hotel guests as well as for locals.
"We are looking forward to creating a unique stay for our guests. Our guests should feel at home when entering our hotel. We take care of the details so that our guests can focus on the big picture", says General Manager Wolfgang Gros. The gingerbread house at the Cologne Marriott Hotel is made of real gingerbread, which is 3 x 2 x 2 meters big.
Ginger is a spice from Indo-Malaysia. The ginger root was believed to soothe an upset stomach or to prevent a cold. In 2000 B.C., wealthy Greek families sailed to the Isle of Rhodes to get spiced honey cakes. In the eleventh century, pilgrims and soldiers introduced ginger to the Europeans. The English created ginger candy. Two hundred years later, bread crumbs were added to the mixture and gingerbread almost as we know it was born. In the middle ages, medieval ladies gave gingerbread cakes to their favorite knights. Different shapes were used for different meanings. The heart was used to ward off evil. Ginger was very plentiful in Germany and it became the center for spice trade. Craft people created special baking molds of animals, fish, and bible scenes sometimes weighing over one hundred pounds.
In the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I presented guests with a gingerbread made to look like them the discovery of the New World and the introduction of molasses in the 17th century brought the gingerbread we are familiar with; cake-like without bread crumbs. It became available to everyone, not just royal and wealthy people.
Gingerbread houses became popular in America after this time. Competitions still exist in Pennsylvania and Connecticut to see who can build the most lavish gingerbread house. The folktale of Hansel and Gretel made the gingerbread house familiar to Americans and Europeans. The tale was about two children who walked through the dangerous forest and they came upon a house made of gingerbread.
In Germany, gingerbread houses continue to be popular in some villages, each family would bring a model of their home to a central location where the village was recreated in miniature. Then, on New Year's Day, the children break the houses apart and eat them to celebrate the New Year.
Little gingerbread houses designed especially for children can be found at Cologne´s Christmas Market, one of the biggest markets in Europe. The Cologne Marriott Hotel is located within walking distance to two of Cologne's six Christmas shopping markets which open from November 26th to December 23rd. During the pre-Christmas period, Cologne is one of the most popular European travel destinations with attractive Christmas fairs, numerous concerts, the nativity set, as well as the multifaceted shopping possibilities. The Christmas fairs attract millions of visitors annually. The biggest Christmas tree in Rhineland is located in front of the impressive setting of the cathedral.
Opening hours of the gingerbread house in the lobby of the Cologne Marriott Hotel: Monday to Saturday from 3pm to 7pm and on Sundays from 11am to 5pm.
Recommendation for Christmas Time
The Cologne Marriott Hotel offers a Christmas Weekend Package from 179 € including a delicious breakfast buffet in "Fou, the crazy brasserie". Furthermore, you can find various Christmas brunches and dinners with french style and cuisine.
Recommendation for New Year`s Eve
Be inspired by the exciting Musical "We will rock you" or listen to The Original Harlem Gospel Singers & Band at the Cologne Marriott Hotel on New Year's Eve 2007.
Special 1: New Year's Eve with The Harlem Gospel Singers & Band.
This offer includes a cocktail reception, gala buffet, ice-fireworks, interactive show-cooking-actions, New Year's Eve Band, Baron Philippe de Rothschild's
"Blanc & Rouge", Koelsch, non-alcoholic beverages and a glass of champagne.
Rates: 219 € per person excludes accommodation,
299 € per person in a double deluxe room including breakfast
Special 2: Enjoy the Musical "We will rock you" and experience New Year's Eve at our "Pluesch - Bar & Lounge". This offer includes a choice of cocktails, snacks and a glass of sparkling wine. Rate: 244 € per person in a double deluxe room including breakfast.
Special 3: Be entertained by a show full of rhythm and emotions - Experience an unforgettable evening with the vibrant voices of "The Original Harlem Gospel Singers & Band" in the Musical Dome. Spend the night in a comfortable and modern deluxe double room in the Cologne Marriott Hotel and start into the new day with a delicious breakfast buffet in "Fou, the crazy brasserie". Rates: from 149 € per double deluxe room, per night including breakfast and two tickets for "The Original Harlem Gospel Singers & Band", valid from 2nd to 5th January, 2008.
For further information: www.colognemarriott.com
- Ends -
About Marriott International
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with nearly 2,900 lodging properties in the United States and 68 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and had approximately 151,000 employees at 2006 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by FORTUNE®. The company is also a 2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Partner. In fiscal year 2006, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $12.2 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.
For more information, please contact:
Hubert Sowka
Public Relations Manager
Cologne MH Operating Company
c/o Köln Marriott Hotel
Johannisstr. 76-80
50668 Köln Germany
Tel. +49 (0)221 94 222 5605
Fax +49 (0)221 94 222 7600
Email: hubert.sowka@marriotthotels.com
Internet: www.koelnmarriott.de
Cologne - Cologne is known for having the most impressive Christmas Market in Germany and the biggest Christmas tree. Gingerbread has a long history. The most culinary gingerbread house is situated in the lobby of the Cologne Marriott Hotel.
The lobby smells like cinnamon and freshly baked cookies at Christmas time. The gingerbread house is made of pastries and cinnamon. When you look inside the house you will find an angel smiling at you. The first class hotel situated in the heart of the city and near the cathedral has started its Christmas season. The gingerbread house is unique in a German hotel. It connects convenience with culinary: there you can find freshly backed cookies and the right idea for a Christmas-brunch, event and New Year`s Eve. Since the opening of the Cologne Marriott Hotel in 2006 the gingerbread house is the point of reference for hotel guests as well as for locals.
"We are looking forward to creating a unique stay for our guests. Our guests should feel at home when entering our hotel. We take care of the details so that our guests can focus on the big picture", says General Manager Wolfgang Gros. The gingerbread house at the Cologne Marriott Hotel is made of real gingerbread, which is 3 x 2 x 2 meters big.
Ginger is a spice from Indo-Malaysia. The ginger root was believed to soothe an upset stomach or to prevent a cold. In 2000 B.C., wealthy Greek families sailed to the Isle of Rhodes to get spiced honey cakes. In the eleventh century, pilgrims and soldiers introduced ginger to the Europeans. The English created ginger candy. Two hundred years later, bread crumbs were added to the mixture and gingerbread almost as we know it was born. In the middle ages, medieval ladies gave gingerbread cakes to their favorite knights. Different shapes were used for different meanings. The heart was used to ward off evil. Ginger was very plentiful in Germany and it became the center for spice trade. Craft people created special baking molds of animals, fish, and bible scenes sometimes weighing over one hundred pounds.
In the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I presented guests with a gingerbread made to look like them the discovery of the New World and the introduction of molasses in the 17th century brought the gingerbread we are familiar with; cake-like without bread crumbs. It became available to everyone, not just royal and wealthy people.
Gingerbread houses became popular in America after this time. Competitions still exist in Pennsylvania and Connecticut to see who can build the most lavish gingerbread house. The folktale of Hansel and Gretel made the gingerbread house familiar to Americans and Europeans. The tale was about two children who walked through the dangerous forest and they came upon a house made of gingerbread.
In Germany, gingerbread houses continue to be popular in some villages, each family would bring a model of their home to a central location where the village was recreated in miniature. Then, on New Year's Day, the children break the houses apart and eat them to celebrate the New Year.
Little gingerbread houses designed especially for children can be found at Cologne´s Christmas Market, one of the biggest markets in Europe. The Cologne Marriott Hotel is located within walking distance to two of Cologne's six Christmas shopping markets which open from November 26th to December 23rd. During the pre-Christmas period, Cologne is one of the most popular European travel destinations with attractive Christmas fairs, numerous concerts, the nativity set, as well as the multifaceted shopping possibilities. The Christmas fairs attract millions of visitors annually. The biggest Christmas tree in Rhineland is located in front of the impressive setting of the cathedral.
Opening hours of the gingerbread house in the lobby of the Cologne Marriott Hotel: Monday to Saturday from 3pm to 7pm and on Sundays from 11am to 5pm.
Recommendation for Christmas Time
The Cologne Marriott Hotel offers a Christmas Weekend Package from 179 € including a delicious breakfast buffet in "Fou, the crazy brasserie". Furthermore, you can find various Christmas brunches and dinners with french style and cuisine.
Recommendation for New Year`s Eve
Be inspired by the exciting Musical "We will rock you" or listen to The Original Harlem Gospel Singers & Band at the Cologne Marriott Hotel on New Year's Eve 2007.
Special 1: New Year's Eve with The Harlem Gospel Singers & Band.
This offer includes a cocktail reception, gala buffet, ice-fireworks, interactive show-cooking-actions, New Year's Eve Band, Baron Philippe de Rothschild's
"Blanc & Rouge", Koelsch, non-alcoholic beverages and a glass of champagne.
Rates: 219 € per person excludes accommodation,
299 € per person in a double deluxe room including breakfast
Special 2: Enjoy the Musical "We will rock you" and experience New Year's Eve at our "Pluesch - Bar & Lounge". This offer includes a choice of cocktails, snacks and a glass of sparkling wine. Rate: 244 € per person in a double deluxe room including breakfast.
Special 3: Be entertained by a show full of rhythm and emotions - Experience an unforgettable evening with the vibrant voices of "The Original Harlem Gospel Singers & Band" in the Musical Dome. Spend the night in a comfortable and modern deluxe double room in the Cologne Marriott Hotel and start into the new day with a delicious breakfast buffet in "Fou, the crazy brasserie". Rates: from 149 € per double deluxe room, per night including breakfast and two tickets for "The Original Harlem Gospel Singers & Band", valid from 2nd to 5th January, 2008.
For further information: www.colognemarriott.com
- Ends -
About Marriott International
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with nearly 2,900 lodging properties in the United States and 68 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and had approximately 151,000 employees at 2006 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by FORTUNE®. The company is also a 2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Partner. In fiscal year 2006, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $12.2 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.
For more information, please contact:
Hubert Sowka
Public Relations Manager
Cologne MH Operating Company
c/o Köln Marriott Hotel
Johannisstr. 76-80
50668 Köln Germany
Tel. +49 (0)221 94 222 5605
Fax +49 (0)221 94 222 7600
Email: hubert.sowka@marriotthotels.com
Internet: www.koelnmarriott.de
© Press Release 2007
