By Chief of Concierge - Mr. Mark Peyton

5th April 2011

The Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, has been one of the most famous hotels in the country for many years.  I was very lucky to have walked in over 30 years ago and offered my first (and only) job since leaving school.

Working in the food and beverage department all those years ago gave me the enthusiasm to persue a career in hospitality and rub shoulders with the rich, the famous and not to mention infamous!

Presidents, Royals, Prime Ministers, film stars, religious and business leaders, sports personalities, the list seems endless, and now as a concierge of such a famous establishment, it has allowed me an insight into the inner circle of the lives of some of these people.

One of the main reasons I am a hotel concierge, is every day delivers me a new challenge, a new face or just an opportunity to provide our guests with a type of service that the Wentworth is renowned for. I find it most rewarding to provide the guest with exactly what they require and perhaps even that little bit extra.

There has been many changes over the years and it still amazes me how we ever survived without the Internet, the mobile phone, emails, room swipe keys and suitcases without wheels. Thank heavens we have managed to hang on to 'good old fashioned service' and an attitude within the hotel where our guests are paramount.

The leisure guest today has so much to choose from as Sydney has become one of the great cities of the world and can cater to any budget. Top end activities such as helicopter scenic flights and seaplane flights to secluded luncheon havens, from art trail walks to museum and gallery visits, there is no end to the choices available to the guest that wants to enjoy their hard earned leisure time.

The life of a concierge can be tough at times, solving other peoples problems with limited time frames, however, being a concierge in Sydney far out weights it all, as this is a fantastic city to demonstrate my craft. World class restaurants, surreal landmarks, one of the most beautiful harbours of the world and a climate that allows us to enjoy it all.....wouldn't be dead for quids!

Local Government and shires association of NSW Annual Conference

For the Shires organising team of three, transforming the Wentworth Ballroom from the educational conference to candy-striped Broadway production takes a lot of teamwork; and Sofitel and LGSA have got teamwork down to a fine art over the years.

Read more in the February edition of MICENET - Full Article or visit MICE.net (end down the page).

THE SECRET WORLD OF HAUTE COUTURE IN PHOTOS

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth presents the Fashion Stills

exhibition from Polka Galerie Paris

21 MARCH 2011: Sofitel, fashion, photography and Paris. After a highly successful tour in Europe and North America the exhibition Fashion Stills has arrived in Australia.

First displayed  at the Sofitel Le Faubourg in late 2009, the Fashion Stills exhibition, designed and staged by the famous Polka Galerie in Paris,now on touring with Sofitel Luxury Hotels in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane throughout 2011.

Fashion Stills invites you to take a peek behind the scenes at Dior, Chanel, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Yves St Laurent, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy with the famous faces of Karl Lagerfield, Carla Bruni and Kate Moss.  Star photographers, Derek Hudson, Francoise Huguier, Jean-Marie Périer and Gérard Uféras, have succeeded in capturing unique moments on the haute couture catwalk, via an eccentric pose or by immortalising a dress, a design or a celebrated fashion designer’s work desk. 

The tailor-made exhibition – currently in house at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins to coincide with the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival until the 14^th of April - will launch in Sydney on the 2^nd of May at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.

Following a four month Sydney residence, the display will then move on to the Sofitel Brisbane Central where it will be on show from the 2^nd of September until the 29^th of December.

“Sofitel Sydney Wentworth General Manager Marc Cherrier says, The Sofitel brand is an ambassador of French elegance and culture, and has made it a point of honor to celebrate that heritage by means of numerous events, whether related to literature, gastronomy, fashion or music. The Fashion Stills exhibition is a great example of how the Sofitel Luxury Hotel network is increasingly using special events as a link between its addresses, countries and continents.” 

Exhibition dates, Fashion Stills, Si la mode m’était contée

Melbourne: 8 March - 14 April

Sydney: 2 May - 20 August

Brisbane: 2 September - 29 December

For more information visit www.sofitel.com

Earth Hour, 26March from 8.30am to 9.30pm

At 26March Earth hour will occur for the 5th time!

 Sofitel has been involved from inception.

This year Sofitel will continue to demonstrate that a luxurious 5 star hotel still provides luxury with climate friendly activities, as Sofitel and Accor are one of the world’s leading hotel companies that try and help the planet.

Amongst the many initiatives,  Sofitel Sydney Wentworth will

•          Teach our staff about Earth Hour Day and what each individual can do to support Earth Hour 
            day
•          Hold educational sessions for our staff and promote posters throughout the hotel
•          Promote Earth Guest Day to our guests
•          Remind our staff to turn off their lights and computers every day
•          Keep a minimum level of lighting front of house and utilize additional candles in the hotel
•          Hold a romantic candle lit dinner in Garden Court Restaurant 26March. 

An ongoing exercise is that the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth gives all of our  MYbed mattresses away to the ones that need bedding the most, as we turn around out mattresses every two years.

In addition the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth provide food to the ones that aren’t able to provide it for themselves.

 

Further information can be found at: http://www.earthhour.org/About.aspx

 

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is preferred accommodation of the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival, screening from Wednesday 9th March until Sunday 27th in Sydney. For full selection screening times and ticketing details visit the official website www.frenchfilmfestival.org .

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth welcomes Clotilde Hesme to Sydney, one of the most celebrated young actersses in new French Cinema and star of Alix Dilaportes ANGELE & TONY Australia's Premiere Thursday 10th March. French film star Clotilde has been enjoying the Frech hospitality of Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

 

 

Albert Roux, the Chef behind Britain's first ever Michelin-starred restaurant Le Gavroche, is heading to Australia in April to host a series of dinners at Sofitel hotels.   

Roux will be flying the fine food and wine flag while hosting dining events at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth and Sofitel Melbourne On Collins. Thanks to British Airways

The Best of French Dining events will include a lunch and dinner at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth's conservatory-style Garden Court restaurant on 8 April and a dinner at the Sofitel Melbourne On Collins' No35 on 11 April.

Dinner is $169 per person and includes a four-course menu, while the lunch is $139 for three courses. Each menu has been
specially designed by Roux, with paired wines selected by sommeliers from each of the participating restaurants

 http://www.gardencourtrestaurant.com.au/gardencourt/sydney-restaurant-specials.html

 

http://www.sofitelsydney.com.au/dining-unique.html

 

 

After more than 30 years since ABBA's first live performance in Australia on the evening of 3 March 1977, ABBA will return to Sydney in the first official exhibition about the 1970s global pop sensation.

The exhibition ABBAWORLD is showing exclusively in Sydney at the Powerhouse Museum from 17 December 2010.

The exhibition will capture the music, memories and magic that made the Swedish group a worldwide phenomenon and whose music almost four decades later continues to attract new generations of fans.

The exhibition will feature more than 20 original costumes, the epitome of 70's glam, live concert footage, promotional and behind the scene photographs, album artworks and other ABBA memorabilia, as well as exclusive interviews with members Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Falltskog.

Visitors will be able to relive ABBA's music and sing and dance their way through the exhibition using a serie of interactive.

Make a night of it and stay overnight at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth!
To book click here

An icon of colonial elegance in the Cambodian capital!

Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra will open its doors next December and offer a unique location along the Bassac River and a few minutes from city centre.

Escape and indulge in the Cambodian culture and tradition within the luxe comforts of the stylish Sofitel Luxury Hotel line.

Explore the Sofitel's latest addition by clicking here

The JERSEY BOYS opening party at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth was the place to be on Saturday the 18th of September

Media and celebrities alike, celebrated in Sofitel style at the official opening party of the award winning musical JERSEY BOYS, playing at Sydney's Theatre Royal

As the official accommodation sponsor of JERSEY BOYS, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth was proud to host this elegant event in our impressiveWentworth Ballroom.

The night was a tribute to the style and glamour of the sixties, transporting everyone to the swinging decade of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

The festive season is fast approaching and what better way to celebrate than with a Magnifique Christmas party at the luxurious Sofitel Sydney Wentworth?

Perfectly located in the heart of Sydney Sofitel  offers a range of Christmas party options plus overnight accommodation for those really wanting to let their hair down.

For the ultimate intimate Christmas experience, you can't go past The Garden Court Restaurant

Please see below Christmas Party Packages for more information!