Who Turned Off The Lights?

This Saturday night the hotel is taking part in Earth Hour – the global warming initiative whereby you turn off your lights for one hour. If Australia’s commercial sector turned off lights when buildings weren’t in use and combined this with other cost effective technology there would be a reduction in lighting emissions by 70% or 2 – 4 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s an amazing amount when you think about it. If all Australian households simply turned off unused lighting and appliances on standby it would reduce emissions by at least 5 million tonnes per annum. Now I just find that frightening. The amount of wastage by using standby instead of switching them off at the wall is shocking. So more importantly, let’s not wait for one hour of the year to do this, let’s make an effort to do this every day, I think it should be a daily habit, not an annual celebration.

Lights, Camera, Action

It’s been a busy few weeks in the hotel. We’ve had a couple of film crews shooting episodes for two forthcoming television shows. Stars shall remain nameless at this stage but it created some interest amongst our guests. The hotel is often scouted for film shoots both for the stunning façade that lends itself to many looks including both European and American cities and also for the contemporary neutral décor inside. With all the filming the hotel has been involved in over the years perhaps we should create our own “Hollywood walk of fame” on our footpath!

Live And Unplugged

No, I’m not referring to a band! It’s now easier to get connected when staying in the hotel. There is now 24 hour complimentary internet access and also wireless in every guest room. To me, this just makes life a little easier when travelling, a bonus if you like. A friend recently took a long weekend in Brisbane and was annoyed there was an internet charge, he refused to have to pay for the service. He lived in the US for a number of years and tells me it's standard for it to be free there, clearly not the case in Australia. I wonder how many others consider complimentary internet a plus and thus part of the selection criteria when choosing which hotel to stay at?

Howzat

Congratulations to the Australian Cricket Team claiming a 2-0 lead in the three match Test series in Durban. As a result the team has retained their No.1 ranking. In our ABX Bar we have a number of cricket bats signed by the touring cricket teams from the past couple of years. It can’t be easy playing a game with the hopes of a nation resting on your shoulders. When you’re up you’re cheered, when you’re down you’re fiercely criticized. To remain focused and humble under such media scrutiny certainly is an art.

I'll Have Wine With That

The Sydney Morning Herald Dine With Wine event has kicked off this month for its second year. I wonder how many people this event attracts? It’s a great opportunity to dine at restaurants around town for special prices and sample some of the new amazing wines from all over New South Wales making it to the market place. I must confess, I’m a bit of a restaurant connoisseur and do you know how hard it is to find chicken on the menu? For some reason it’s very few and far between, so I was a little excited when it made it onto the Bistro-Fax menu as the special dish for this event. No, I did not influence this one. Looking forward to tasting the wine from Cooks Lot.

Cheers!

In the ABX Bar, there are often special drink promotions. The Caipirinha was the “Cocktail of the Month” for February and I can’t wait to try the Caprioska cocktail that's featuring in March.

My drink tastes really depend on my mood and perhaps the season a little. Mowing the grass on a hot summer day could mean a beer, catching up with friends more often than not involves a bottle of wine or two, then there are cocktails before a night on the town, anything goes on a Friday or probably my favourite – champagne, requiring no reason at all! I was once told that Napoleon Bonaparte said “I drink Champagne when I win, to celebrate…and I drink Champagne when I lose, to console myself”. I wonder what the most commonly sipped drink in a hotel bar is?

Happy Mardi Gras!

The Sydney Mardi Gras season is in full swing. The festivities run over a three week period packed full of culture, entertainment and social events. The theme this year is “Nations United”. The jewel in the crown is the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. The parade has grown to become a major cultural event with over half a million Sydneysiders and thousands of international visitors turning out each year to cheer. Celebrate with us, the parade commences at 7:45pm on Saturday 7th March and heads along Oxford Street. The sequins, feathers, tiaras and the like are not to be missed!

Have Your Cake… And Tea Too

It seems that High Teas, Afternoon Teas and Devonshire Teas have never been more fashionable than they are now. I remember when a certain bakery in New York was put on the map when it was included in an episode of the television show Sex And The City, I heard it became so popular that the store went on to employ a bouncer! I can’t believe there’s now even a cupcake fan club!

We’ve been thinking, what makes a good Tea experience? Is it the cup of tea, the scones or perhaps more importantly, the cakes? A friend of mine swears it’s the scones, I’d be leaning to the glass of champagne myself! What would your ultimate Tea experience be?

V Day - Romantic Or Too Commercial?

We ask the question, has the traditional day of expressing love become too commercial?

According to Wikipedia, Valentine’s Day is a day of mutually exchanging love notes in the form of “valentines”, the sending of which was fashionable in nineteenth century Great Britain.

Has this day lost its meaning? Valentine’s Day cards now creep into the shops right after Christmas. Advertising encourages spending. Should affection be measured by the amount you spend? Does your significant other expect the roses, the chocolates, the night in a hotel or for some, that thrilling blue box from Tiffany’s?

There was a bar in Sydney holding an Anti-Valentine’s Day event, it was very popular although held a couple of nights before the actual day. Was this a way of two bites of that commercial cherry by holding another event on the night?

It seems expected that hotels have a special offer available for Valentine’s Day. Our “Be Our Valentine” two night package was indeed successful. Are we buying into the commercialisation or just providing what we’re being asked for? What do you look for in a romantic hotel package – a suite, dinner, champagne, breakfast in bed?

2009 Is The Year Of You!

Welcome to Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney.

Whether you have stumbled upon us or purposely followed a link, welcome to our blog.

This is a new endeavour for us and one that will be all about you!

Our hope is that this blog be informative, fun, intriguing and collaborative. The hotel is first and foremost for you and about you. We’ll be posting to inspire, engage and so that you can tell us simply what you think.

We’re delighted that you have visited us.

Enjoy this window to our world… your world.