Emirates Palace gets 'normal' tree this Christmas

Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi has scaled back its festive decorations for 2011 after an extravagant US $11 million Christmas tree sparked controversy last year.

“We’ll do a normal tree this year. Last year’s was a one off. You can’t do it every year or people lose interest,” a hotel spokesperson told Hotelier Middle East.

“We also had some criticism of last year’s tree, it was very controversial and there were some negative vibes, but it didn’t cost us a penny. The tree was sponsored,” he added.

The jewellery for the 2010 13m fake evergreen was provided by Style Gallery. Decorations comprised 181 diamonds, pearls, emeralds, sapphires and other precious stones valued at more than $11 million dangling from the tree’s branches.

Silver and gold bows, ball-shaped ornaments and small white lights also hung from the tree which stood in the hotel’s lobby.

The story regarding the Christmas tree, thought to be the world’s most expensive, published on Hoteliermiddleeast.com on December 16, 2010 received negative reader comments claiming the news to be “shameful”, “decadent” and “nothing to boast about”.

The lighting of the more modest 2011 Christmas tree will take place at Emirates Palace hotel on December 11 from 6pm-8pm. Entertainment includes a brass band and the event will be open to hotel guests and the general public.