A Truly Grand Opening at Bali's St. Regis
February 28, 2009 Official Grand Opening Celebration of St. Regis Bali Resort, A Party to Remember.
(3/2/2009)
A select gathering of 200 business guests, socialites and media were privileged to be on hand for the official inauguration of the 132 suite and villa
St. Regis Bali Resort on Saturday night, February 29, 2009.
Adopting a
diamonds and pearls theme and starting before sunset at 5:45 p.m., guests were welcomed in the Resort's lobby where fine champagne, canapés, dollops of caviar and freshly shucked oysters set an opulent mood as well-know violinist Sally Jo of
Saharaja entertained the celebrants.
Shortly after sunset, two regal phalanxes of young men and women carrying torches passed through the lobby, setting into motion the now famous nightly lighting of the resort by a troupe of fire dancers.
Both Illuminated and enthralled, the invited glitterati then turned their attention to the lobby's main staircase where Indonesia's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Jero Wacik, accompanied by representatives of the
St. Regis group, the owning company and hotel's management were armed with scissors to perform the
de rigueur ribbon cutting, heralding bigger things ahead for both that evening and the long-history-to-come of Bali's newest luxury property.
Another guest of honor for the evening, was Indonesia's former Minister of Tourism and Telecommunication, Mr. Joop Ave.
Cocktails continued at the Resort's open-air ballroom foyer. Among the cocktails on offer were
Bloody Mary's - a drink whose creation is credited to Fernand Petiot, the legendary bartender who reigned in the 1930s in
King Cole Room at the
St. Regis in New York.
Brief speeches by Minister Wacik and hotel dignataries prefaced the much-awaited first of two sets performed by Jazz sensation Jamie Cullum. The multi-talented, award-winning recording artists Cullum was flown in from London especially for the evening, adding a special degree of excitment to an already very special occasion.
Cullum used his trademark "stompbox" syncopation in combination with a bass drum installed under the grand piano to drive a selection of modern hits and jazz evergreens. Both charismatic and infective in his musicality, whenever the mood moved the diminutive 29-year old singing star he would use the piano wooden frame to beat out rhythms, go directly to the strings to pluck ouy a a melody by hand or, as he did in one instance, climb atop the piano before leaping down to an appreciative crowd.
Between musical sets on the terraced foyer, the Resort's adjacent ballroom presented a gourmet selection of plated delicacies including sashimi, beef tenderloin, lobster, scallops and, of course, more caviar. A separate side-room hosted a tempting display of pastries, hand-dipped chocolates and a chocolate fondue fountain.
Moving into overkill territory in terms of caloric consumption, a troupe of chefs later wheeled a 2-meter tall tiered cake sufficient in size to most of South Bali. Encircled with blocks of white chocolate, each tier of the cake overflowed with piles of exotic berries ranging from boysenberries, fresh strawberries, blueberries to raspberries.
Veteran hotelier, Frank Beck is the general manager of the magnificent property who, together with his team, are seeking to
"wow" a whole new generation of Bali visitors.
Shown on balidiscovery.com are snapshots taking at the grand opening party of the St. Regis Bali Resort.
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