Press Release: The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit and Royal Park Hotel Celebrate 10 Years
To honor their 10-year anniversary, The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit and The Royal Park Hotel will unveil a sweet seasonal favorite, the Royal Park Express, to the Rochester community at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at the boutique hotel located at 600 E. University Dr. in Rochester.
Walking into the Royal Park Hotel, guests will be greeted with the warm aroma of gingerbread and spirited holiday decor. Brightly-lit Christmas trees fill the lobby as eyes are drawn towards the center of the room where the larger-than-life gingerbread locomotive sits on candy train tracks.
The gingerbread creation has evolved throughout the years, from its small beginnings as a gingerbread house that was transformed into a gingerbread lighthouse, to most recently a gingerbread train. New this year, the amazing Royal Park Hotel pastry team repurposed the gingerbread house frame into a holiday Salvation Army store front which will be adjacent to the train.
Since 2009, the hotel and the nonprofit have come together to bring Christmas joy to the community and help those in need. The “mitten” tree will return, with a paper mitten ornament hung for every $10 or $25 donation. To help kick-start the donations, the David W. Elliott Memorial Foundation will generously contribute $5,000 to support The Salvation Army’s efforts to help those in need.
Those with a sweet tooth will be truly amazed as the hotel’s restaurant, Park 600, will deck the halls with delicious desserts. Calories don’t count when it’s for a good cause because $1 from every dessert sold will support The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit’s 2018 Red Kettle Campaign. Some of the local, regional and international sweets on the menu will include a Michigan Apple Galette, deconstructed crème brûlée, Chef Mark’s limited-edition cheesecake, chocolate cherry bread pudding and more.
“In the past ten years, The Royal Park Hotel’s gingerbread event has truly become a family holiday tradition,” said Major Russ Sjögren, general secretary and metro Detroit area commander for The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division. “The partnership between The Salvation Army and Royal Park Hotel has raised more than $55,000 for northern Oakland County families in need and we look forward to great community support again this year.”
The Royal Park Express is brought to life by Royal Park Hotel executive pastry chef Mark Slessor and his team of creative bakers. The locally-famous locomotive is detailed with decadent chocolate and gingerbread ingredients, including:
· 200 pounds of gingerbread mix
· 40 pounds of shortening
· 50 pounds of sugar
· 200 pounds of fondant
· 144 eggs
· 200 ounces of food coloring
· 50 pounds of candy
With candy creations and elegant decorations, the gingerbread train will be a magical holiday experience for the young and young-at-heart. All of that sugar will be a fun photo opportunity for the family at the train’s caboose.
The Royal Park Hotel Express will be available for public viewing through the beginning of January 2019.
About the Royal Park Hotel
The Royal Park Hotel is located 30 minutes north of Detroit. The AAA four-diamond hotel is within walking distance from downtown Rochester, home of the Big, Bright, Light Show. Featuring 143 uniquely designed guest rooms and suites; relaxed and understated elegance is the specialty of the house. With event space accommodating up to 1,200 guests, the Royal Park Hotel is the ideal setting for corporate meetings, romantic weddings, intimate receptions and gathering with family and friends. For more information, contact Sue Keels at 248-453-8709 or visit www.royalparkhotel.net.