11th December 2006 - Hotel Nikko Kuala Lumpur has embarked on yet another charity project, the 'Festive Charity Cottage', mainly to raise funds to help the less fortunate children. The project launched at the Hotel's Main Lobby by YB Dato' Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Deputy Finance Minister and Mr. Ronald Brooks, Director of Food & Beverage of Hotel Nikko Kuala Lumpur in the presence of 109 children from different homes such as 'Pertubuhan Pengasuh', St. Barnabas Home, 'Titian Kasih', 'Ambu Illam' and Christian House of Orphans Selangor. Also present for this event were YBhg Tan Sri Datin Paduka Seri Hajjah Zaleha Ismail, Head of Advisors Board for Yayasan Harapan Kanak-kanak Malaysia (YHKM) and Mr. Gilbert Chai, Director of Sales & Marketing, Hotel Nikko Kuala Lumpur.

The Festive Charity Project is the Hotel's year-end charity project organized in collaboration with YHKM, which is under the patronage of YA Bhg Datin Seri Dato' Rosmah Mansor. YHKM is currently on a fund raising drive to collect the much needed funds to the build 'The Miracle of Hope Home'. When completed, the Home will offer shelter and medical care for children suffering from HIV/AIDS. Funds collected from The Festive Charity Cottage will also be channelled to other two recipients, Jason Ng from Bukit Mertajam, Penang and Nur Natasha Ang from Ipoh, Perak, both aged 3 years old. These two children are suffering from complicated heart conditions and require financial assistance for corrective heart surgery.

"Hotel Nikko Kuala Lumpur, as a socially responsible corporate organization has throughout the years participated in various charity events and will continue to do so with the ultimate objective of offering aid to the many less fortunate. With a minimum contribution of RM100.00, the names or company logos will be featured on The Cottage or tagged to Christmas Trees and Nutcrackers to indicate our thanks and acknowledgement for the support given by the many generous Malaysians and guests staying in the Hotel," said Ronald Brooks.

Members of the public who wish to be part of this worthy cause can drop by at The Festive Charity Cottage any day of the week. The Festive Charity Cottage is open from 10 am to 10 pm daily or call +60 3 2161 1111 and ask for the Communications Department. The project will end on 31 December 2006 and the funds will be disbursed to the recipients by the 1st week of January 2007.

The gigantic 'Festive Charity Cottage' is constructed from gingerbread measuring 10 feet in length, 6 feet in width and 10 feet in height. The idea of the Festive Charity Cottage began some two months ago with the actual construction on 29th November 2006, assisted by eight staffs from the Engineering and Food & Beverage Departments. The Festive Charity Cottage is made up of baked gingerbread, decorated with cookies and festive decoratives. Fencing The Cottage are Christmas Trees, one feet high Nutcrackers, 'snowflakes' and snowmen, all of which lend a 'Cottage in the woods' ambience to the entire setting, while in the centre of the Main Lobby is a 20' feet tall Christmas Tree.

These flavoursome gingerbread and cookies are specially made by Chef Ahmad Saniff, Pastry Chef of Hotel Nikko Kuala Lumpur, who has approximately 20 years of working experience in culinary industry. Chef Ahmad together with his assistants, Chef Rozaimi Zainal, Assistant Chief Baker and Chef Najib Hamzah, Demi Chef de Partie took almost two weeks to prepare the gingerbread dough using ingredients such as 200 kg of flour, 2 kg of Lebkuchen spices, 12 kg of honey, 8 kg of sugar, 20 kg of milk and 40 eggs.

Following this evening's launch, the children and guests were feasted to an array of traditional Christmas specialities at a special Christmas Party with performances by Jean Gan Ballet performance. YB Dato' Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Ronald Brooks and Gilbert Chai gave away Christmas goodies and festive monies to the children to ensure that they have a memorable evening, not to mention special appearance by Santa Claus.