Festive silent auction set to raise money for Edinburgh sick kids

December 9, 2011, Rocco Forte’s The Balmoral will this year be holding a month long silent auction in aid of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF) - a charity which provides much needed funds for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

Iconic Scottish venues and brands have supported The Balmoral by donating luxury gifts and ‘money can’t buy’ experiences which guests and visitors alike will be able to bid for throughout December.

From a luxury weekend at The Balmoral including dinner in Michelin-starred number one and treatments at The Balmoral Spa, to handmade silver jewellery from Hamilton & Inches and a made to measure kilt by Kinloch Anderson, the silent auction offers a wide range of items for both individuals and families.

Experiences donated for the auction include two tickets to ladies day at Royal Ascot with a bespoke couture hat from leading UK milliner, Yvette Jelfs; use of the entire Director’s Box at The Edinburgh Playhouse for a performance of Oliver; a tasting session with the Glenmorangie Whisky Creation Team and two tickets to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at the Usher Hall.

Johnstons of Elgin, Begg Scotland and Belinda Robertson have donated stunning cashmere items while the auction also includes Diane Von Furstenburg accessories from Jane Davidson, fresh water pearl jewellery from Kakao by K and a signed limited edition print of Edinburgh in 2164 by designer Nial Smith.

The festive silent auction marks the 2011 festive season at the luxury five star hotel and will run until Thursday 5th January.

Commenting on the charity auction, The Balmoral’s General Manager, Franck Arnold said:

“The Balmoral’s silent festive auction is a reminder to all that Christmas is a time for giving and local charities need our support more than ever. Guests and visitors will be given the chance to bid for ‘money can’t buy’ items and other luxurious gifts while knowing that every penny we raise will go directly to the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.

“I would encourage Edinburgh locals to make a trip to The Balmoral throughout December and get involved in the auction to help us raise as much money as possible for a fantastic cause.”

The Sick Kids Friends Foundation’s work directly benefits thousands of children who visit the Royal Hospital for Sick Children each year. The SKFF helps to comfort sick children by providing state of the art medical equipment, family and child friendly facilities and extra training and research for hospital staff.

Will Guest, Corporate fundraiser for The Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said:

“A huge thanks to The Balmoral for kindly donating the proceeds of their charity auction to the SKFF. The experiences and gifts are sure to attract a lot of attention from bidders.

“All the proceeds raised will help sick children and their families during their time in hospital. As all of our funds come from generous donations, we could not do our work without the support of companies like Rocco Forte Hotels and we are very grateful to everyone involved in making this possible.”

-ENDS-

For more information and/or images, please contact:

Lauren Meldrum                        
PR Manager
The Balmoral                            
Direct line: 0131 662 8826                                 
Email: lmeldrum@roccofortehotels.com

NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS

The Balmoral
Rocco Forte Hotels' Balmoral is a luxury hotel in the true sense of the word. With its majestic clock tower, the hotel is a unique and contemporary luxury five-star property in the very heart of Edinburgh. The Balmoral offers 188 opulent suites and stylish rooms, many with views towards Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town. The Balmoral’s ten conference and banqueting suites, including the signature Sir Walter Scott Suite all enjoy natural daylight and can accommodate a wide range of events including: business conferences, intimate dinner parties, large receptions and weddings. The hotel and city also make for an ideal incentive destination with an abundance of history and culture readily available.

Rocco Forte Hotels

Rocco Forte Hotels is a family of 13 individual hotels and resorts. Each property has a unique style, reflecting its nationality and location, but all share Rocco Forte Hotels’ trademark attention to detail, high quality and immaculate service.

Established by Sir Rocco Forte in 1996, Rocco Forte Hotels comprises: Hotel de Russie, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; The Lowry Hotel, Manchester; Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg; Hotel Amigo, Brussels; Brown’s Hotel, London; Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Augustine Hotel, Prague; Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily; Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi. Future openings: Jeddah 2013; Marrakech 2014; Cairo 2014; Luxor 2014.

www.roccofortehotels.com

Sick Kids Friends Foundation
The Sick Kids Friends Foundation helps sick children get better by funding extra medical equipment, improving facilities, financing specialised research and training and providing a wide variety of extra comforts for young patients and their families at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, other health centres in the East of Scotland and in the Community.  For more information please visit www.edinburghsickkids.org