THE WESTIN ST. FRANCIS FEATURES TWO CASTLES FOR HOLIDAY SEASON

• The Medieval Castle & the St. Francis Enchanted Castle
• Celebrating the Best of the Past & Present
• On Display November 27, 2019 - January 2, 2020

Join in the merriment on Wednesday, November 27 at 11 a.m. when The Westin St. Francis unveils two one-of-a-kind handcrafted sugar castles by Executive Pastry Chef Jean-François Houdré and his team in the celebrated Landmark Lobby. The public is encouraged to attend and will enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies.

The Medieval Castle
In celebration of hotel tradition is the stunning Medieval Castle, originally created in 2005, and growing larger and more expansive each year. Resembling a French Chateau inspired by Chef Houdre’s travels, this life-like magical castle features grand circular towers, individual rooms, and colourful illuminated windows. The castle is set in a medieval French village complete with intricately constructed homes, a church, a bakery and stores, all with illuminated windows and surrounded by holiday sugar cakes. New this year is the addition of a second train circling an expanded village with a snowy ski resort, a pond, snowcapped trees, and a souvenir shop.

The St. Francis Enchanted Castle
Adding a touch of modernity, the three-level St. Francis Enchanted Castle showcases a winter wonderland of elaborate gift boxes, gingerbread trees, and brilliantly coloured candies, all intricately handmade with sugar and pastry. Elves can be spotted climbing all the way up to a towering sugar castle.

On both castles, each item is intricately handcrafted using the practiced techniques of sugar art including pulling, blowing, shaping and molding, each taking years to perfect. Countless hours and hundreds of pounds of sugar have been used to create these works of art, which are comprised of sugar, royal icing, fondant and pastillage.

Chef Houdré learned the refined art of pastry by working in his family’s bakery where everything was created from scratch. Born in the Southwest region of France into the family business of boulanger-pâtissier, he was inspired to become a pâtissier by his father who taught him not only the technique but also a true love for the craft.

For more information and reservations, call (415) 397-7000, toll free (888) 627-8546, or visit www.westinstfrancis.com. Stay connected on Twitter & Instagram at @WestinStFr and facebook.com/WestinSF.

About The Westin St. Francis
A stimulating fusion of current and classic San Francisco, The Westin St. Francis offers a timeless respite for the modern guest. Stunning original architecture dating back to1904 is seamlessly blended with contemporary design and state-of-the-art technology throughout the 1,195 guestrooms and suites and 56,000 square feet of meeting space. Special amenities include the expansive 6,000 square feet Westin WORKOUT® Fitness Studio, The Oak Room Restaurant, Caruso’s Coffee/Lobby Bar, Michael Mina’s cocktail lounge CLOCK BAR, Chateau Montelena Tasting Room, and ENO Wine Bar. Evoking the perfect sense of place, The Westin St. Francis is the only hotel located directly on Union Square, a bustling metropolis with world-class shopping and restaurants, performing arts, and historic cable cars stopping at the front door. Guests can easily walk to popular neighbourhoods such as Chinatown, North Beach, and the Financial District. The hotel is conveniently located just one mile from Moscone Convention Center and 13 miles from the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). For more information and reservations, call (415) 397-7000, toll free (888) 627-8546, or visit www.westinstfrancis.com. Stay connected on Twitter & Instagram at @WestinStFr and facebook.com/WestinSF.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts, hospitality’s global leader in wellness for more than a decade, empowers guests to transcend the rigours of travel while on the road through the brand’s Six Pillars of Well-being: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well. At 225 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories, guests can experience wellness offerings, including the brand’s iconic and award-winning Heavenly Bed; game-changing gear lending program, TRX fitness equipment in signature WestinWORKOUT™ Fitness Studios; delicious and nutritious menu offerings, and more. Stay connected to Westin: @westin on Twitter and Instagram and facebook.com/Westin. 

Westin is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the new name of Marriott’s travel program replacing Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz- Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG). The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including earning points toward free hotel stays and nights toward Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.