WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS?      by CHRISTINE FAGG

A typical Best Western Hotel

Do we watch too much television over Christmas? If we're honest, I think the answer is probably `yes'. Best Western Hotels (who own over 300 hotels throughout GB) was spurred into action following results from a recent TV poll consisting of some 1500 people to find out how much they watched TV on Christmas Day. The results revealed that over the Christmas period, some 42% admitted they were glued to the box for over four hours each day. The poll also proved that when the TV is on, families talked less and argued more and that it also caused more rows over which programme to watch than who should wash up after Christmas Dinner!

As a result, this Company has taken action to claim back Christmas and New Year for families everywhere. It is offering an extensive list of 1, 2 and 3 day Festive Breaks at 160 of their hotels with the aim of establishing the lost art of Yuletide communication. Their aim is to bring family and friends closer to each other again and help them avoid spending a silent Christmas glued to the box with its endless TV repeats and family fights over the remote control.

How will Best Western Hotels achieve this aim? By laying on enticing programmes of activities to attract guests' attention. They will include carol singing, pantomime trips, murder mysteries, visits to local hunts, pantomimes, theatre productions, guided walks, quizzes, boat trips, domino `knock outs', candlelit cocktail parties and, of course, lots of lavish Christmas fayre plus excitement, surprises and laughter. Depending on where you stay you might even go llama trekking or enjoy a visit to a reindeer farm!

But the thing that really made me sit up and take notice was the offer made by some of the hotels to remove television sets from guests' bedrooms (If requested, of course)!

See www.bestwestern.co.uk/festive breaks o-or phone 0845 33 00 120

(3/12/06)