Between fall’s festive fun and leaf-peeping adventures, there are also chances to do good. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and high-end hotels are showing their support with pink desserts and informative events designed to raise attention (and funds) for combating the disease. Visit one of these luxe lodgings this autumn to help make a difference.
Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London
Through October 31, sup on rosy sweets at this Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star London skyscraper during Pink Afternoon Tea.
Savor a selection of teas and treats with your choice of tipple (like sparkling rosé or Pink Champion, a gin, champagne and strawberry wine cocktail) and feel good knowing that a portion of the proceeds will go toward supporting breast cancer patients receiving treatment at the nearby Guy’s Cancer healthcare facility.
Look for the blush-hued bites crowning the tiered tea tray. The blackberry tart, petite éclair, and cherry mousse bonbon were created by three Guy’s Cancer patients who were able to bring their dessert dreams to life with the help of the hotel’s demi pastry chef, Lucy Wall.
The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
From dessert to drinks, this Four-Star Houston hideaway offers plenty of ways to think pink this October.Stop in for a Diamond in the Rough cocktail (sparkling pear cider, pear cordial, citrus and fresh lavender) and a Pretty in Pink Manicure or pick up a fashionable souvenir from The Shop at The Houstonian. The limited-edition pink acrylic purse from local designer David Peck is especially eye-catching.
Either way, be sure to also indulge in a Houstonian Hope Cake, a vanilla chiffon confection for two layered with raspberry swirl buttercream and topped with strawberries and tiny pink French macarons.
But the best part about all this pink-themed pampering is that a portion of proceeds will be donated to Susan G. Komen Houston.
This Four-Star retreat outside of L.A. shows its true colors with a property-wide Terranea Turns Pink initiative to raise both awareness and dollars for the cause.
Through October 31, chefs will don pink jackets as they serve rosy beet hummus, Pink Ribbon Oysters with pink peppercorn mignonette, and rose-infused lattes with blush-toned whipped cream. Dine on these delicacies, play a round on the links or book a seaweed wrap at the Four-Star spa — no matter how you indulge, the hotel will donate a portion of the proceeds to organizations like Cancer Support Community Redondo Beach and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
From Bahrain to the City by the Bay, Ritz-Carlton hotels across the map are glowing pink this October. Once you’ve snapped a few photos of the properties’ illuminated façades, step inside to partake in a plethora of pink-themed offerings.
Savor blush-colored bites and sips at Four-Stars The Ritz-Carlton, Denver (chocolate-berry Radiant Raspberry Tart and Chateau Minuty Rosé) and The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco (rose-tinted Frisco Pisco cocktail or October 20’s Pink Afternoon Tea) to support local charities. Or, make your way to Four-Star The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain on October 17 for the Pink Island Party, a get-together with a buffet and open bar that’s backed by the tunes of Istanbul-based DJ Ersan Erguner.
Learn more about breast cancer at this Four-Star Miami hotel with an awareness panel discussion on October 18. Get informed about the latest early detection technology, listen to top oncologists discuss treatment options and hear touching testimonials from survivors.
If you can’t make to the panel, you can still show your support by ordering a Rosy Cheeks cocktail (tequila, lemonade, hibiscus syrup and rosemary) at DRIFT lobby bar. Some of the proceeds from each pink drink will be donated to the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation.
Feel good about a fabulous Windy City stay when you check into this chic Five-Star hotel’s Bright Pink Suite this October. Styled with rosy accents from local event planner HMR Designs, the blush-hued space comes packed with perks like a pink champagne welcome toast, a reservation for the Bright Pink Afternoon Tea and a Rose Quartz Antioxidant Collagen Collection amenity from California-based skincare brand Knesko.
But the best part is that 30 percent of your room rate will be donated to Bright Pink, a Chicago-based charity that focuses on the prevention and early detection of breast cancer.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
To commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this luxury hotel brand is taking part in the #HumanRibbonChallenge — from Paris to Singapore, properties are posting photos of staff forming a life-size pink ribbon to raise our collection consciousness for the cause.
The brand’s reach doesn’t stop there. Through October 31, stop in Five-Star Mandarin Oriental retreats in New York and Miami for an Inner Strength aromatherapy massage or swing by Five-Star Mandarin Oriental, Taipei to book its Pink MOments package, inclusive of Pink Ribbon Afternoon Tea and a rose-hued Mandarin Fizz cocktail at the MO Bar.
No matter which stellar stay you choose, these pink-themed initiatives will benefit a local breast cancer charity.
