The Eastern & Oriental (E&O) Hotel’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony went virtual this year.

For the past 17 years, the event has been held on the first of December every year.

Absent from the E&O Hotel’s Heritage Wing lobby were the usual large crowd of  guests unlike previous years.

E&O Hotel general manager, Ms Alison Fraser, lighted up the six-metre tall tree under the famed echo dome in the company of Heads of Departments. 

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the hotel had cancelled its annual gathering in full compliance to the health and safety regulations. 

But not wanting to disappoint guests that eagerly look forward to this event, the hotel invited all to join the celebration online through Facebook and Instagram live. 

Thousands of “guests” within Malaysia as well as around the globe were also cheered to see the E&O Hotel’s brightly lit Christmas tree come to life in a behind-the-scenes time-lapse video.