Join an Amex-sponsored charity dinner at the Hotel Cafe Royal

If you were unlucky in getting a spot at the Head for Points reader dinner next week, you may be interested in a charity dinner at the Hotel Cafe Royal on Regent Street on Saturday 26th October.

This is an annual charity event organised by luxury travel consultancy Driven2travel, who I know, and sponsored by American Express.  For out-of-towners there are other events going on over the weekend around the dinner, but there is enough space at the venue to add additional guests (like you!) just for the meal and the charity auction.

The gala dinner will be held in the Domino room at Hotel Cafe Royal.  Following a ludicrously huge investment over recent years, Cafe Royal now looks gorgeous and is well worth a visit.  As you can see, it is a lovely room (click to enlarge):

The event is organised on a fully non-profit basis and has raised over $25,000 for HUSK Cambodia over the past three years alone. This year, the money raised will be shared between HUSK Cambodia and the Shinta Mani Foundation, two charities that support needy families living near Siem Reap with education, housing and hope for a sustainable future.  A photo of a project supported by the event in previous years is below.

The evening costs just £60 per person.  This is exceptional value for a welcome champagne reception and a three-course dinner with wine in such a venue.  The price is so low because American Express is fully sponsoring the dinner.  Your £60 fee does not pay for your meal (Amex is paying) but covers a donation to HUSK and is also valid as a credit during the charity auction after the dinner.

Here are the highlights of the current auction list.  There is an opportunity to bid on a stay at some great hotels and all income from the auction is donated to charity.

• 3 nights at Shinta Mani Wild, a member of the Bensley Collection, including transfers, all-inclusive dining (including as much champagne as you like!), all activities, spa treatments and use of the hotel’s zip-line!
• 2 nights at the Park Hyatt New York, including breakfast
• 2 nights at Capri Palace, including breakfast
• 3 nights at any Myconian Collection property, including breakfast
• 2 nights at the Park Hyatt Mallorca, including breakfast
• 2 nights at the Chedi Muscat, including breakfast
• 2 nights at the Park Hyatt Vienna, including breakfast
• 2 nights at Canaves Oia Suites, including breakfast
• 2 nights at the Fairmont San Francisco, including breakfast

Many of the fellow guests are Flyertalk users and, whilst not all conversation at the event may be focused on miles and points, everyone will be a passionate traveller.  The organisers will seat HfP readers on the same table where feasible.  Attendance is limited and the remaining seats are available on a first come, first served basis.

For full clarity, I have attended this dinner in the past and it is a very pleasant evening with a fascinating bunch of people.  I also know Jenny who organises it and who I know is very committed to the evening and indeed to the HUSK charity.  However, neither myself or Rhys will be attending – I am on holiday as it is half term, and Rhys will be in Israel with Sir Richard Branson, as you do.  Anika’s baby is due the same week so she’s not going either.

If you would like to attend (and you won’t find a better value Saturday night in the West End), you need to register here and pay the £60 per person fee.

If you want to spend the night at the Hotel Cafe Royal, Jenny can book you in and get you the added Virtuoso benefits on top.  A lot of HfP readers will have a ‘£100 cashback on £400 Cafe Royal spend’ offer on one of their American Express cards at the moment, but this expires on 24th October so you’d need a pre-paid room.  Contact jenny.price@driven2travel.co.uk for more information.

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