A decade of hospitality: Islamabad’s opulent Serena Hotel is 10 years old

The federal capital’s residents celebrate at a party that had something for everyone.

ISLAMABAD: A large crowd gathered to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Serena Hotel on Sunday.

To greet the guests, dhol-walas clad in traditional attire, drummed out beats while dancing in the parking lot. The guests were led on the red carpet to the gardens, where food stalls served oriental cuisine with delights such as kulfa faluda, taka-tak and chaat. One side of the garden served fresh juices, oriental and Japanese food items such as salads and wok-fry noodles. “It feels like a carnival with excellent food,” said Jamal Khan, a guest.

Handicrafts from all over the country were put on display, while musicians and performers from Pakistan National Council of the Arts and International Promotion of Arts and Culture kept the audience captivated. They presented cultural dances, with props like swords in tow. Children lounged around face painting booths and watched a puppet show while the women browsed through the in-house shopping arcade.

Tania Arianda of Serena Management told The Express Tribune that they had been working for the past one month to put the event together. Serena Hotel General Manager Peter Hill said, “ [The hotel] has come a long way from commissioning of a small hotel in the northern areas of Pakistan to this flagship property. The journey has been rewarding.”  The guest list included diplomats, politicians and heads of United Nations agencies.