It was an unexpected and wholly original idea when the soon to open Kempinski Nile Hotel decided to host a small fashion show for a few select members of the press and Cairo's socialites. The concept was simple: a fashion show based on the new uniforms that the Kempinski's staff will soon be wearing when welcoming the hotel's first guests late June. But instead of lithe Caucasian looking models and haute couture ensembles, the models were the hotel staff themselves who walked the catwalk to the accompaniment of classic jazz music, upbeat workout tunes and instrumental Arabic music. Waiters, concierge staff, chefs, busboys and gym instructors danced and strutted with elegance and sartorial style to choreographed dance routines amusing and delighting guests. It was a scene out of artist Jack Vittriano's painting “The Singing Butler,” when the Kempinski's butlers waltzed down the catwalk. Smart suits, crisp white chef coats, bell boy top hats and coattails were all modeled hinting at the hotel's strategy of presenting future guests with superb luxury doled out with modern casualness. With the modeling staff's cheerful dispositions and the hotel manager's creative approach to introducing the Kempinski Nile Hotel to Cairo, I have a hunch that the hotel will be offering an experience that is quite fresh and novel in the city.
