Elga Stoeckert (left), co-owner of Hotel Four Seasons, is greeted by Sonja Sutherland (right), of the Guardsman Group, while businesswoman Lois Sherwood (centre) looks on. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter

SOFT, ROMANTIC lighting in shades of orange and red, along with subtle instrumental music, laid the foundation for exciting laughter and chatter on Monday night as Hotel Four Seasons fted its customers.

It was a customer appreciation party geared at saying a big thank you to those who did business with the hotel.

Sisters, Christa Lundhand Elga Stoeckert, entertained in fine style.

The two Germans who came to Jamaica in 1958 to start a business selling hand-made dolls, proved themselves to be true business women when they started Tip Top Restaurant.

Now known as the Four Seasons Hotel, the pair boasts of being the longest surviving restaurant in Kingston under the same management for so many years.

Addressing her guests, Elga Stoeckert said, "Thank you for your support throughout the years. Because of you, we have grown to the present stage of Hotel Four Seasons. Next year will be 50 years since Christa and I have adopted Jamaica as our home, and we will invite all of you present here tonight to celebrate that occasion with us."

Among those who celebrated with the German sisters were Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew, Desmond McKenzie; Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda; Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner to Jamaica, Yvonne Gittens-Joseph; businesswoman Lois Sherwood; Andreas Schorlemmer of Perez y Cia; president of the Jamaica German Society, Owen Miller; Evelyn Seltier of the German Embassy; Maria Freidrick-Boerger of the German Embassy; and Doreen O'Connor of the German Embassy.

(From left) Owen Miller, president of the Jamaican German Society; Evelyn Seltier, of the German Embassy; Maria Friedrick-Boerger, deputy head of mission, at the German Embassy; and Doreen O'Connor, immediate past president of the Jamaican German society.

Trinidadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, Yvonne Gittens-Joseph (left) and Mexican Ambassador to Jamaica, Leonora Rueda (right), listen attentively to Andreas Schorlemmer, managing director of Perez y Cia.