Glitz For Glory

Image via Daily Mail

The now infamous 40 foot evergreen tree adorns the lobby at The Emirates Palace Hotel.  The tree alone is valued at $10,000 notwithstanding the gold and silver bows and jewellry which increases its value to $11 million!!  Imagine 181 diamonds and pearls and other precious stones including sapphires and emeralds draped upon the limbs of this giant of a tree.  Style Gallery boutique, which provided the jewellry, confirms the value of the jewellry.  Now that's decorating at the max!  Or is it?  Is this a publicity stunt?  A bid for World Record fame? 

The marketing team at The Emirates Palace Hotel wanted to do something a bit different this year and they did!  In fact, they got the world talking about it!  There are plans to involve the Guiness Book of World Records to ascertain if this is indeed the world's most expensive Christmas tree.
 
The hotel has received numerous complaints that this tree is in poor taste, especially in this time of economic crisis.  One reporter went so far as to state this is an attempt at flaunting the oppulence and vast riches of Dubai.  We know this area is oil rich.  But is it too much to deck out an enormous tree as a statement of wealth?  Do you think that's what this is all about?  Or is it a gesture of welcome to tourists in style?
 
What do you think?  Should it be redecorated?  Should it be removed all together?  Or, is this fine?  Each to his own, so to speak.  Why can't we just accept this for what it is, a grand gesture of welcome which incidentally may be the most expensive gesture of its kind, and move on?  Tell me, what is your opinion?