For hotels, World of Afternoon Tea offers an enjoyable and unforgettable afternoon tea experience for their guests and local clientele, by combining their afternoon tea service with a talk by an expert on the history, traditions and etiquette. Popular with hotels in the low season or to mark significant calendar events through the year, such as Mother’s Day, Christmas or the changing seasons. This can be promoted to community and charitable groups, or offered by the hotel as a special addition to those booking a family tea party celebration.
The Fairmont Macdonald Hotel in Edmonton, Canada, chose to arrange a World of Afternoon Tea talk as a thank you to its suppliers, which proved to be a great hit. It is also a useful professional development exercise for front of house and kitchen staff to learn about the history and traditions of the items they are preparing and serving.
For tearooms looking for something special for their regular or new clientele, World of Afternoon Tea offers the quintessential tea experience for tea aficionados. This can be offered in person or beamed in via live Zoom.
Examples include an in-person event for Lovejoy’s Tearoom in San Francisco and for the Bridge Tea Rooms in Bradford-on-Avon, as well as a Zoom presentation for the Garden Tearoom in Pennsylvania. Tearoom proprietors can be assured of a fun activity to enhance their popular tea offer for new customers and loyal clientele.
“Gillian’s talk in our tearoom was wonderful. She is extremely knowledgeable, but also approachable and entertaining. She was warm, fun and engaging with all of our guests.”
Celine O’Driscoll
Owner, Lovejoy’s Tea Room, San Francisco
“What a treat for our guests to listen and learn. There were many compliments afterwards on your presentation. Many of the gals do hope that you will come to visit us as they so want to meet you.”
Marnie D’Amato
The Garden Tea Room, Pennsylvania (talk delivered via Zoom)
“Gillian gave an online lecture on the history of Afternoon Tea to Historic Houses members. We could not have been happier by the feedback we’ve had. Her storytelling, presentation slides, and attention to detail made for a fun and fascinating talk, and we’ll certainly be looking to arrange many more events with Gillian in the near future.”
Dominic Head
Historic Houses
Pricing
GBP: £175-250, USD: $350-400, CAD: $370-500
For Zoom lectures, whether standard or bespoke, please contact for pricing, which is lower than an in-person lecture.
In order to be as transparent as possible, World of Afternoon Tea lists a lowest and top price depending on the nature and size of the event. Prices are based on a 30 – 60 minute lecture (usually 45 minutes), plus Q&A, with slide show presentation wherever possible.
Prices in USD and CAD include a small increment for international transactions. They do not include travel costs and disbursements, to be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Currency conversions shown are provided by xe.com based on rates August 2025.
For Zoom lectures, whether standard or bespoke, prices are comparatively lower than in-person lectures. Please contact World of Afternoon Tea to discuss your budget and requirements.
Please contact World of Afternoon Tea to discuss your budget and requirements.
Did you know? In the early years of the 20th century, the tango craze was sweeping the world from its roots in the poor barrios of Buenos Aires and Uruguay. Word of the erotic dance was carried to the major cities of the USA and Europe. By now, afternoon tea was being offered by many hotels around the world, often with a palm court orchestra entertaining the guests. Some guests would request the orchestra play tango music so they could practice their moves betweeh the tables. There were many enterprising hotel owners who saw a business opportunity in this, and thus the term ‘tea dances’ was introduced. Posters advertising tea dances sprang up all over, and these events even started to be mentioned in the popular novels of the day.