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First Hotel In the Middle East, the 301 room Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai |
August 4, 2003 - The Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai, the first Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts property outside Asia Pacific has opened its doors for business. The new five-star 301-room hotel with 126 serviced apartments is the result of a management agreement between Shangri-La and the United Arab Emirates-based Al Jaber Group. The target audience for the hotel is predominantly the business and convention sectors driven by the hotel's location, which is five minutes from the city's new Convention Centre. Leisure travel, however is also an important component of the hotel clientele base. "We believe that the hotel will appeal to the sophisticated leisure
sector as the intrinsic brand promise of Shangri-La
is familiar and trusted by many travelers who have
visited the Asia Pacific region," says Bernhard Haechler, the hotel's general
manager.
The guest rooms, designed by the Singaporean interior design firm Wilson and Associates, are located between the 29th and 41st levels and are decorated in warm, contemporary tones. Dual telephone lines with voicemail have been installed as well as broadband Internet service and secure laptop recharging devices so that travelers may conduct important business transactions in the privacy of their rooms. Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai offers business travelers executive floors with an exclusive retreat called the Horizon Club. The Horizon Club is a private lounge offering complimentary breakfast, morning/afternoon tea and evening cocktails, personalized check-in and check-out services, a private meeting room and a host of other executive benefits. In addition to executive services, there is a dedicated health club and swimming pool for the exclusive use of the Horizon Club guests. Food lovers are spoiled for choice with a selection of nine food and beverage outlets including Shangri-La's signature Chinese restaurant, Shang Palace, which serves Cantonese cuisine. The Hoi An restaurant offers traditional Vietnamese cuisine and Marrakech presents Moroccan favorites in a courtyard setting. Both restaurants are the first of their kind in the Shangri-La group. The 42nd floor will encompass an exciting entertainment venue and is scheduled to open later in the year. The hotel's business center is open 24 hours a day providing business travelers with a full range of communications and technology support services (including four private work stations) and secretarial services. In addition, business executives can reserve a boardroom or any one of three private meeting rooms. Conference organizers will welcome the hotel's two ballrooms, the Al Nojoom Grand Ballroom and Al Bader Ballroom, with banquet seating capacities of 450 and 300 respectively. Both ballrooms are unobstructed by pillars and make maximum use of natural light. Three additional conference rooms provide projection with back or front lighting options, full Internet access, state-of-the-art technology and equipment for small to medium size meetings and functions. A fully equipped health club includes a gymnasium, sauna, spa and juice bar, Jacuzzi, squash court, tennis court, outdoor free-form swimming pool, two retail sports outlets, and nine treatment rooms. Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong Accelerates its Re-imaging Program. The extensive renovation program at the 700-room harbor-front
hotel is now scheduled to be completed in September 2003. To date, the
five-star hotel's lobby, guest rooms on the top floors, suites, Horizon
Club, a new function room and new and refurbished restaurants
have been re-launched. The hotel continues to operate with uninterrupted
services.
High above the harbor on the top floors, the Horizon Club offers a hotel within a hotel for the executive traveler. All the latest technology for business and pleasure have been incorporated into the new Executive and Executive Harbour View Rooms in the Horizon Club, including fully adjustable ergonomic chairs; 4-in-1 office machines incorporating printer, copier, scanner and fax machine; dual telephone lines; DECT wireless telephones that allow guests to receive telephone calls throughout the hotel; LCD televisions in the bathroom; home theater systems and trouser presses. The exclusive Horizon Club Lounge has been revamped and expanded. Tapas Bar, a chic new wine bar serving over 130 New World wines and international tapas opened in November 2002 offering a new concept to the Hong Kong dining scene. The popular Shang Palace Chinese Restaurant has been renewed, maintaining the unique décor of gold and red motifs reminiscent of the Sung dynasty with new paint, carpeting, upholstery, ornate lanterns and lighting. A range of custom-made Nikko fine bone chinaware further enhances the dining experience. In September 2003, Kowloon Shangri-La will unveil its brand new concept Café Restaurant, offering action-packed open kitchens and an extensive menu to its guests. Features include a wide range of international fare, cooking stations, a deli and an innovative private Chef's Table located amid the action of the open kitchens. Nadaman Japanese Restaurant will also be completely redesigned and will re-open in October 2003. The new décor will have a contemporary fresh design that will complement the tradition of exquisite Japanese cuisine. A private Teppenyaki room featuring a theater of live action cooking will also be added. Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is the largest Asian-based luxury hotel group and currently manages 41 hotels in Australia, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and U.A.E., with a rooms inventory of over 20,000. The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. Any dissemination, distribution, copying of or taking of any action in reliance upon this message, other than to/by the addressee, is strictly prohibited. |
Contact:
Lori Lincoln
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