HANOI,
Vietnam (06 Apr. 2012) – A new chapter begins at the Sofitel
Plaza Hanoi on
West Lake next week as the five-star hotel officially opens the doors
on its
refreshed rooms and spaces in a glamorous re-launch party April 12.
The
culmination of three stages of renovations, the unveiling marks the
hotel’s
most significant overhaul since its grand opening in 2001. A who’s who
of
Hanoi’s notables, celebrities and media will gather for the re-opening,
featuring a groundbreaking fashion show by luxury French brand, Kenzo.
Extensive
upgrades throughout the 317-room property include a full renewal of the
hotel’s
Plaza Ballroom, luxury accommodation, and business facilities, as well
as inside-out
makeovers of its flagship Chinese restaurant and rooftop bar.
With
a prime address on tree-lined Thanh Nien Boulevard overlooking two
legendary
lakes and the meandering curves of the Red River, the hotel’s new
design fuses
Hanoi’s two cultural traditions in a mix of contemporary French
elegance and
Vietnamese charm.
Polished
marble floors, dark wood furniture, Oriental décor and exquisite
lighting set
the tone for a new oasis of luxury in the centre of a capital that is
rapidly
reinventing itself as the next regional hub.
Hanoi’s
two Sofitel properties are the only five-star hotels in the city that
have
undergone a thorough refitting of their facilities within the past
three years.
The Sofitel Plaza Hanoi called on architect Victor Loh of renowned
Singaporean
firm DP Design to mastermind its redesign.
“This
renovation is about fulfilling the potential of this magnificent
lakeside
property, in a way that we always knew was possible,” said Lhuguenot.
“There is
a new outlook, a new energy within the hotel that was brought on by
this
renovation, and so far guests are responding enthusiastically to the
changes.”
LUX
LIVING
The
hotel’s most sought-after room category, the Luxury Club Rooms, were
completely
remodeled to evoke a more open, spacious setting with transparent
bathroom
doors, a lattice wood divider, and built-in cabinet; while all-glass
windows
deliver spectacular views of the sprawling capital below.
A
single Vietnamese artifact now serves as a point of interest in the
doorway
entrance, and the bathroom is virtually aglow in new lighting and
polished
marble. Sofitel’s MyBed setting anchors the room’s soothing palette of
earth
tones, pale yellow and vibrant purple accents.
Larger
minibars, a built-in connectivity hub, a 37-inch LCD flat-screen
television and
complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access make up the room’s technological
upgrades.
Those
staying in the hotel’s Luxury Club Rooms on the 15th to 18th
floors have access to the privileges of the Club Sofitel. The hotel
transformed
its 17th floor business and social venue with fresh furnishings and
tropical touches, and installed two new iMacs for guest use.
RESTAURANTS
Closer
to the ground, a sleek reinterpretation of Oriental décor has
taken over the
hotel’s popular Chinese fine-dining venue Ming Restaurant.
Silver
detailing on the backs of the restaurant’s ivory-toned seats, a line of
potted
bonsai and a charming tea lounge evidence the restaurant’s Cantonese
roots.
New
additions to the venue include two open kitchens where fresh noodles
and more
than 100 versions of handmade Dim Sum are prepared in view of diners;
as well
as three VIP rooms with views of the street, where large and small
parties can
dine in privacy.
A
CROWN JEWEL
Perched
20 floors above the city, the lofty Summit Lounge was reimagined with
the
allure of a penthouse.
The
lounge’s all-new outdoor wooden deck beckons visitors with an
invigorating
breeze and mesmerizing views of Hanoi skyline. At night, the luminous
vista
permeates the indoor lounge area through wrap-around glass walls.
Completely
redone with an illuminated arched ceiling, lush sofas, a lengthy bar
and
dedicated DJ booth, the lounge’s deep purples, blues and reds set the
mood for
a night of relaxation. Waitresses in French maid outfits and bartenders
in
stylish suits complement the bar’s novel concept.
Celebrity
chef Will Meyrick of Jimmy Lik’s fame took part in the lounge’s
rejuvenation by
creating a trendsetting menu of culinary cocktails and upscale Asian
hawker fare.
MEETING
ROOMS
On
the second floor facing leafy Pho Duc Chinh, the Zen-inspired Business
Centre
was rebuilt in a new location connecting the Plaza Ballroom to the Hoi
An Room,
one of the hotel’s nine meeting venues.
The
hotel’s capacious 420-square-metre ballroom was redecorated with
leather-covered walls, a sunset-hued carpet and enormous sparkling
chandeliers.
On
the ground floor, an all-new space, the Library, holds a six-person
board
table, sofa setting and 50-inch television. Splashes of magenta and
framed
photographs by photographer Tim Walker make the Library an inspiring
setting to
talk business.
The
enhanced guest experience at the Sofitel Plaza Hanoi does not stop with
its
hardware. As part of its repositioning, the hotel carried out a fresh
round of
service training for all levels of its staff, with emphasis on
developing
Vietnamese employees to play greater roles in the hotel industry.
GM
Antoine Lhuguenot, who was part of the renovation project in its early
stages,
returned to Hanoi in Feb. 2012 to usher in the hotel’s re-launch.
Sofitel, World Class Hotels
& French Elegance
Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand
with a presence on five continents with 120 addresses, in almost 40
countries
(more than 30 000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary
hotels and resorts adapted to today’s more demanding and more versatile
consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence.
Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New
York, Shanghai or Beijing, or nestled away in a country landscape in
Morocco,
Egypt, French Polynesia or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers a
genuine
experience of the French “ art de vivre”.