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Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Opens
First Hotel In the Middle East, the 301 room
Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai
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Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong Speeds Up Renovation

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.
 

Shangri-La  is  spearheading  a  development  drive in the region that will begin  with  three  properties and almost 1,400 rooms and apartments within two  years  with  the combined openings of the Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai this month,  the four-star Traders Hotel, Dubai in October 2003 and Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Muscat, Oman, opening in July 2005.

The  striking Shangri-La Hotel Dubai designed by the NORR Group of Canada - enjoys stunning ocean and city views. Located on Sheikh Zayed Road in the city's  burgeoning commercial business district area, the hotel offers some of the largest and most luxurious guest rooms on the strip, ranging in size from  484 


The Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai 
Sheikh Zayed Road 
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
square  feet  to  the  presidential  suite's  4,682 square feet.  Comprised  primarily  of  granite,  marble  and  glass,  the  hotel  has  a contemporary  look  designed  to  reflect  the spirit of modern Dubai.  The grand  43-story  atrium lobby also serves as a showcase for art by talented young  local  artists,  examples  of  which are also displayed in the guest rooms and other public areas.

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.
 

The lobby and lobby lounge underwent an extensive rejuvenation yet retained key  hallmarks from the original design, including the crystal chandeliers, fountain and large murals depicting the "Shangri-La Valley." Re-launched in late  2002,  the  lobby  features new Italian Statuario marble, custom-made carpeting with a swirling fans design and imported European upholstery.

Guest  rooms  are  being  upgraded in three phases, with the first phase of guestrooms  completed  in December 2002 and the second in June 2003.  Phase III  will  be finished mid-September 2003. The elegant contemporary designs incorporated  into  the new guest rooms create an ambience of modern luxury and  retain  the  spaciousness,  comfort 

Kowloon  Shangri-La
64 Mody Road,
Tsimshatsui East,
Kowloon, Hong Kong
and  sophistication  that Kowloon Shangri-La  is  known  for.  All  guest  rooms  are equipped with broadband Internet  access  and  dual  phone lines with third party teleconferencing.  All  brand  new  guest rooms have the conveniences of a separate shower and bathtub in the re-modelled bathroom, flat screen TV and DVD player.

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.

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Contact:

Lori  Lincoln
Director of Public Relations
North America
Phone: (212) 382-3155
Email: [email protected]
http://www.shangri-la.com/

Also See: Developer of Dubai�s Palm Islands Awards Two Hotel Management Contracts to Rezidor SAS / May 2003
Millennium Hotels and Resorts Awarded Management Agreement for the Dubai Airport Hotel in the United Arab Emirates / Jan 2003


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