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Shangri-La Hotels Selected as Operator for 200-room Condominium
Hotel Within the 90-story Waterview Tower Development in Chicago

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Chicago, October 4, 2005 - Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group, announced today its first hotel in the United States, the Shangri-La Hotel, Chicago. The group signed a management contract with Waterview LLC, the project's developer, to operate the luxury hotel, which will open in early 2009 in the new Waterview Tower located along the Chicago River at the corner of West Wacker Drive and Clark Street.

The 200-room  hotel will be situated on floors 12 through 27 of the 90-story Waterview Tower, which will be within walking distance of the Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, Lake Michigan, the city's central business district and world-class theaters and museums.  The tower, which will also feature 233 elite residential condominiums, was designed by renowned architect Thomas Hoepf, AIA, of the nationally recognized design firm Teng & Associates. At 1,050-feet (320-meters), the mixed-use development will be the fifth tallest building in Chicago.

"We took great care to find the very best location for our American debut, and we believe the Waterview Tower is the ideal launching pad for our brand within the U.S.," said Giovanni Angelini, Shangri-La's chief executive officer and managing director. "Our reputation has been built over three decades in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, and we are excited that our signature warm and gracious style of Asian hospitality will be introduced to America in Chicago."

The Shangri-La Hotel, Chicago will bring new standards of luxury to the city with sweeping views of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, exquisite exterior and interior design, spacious guestrooms and suites, round-the-clock butler service, a signature spa, restaurants and meeting space.

"We are extremely delighted and honored that Shangri-La has selected Waterview Tower and Chicago as their entry into the United States," said Ivan Dvorak, chief executive officer of Waterview LLC.  "Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is regarded as Asia's finest luxury hotel group, and the deluxe Shangri-La Hotel, Chicago will be a perfect complement to our beautifully appointed residential condominiums. It will play a significant role in putting Waterview Tower on the international map as well as making it the ultimate address in Chicago."

The hotel's restaurant options will include the street-level Wintergarden Lounge, serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, pre-theater supper and light evening meals, and the Sunset Promenade, overlooking the Chicago River and offering light lunches, afternoon refreshments plus evening cocktails. The hotel's Asian feature restaurant will specialize in creative seasonal cuisine presented in a chic environment reflective of the nearby theater district.

Shangri-La's spa brand - CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La - will also debut in Chicago, offering treatments based on ancient Chinese and Himalayan healing therapies.  Designed to create a sanctuary of tranquility inspired by the legend of "Shangri-La," CHI will feature seven spacious private suites that will provide a "spa within a spa" atmosphere.  In addition, the hotel will have a 24-hour fitness club in a windowed 6,000-square-foot (557-square-meter) space offering the latest fitness equipment, indoor pool, whirlpool, steam and sauna room, a juice bar, plus a separate yoga and Pilates area.

Designed to be a popular social and meeting destination, the hotel will offer private function rooms and a grand ballroom accommodating up to 250 guests for cocktail receptions and 180 guests for dinner. The hotel's business center will provide private work stations, a boardroom and a "green room" for VIPs.

The 200 hotel condominium units will be offered for sale to individuals by Waterview LLC.  Hotel condominium unit owners will be entitled to personal use as well as participation in the hotel-managed program.
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Shangri-La Hotel, Chicago
Fact Sheet

Developer: Waterview LLC,  Chicago

Architect: Thomas Hoepf, AIA, Teng & Associates, Chicago

Opening Early 2009

Location

  • Along the Chicago River at 111 West Wacker Drive
  • In Chicago's Central Loop within walking distance of the Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, Lake Michigan and world-class theaters and museums
  • 30-minute drive and 45-minute train ride from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and Midway Airport
Building
  • 1.3 million square-foot (120,000 square-meter) mixed-use Waterview Tower development with hotel and  residences
  • Hotel will occupy floors 12 through 27 of the 90-story tower
  • Floors 30 through 88 will consist of 233 elite residential condominiums
  • Hotel and residences have separate entrances and  amenities
  • At 1,050-feet (320-meters), the mixed-use development will be Chicago's fifth tallest building
Accommodations
  • 200  units total
  • 154 guestrooms averaging 540 square feet  (50 square meters)
  • 44 suites averaging 1,140 square feet (106 square meters)
  • 2  presidential suites, each 1,780 square feet (165 square meters)
Guestroom Features
  • Spectacular views of the Chicago River, Lake Michigan, and/or the cityscape
  • Exclusive "Shangri-La Bed" featuring patented body-contouring technology
  • Separate oversized shower and deep-soaking bathtub
  • 24-hour butler service
  • Plasma televisions
  • Comprehensive range of business and communications features
Restaurants and Bars
  • Wintergarden Lobby Lounge
  • Sunset Promenade
  • Asian feature restaurant
  • Juice bar at the Spa
Recreation Facilities
  • CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, will feature seven private and spacious spa suites offering a "spa within a spa" atmosphere. Each suite will include a private whirlpool, shower, changing and vanity facilities.  One exclusive suite for two will be equipped with parallel treatment beds, a plunge pool and steam shower.
  • Fully equipped 6,000-square-foot (557-square meter) fitness center with separate Pilates and yoga studio
  • Indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, steam and sauna
Meetings and Banquets
  • Ballroom seating 250, divisible into four function rooms; separate board room and VIP/bride's lounge
  • Equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment
  • Built-in beverage service stations in each room and pre-function foyer
Services and Facilities
  • Business center offering comprehensive secretarial services and private work stations
Hotel Condominium  Unit Ownership
  • The 200 hotel condominium units will be offered for sale to individuals by Waterview LLC.

  • Hotel condominium unit owners will be entitled to personal use as well as participation in the hotel-managed program

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Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is in advanced negotiations to open properties in other strategic North American gateway cities.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently manages 48 hotels under the five-star Shangri-La and four-star Traders brands, with a rooms inventory of over 21,000.  The group has over 30 projects under development in Canada, mainland China, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.

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Contact:

Judy Reeves
Public Relations Manager, North America
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
1501 Broadway, Suite 502
New York, NY 10036
Tel: (212) 382-3155
Fax: (212) 382-3329
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.shangri-la.com
 
WATERVIEW TOWER
Dorrie Freiman
Director of Sales and Marketing
Waterview, LLC
121 West Wacker Drive, 35th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Tel: (312) 558-9100
Fax: (312) 558-9101
Email: [email protected]
www.waterviewtower.com

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Also See:  Developers Frank Leo and Gerard Kenny Sign Mandarin Oriental Group to Operate Hotel and Branded Residences in Proposed 90-story Tower in Chicago / June 2005
Parisian Architect Jean-Paul Viguier Credited for Sofitel Chicago Water Tower's Audacious, Almost-faultless Design / May 2002


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