Langkawi hotels well-represented in TripAdvisor's top 10 Travelers' Choice awards

Four of the top 10 hotels that received TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards in 2015 for Malaysia are on the island of Langkawi, while two of the top 10 are Shangri-La properties (a third ranks no. 11). Here's a look at the top 10:

Source: TripAdvisor website. The Danna Langkawi Malaysia.

1. The Danna Langkawi Malaysia, Pantai Kok, rated 5 out of 5 in 1,777 reviews. It is rated 'excellent' by 1,508 of those reviews, with a further 203 calling the hotel 'very good'.
2. Casa Del Mar Langkawi, Pantai Cenang
3. The Datai Langkawi
4. The Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
5. Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu
6. Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
7. Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur
8. Sama-Sama Hotel, Sepang
9. Four Seasons Resort, Langkawi
10. The Majestic Malacca, Melaka

Interested?

View the TripAdvisor top 25 hotels for Malaysia

Take on the early bird iftar promotion at the Shangri-La Hotel Dubai

The Shangri-La Hotel Dubai has an iftar promotion from 18 June to 17 July 2015.

Beginning at sunset, diners enjoy traditional Arabic cuisine from all over the region, specialty beverages and a variety of sweet treats at Dunes Café.

During the first week of Ramadhan, Dunes Café has priced the buffet at AED150 per person. The price is AED175 per person thereafter. 

Interested?

For more information or to make a reservation, call restaurant reservations at +971 4 405 2703.

Shangri-La's trades Traders for Jen

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La International Hotel Management has introduced a fuss-free new brand, Hotel Jen in a major initiative that will see the transformation of Shangri-La's Traders Hotels. Catering to a new 'Jeneration' of independently minded business and leisure travellers, the brand will launch with ten Hotel Jens opening in major cities in Asia Pacific by March 2015.

Source: Shangri-La International Hotel Management. A superior city view room at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway.

Hotel Jen Orchardgateway, opening in Singapore on 15 September, will be the first Jen hotel. The rebrand will bring an intuitive service attitude and relaxed, friendly style to the diverse collection of existing and new mid-range hotels situated in the best locations in Asia Pacific.

The Hotel Jen brand is inspired by the virtual persona Jen, a professional hotelier who loves life, travel and the adventure of discovering new places. Hotel Jen takes care of guests with efficiency and care, while also giving them informed access to the best a particular destination has to offer.

"The Hotel Jen experience delivers what matters most to guests with a millennial mindset. They appreciate important things done well; demand quality, comfort and value, together with honest, authentic service; and want privacy and efficiency without unnecessary fuss or intrusion," said Greg Dogan, President and CEO of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.

"The Traders brand has had a 25-year history of success in generating solid business, carving out a niche amidst a highly competitive industry and building a loyal base of customers. However, we are looking to the future and --based on extensive consumer research and insight into the way our target market lives and travels, including talking and listening to our customers - we are recognising and responding to the global travel trends and particular needs of this new generation travellers. This will keep us relevant and competitive for the next 20 years to come."

Stress-free ease and simplicity will be reflected in the overall Hotel Jen stay experience through the informal and friendly check-in, stay, check-out and on-going contact. A sense of belonging will be reflected through a brand persona concept that positions guests as 'friends of Jen', with a caring and respectful service standard communicated by staff in an enthusiastic, helpful and engaging way.

The Hotel Jen 'informed and friendly' service style will also guide guests to the best of where they are, through local restaurant recommendations, under-the-radar sights and unusual boutiques. The Hotel Jen team will be a guest's own personal local lifestyle guide.

Technology will also be key to catering to the highly social, young-at-heart travellers. Free WiFi everywhere, all the time, and convenient mobile charging stations throughout the hotels are few of the many features. Guest comfort and safety are an absolute priority and there will be no compromise on existing, high-quality standards.

Hotel Jen's restaurants will focus on fresh local products, ensuring that the food is genuine and authentic in every way. Free coffee/snack-box-to-go after breakfast and grab-and-go kiosks will be available.

"We are excited to be launching and engaging this new brand so rapidly. We definitely want to retain our existing customer base, who have been extremely loyal to us, but we also recognise that their needs have changed. Today's guests want more flexibility, as busy non-traditional work hours tend to blend the boundaries between business and leisure," said Lothar Nessmann, COO of the Hotel Jen brand.

"With the rebranding of Traders Hotels to Hotel Jen, we will broaden our range of guests and attract more travellers looking for distinctive experiences of local interest and character, as well as appeal to families and groups who want a more independent, yet friendly and personable stay experience," added Nessmann.

In the first phase of the Hotel Jen roll-out, the Traders hotels in Singapore,Hong Kong, Brisbane, Penang, Johor Bahru, Manila, Maldives, Beijing and Shenyang will be rebranded to Hotel Jen from September 2014 to March 2015. Future Hotel Jen development projects are under discussion in key gateway cities in South East Asia.

Shangri-La opens 85th hotel in Tianjin, China

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has opened its 85th hotel in Tianjin, China's largest northern port city and home to nearly 300 Fortune 500 companies. The city, 30 minutes away by high speed rail from Beijing, has become a centre for light industry and financial activities. 

Floor-to-ceiling windows in the Lobby Lounge showcase the view. The grand lobby chandelier is designed to mimic sunlight reflecting on water, while the flow of the river is mirrored in the carpet motif of water lilies on a cerulean blue waterway. The Lobby Lounge is separated from the main lobby by dividers inlaid with muted gold flowers cascading from the trees to echo wind-blown leaves and flowers falling into the river.

Paris-based artist Chen Jiang Hong returned to his home city of Tianjin to paint a 4.5 by 2.5-metre mural for the Lobby Lounge. Other works by Chen are featured in Shangri-La Hotel, Paris and Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai.

The 302-room Shangri-La Hotel Tianjin sits on the bank of the Haihe River in the new Hedong District, five minutes from the city's central business district and 10 minutes from Tianjin Railway Station. The hotel is fully integrated within Tianjin Kerry Centre and is the only five-star international hotel in the city connected to a shopping mall, River View Place, which houses multiple dining and entertainment venues. 

Business meetings can be held at Shangri-La's signature Shang Palace restaurant, which serves local specialties and authentic Cantonese cuisine. Over 70 paintings by local artists adorn the corridors and walls, and copper pillars and wooden panels separate the main dining hall to create intimate sections for privacy. The restaurant also offers 12 private dining rooms for business meetings.

Cafe Yun, Shangri-La Hotel, Tianjin's all-day dining restaurant, features six theatre kitchens laid out in marketplace-style. A private dining room is available year-round while an outdoor patio is open for booking during the warmer months.

The Grand Ballroom.

Accommodating conferences of up to 1,800 people, Shangri-La Hotel, Tianjin's 1,965 sq m pillar-less Grand Ballroom is the newest and largest meeting destination in the city. The Grand Ballroom is designed to echo a garden pavilion. A range of indoor and outdoor venues are also available for smaller meetings. Shangri-La's complimentary Wi-Fi service is available throughout the hotel. 

For reservations, please visit www.shangri-la.com, contact the hotel directly on +86 22 8418 8666 or email reservations.sltj@shangri-la.com.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages more than 80 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 34,000. The group has upcoming projects in mainland China, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka and the UAE. 

*Images from Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.

Traders Hotel, Yangon becomes the Sule Shangri-La, Yangon

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has rebranded Traders Hotel, Yangon in Myanmar to the Sule Shangri-La, Yangon following an extensive renovation that took two-and-a-half years to complete.

The 484-room hotel, which is positioned on Sule Pagoda Road near the landmark namesake pagoda that is over 2,000 years old, has been a major fixture in the city's central business district since it opened in 1996. Today, the hotel continues to be a popular gathering spot for businesspeople.

Source: Shangri-la. Service staff in the Peacock Lounge.

While the exterior of the building is modern, the lobby of Sule Shangri-La, Yangon evokes bygone colonial days with white columns and a grand staircase that ascends to an open balcony. The public areas feature Burmese vases, woodcarving and specially commissioned art pieces by local artists such as Ba Khine and Hla Phone Aung, whose artworks decorate the hotel's cafe, conference rooms and suites.

For dining, the hotel's updated restaurants and lounges offer a variety of choices. Summer Palace, Shangri-La's signature Chinese restaurant, has six private dining rooms and specialises in Cantonese dim sum and authentic Chinese dishes. Cafe Sule offers international flavours and Asian favourites, while the Peacock Lounge is an informal meeting ground for executives. 
 

Source: Shangri-la. The Pinya room.

The hotel's meeting spaces - regular hosts of delegations and dignitaries - span three levels at Sule Shangri-La, Yangon and were refurbished in a modern palette with gold accents.
 
The hotel's 484 remodelled guestrooms present large picture windows that frame the city, river or Shwedagon Pagoda. Flat-screen televisions, complimentary Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, and marble bathrooms complete the guest experience.

Travellers in search of an exclusive retreat will enjoy the new Horizon Club Lounge. The executive lounge was relocated to level 21 to offer an unobstructed view of Shwedagon Pagoda and enlarged to over 490 square meters to provide additional seating and two private meeting rooms.

As part of the Horizon Club benefits, guests will enjoy personal check-in and late check-out at the lounge, complimentary beverages and refreshments all day, a dedicated concierge and Wi-Fi access. Other guest privileges that come with Horizon Club floor accommodation, on levels 18 to 22 of the hotel, include complimentary breakfast, in-room wine and snacks upon arrival, suit pressing and daily fruits.

"It's exciting to see the luxury enhancements of the hotel and to introduce Shangri-La's signature touches in such a desirable destination," said Philip Couvaras, Area GM of Sule Shangri-La, Yangon. "We look forward to continuously providing our guests with new and personal experiences, and to help immerse visitors into the local culture."

To mark Sule Shangri-La, Yangon's rebranding, the hotel is introducing a "Celebration Package" priced from US$215 per night, subject to tax and/or service charges, until 31 July 2014. A minimum two nights' stay in a Deluxe Room includes one way airport transfer (pick up or drop off) and US$40 hotel credit which may be used for hotel food and beverage, laundry, and selected services. For enquiries, e-mail ssyn@shangri-la.com.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world's premier hotel companies, currently owns and/or manages more than 80 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 34,000. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in mainland China, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, and Sri Lanka. For more information and reservations, please visit http://www.shangri-la.com.

Shangri-La presents garden themed event venues across Asia Pacific

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts welcomes event organisers looking for garden venues for events across Asia. 

One of the featured alternatives in China is inspired by the Suzhou Museum. The 700-sq m Shang Garden at Shangri-La Hotel, Suzhou is features the traditional elements of rocks, water, plants and a pavilion. 

In Shenzhen, the Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen has banqueting facilities that span over 4,600 sq m. At the heart of the hotel is the airy 700-sq m Roof Garden on level four. The open space has unobstructed city views and a pathway that can be candlelit for a cocktail soiree for 200 guests.

The flower-filled grounds at the Pearl River-facing garden of Shangri-La Hotel, Guangzhou makes a lovely backdrop for event photography. There is also an outdoor pool bordered by palm trees and a gazebo surrounded by waterfalls.

The Shangri-La Hotel in Ningbo, one of China's oldest cities, is a blend of tradition and modernity.  The hotel can organise a Chinese banquet in its function space – the largest in the city – or customise catering for a ceremony at its 500-sq m outdoor oasis that is enclosed by tall trees and water features. The garden is ideal for 80 to 100 persons with a standing buffet and live band.  

At the Kerry Hotel, Beijing, the Rooftop Garden is a premier venue in the city and spacious for a 250-guest reception or 120 seated attendees. The hotel's two ballrooms also feature in banquet packages.

Landscaped to resemble an imperial Chinese garden, the 3,000-sq m natural retreat at Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing has been designed with koi ponds, red Chinese pavilions, willow trees and waterfalls.  Guests can sit comfortably in the ornamental grounds for a buffet or Chinese set menu. A rooftop garden caters for smaller events. 

 

The Traders Upper East Hotel, also in Beijing, is in the Embassy District. The hotel's enormous glass podium entrance leads to a long fountain on the property's rear lawn. The garden can accommodate a maximum of 80 persons. 

Offering more than an urban setting, the decked Roof Garden at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong is the only venue of its kind in the city.  Hidden high above the city on level 56 of the hotel, this little-known enclave is surrounded by cascading greenery and the verdant heights of Victoria Peak.  The split-level venue, measuring 148 sq m, can be reserved for events with a dinner in either the hotel's ballroom or Atrium rooms. 

Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore has a newly built 80-sq m Banyan Deck with a canopy of towering trees to provide privacy and shade during a ceremony or reception. Made from Malaysian Balau wood using traditional carpentry that does not require nails or screw joints, the deck is distinctively designed with two separate levels to hold 60 guests, while three-metre tall antique brass lamp posts add a touch of nostalgia.

The Poolside Garden at Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta is a charming venue for evening events, catering to gatherings of up to 500 guests.

The lawn at Shangri-La's Eros Hotel, New Delhi can accommodate 400 guests with a stage setup, while a maximum of 80 guests can be hosted at the garden at the Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns in Australia. 
 
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts owns and/or manages more than 80 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 34,000. The group has upcoming projects in mainland China, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, and Sri Lanka. 

*For more information on:

Kerry Beijing: email events.hbkc@thekerryhotels.com
Shangri-La Beijing: email events.slb@shangri-la.com 
Traders Beijing: email events.thue@tradershotels.com
Cairns: e-mail events.slmc@shangri-la.com. 
Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong: email events.isl@shangri-la.com
Jakarta: email events.slj@shangri-la.com 
New Delhi: email events.slnd@shangri-la.com 
Ningbo: email events.slnb@shangri-la.com
Shenzhen: email events.slft@shangri-la.com 
Singapore: email events.sls@shangri-la.com 
Suzhou: email events.slsz@shangri-la.com

*All images from Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.