Shangri-La in Tokyo Closes Temporarily until END April 2011

The aftermath of the earthquake has claimed its first luxury hotel casualty in Tokyo: The Shangri-La Hotel, which only opened its doors in Tokyo in March 2010, has said that it is closed until the end of April, at the earliest, as it continues to assess the situation.

Its general manager, Wolfgang Krueger, and about 11 other people from the hotel are now working out of Fukuoka, in southern Japan, according to Maria Kuhn, its spokeswoman in Hong Kong. The Shangri-La Tokyo as 300 full time staff who are currently on paid leave.

“This is not a decision we have made lightly,” Ms. Kuhn said. She added it was too early to assess what sort of financial impact the closure would have on the company’s overall financial performance. “As soon as we feel it is safe and we can run the hotel at our normal standards, we will open again,” she said.


An average room at the Shangri-La costs around 70,000 yen a night ($863.26), and the majority of its visitors are foreigners, primarily from Asia. The hotel is a stone’s throw from Tokyo Station, the main gateway of the capital. With 200 rooms, the hotel takes up the top 11 floors of Marunouchi Trust Tower Main and “provides a luxurious and spacious retreat at the end of a busy day”, according to its website.

Other luxury hotels have also shut down some of their operations. The Mandarin Oriental, long a favorite among foreign tourists, has virtually shut down all of its dining facilities. On its website, it says, “In keeping with the government’s directive to conserve energy, the following restaurants and bars will be closed until further notice: Signature, Sense, Tapas Molecular Bar, Ventaglio, Mandarin Bar and the Gourmet Shop. K’shiki, The Oriental Lounge and the hotel’s in-room dining facilities all remain open and available for guests.”

One thing is clear: potential visitors to Japan are already cancelling visits scheduled for April – the peak of the country’s renowned cherry blossom season – and the tourism industry will take months, if not years, to recover from this catastrophe. This is only the beginning of what’s going to be the biggest challenge ever faced by Japan’s tourism industry.



Source : WSJ
 [tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

Shangri-La upbeat on 2010 results

SHANGRI-LA Hotels (Malaysia) Bhd's performance in the current financial year ending December 31 2010 is expected to match, if not surpass, its results for 2008.

The expectation comes in line with better economic sentiments and two fully-furbished hotels. Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur and Golden Sands Resorts Penang underwent a RM112 million and RM40 million renovation respectively last year.

In the year ended December 31 2008, Shangri-La posted a net profit of RM49.27 million on revenue of RM415.45 million.

In comparison, the hotel owner-cum-operator only churned in a net profit of RM35.35 million on revenue of RM367.37 million last year as its revenue, especially from its main performer Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur took a hit from the global financial crisis.
"Business will definitely be better with two hotels back in line... all things being equal, we hope to make as much, if not slightly better than in 2008," managing director Kuok Oon Kwong told reporters after the group's annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

She said the Iceland volcanic ash situation did cause some blips in the group's business, but overall all its hotel properties in Malaysia are expected to churn in a better gross operating profit (GOP) compared to 2009.

GOP is gross revenue (from rooms, food and beverage, laundry or business centre) minus cost of operations (wages, electricity and amenities).

Main revenue contribution in 2010 is expected to come from Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur, followed by Rasa Ria Resort in Sabah and the Golden Sands Resorts Penang.

The hotel in the capital alone is expected to contribute over half to the group's total revenue this year.

Meanwhile, Kuok said there is no more hotel upgrade exercise scheduled for the year, but Rasa Ria Resort in Sabah is expected to undergo renovation at its old wing in 2011.

Kuok also said that with the positive cash flow coming in, it expects to retire its borrowings by the end of 2012.

The group's gearing increased to 23 per cent (RM168.97 million) as at December 31 2009 as a result of financing to renovate the two hotels, from 21 per cent (RM154.32 million) in 2008.

Its net gearing ratio is expected to reduce to between 13 per cent and 15 per cent by the end of this year and be completely settled by the end of 2012.

Source : BTimes
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

$50 million makeover: Rasa Sentosa Resort to become Shangri-La

Design concept for new function room Sketch of new lobby Revamped guest room Following the completion of a $50 million makeover the Rasa Sentosa Resort will be renamed Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort. Ogie R. Manuel, Director of Sales & Marketing said the all new and improved hotel will cater to both business and leisure guests. The resort renovations, which began in March, include a full revamp of guestrooms and facilities, including the swimming pool, the gym, the spa, the children’s club, food and beverage outlets and function rooms. Following the renovations, the resort will reduce its room inventory from 459 to 454 rooms and revise its room types to better cater to the needs of different groups of travellers. For example, a guest travelling with children can book a larger family room with child-friendly facilities and extra luggage space, while a couple on their honeymoon can check into a corner room featuring an open concept bathroom with panoramic sea views. Business travellers will be able to make use of the resorts newly refurbished function rooms, which will feature a new stage, lighting, soundproof double walls and the latest equipment. Guests can also expect more dining choices with a brand new three-in-one dining concept that features an all-day buffet outlet with live cooking stations, a Chinese noodle house and a casserole section. The hotel will also feature a dedicated juice bar and a stand-alone bar where guests can enjoy live entertainment over cocktails. The façade of the resort will also be improved with a lush landscape and a new porte cochère in the lobby area. A grand staircase will lead from the ground floor up to the reception area on level five. Boasting the only beachfront address on Sentosa Island, the resort enjoys close proximity to mainland Singapore, which is conveniently linked by a causeway. In addition to numerous island attractions and VivoCity - one of the largest shopping malls in Singapore - the resort is also minutes away from Southeast Asia's first Universal Studios. The project is targeted for completion in early 2011, after which Rasa Sentosa Resort, Singapore will officially re-open as Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort.

Source : ETBMICE
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

Shangri -La Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Lobby

The Lobby Lounge

Grand Ballroom

Horizon Club Suite

Set among lush gardens, the newly renovated Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur is an oasis in a concrete jungle.

Fondly known as 'The Shang' among the locals, the hotel is just a stone's throw away from the KL Tower and Petronas Twin Towers, 20 km from the Batu Caves and 45 minutes from Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The hotel features 662 guestrooms, including 101 luxurious suites, which offer a number of modern amenities (such as complimentary internet service, in-room fax, printer and copy machine and a pillow menu) making the hotel a 'home away from home' for business and leisure guests alike.

The Horizon Club rooms, located on the top floors of the hotel, offer an enhanced level of service and convenience for frequent travellers, including late checkout, a personal concierge and a buffet breakfast and all-day beverage service at the Horizon Club Lounge.

The Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur also offers a number of restaurant options, where the most discerning of diners can sample market fresh sashimi at Zipangu, enjoy a Cantonese feast at the Shang Palace, savour the gastronomical delights at Restaurant Lafite or work there way through the international buffets at Lemon Garden Café.

Guests can wind down at the end of a busy day at The Pub, where they can enjoy a drink, a game of darts, snooker and live music and entertainment.

The Lobby Lounge, which features an idyllic view of the scenic water gardens behind the lounges ceiling-to-floor glass windows, also offers guests the perfect setting to meet with friends of business associates.

While, the Poolside Terrace is the perfect place for guests to start their morning with a refreshing beverage and a snack or alternatively they can go there for cocktails in the evening.

The hotel's fitness centre and spa facilities are some of the finest in Kuala Lumpur.

Guests can take a dip into the beautiful pool, play a set of tennis, arrange a massage or reflexology treatment, unwind in the steam/sauna rooms and Jacuzzi, or simply relax on the sundeck.

For the more energetic of guests who want to let off a little steam, the hotel's gymnasium offers cardio training and strength equipment.

The Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur also features state-of-the-art meeting facilities for business travellers.

The impressive grand ballroom is the perfect setting for receptions, seminars and conventions as it caters up to 1,800 people, reception style and 2,000 people, theatre style.

The hotel also offer 15 other smaller function rooms for more intimate gatherings in addition to the dedicated business centre which has 2 conference rooms, 3 executive meeting rooms, 4 internet booths and 2 workstations.


Source : ETBMICE
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur - Renewed Reborn

Experience the renewed Shangr-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Reacquaint yourself with Kuala Lumpur's premier luxury hotel. The choice of royalty and heads of state for over twenty years, it has now been refreshed and renewed to surprise and delight you all over again.

To make the experience even more enticing, take advantage of our special Rediscover Offer.

http://www.shangri-la.com/

[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

Shangri-La launches maximice to help meeting organisers maximise returns

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, launches MaxiMICE – an initiative designed to maximise the returns of delivering successful events. Meeting organisers can enjoy a 10 per cent credit by booking a meeting group and save the credit for the next meeting at any Shangri-La hotels and resorts. Meeting organisers can receive a credit to a maximum of US$5,000, the credit can be used for any hotel services on their next meeting group at any of Shangri-La hotels and resorts. This offer is applicable when confirming a meeting between 1 May and 31 December 2009.

MaxiMICE aims to bring meeting organisers the best and most flexible rewards within the strong network of 62 Shangri-La hotels and resorts, and will assist meeting organisers easily find an ideal location, whether in a city hotel, resort or a Traders hotel. Shangri-La offers total meeting space of over 130,000 square metres (over 1.4 million square feet), more meeting capacity than any other Asia Pacific luxury hotel group, featuring pillarless, high-ceilinged ballrooms up to 2,240 square metres in key city locations, and coupled with exceptional Shangri-La service. Shangri-La guarantees meeting organiser a streamlined and successful event.

“At Shangri-La, we understand that busy event organisers are constantly looking to maximise their returns without compromising the standard of excellence in delivering successful events. We are committed to partner with meeting organisers in making their event a stress-free and efficient affair,” said Kent Zhu, group director of sales and marketing.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, currently owns and/or manages 62 hotels under the deluxe Shangri-La and mid-market Traders brands, with a rooms inventory of over 28,000. The group has over 40 projects under development in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Macau, Maldives, Philippines, Qatar, Seychelles, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.

Source : ETBMice
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

Landmarks selling 26.6% stake in Shangri-La

Landmarks selling 26.6% stake in Shangri-La

PETALING JAYA: Landmarks Bhd has proposed to sell its 26.6% stake in another listed firm Shangri-La Hotels (M) Bhd for a profit, as the company seeks to reduce debt and focus on its own hotel development project.

Shares in Landmarks surged to an intra-day high of RM2.26 yesterday, but settled up 30 sen at RM2.16 before trading was halted at 2.32pm after the announcement was made during the midday break.

The stock will resume trading today.

“The proposed disposal is consistent with Landmarks' long-term plan to focus its resources, both financial and management time, to be a regional player in resort development and management, as well as in the hospitality sectors,'' the company said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia yesterday.

Under the proposal, Landmarks plans to place out 117 million shares in Shangri-La for RM287mil, or RM2.45 per share, to investors to be identified by appointed placement agent CIMB Investment Bank Bhd.

Shangri-La shares jumped eight sen in thin trading to RM2.58 before their suspension yesterday. The counter will also resume trading today.

The shares' disposal would result in a one-off gain of RM102.7mil, or 21 sen a share, for Landmarks. “The prevailing market price for Shangri-La shares is favourable and (Landmarks) intends to realise its investment at a fair price,'' the company said.

Of the total proceeds, RM130mil will be used to reduce bank borrowings and the balance for working capital requirement of Landmarks and its subsidiaries. It is estimated that the lower debts would result in interest savings of RM6.1mil a year for Landmarks.

This is the second major disposal this year by Landmarks following the sale of its stake in Sungei Wang Plaza for RM284.8mil.

The company is also believed to be looking to sell its 20% stake in an independent power plant in Perlis.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Shangri-La receives Tourism Minister’s special award at the Malaysia Tourism Awards

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group, received the "Tourism Minister's Special Award" at the recent Malaysia Tourism Awards 2005/2006 in Kuala Lumpur. The award was given in recognition of the group's outstanding contribution to the country's tourism industry.

Mr. Giovanni Angelini, chief executive officer and managing director of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, received the award on behalf of the group from Tourism Minister Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

In addition, Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort was awarded for "Excellence in Hotel Services" and "Best Indian Restaurant" for the resort's Naan Restaurant.

The awards were designed to give public recognition to individuals and companies that have played a significant role in the success of Malaysia's tourism.

About Shangri-La
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group, currently manages 50 hotels under the five-star Shangri-La and four-star Traders brands, with a rooms inventory of over 24,000. The group has over 45 projects under development in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Japan, Macau, Maldives, Philippines, Qatar, Seychelles, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, 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.

Source : Ehotelier
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur took only one month to post a GOP

Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur, which turned one on July 1, has bucked the industry norm and posted a gross operating profit (GOP) within the first month of its opening.

According to industry experts, hotels in Malaysia generally take about a year, at best about three months, to post GOP.

"Registering GOP within a month of opening is definitely out of the norm," one hotel expert said.

GOP is the cost of doing business or gross revenue (from rooms, food and beverage, laundry or business centre) minus cost of operations (wages, electricity and amenities).

"We managed to deliver GOP in the first month. We earned enough to pay all our
bills and still put money in the bank," general manager Reto Klauser said in an
interview with Business Times.

"(Our GOP) is in line with the operating philosophy of a Traders Hotel. The
operating profits should be above the industry norm and we are very pleased to
have delivered that expectation," he said, when asked about the GOP achieved by
the hotel.

It is understood that the industry average GOP for four-star hotels is 35 per cent.

On whether this meant being able to recoup the investment of RM290 million put in by its owners KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd earlier than the 12- to 15-year target set a year ago, Klauser indicated that he preferred to maintain that target date.

Traders Hotel, a Shangri-La Group business hotel, is looking forward to achieving an average room rate (ARR) of slightly below RM300 and an average occupancy room of 70 per cent in 2007.

Occupancy is up from 65 per cent last year while ARR has remained unchanged.

Traders Hotel was able to achieve an enviable ARR and occupancy among four-star hotels in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre area despite initial challenges of creating awareness in the Traders brand.

"A year ago, many did not know what Traders Hotel was about and what to expect. The challenge was to get the word out, to explain the brand and explain what Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur is," Klauser said.

He added that, today, its open-air rooftop SkyBar is well-known and talked about, which has helped motor the awareness about the hotel.

Sixty per cent of its guests are business people or free individual travellers while 25 per cent are those who come from the meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition market. The rest are the leisure crowd.

"Next year we expect to see more volume and plan to lift the price by about 10 per cent," Klauser said.

The hotel is owned by Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, a wholly-owned subsidiary of KLCC (Holdings).

Source : eHotelier
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Focus on flavours of Japan at Zipangu, Shangri-La

The “Shochu and Sake with Zipangu Specialties'' at Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur from July 9 to 27 highlights the pleasures of the spirit and wine.

Wide array: Chef Takagi with some of his creations.

Who else could possibly know about pairing food with shochu and sake but a Japanese and Zipangu's Japanese head chef Yuichi Takagi spent hours putting together the flavours of Japan with modern touches for this gastronomic occasion.

Chef Takagi's special menu has a selection of appetisers and main courses, all of which go well with either drink.

Shochu (pronounced show-choo) is a drink Japanese appreciate before and after meals.

Today, the spirit is produced widely in Japan. However, it is native to south of Japan's Kagoshima prefecture on Kyushu island.

It is distilled from various types of ingredients that contain sugar like potatoes, rice, wheat and barley.

There are two main types of shochu available - the authentic (Honkaku) and modern version (Korui).

The flavour and aroma of the Honkaku is prevalent from the original ingredients as it goes through single distillation and hence the taste varies from light to smooth (when rice is used) to earthy and strong if potatoes are used.

Korui goes through more distilling, resulting in it being smooth and flavourless and it can be used to make cocktails.

Zipangu guest services manager Tetsuya Mohri said Shochu can be taken hot or on the rocks and pairs well with Japanese and Western style dishes as it enhances the taste of ingredients and softens the strong smell of meat and seafood.

Traditional fare: Cold miso soup poured over rice and served with a variety of condiments.

Sake, the traditional Japanese rice wine needs no introduction.

It is served cold, warm or hot, depending on an individual's preference although in Japan, it is consumed hot in winter and cold in summer.

Chef Takagi's list of starters is impressive as he has Kumi Yuba Avocado Uni Nose Uma-An Kake (avocado and sea urchin on bean curd skin served with cold sticky sauce), Ebi To Iroiro Yasai Bainiku Naise Ae (shrimps and mixed vegetables marinated with plum mayonnaise), Truffle Iri Dashimaki Tamago (Japanese truffle omelette served with gazpacho and grated radish), Gohya To Tofu No Salad Zipangu-Fu (Zipangu Special - bitter gourd and bean curd salad), Zipangu Fu Morokoshi Yaki (Zipangu Special - Japanese pancake and corn served with special sauce) and Zipangu Kunsei Moriawase (Zipangu smoked specialties - salmon, pregnant fish, wild duck, ginger, cheese and egg smoked in mango tea and served with special dipping sauce).

Mohri said the Truffle Iri Dashimaki Tamago was prepared in traditional Japanese style but that the chef picked out a few ingredients from the European kitchen like truffles and gazpacho to pep up his creation.

Bitter gourd is not an item one comes across in a stylish restaurant. However, Mohri said it was on the menu as many people were now accustomed to its bitter taste due to its health properties.

Chef Takagi's Gohya To Tofu No Salad Zipangu-Fu is not at all bitter and is quite pleasing to savour.

This dish is prepared as a healthy option with the white soft tofu flesh as a background to the light green floral shaped bitter gourd slices, showered with bonito flakes.

Those opting for the main course have a choice of Kamo Rohsu No Tareyaki Sansho Fuumi (Japanese pepper flavoured, roasted and sliced wild duck), Mirugai To Kaki No Karayaki (Grilled shellfish and oyster in spicy sauce), Ebi Hamo Nasu No Karaage Nioroshi-An (Deep fried shrimp, conger pike and eggplant with grated radish sauce), Ebi To Takenoko Ryukutou Yuba Age (Japanese spring roll -shrimp ball and bamboo shoot rolled with soy bean curd skin), Hiyashi Yasai Taki Awase (cold vegetables and seafood with jelly sauce), Ayu Somen Zipangu-Fu (cold somen noodles served with grilled sweet fish and bonito entrails) and Hiya Ziru Zipangu-Fu (cold miso soup poured over rice, served with a variety of condiments).

There are several types of shochu and sake on the drink list, so the pricing depends on what the diner orders.

Zipangu
Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur
11 Jalan Sultan IsmailKuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-20743900
Business hours: Noon to 2.30pm on weekdays, 6.30 to 10.30pm daily.
Weekend buffet brunch is served from 11.30am to 2.30pm at RM88++ per person


Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Shangri-La Hotel does its part for VMY 2007

The atmosphere in the Shangri-la Hotel Kuala Lumpur lobby lounge was filled with joy and warmth on June 14.

A cultural troupe played traditional drums at the entrance to welcome guests while a group of ladies in different traditional costumes greeted everyone who walked into the hotel.

The special welcoming party was part of the Shangri-la Hotels and Resorts’ efforts to celebrate 50 years of nationhood and Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2007, in partnership with Tourism Ministry.

Innovative launch: Tengku Adnan (left)and Sekercioglu lighting up the miniature ‘Eye on Malaysia’ Ferris wheel to launch the event.

Among the steps taken to promote VMY 2007 are displaying VMY 2007 logo on the hotel and resort websites (which links to the VMY 2007 website), distributing special music CDs to hotel guests, dedicating a special VMY video channel in the hotel rooms and displaying mini leaflets about places of interest in Malaysia.

Shangri-la Hotels & Resorts vice-president Cetin Sekercioglu said: “Our main objective is to take Malaysia to the world and the world to Malaysia.”

Speaking at the launch of the celebration, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor commended Shangri-la for its initiatives and hoped that other homegrown brands would be inspired to do the same.

“Promoting Malaysia as a tourism destination is a collaborative effort which needs the involvement and active participation of all concerned,” he said.

He said that Malaysia had 4.8 million visitors for the first quarter of 2007, compared with 4.4 million for the same period last year, representing an increase of 9.8%.

The promoting of VMY 2007 is done concurrently at the group’s 51 hotels worldwide while each Shangri-la hotel and resort in Malaysia would hold different promotions and activities.

For instance, Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur is having “The Most Expensive Chicken Rice Experience” promotion, where guests would be taken to Ipoh in a private plane to enjoy authentic chicken rice.

Rasa Ria Resort Kota Kinabalu is hosting an array of cultural activities including congkak, blowpipe shooting competition, sarong wearing and cultural performances.

“We have received overwhelming response from our guests who hail from all over the world. They enjoy these activities,” its general manager Alain Borgers said.

For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Shangri-La Hotel does its part for VMY 2007

The atmosphere in the Shangri-la Hotel Kuala Lumpur lobby lounge was filled with joy and warmth on June 14.

A cultural troupe played traditional drums at the entrance to welcome guests while a group of ladies in different traditional costumes greeted everyone who walked into the hotel.

The special welcoming party was part of the Shangri-la Hotels and Resorts’ efforts to celebrate 50 years of nationhood and Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2007, in partnership with Tourism Ministry.

Innovative launch: Tengku Adnan (left)and Sekercioglu lighting up the miniature ‘Eye on Malaysia’ Ferris wheel to launch the event.

Among the steps taken to promote VMY 2007 are displaying VMY 2007 logo on the hotel and resort websites (which links to the VMY 2007 website), distributing special music CDs to hotel guests, dedicating a special VMY video channel in the hotel rooms and displaying mini leaflets about places of interest in Malaysia.

Shangri-la Hotels & Resorts vice-president Cetin Sekercioglu said: “Our main objective is to take Malaysia to the world and the world to Malaysia.”

Speaking at the launch of the celebration, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor commended Shangri-la for its initiatives and hoped that other homegrown brands would be inspired to do the same.

“Promoting Malaysia as a tourism destination is a collaborative effort which needs the involvement and active participation of all concerned,” he said.

He said that Malaysia had 4.8 million visitors for the first quarter of 2007, compared with 4.4 million for the same period last year, representing an increase of 9.8%.

The promoting of VMY 2007 is done concurrently at the group’s 51 hotels worldwide while each Shangri-la hotel and resort in Malaysia would hold different promotions and activities.

For instance, Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur is having “The Most Expensive Chicken Rice Experience” promotion, where guests would be taken to Ipoh in a private plane to enjoy authentic chicken rice.

Rasa Ria Resort Kota Kinabalu is hosting an array of cultural activities including congkak, blowpipe shooting competition, sarong wearing and cultural performances.

“We have received overwhelming response from our guests who hail from all over the world. They enjoy these activities,” its general manager Alain Borgers said.

For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Shangri-La GMs took part in their version of Amazing Race

C.V. Healy (left) and Arbind K. Shrestha trying their hand at the ‘ironing a shirt’ contest yesterday.

Shedding their formal attire, General Managers of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts from the region had an unusual start to their morning.

The 17 managers took part in their own version of "Amazing Race" as a prelude to their three-day annual regional general managers’ meeting.

The race revealed another side of the managers as they had to tackle challenges like sewing a button, ironing a shirt and a bicycle race.

The race took off at the KL Shangri-La’s lower lobby and finished at Menara Kuala Lumpur, where they were treated to a breakfast at the rooftop amidst a breathtaking view of Kuala Lumpur.

Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur area director of communications Rosemarie Wee said that every year, the chosen hotel comes up with activities to kick start the meeting.

Source : NST
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

12 cooking stations to choose from at Shang's Lemon Garden

ONE is spoilt for choice at the Lemon Garden Cafe as it offers a potpourri of flavours for all day dining.

The café has a hot, trendy interior design with the aroma of fresh food wafting through it and a visual feast of fresh greens and fruits greeting the customers.

Oriental: The Chinese corner gets all hot and steamy with a variety of soupy noodles being cooked on the spot and if you fancy dim sum or stir fried Chinese dishes, this is the corner to head to.

At this melting pot of cuisines, one can discover 12 new and redesigned live cooking stations featuring Seafood Haven, Floating Tapas Counter, Interactive Pasta Hotspot, Sweet Sanctuary and more.

The Salad Island with an abundance of greens, pickles, toppings and sauces resembles a fresh market vegetable corner, as the vegetables are fresh and crisp.

Panayotakos: Lemon Garden’s offerings are wide and varied.

Cheese boards offer up to 10 types cheeses, which can be eaten on their own or with crackers.

Local fruits for the popular local rojak dish also have a spot at the Salad Island.

At the Interactive Pasta Hotspot, customers get to decide what ingredients they want in the pasta.

Chef de cuisine Taki Panayotakos said diners had a choice of tomato, cream, pesto and aglio olio to pair with a selection of pastas, laid out in cute glass tumblers.

Just tell the chef you prefer marinara or bolognaise and he will whip it up in no time.

Chef Panayotakos said the house Spaghetti Carbonara, and Marinara were popular with customers.

Not far from the Salad Island and pasta corner is the picture-perfect Floating Tapas Counter filled with little appetisers to whet your appetite.

These appetisers in cute little plates offer a taste so that you can move on to bigger servings at the Western section.

The Western corner offers customers lamb, chicken and fish dishes, with vegetables, soups and potatoes to indulge in.

The Carving Station is another favourite spot that offers a rotation of Salmon Fillet with Hazelnut and Sundried Tomato Crust, Roasted Lamb, Roasted Ribeye, Roasted Duck, and Roasted Chicken.

For something a little closer to home, the local section beckons not too far away with a medley of favourites including Satay, Fish Curry, Chicken Curry, Dhal, Shawarma and Tandoori (king prawns, chicken, fish, lamb, cod fish tikka).

Neptune’s offering: Seafood Tier at the Seafood Haven corner.

The Chinese corner gets all hot and steamy with a variety of soupy noodles cooked on the spot and if you fancy dim sum or stir-fried Chinese dishes, this is the corner to head to.

Sushi is speedily replenished at the Seafood Haven area with the Seafood Tier looking pretty delicious with fresh prawns (king and river prawns) handsomely decked nearby a row of freshly shucked oysters, clams and mussels.

The Sweet Sanctuary has four counters to tempt dessert lovers.

Yummy: Take your pick of fruit sticks and dip them into the chocolate fountain.

The first counter has white and dark chocolate fountains, chocolate pizzas and new style soufflé (spuma).

The second counter offers ice cream in innovative servings as they can be shaved, scooped, flavoured or shaped with a bit of teppanyaki zest thrown into it.

For more, the vertical dessert treats in drawers are fun to choose from as are the desserts placed on mounted spoons.

Lemon Garden is all about discovering cuisines as a variety of Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Japanese, Italian, Mediterranean, Thai and Western dishes are laid out to assault your senses.

LEMON GARDEN CAFE, Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur, 11, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. (Tel: 03-2032 2388). Business hours: 6am to 1am, daily.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

World Tourism Conference 4 June at Shangri-La Hotel

NINETEEN speakers have confirmed attendance at the three-day World Tourism Conference in Kuala Lumpur, hosted by the Tourism Ministry, in conjunction with UNWTO.

They include: UNWTO assistant secretary-general, Mr Geoffrey Lipman; PATA CEO, Mr Peter de Jong; third vice-president, International Congress & Convention Association, International Board of Directors, Mr Anthony Wong; Resorts World's president and CEO, Mr Lee Choong Yan; AirAsia CEO, Datuk Tony Fernandes; and Hong Kong's Tourism Commissioner, Mr King-Chi Au.

The key areas for discussion are Sustainable Growth, Marketing, Product Development and Partnership.

Key Speakers of World Tourism Conference

Mr Geoffrey Lipman, Asst. Secretary General, UNWTO Spain	Mr Christopher Rodrigues CBE Chairman, VisitBritain, Britain	Prof. Dr. Amran Hamzah, Course Director, Universiti Teknologi, Malaysia	Datuk Dr Victor Wee, Secretary-General, Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia	Mr Moeketsi Mosola, CEO, South African Tourism, South Africa
Dato Tony Fernandez, CEO, Air Asia, Malaysia	Mr James C. Ram, President, Indusa Global, USA	Mr Walter Jamieson, Dean, University of Hawaii, USA	Mr Peter De Jong CEO, PATA Thailand	Mr Jeff Javis, Program Director, Monash University Australia
Dato' Dr. K. Govindan, Head of Secretariat, National Economic Action Council, PM's Dept, Malaysia	Mr. Reas M Kondraschow, Executive VP, Wyndham Hotel Group International, USA	Mr. Wayne Calder General Manager, Dept of Industry, Tourism and Resources, Australia	Mr Anthony Wong, Third Vice-President, ICCA’s International Board of Directors, Netherlands	Dr Frédéric Dimanche, Director-Center for Tourism Mgt, CERAM Sophia Antipolis, France

It will bring together a wide range of world leaders in tourism, high-level policy makers, specialists and experts from the public and private sectors to exchange experiences, put forward ideas and provide guidance for future tourism development.

The conference, themed Tourism Success Stories and Shooting Stars will be from June 4, at Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

World Tourism Conference

- http://www.worldtourismconference.com/ -

Source : TTG WTC
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Shangri-La to Make Its New York Debut in 2010

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group, announced today it will open the Shangri-La Hotel, New York in 2010. The group signed development and operating agreements with RFR Holding LLC, and a client of ING Clarion Partners, to construct a 206-room luxury hotel in the Park Avenue corridor of Midtown Manhattan, and will operate the property under a long-term hotel management agreement.

The hotel will be in a new 64-story tower adjacent to the landmarked Seagram Building, built on the site of the former YWCA building at 610 Lexington Avenue. It will have a dedicated entrance on 53rdStreet between Park and Lexington avenues.

The unique design for the slender 709-foot-tall tower calls for exterior columns incorporated into the building's faceted curtain wall, using low iron glass to achieve a crystal clear appearance of the tower. The hotel's ground floor lobby will have a soaring 100-foot atrium with skylight, providing the striking sense of arrival that Shangri-La guests have long appreciated in the group's Asian hotels.

State-of-the-art elevators operating at 1,400 feet per minute will whisk guests from the lobby to guestrooms. In keeping with the contemporary interpretation of luxury as space, Shangri-La plans to offer the largest guestrooms in Manhattan, and they will feature floor-to-ceiling glass windows affording expansive views of Park Avenue, Central Park and Midtown. More than one third of the rooms will be suites and nearly all rooms will be over 500 square feet. Deluxe rooms will range in size from 641 to 940 square feet, while suites will be 1,023 square feet and up.

The Shangri-La Hotel, New York will be the first US hotel property designed by renowned architect Lord Norman Foster. The interior design team will be led by Jean-Michel Gathy, founder and head designer of Kuala Lumpur-based Denniston International Architects & Planners Ltd. The interiors will be contemporary in style with Asian influences.

Sixty-six of the 206 guestrooms will be sold as condominium hotel units. These units will be operated as part of the hotel and interspersed throughout hotel floors. In addition, 17 ultra high-end residential condominiums ranging in size from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet will occupy the top 10 floors of the tower. Residents of the private condominiums will have dedicated elevators, access to Shangri-La amenities and services, plus a tailored range of customized household services.

One of the hotel's highlights will be Shangri-La's signature spa brand - CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La. CHI combines Chinese and Himalayan healing therapies, inspired by the mysticism of the Shangri-La legend captured in James Hilton's famousLost Horizonnovel. CHI's spacious private spa suites will be among the largest in the city, offering a "spa within a spa" atmosphere.

The hotel will have an 80-foot swimming pool and sundeck with a retractable roof on the ninth floor. Other facilities will include a fitness center; business center; 5,000 square feet of function space, all with windows; and a signature retail shop. The hotel will also have a lobby lounge with sidewalk café; ground-floor bar and second floor restaurant that will feature two private dining rooms.

The New York hotel joins Shangri-La properties under development in the West, as part of the group's strategy of opening luxury hotels in key international gateway cities. Shangri-La, which operates 50 properties in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, is committed to expanding in North America and Europe and showcasing its renowned hospitality through new, intimately sized properties. Shangri-La hotels are also currently under development in Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, Vancouver and Toronto.

"We searched long and patiently for the ideal partners and property for our New York debut and have found them in this special project," said Giovanni Angelini, Shangri-La chief executive officer and managing director. "This hotel will be a perfect complement to our high-profile developments underway in Paris, London, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Maldives and others. Even more important, we look forward to becoming an active and involved corporate citizen in this amazing city and newly adopted home."

"We are delighted to partner with Shangri-La and bring the group's legendary hospitality to New York," said Aby J. Rosen, co-founder of RFR Holding LLC. "We believe there is no better showcase for Shangri-La's New York debut than this elegant tower, that will stand proudly along side RFR's landmarked Seagram Building and neighboring Lever House on Park Avenue. Shangri-La operates world-class luxury hotels, and we look forward to working with them to build this great hotel in New York City."

Site preparation and construction of the hotel is expected to begin late 2007.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently manages 50 hotels under Shangri-La and Traders brands with a rooms inventory of over 24,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Thailand, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. The group has over 40 projects under development in Canada, mainland China, France, India, Japan, Macau, Maldives, Philippines, Qatar, Seychelles, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States. For more information, visit.

RFR Holding LLC is a privately held Manhattan-based real estate investment, development and management company wholly owned by Aby Rosen and Michael Fuchs. Established in 1991, RFR controls approximately seven and a half million square feet of prime office space in Manhattan, one and a half million square feet of retail space in Manhattan, South Beach and Las Vegas, as well as 2,500 luxury residential apartments in Manhattan. The office and retail portfolio includes such premier buildings as 375 Park Avenue (Seagram Building) and 390 Park Avenue (Lever House). RFR Holding has a full service platform with construction, property and asset management and leasing within its organization.

ING Real Estate is an integrated real estate group focused on the development, financing and investment management of quality real estate in all major global markets with a total portfolio of some USD 120 billion. ING Real Estate ranks among the world's leading real estate companies and serves a broad client base from offices in 21 countries in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

ING Real Estate is part of ING Group, a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to over 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in over 50 countries.


Source : Hotels
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Business Hotels don’t have to be stuffy, look at Traders Hotel

It’s hard to say which you’d miss most after checking out of KL’s Traders Hotel: the amiable service or the super-duper 40in LCD TV.

The service is great, but a TV like that in your bedroom is emotionally hard to let go of.

The Skybar

Barely a year old, Traders represents a new generation of business hotels that are trendy, eccentric and youthful, with service that is courteous and helpful but respectful of privacy.

This Shangri-La-managed establishment has a great location, being virtually within the shadows of the Petronas Twin Towers. Having a huge shopping centre 10 minute’s walk away makes Traders an extremely convenient address for business and shopping. And it’s integrated with the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Though it is given a four-star rating, almost everything feels five-star, but with a difference – the luxury is understated. Minimalism is the word here. The reception area for checking in is nothing more than a few bar tables in a room and easy to miss.

Forget fancy, chandeliered lobbies. Chill-out, Balearic tunes fill the air. In the evening, it’s house tunes. No Kenny G or elevator-type music here. White sheets of translucent material hang within frames, suspended from the ceiling via cables, and on them are projected abstract visuals.

A simple reception area;

The staff seem genuinely friendly – always ready with a smile and a few courteous words. Though one tends to miss home after a few days in a hotel room, I felt no urgency to check out and head home. The monster TV, which takes pride of place in all the suites, might have had something to do with this.

Service is efficient – any request for ice from room service was fulfilled within minutes, followed by a call to check if it had been received.

The hotel has a location that can’t be beat. Minutes from shopping, it is also just a short distance from all the major clubs downtown, so, really you can stumble back without too much trouble after a night out.

Just beside the hotel lies the KLCC Park. You can get a view of this and the Towers from some of the rooms – the park actually looks like a little Legoland, with a huge and very vivid playground.

Rooms have large windows, and it’s glass all round for the corner units. The average room size is 35sq m. Full-length windows on the wardrobe doors add depth to the room, while the work desk hides a handy feature under a flip-out cover – sockets that fit all plugs, so there’s no need for travel adapters.

Other little touches add to the hospitality, especially in the suites – they even provide travel nail clippers and mouthwash. The amenity bag they hand out contains all that you need, so there’s no need to bring toiletries.

An executive suite.

The bathrooms are huge, with bathtubs included. The marble sink-top is pretty classy and lit from within. A heated mirror ensures you don’t need to look at yourself through a layer of condensation after a hot shower, while the vanity mirror comes with its own light.

There’s a couch with lots of cushions in some rooms and also a sink-in, bucket-type personal chair with a footrest – presumably the place to park yourself when you want some alone-time with the tele.

Traders is a business hotel with a little fun thrown in, as evident by its popular after-dark hangout, the Skybar, on level 33. This is the hotel’s pool area, which doubles up as a little rooftop bar. Ultra cool.

There are also a couple of Jacuzzis here and comfy nooks with cushions thrown in, from where you can gaze down at the city beneath you. Music ranges from chill-out tunes to jazzy house, and the place gets full on weekends. It operates from 7pm for non-guests (until 1am and 3am).

On the roof is also the health club, spa and gym. Of course, there are also business facilities, with the integrated convention centre being available for larger gatherings.

Other outlets here are Gobo Chit Chat, the restaurant and coffeehouse, and Gobo Upstairs, a funky bar & grill.

The former is shaped like an aircraft hangar, with moving-head lights, normally seen on dancefloors, projecting colours and designs on the ceiling. It runs lunch and dinner buffets, and serves from a menu as well. The latter has a reputation for good steaks and a delectable prawn cocktail. The bar uses lots of glass and mirrors in its contemporary design, a decent alternative to the Skybar.

Rates are tiered, meaning they vary depending on occupancy, but deluxe rooms start from RM310.50 net.

Sensible pricing adds to the hotel’s brilliant package. Business hotels need not be serious or conservative, and Traders Hotel KL shows how.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Putrajaya Shangri-La launches A Taste of Indonesia fest

Diverse: A variety of Indonesian dishes at Palm Hill Café.

YOUNG dancers added the es-sence of Indonesia with their cute appeal, dance moves and choreography to the A Taste of Indonesia food launch at Palm Hill Café, Putrajaya Shangri-La recently.

The dancers from the Indonesian School in Kuala Lumpur treated guests with their youthful charm while the adult dance troupe from the Indonesian Embassy presented a well-rehearsed, refined version of a traditional dance number during lunch.

The embassy's Kumpulan Gamelan, a band of musicians played the traditional gamelan instruments at a far corner while guests indulged in the offerings of the day presented by guest chef Karsono Rsum from the Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta.

The food promotion was launched by the embassy's education and cultural attaché M Imran Hanafi.

Introduction: The promotion was launched by Imran (left) and here he is seen serving Healy some of the Indonesian food.

Also present was hotel general ma-nager C.V. Healy.

The outlet's buffet features a mix of Indonesian and local delights spread out from the appetisers, main courses and desserts.

Some of the Indonesian dishes on the line-up are Cumi Cumi Assam Kuning, Kangkung Rebus, Deep Fried Coconut Cucur and Tempeyek, Sup Bunjut, Opor Ayam Puteh, Pesmol Udang, Lopis Kelapa, Pulut Aging and Indonesian Layer Cake.

The Indonesian dishes are prepared with ingredients native to the country including herbs and spices, are identifiable from the nametags placed beside each dish.

To give it an Indonesian appeal, the café has included in its décor a feel of Indonesia with the ambience en-hanced with Indone- sian batik and familiar decorative items.

The promotion until April 29 is priced at RM70++ per person.

PALM HILL CAFÉ, Putrajaya Shangri-La, Taman Putra Perdana, Precinct 1, Putrajaya. (Tel: 03-8887 8888, 8887 8882). Business hours: 6.30am to 11pm daily.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa's Feringgi Grill

Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa is its Feringgi Grill on the Mezzanine floor of Rasa Wing.

This dining area offers a breathtaking view of the resort grounds and gardens. Its wine cellar carries many unique vintages and there is also an extensive cigar list. Two private rooms are available to accommodate eight and 20 people respectively.

Even if you don't have an occasion to celebrate, you can pamper yourself and dine in style here.

Two in one: Great food and good ambience at Feringgi Grill.

Nostalgia permeates the area what with old photographs and antiques.

You must try their Alchemist cocktail (RM38++) which comes in five test tubes containing vodka, brandy, cassis (blackcurrant), mango juice and kahlua (coffee liquor). Be prepared for a heady feeling with the first sip.

Among its signature dishes are the Tomato Soup (RM28++), Roast Lamb Cutlets (RM90++) and Crepe Feringgi (RM30++).

The team of nine chefs is led by Frenchman Pascal Etienne.

Opened in 1973, it is the first grill in Penang. Feringgi Grill has won numerous accolades including Tourism Malaysia's Best Restaurant Award (2001-2003) and Malaysia Tatler's Best Restaurant for 11 consecutive years (1994-2004).

Pork-free

Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa

Batu Feringgi Beach, Penang

Tel: (04) 888 8888 Fax: (04) 881 1800

Business hours: The grill opens daily 5.30pm to 10.30pm while the bar opens 5.30pm to midnight (Monday-Thursday), 5.30pm-2am (Friday, weekend and public holiday).

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Award-winning cook serves Diners with Gastronomic Delights at Shang's Lafite

THIS year Lafite in Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur will be celebrating not only a new dining concept but also the presence of award winning chef Kevin Cherkas in its kitchen.

Cherkas, who was recently appointed Chef de Cuisine of Lafite, will be responsible for designing a new menu to take gastronomy in the city to a whole new level.

During the re-launch of the restaurant, the 29-year-old award- winning chef surprised guests with a preview to his new menu.

So much: Cherkas with the perspex tower of desserts.

After an interesting cocktail session, guests were ushered into the main circular dining area where Cherkas, a Canadian, continued to surprise guests by not leaving a menu on the table but introducing each dish as it was brought to the diner’s table.

The four different dishes served were Sole “Meuniere”, Truffle Baked Potato, Lobster Texture and his childhood favourite Spaghetti and Meat Ball.

Cherkas has worked at some of the world’s most outstanding restaurants in Spain, including the three-Star Michelin Arzak Restau-rant in San Sebastian, two-Star Michelin La Broche in Madrid and three-Star El Bulli in Roses.

Delightful: The Lobster Texture made by Cherkas.

For dessert, guests were invited to an open area where a sparkling perspex tower filled with more than 15 different desserts was placed.

Guests were also served coffee and tea after dessert.

The restaurant also has two private dining areas for intimate parties and dedicated cigar humidor for cigar aficionados.

There is also a bar for cocktails and pre-dinner drinks.

The restaurant was awarded the “Golden Cauldron Award'' at the Kuala Lumpur International Gourmet Festival last year.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]