Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Infobox_Company
company_name = Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

type = Tourism
foundation = 1971
location = flagicon|Hong Kong Hong Kong
key_people = Mr. Robert Kuok
industry = Hotels, Tourism
products = hotels, resorts

The Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts (zh-t|香格里拉酒店集團, sehk|0069) is a hotel chain based in Hong Kong. It is the largest Asian-based deluxe-hotel group in the region.

The group started in 1971 with its first and flagship hotel in Singapore, and now has 55 deluxe hotels and resorts located in key Asian, Australian and Middle Eastern cities with hotel-room inventory of over 27,000. The hotel group also has a sister brand called Traders Hotel, established in 1989 to cater predominantly to business travellers.

History

Giovanni Angelini, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, was awarded the "2006 Corporate Hotelier of the World" by HOTELS, the magazine of the worldwide hotel industry. The award was voted upon by over 60,000 HOTELS readers across 170 countries. [ [http://www.traveldailynews.com/new.asp?newid=33720&subcategory_id=98 CEO of Shangri-La top corporate hotelier of the world] ]

Companies

The Shangri-La Group was set up by Robert Kuok. His nephew, Edward Kuok Khoon Loong, is the Chairman of the Board for Shangri-La Asia Limited.

Shangri-La Asia Limited is incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability. It is traded on Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited as stock code 69, traded on the Singapore Exchange as stock code Shang and Asia 2kHK$ and on American Depositary Receipt traded as SHALY.

Shangri-La Hotels (Malaysia) Berhad, is incorporated in Malaysia with limited liability. Traded on the Bursa Malaysia as stock code 5517.

Shangri-La Hotel Public Company Limited, incorporated in Thailand with limited liability. Traded on the SET Stock Code Shang. [http://www.ir.shangri-la.com/]

Brands

hangri-La

Shangri-La hotels primarily have five-star deluxe ratings and over 500 rooms, designed to cater to the most discerning clientele. Within the Shangri-La brand, there are city hotels, catering particularly to a business crowd, and resort hotels, catering to affluent leisure guests.

Traders

Traders is a four-star brand managed by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts; it stands for business-class accommodation and services. Traders is geared to satisfy the needs from the fast-growing mid-market traveller segment. The first "Traders" hotel opened in Beijing, China, in 1989.

CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La

CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La is designed to create a sanctuary of tranquillity inspired by the legend of "Shangri-La". CHI features some of the largest and most luxurious private spa suites and villas. It offers a range of specialised body, water, massage and facial therapies based on ancient-healing traditions, philosophies and rituals of China and the Himalayas. The first CHI Spa opened at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok in 2004.

Guest loyalty program

Golden Circle

Golden Circle is Shangri-La's guest-recognition programme. Unlike other loyalty programmes, Golden Circle does not offer points, rather, it provides recognition to guests whenever they stay at the Shangri-La or Traders hotels. Members enjoy their choice of amenities, priority check-in and check-out, complimentary stay for their partner in the same room, although not including free breakfast, etc. There are three levels of membership - Classic, Executive and Elite.

Market expansion

Africa

The company's first African/Indian Ocean property will be The Shangri-La Resort and Spa Seychelles, opening in 2009. The 88-suite property will occupy the entirety of the nine-hectare Long Island, and it will only be accessible to hotel guests.

Asia

Shangri-La continues to expand its network of hotels in the Asia region with 14 new hotels opening in China alone from 2007 to 2011. Additional hotels are expected to open on Villingili Island in the Maldives (Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa; 2008), Philippines (Boracay; 2008 and Fort Bonifacio; 2012 [http://www.shangri-la.com/en/corporate/gcnewsletternews/111] ), India (three properties in Bangalore and one in Mumbai, opening in 2009) and Thailand (Phuket; 2009). Shangri-La is also establishing its first hotel in Japan [ [http://www.traveldailynews.com/new.asp?newid=32054&subcategory_id=98 Japanese debut for Shangri-La] ] (The Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo; 2009) and Macau (a 600-room Shangri-La and a 1200-room Traders in 2009).

Middle East

After setting up hotels in Dubai and Muscat, Shangri-La Hotels is managing the Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, as it opens in 2007. [ [http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news06/1010-ShangriLaHotel.shtml Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts to manage New Hotel in Abu Dhabi] ] It also plans to open one hotel in Doha, Qatar, in 2008. A property in Kuwait is also on the drawing boards; however, nothing official has been announced yet.

Europe

In February 2005, Shangri-La announced that it will be opening a hotel in Europe, at London Bridge Tower along the banks of River Thames. The hotel was originally planned to open by early 2011, but delays to securing finance for London Bridge Tower, part of which the hotel will occupy, mean it will not open before 2012 at the earliest. In January 2006, the group announced their second European property in Paris, France. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2318553,00.html Chinese business finds room in Paris palaces] ] The Shangri-La Hotel, Palais D'Iena Paris will open in the Palais Roland Bonaparte at 10 Avenue D'Iena in 2009. The building was a palace that was previously owned by Roland Bonaparte, the grand nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte. While maintaining its landmark exterior, ornate ironwork and architectural integrity, the palace will be renovated from the interiors and will form 104 of the city's most spacious guest rooms, beginning upwards of 40 square meters. In 2010, Shangri-La will open a hotel property in Vienna, Austria. [ [http://www.shangri-la.com/en/corporate/press/futuredevelopment Shangri-La Hotels Future Developments] ] The four buildings that comprise the former Erste Bank headquarters will be converted into the 207-room hotel located on the Schubertring in the city's 1st district. Guest rooms will average 45 square meters (484 feet) in size, and among the largest of the rooms include the three presidential suites.

North America

The group is also entering the North American market with a new property in Vancouver, Canada, currently under construction, due to open January, 24th, 2009 and a property in Toronto has been announced; completion of the property is planned for 2011. The Hotel group has recently announced hotels in the United States, with Chicago, due to open in 2009 and Miami, slated to open in 2011. In late December 2005, a new hotel was announced in Las Vegas, forming an integral part of the newly-announced Echelon Place. The Las Vegas property will open in early 2010. Shangri-La Hotel, New York, a 206-room luxury hotel in the Park Avenue corridor of Midtown Manhattan will also open in 2010. Other gateways in the United States and Canada are to follow in the coming years.

2006 awards

* Shangri-La Hotels was named the Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia-Pacific for the sixth consecutive year in the Business Traveller Asia-Pacific magazine's readers' poll. [ [http://www.businesstraveller.com/default.asp?Page=3&PUB=67&ISS=22467&SID=650754 Business Traveller Awards 2006] ]
* Best Business Hotel Chain in Asia Pacific, Business Traveller (UK)
* One of the Best Brands in the top CEI cities of Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok, CEI Asia Pacific
* Best Asia Pacific City Brand, CEI Asia Pacific
* Top International Hotel Brand in China, Herald's China Hotel Golden Pillow Award (China)
* Best Hotel Chain, Chinese Hurun Report (China)
* Golden Circle - Best Frequent Guest Programme, National Geographic Traveler Gold List (China)
* Best Hotel Chain for Business and Vacation in Asia, Asiamoney
* Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia Pacific, Business Traveller (Asia Pacific)

2007-2008 awards

*Top Chain Worldwide for Luxury Accommodation, Sunday Times Travel (UK)
*Best Luxury Hotel in Greater China, TTG China
*Golden Circle – one of the top three “Best Customer Service” in the Europe, Middle East and Africa Region, Freddie Awards
*Best Hotel Brand for Business and Vacation in Asia, Asiamoney 2007
*Best Hotel Brand for Business and Vacation in Asia, Asiamoney 2008
*Golden Circle – Asia’s Best Hotel Loyalty Programme, Asiamoney 2007
*BeGolden Circle – Asia’s Best Hotel Loyalty Programme, Asiamoney 2008
*st Business Hotel Brand in Asia Pacific, Business Traveller (Asia Pacific)
*Best Business Hotel Brand in China, Business Traveller (China)
*Best Hotel Chain, Chinese Hurun Report (China)
*Best Asia Pacific City and Resort Hotel Brands, CEI Asia Pacific
*Best MICE Sales Team, CEI Asia Pacific
*Best Luxury Hotel Brand, TTG Asia
*CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La – Spa Marketing of the Year, Baccarat AsiaSpa Award
*Best Hotel Chain in Asia and Best Hotel at Organising Conferences, The Asset
*Best Brand Campaign – Accommodation, Travel Weekly China
*Top Chain Worldwide for Luxury Accommodation, Sunday Times Travel (UK)
*Best Luxury Hotel in Greater China, TTG China
*Golden Circle - one of the top three "Best Customer Service" in the Europe, Middle East and Africa Region, Freddie Awards

ee also

Notes

External links

* [http://www.shangri-la.com/ Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts web site]
* [http://www.goldencircle.shangri-la.com/ Golden Circle web site]