Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts’ new 289-room
urban retreat in Lhasa awaits guests eager to explore one of the
world’s most storied destinations. The debut of Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa
today marks a sort of homecoming for the hotel group, as the legendary Shangri-La
– the mythical “paradise on earth” set in the Himalayas – was the
inspiration for the Hong Kong-based luxury hotel brand.
The newly-built
Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa has been designed to provide guests with an
authentic window onto Tibetan culture and hospitality. While every
Shangri-La hotel is known for its warm welcome, in Lhasa guests are
greeted with the offering of a hada (a traditional ceremonial
white silk scarf) and the throwing of barley on the chema (a
wooden container used by Tibetans to pray for a bumper harvest) before
being escorted to their guestroom. There, they are served yak butter
tea in Tibetan pots. Upon departure, guests are sent off to the sound
of the hotel staff singing traditional Tibetan songs and playing
Tibetan string instruments.
“It is extremely important wherever we operate hotels that we
embrace the local community and culture and our hotels reflect this
authentically in both their design and offerings,” said Ester Marcaida,
general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa. “We are excited to open our
doors today and welcome our first guests.”
Travellers to Lhasa won’t
find a better home base for taking in the stunning scenery or exploring
Lhasa’s culturally significant Buddhist sites, including the Potala
Palace and Norbulingka Palace, both of which are within walking
distance from the hotel. Lhasa, the administrative centre of
Tibet, is set on a plateau soaring 3,650 metres above sea level and is
encircled by mountains, glaciers and desert-like landscape. To help
guests make the most of their visit, agents located in Routes, the
hotel’s one-stop business centre, can arrange group and individual
travel, tours and sightseeing for them.
An Unforgettable
Experience
Guests will catch one of
many enchanting views of the Potala Palace upon arrival at the hotel.
But first, after passing through the hotel’s impressive Tibetan gate,
they will discover a traditional Linka garden planted with indigenous
plants and flowers and bookmarked by two hand-crafted pavilions
illuminated by yak butter lamps in the evening.
Inside the hotel,
the lobby’s design pays homage to elements found in traditionalTibetan
culture. The visual anchor of the lobby lounge is a 6.5-metre bell-like
chandelier made from 61,000 pieces of crystal and draped in flowing red
fabric. The chandelier is reminiscent of a prayer wheel and is
complemented by the lounge’s warm tones and earthy colours which are
drawn from thangkas (Tibetan paintings). Next to the lounge is
reception, where a floating cloud installation creates a dream-like
space. Signifying unity and strength, the ancient Tibetan symbols
of swirling clouds are made into a contemporary work of art using
hammered oxidised bronze.
Warmly lit corridors and
colourful carpets embedded with the cloud motif lead the way to the
hotel’s 262 luxurious guestrooms and 17 expansive suites. Rooms
are spacious with a minimum size of 42 square metres. Each room
category highlights the bold colours and delicate details found in
Tibetan culture, dress and art. The stay experience is enhanced
with garden, mountain or Potala Palace views as well as complimentary
mini-bar upon arrival and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. In addition,
the hotel’s signature Horizon Club Rooms and Horizon Club Lounge, which
open in July, provide a host of extra benefits to guests including Club
concierge service, breakfast and evening cocktails.
Visitors to Lhasa are
advised to acclimate to the altitude, and Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa
offers the most comprehensive well-being facilities in the city to help
facilitate this, including the first oxygen lounge in a hotel as well
as a full-service clinic. Inside the
glass-walled lounge the oxygen level is the same as that at sea level,
so guests can breathe comfortably while relaxing and enjoying
reflexology treatments. In addition, guests can unwind in CHI, The Spa,
which offers signature massages and facials along with a menu of
Tibetan-inspired treatments. Leisure facilities also include a fully
equipped gym and a 25-metre indoor swimming pool.
Among the extensive
entertainment outlets is Shambala, the hotel’s signature restaurant and
bar on Level 3. Shambala specialises in Tibetan and Yunnan cuisine and
opens in July. The venue features a dining area and lounge, bar
and outdoor patio seating. Shambala’s warm interior is dimly lit by
lights reminiscent of oil lanterns carried by monks, while the walls
are draped in Tibetan hand-crafted carpets. Other Tibetan
influences include decorative metal fixtures across low ceiling beams
and the repetitive use of the auspicious endless knot.
On the same level is Lodger’s Lounge, where guests can
relax and enjoy light snacks and beverages. Sharing a patio with the
lounge is Altitude, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant serving a
variety of local and international cuisines. Lavish buffets for
breakfast and dinner are on offer (with an a la carte menu at
lunchtime). Guests can indulge in range of items, everything from fresh
imported seafood tolocal cheese and cold cuts to yak steaks hot off the
grill.
Shangri-La’s signature Chinese restaurant, Shang Palace,
serves Sichuan and authentic Cantonese. It blends traditional Chinese
and Tibetan styles in a contemporary
fashion. The corridor
leading to the restaurant is lined with six illuminated Tibetan drums –
measuring 150 centimetres in diameter – gracefully hung against the
wall. Just beyond the majestic entrance is the main dining area
decorated with floor-to-ceiling screens. For intimate gatherings, the
restaurant offers 10 lavishly decorated private dining rooms.
Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa also offers extensive event and conference
facilities, including the city’s largest ballroom and an event terrace
overlooking Potala Palace and the surrounding mountain range.
Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa Opening
Offer
Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa
is offering an opening promotion through 30 June 2014, which is priced
from RMB2,488 per night plus 15 per cent service fee and includes
buffet breakfast and dinner for two. Advance booking for the
opening offer is required. For information or reservations, visit
www.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. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties
featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels
are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, France, Hong
Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines,
Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and the United
Arab Emirates. The group has a substantial development pipeline with
upcoming projects in mainland China, India, Mongolia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. For more
information and reservations, please visit the website at www.shangri-la.com.
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