Tourism & Hospitality | Wednesday 17 April, 2019 5:00 am |

Shangri-La Group, the Hong Kong-based luxury hotel operator, will participate in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019 showcasingShangri-La Bali Resort & Spa, The Maj Nusa Dua, its upscale resort scheduled to open in Q4 2019, for the first time.

 

Located in Nusa Dua, just 25 minutes away from the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, the resort is spread across 96 acres and fringed by a 5-kilometre-long white sandy beach.  It boasts a total of 339 rooms, suites and villas, each with their own private pool and views of the award-winning 18-hole championship Bali National Golf Club.  The room sizes range from 46 to 220 square metres, making the rooms amongst the largest in the Nusa Dua area.

 

“As the Group approaches its 50th anniversary in 2021, it remains committed to being at the forefront of Asian hospitality.  The Group entered the region in 2003 and we have a proven track record of achieving outstanding results in highly competitive markets.  We managed fluctuating business environments throughout the region and still managed to improve profits whilst maintaining high levels of service.  We have had a presence at ATM since the very first edition 26 years ago, and we have been exhibiting since 2004.  This reflects our long-standing desire for growth in the region.  Our vision is to further expand our portfolio in the Middle East over the next three years with our unique understanding of Asia, giving investors the opportunity to capitalise on the most dynamic outbound market globally and offer guests the renowned Shangri-La hospitality,” said John Northen, executive vice president, Middle East, India and Indian Ocean for Shangri-La Group.

Other participants at ATM include the Group’s two properties in Sri Lanka.  The untouched golden beaches, dense jungles and vibrant cities of Sri Lanka are this year’s must-visit destination, according to Lonely Planet’s ‘Top Countries for Travel’ in 2019.  Guests can explore all that Sri Lanka has to offer in luxury this year withShangri-La Group, which offers the perfect way to immerse in the country’s rich culture.

 

Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa spans 58 hectares, making it the largest resort in Sri Lanka.  It boasts 274 spacious rooms and suites, all surrounded by stunning tropical gardens.  Golf lovers can play at the first, and only, resort golf course in the country – the 18-hole course designed by Rodney Wright which spans across a vast coconut palm plantation, offering players spectacular views of the Indian Ocean.

 

For those seeking the buzz of a vibrant city, Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo offers guests unparalleled access to a bespoke collection of cultural and historical experiences. Thanks to its magnificent architecture, mixing colonial style with modern buildings, bustling markets and picturesque coastal setting, Colombo was recently named the ‘must-photograph’ destination of 2019 in a study by Huawei.

 

Situated at One Galle Face along the Galle Face Green promenade – the most exclusive address in Colombo – the hotel offers uninterrupted Indian Ocean and city views from its 500 guestrooms and suites and 41 serviced apartments.  It also serves as a gateway to the capital through an array of exciting immersive experiences.

 

“All major cities in the GCC are now connected to Colombo, with flight durations of around four to five hours.  We are also taking advantage of Sri Lankan Airlines’ 90-minute direct route from Colombo to Gan, the closest international airport to Shangri-La’s private resort in the Maldives, only five minutes away by speedboat.  This means we can leverage the popularity of “two destinations in one go,” Mr Northen said.

 

Also exhibiting Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, in the Maldives, the largest resort island in the Indian Ocean nation, spreading across 12 hectares, is located in the Maldives’ southernmost atoll, beyond the equator, with only the Indian Ocean separating the island from Antarctica.  The private island resort of Villingili is quite literally on the edge of the world.  The resort boasts a unique jungle setting with majestic banyan trees and over 17,000 coconut trees.

 

The Group’s second property in the Maldives, Hotel Jen Male Maldives by Shangri-Lais ideally located in the heart of Male, the capital city.  It is only a seven-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport, offering easy access to the city’s prime commercial centre.  It is also a few steps away from vibrant restaurants offering authentic Chinese, Indian, Malay and Thai and Sri Lankan cuisines.

 

Designed with the elegant details of the Asian culture, exclusive service quality and hospitality, Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul is located between the Dolmabahce Palace and the Naval Museum on the European coast of the Bosphorus Straits.

 

As the only hotel in Istanbul to have its own Rolls-Royce, Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul recently launched new, exclusive experiences for guests, designed to explore the dynamic city in complete luxury.  Travellers get the opportunity to drive between two continents, crossing the Bosphorus from Europe to Asia, which is unique to Istanbul, while unlocking the history and culture of the capital of empires.

 

Two of the Group’s eight hotels in Malaysia are also exhibiting.  Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu is an enchanting tropical retreat rising above a pristine stretch of beachfront.  Nature is all around the resort, surrounded by 400 acres of tropical forest, with tropical-inspired accents showcased in the sumptuous interiors of 499 guestrooms and suites.

The resort is home to an eco-friendly championship golf course and the magnificent Spa at Dalit Bay.  Unique to the resort is the Nature Interpretation Centre, gateway to the nature reserve and Borneo’s wildlife.

 

The 662 luxurious guestrooms and suites at Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpurhighlight the hotel as a true urban sanctuary.  Overlooking the bustling city, this serene retreat features lush tropical water gardens, an intricate labyrinth, eight restaurants and bars, an expansive swimming pool and a fully equipped Health Club.

 

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is exhibiting at Arabian Travel Market 2019 on stand HC0820.