Moscow is the next major outpost for Asia-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.
The chain will open a 400-room hotel in 2010 in the Russian capital, occupying the top floors of a 42-storey building in the Park Huaming Business Centre. This is a new multi-purpose development next to the Russian Botanic Garden in the Northeast District, 10km from Red Square that also includes office space, serviced apartments, exhibition halls, restaurants as well as retail and leisure facilities.
Guestrooms will start from 40sqm and feature views of the Chinese landscapes in the Park or the Russian Botanic Garden. Catering to meetings and large events will be the hotel’s specialty with its 1,200sqm ballroom, a 700sqm auditorium and a wide range of function venues.
The city’s fourth ring road will also be completed around the same time as the hotel and provide direct access to it. Shangri-La’s move into Moscow is part of an aggressive long-term campaign to transplant its “Asian brand of hospitality” to destinations outside of the region.
Madhu Rao, managing director and CEO of Shangri La Hotels and Resorts, said: “As we continue to expand globally, Russia remains one of our key markets.” At press time, the chain's list of properties under development included cities such as Paris and Vienna (both 2010), Toronto, Miami and Chicago (all 2011) and London (2012).
The Russian property is owned by China Huaming International Investment Corporation. For more details, visit www.shangri-la.com
Margie T Logarta
