In case business brings you to China, India or Bangkok, you may want to sample these just-opened or up-and-coming hotel offerings listed below.
CHINA
• The Langham Place Ningbo, set for a late 2011 debut, brings the Langham group nearer its goal to add 15 new hotels in China over the next five years (see news). The hotel is part of a multi-use development that will contain commercial, retail, leisure and cultural components.
• Regal Yuhong Hotel in Zhengzhou, opening next year, will be located close to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport but is an estimated 15-minute drive to the central business district. It will have 310 rooms and suites and cater to business events with a conference centre consisting of function rooms of varying sizes, the largest one designed to accommodate 1,000 guests. It will also have restaurants, a fitness centre, a swimming pool and a spa.
INDIA
• Opening in October 2010, Starwood Hotels strengthens its presence on the subcontinent with its fitfth property, The Westin Gurgaon New Delhi. Besides 313 rooms and suites, it will have the Heavenly Spa by Westin, a gym, several restaurants and 1,360sqm of meeting space, consisting of a ballroom and six function rooms.
Female business travellers, staying on the "Aura" floor rooms, will have their needs attended to by a female-only staff.
THAILAND
• Newly opened Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom is the fourth Novotel property in Bangkok alone. The former office building, along Silom Road, was transformed into a 216-room hotel that includes 12 suites and 34 Premier Executive Club rooms. All units incorporate the brand's "NEXT" amenity line that includes LCD TVs, multimedia panels among other cutting-edge features. Other facilities include an all-day restaurant, a sidewalk café, the Premier Executive Club lounge, lobby lounge, fitness centre and swimming pool.
For the business travellers, there is a business centre with Wi-Fi internet access, workstations equipped with iMacs and secretarial services. Introductory room rates start from THB1,999 baht (US$65) per night for a Standard room until December 31. 2010.
Sister hotel, Novotel Siam Square, also reopened three of its floors this month following renovation.
Alisha Haridasani
