Shangri-La Continues Expansion in India

Traders Hotel, Chennai to Open in 2012

HONG KONG, Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of Asia's leading luxury hotel groups, has signed a management contract with Riverside Infrastructure (India) Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of MARG, to operate Traders Hotel, Chennai, scheduled to open in early 2012.

Located in the middle of Old Mahabalipuram Road as part of the MARG Junction Mall, a multi-use complex, the hotel will be equidistant to both Madhya Kailash and Siruseri IT Park.  The development will include a mall, office block and the 246-key hotel along with 52 service apartments.  One unique feature of the complex is a perennial river flowing across the entire northern side of the mall, offering customers a view and respite during shopping.

Guestrooms are designed to be modern and will reflect a classic yet contemporary style combined with local cultural influences.  Wireless and broadband Internet access will be available in each room to meet the needs of business travellers.  The hotel will provide four dining and entertaining outlets including a cafe, a speciality and an all-day dining restaurant as well as the lobby lounge for light refreshments.  Meeting and banqueting facilities will offer over 2,236 square metres of function space.  A health club, spa with beauty salon and 25-metre outdoor pool will complete the public facilities.

"The addition of Traders Hotel, Chennai complements our portfolio of hotels in India --  Shangri-La's Eros Hotel, New Delhi; Shangri-La Hotel, Mumbai, due to open in 2011; and Shangri-La Hotel, Bangalore, scheduled to open in early 2012," said Greg Dogan, Shangri-La's president and chief executive officer.  "Traders caters to today's business and leisure traveller, who is looking for simple, efficient, down to earth functionality presented with a smile."

Commenting on the association, Mr. G. R. K. Reddy, chairman and managing director ofMARG Ltd., said, "It gives me great pleasure to be associated with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.  Junction Mall was created with the purpose of providing world-class amenities to our valued customers.  With PVR, Shoppers' Stop and Hypercity already setting up shop, the addition of Traders Hotel, Chennai will add to the value quotient of the space.  It gives me great honour to bring this brand to the people of Chennai, and I strongly believe that the association will get stronger in the near future."

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world's most respected hotel companies, currently owns and/or manages 69 hotels under the Shangri-La and Traders brands, with a room inventory of over 30,000.  Over almost four decades, the group has established its brand hallmark of 'hospitality from the heart.'  The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Mongolia, Russia, Qatar, Turkey and United Kingdom.  For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.

Note to editors:

Junction Mall, spread over 170,012 square metres, is Chennai's largest "mixed use" development consisting of a 92,903-square-metre mall, an international business class hotel with serviced apartments and 15,237-square-metre office towers.  Among other facilities, there would be atrium spaces stretching over an area of 2,145 square metres, a gaming zone, a 900-seat food court, five fine dining restaurants, parking space for 1,300 four wheelers and 1,800 two wheelers, 24 escalators and two travelators for superior circulation.

For digitised pictures of the group's hotels, please go to http://www.shangri‑la.com/imagelibrary.