Shangri-La has opened its first ever hotel in Tibet.
The brand new 289-room Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa is being positioned as an “urban retreat”, offering an “authentic window onto Tibetan culture and hospitality”. All guests will be welcomed with a traditional barley-throwing ceremony, before being served yak butter tea in Tibetan pots.
“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 the hotel’s general manager, Ester Marcaida. “We are excited to open our doors today and welcome our first guests.”
Overlooking Lhasa’s famous Potala Palace, the hotel features a grand Tibetan-style gate and a 6.5-metre bell-like chandelier in the lobby. The 262 rooms and 17 suites have a minimum size of 42m² and feature Tibetan artworks, along with complimentary minibar items and free Wi-Fi.
Facilities include the first ever hotel oxygen lounge, designed to help visitors adjust to Lhasa’s high altitude. There is also a spa, gym and a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, plus three restaurants – one international, one serving local Tibetan and Yunnanese dishes, and another specialising in Chinese cuisine. The Tibetan restaurant features and outdoor patio seating, while the Chinese restaurant has 10 private dining rooms.
Shangri-La Lhasa also caters to the MICE market, with the city’s largest ballroom and an event terrace overlooking the Potala Palace.
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La now manages more than 80 hotels, comprising 34,000 rooms.
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