PRESS KIT Contents Retreat into the City 2 Hotel Overview 3 Guestrooms and Suites 3 Dining and Entertainment 4 Banqueting and Conference Venues 6 Wellness and Recreation 8 Gateway to the Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields 9 Contacts 11
Retreat into the City Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific s leading luxury hotel group, has opened its second property in Thailand, the. The hotel is a deluxe city resort, complementing the acclaimed Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok. Chiang Mai, the Rose of the North, is located 400 miles from Bangkok and is surrounded by rice fields, jungles and mountains. It was the capital of the 13 th century Lanna Thai Kingdom and it is still heavily influenced by the unique ethnic identities of the surrounding hill tribe communities. Internationally known as one of the most popular destinations in Asia, Chiang Mai is famous for its art, crafts and culture. Some of the popular sights and places to visit in Chiang Mai are the approximately 300 temples, various cultural centres, elephant camps and shops selling crafts, textiles, ceramics, gems, jewellery, woodcarvings, and antiques. Hotel guests are in an ideal location to explore one of the few places in Thailand in which centuries-old temples and religious monuments stand next to modern boutiques in the heart of the city. Not far from the hotel s doorstep, guests can enjoy the charms of the city centre, from riverside cafés serving locally grown coffee to bookstores, flower markets and the numerous soi s (alleyways) that give Chiang Mai its unmistakable character.
Hotel Overview The 277-room hotel is located in the prime area of Chang Klan Road, a few steps from the famous night bazaar and only 10 minutes drive from the domestic and international airports. It is situated within nearly seven acres of green lawns, frangipani, bamboo, ginger and lotus ponds. The decoration is influenced by the city s 700-year history and northern Thailand s Lanna cultural heritage, with a generous use of teak and open, light-filled spaces filled with local artefacts and rich fabrics in regal colours. Guestrooms and Suites Guestrooms of this luxury Chiang Mai hotel reflect contemporary northern Thai design and decor with the emphasis on comfort and range in size from 43 to 215 square metres. Guestrooms have either a dramatic mountain view or pool view. The bedrooms are cosy with plenty of throw pillows, comfortable Shangri-La beds and mood lighting. Special touches such as local celadon tea sets, Thai silk pillows and bed runners and artwork give guestrooms and suites a distinctive Chiang Mai personality and charm.
The hotel s guestrooms are divided into five main categories: Deluxe Room and Horizon Club Deluxe Room: 225 Premier Room and Horizon Club Premier Room: 37 Executive Suite and Horizon Club Executive Suite: 12 Signature Suites: 3 - Aranda, Lotus and Presidential suites The three top floors of the hotel are devoted to Club accommodation, including a private lounge. Guests can enjoy Club concierge services such as restaurant and sightseeing tour reservations, and exclusive access to the Club Lounge that offers expansive garden and pool views. All suites have a separate living room providing a residential-style ambience with splashes of floralthemed artwork and freshly arranged bouquets of one of northern Thailand s famous flowers.
Dining and Entertainment With the Culinary Theatre and our memorable dining concept, the four dining choices at provide a surprising flair to fresh food, innovatively prepared and presented. Kad Kafé, the Culinary Theatre Café housed in a traditionally influenced Thai teak structure, offers all-day dining with Asian and international specialities and has seating for 248. The café is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Named after the northern Thailand word for market, its emphasis is on market-fresh ingredients prepared live by a team of chefs. The concept for China Kitchen is an authentic Szechuan restaurant featuring a Chinese chef who serves Szechuan and a selection of Cantonese specialties honoring the taste of traditional southwestern Chinese cuisine. The restaurant seats 144 guests and has a bar and private areas. Also features the only Chef s Table in Chiang Mai, a private dining room set next to a large window of the kitchen where six guests can enjoy their meal close to the cooking action. The restaurant offers tranquil outdoor dining and lush green space in our serene secret garden. The delicious food, contemporary decor and gracious service create a truly wonderful and memorable experience.
The Lobby Lounge, located in the main lobby, is the perfect place for lobby socialising and gazing at the views of the hotel s landscaped gardens. Featuring a light dining menu, afternoon tea and cocktails including an extensive list of flavoured Cosmo s the evening entertainment enhances the ambience of this relaxing lounge. Dhala offers refreshing cocktails and mocktails as well as Thai and international snacks while the guests are relaxing at the poolside. The four cabanas at the side of the swimming pool can each accommodate up to six guests and are ideal place for pre-dinner drinks. Banqueting and Conference Venues From complicated global conventions to high powered boardroom meetings and grand celebrations, meeting planners and events managers have unlimited possibilities with the hotel s more than 3,500 square metres of function space serviced by a dedicated team of specialist staff on hand at all times. An ideal meeting venue in Chiang Mai, the hotel will ensure that your event s needs and requirements are met.
The Grand Lanna Ballroom is Chiang Mai s largest at 1,515 square metres and it can easily accommodate a banquet or event for up to 1,800 guests. Shangri-La s Event Centre and The Royal Rooms include The Sukothai Room (425 square metres) and The Phayao Room (155 square metres). Chiang Mai s only 99-seat stateof-the-art auditorium has a stage and audiovisual equipment for seminars and lectures as well as theatrical and musical performances. Our Banqueting and Events Sales Office, Group Check-in Lounge and VIP Lounges are all conveniently located near the function rooms in order to provide convenience and exceptional service. All of the conference and function rooms at Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai feature state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment including the following technical facilities and equipment: Complimentary wireless broadband Internet access Large plasma display unit Slide projector, overhead projector, LCD projector and direct projector Conference microphones Satellite and teleconferencing Simultaneous translation system available upon request
Wellness and Recreation At, you will find many opportunities for fitness, rejuvenation and relaxation. The resort-like recreational options at on the hotel include a large free-form swimming pool, a fully equipped Fitness Centre with classes, a spa, the Kid s Club, and an rooftop outdoor tennis court. CHI, The Spa at and is the 12 th CHI spa to open within the Shangri-La group. Nestled within 4,600 square metres of landscaped, tropical gardens yet conveniently located in the city, CHI offers nine spacious, Thai-inspired villas incorporating the signature CHI spa within a spa concept. The main features of the spa include a pool-facing yoga pavilion and a commanding structure called The Sanctum, where guests begin their spa experience by discovering their Chinese five-element type. All CHI therapies are based on the Asian philosophy of the traditional five elements, in which metal, water, wood, fire and earth should be in balance with the positive yang and negative yin energy to restore balance and re-energise the mind and the body. The CHI concept was developed in collaboration with a team of recognised experts in traditional Chinese medicine and Asian therapies.
The CHI spa in Chiang Mai also offers unique therapies that are exclusive to this location and that incorporate local healing practices and ingredients, giving guests experiences that are distinct to Thailand s north. Known as the Rose of the North for its setting amid rice fields and jungles, Chiang Mai is the centre of the northern Thai people known as Lanna. Gateway to the Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields Chiang Mai was the capital of the 13 th century Lanna Kingdom; remnants of the city wall and four main gates, as well as the moat that encircled the original city, can still be seen. Lanna means Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields and is also the name for the culture, language, art and ethnic identity still strongly evident in the people and way of life in the region. The concierge recommends the following sites and experiences as some of the best the city and area has to offer: Temples Chiang Mai is home to approximately 300 wats (temples). One of the best-known is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, said to house a relic of the Buddha. Legend states that it is the Buddha s shoulder bone, which was carried to the site by a white elephant. The temple dates to the 14 th century and visitors can climb the 300 steps or take a tram to the temple. On the north side of Wat Chedi Luang, the Monk Chat area gives travellers a chance to meet and speak with Buddhist monks in English.
Thai Elephant Conservation Centre The centre is about 60 kilometres southeast of Chiang Mai and is well worth visiting for a fun and educational experience. The elephants perform various tasks and paint pictures with their trunks, and even play music. Visitors can also watch the elephants bathe or enjoy elephant riding. Bazaars Recommended is Kad Luang market, the biggest market in the city and the place to experience a slice of the real city, not just a tourist view. Chiang Mai is famous for its night bazaar, which features arts and crafts, local Thai food and foot massages. The best bazaar is the Sunday market, located on a walking street in the Old Square and a 10-minutes tuk-tuk drive from the hotel. Pedestrian District ( Walking Street ) The Wisdom of Lanna Arts and Craftsmen Walking Street is a market that showcases art from 21 villages, including a Yong village. The Yong are known for their unique handicraft techniques including elephant woodcarvings, bamboo products, drawings on cloth and more.
The Wualai Walking Street offers stalls that sell silver products, from souvenirs to home décor items. The Sunday Walking Street Market is an ideal street market in Thailand and is located along the length of Thapae Gate through Ratchadamnern Road and the heart of the Old City. It is a showcase of the art and craftsmanship of northern Thailand as well as genuine Thai-style street entertainment, including pavement artists of all descriptions, traditional musicians, Thai dancers and puppet shows. Outdoor Adventures Adventure lovers can enjoy various cycling tours through the scenic Mae Sa Valley or along Mae Ping River, where old temples, farm villages and rice paddy fields are located. Other outdoor activities include hot air ballooning, micro-light aircraft rides, boat trips on Mae Ping River, and ziplining through the jungle. Press Contacts Saranya Buntem Communications Manager Tel: (66 53) 253 888 extension 6325 Fax: (66 53) 253 800 E-mail: saranya.buntem@shangri-la.com Digital images are available on request.