Four Season's GCC road show

The company hosted a series of workshops and receptions in key GCC cities such as Manama, Jeddah, Riyadh, Kuwait and Doha before reaching Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The road show provided regional updates on progress of the company’s first resort in the UAE, due to open in Q4 2014.

“Work on Four Seasons Resort Dubai is progressing rapidly. This is a market in which we’ve been keen to have a presence for many years,” said Norton.

Norton confirmed that the development pipeline for Four Seasons in other key Middle East and North African cities was also forging ahead.

Properties currently under construction include Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay (due to open mid 2014) and Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca (due to open mid 2014). While active projects in the preliminary stages include Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, Four Seasons Resort Oman, Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait City and Four Seasons Hotel Jeddah.

A suite at the Four Seasons Beijing

Four Seasons has opened a new luxury hotel in Beijing.

Located in the Liangmahe area of the Chinese capital, close to the city’s diplomatic precinct, the hotel’s facade has been designed to reflect one of the city’s Imperial Palaces, while the large atrium houses a large calligraphic artwork. Other pieces of Chinese contemporary art are displayed throughout the hotel.

Facilities at the 313-room hotel include a naturally-lit indoor pool, jacuzzi and gym, and a spa with 11 treatment rooms. Dining options include two restaurants and three lounges, including Chinese and Italian outlets, a champagne and cigar bar, plus what Four Seasons calls an “extravagant” afternoon tea.

“We are so delighted to share the new Four Seasons Hotel Beijing with travellers and residents of the city,” said the hotel’s General Manager Sanjiv Hulugalle. “Like the city itself, our hotel harmoniously marries Chinese tradition with a contemporary aesthetic, in a setting of luxury and the highly personalised service for which Four Seasons is world-renowned.”

For corporate travellers, the hotel offers a 24-hour business centre plus more than 3,000m2 of meeting space including two ballrooms.

The Beijing property becomes the third Four Seasons hotel to open in China in 2012, following the Four Seasons Guangzhou in July and Four Seasons Pudong, Shanghai, in September. Four Seasons Shenzhen is scheduled to open in 2013.

Four Seasons Hotel Pudong Shanghai has 187 rooms

Four Seasons has opened a new luxury hotel in Shanghai.

The new Four Seasons Hotel Pudong Shanghai, which becomes the sixth Four Seasons in China and the second in Shanghai, is situated in a newly-built 55-storey tower in Pudong’s Lujiazhui business district.

“Pudong literally did not exist 20 years ago – its rapid ascension to the pinnacle of Shanghai’s business and cultural life illustrates the spirit that drives the city’s success and ambitions for the future,” said Four Seasons’ Regional Vice President & General Manager, Rainer Stampfer. “It’s this energy, this sense of possibility, that we have sought to capture at our new Four Seasons – a place where people can be inspired by the city’s past and future, further their own ambitions, and enjoy life to its fullest.”

The new hotel features 187 rooms and suites, four F&B outlets, a Guerlain-branded spa with six treatment rooms, 24-hour fitness centre and an 18-metre indoor lap pool with views of the city. There is also 800m² of meeting space including a ballroom, plus six private dining rooms in the restaurants.

Four Seasons Hotel Pudong Shanghai is the second of three Four Seasons expected to open in China this year. The Four Seasons Guangzhou opened in July and Four Seasons Beijing is scheduled to open next month. Twelve additional Four Seasons properties are in the advanced stages of development in China, including the first property in Shenzhen which is scheduled to open in 2013.

Trump Toronto opened last year

Toronto has continued to see its luxury hotel product expand in the last year with several new names opening in the city.

Back in July last year we told you Le Germain, Thompson and Ritz-Carlton had opened properties in the Canadian city (see TDUK 15/07/11), with Trump opening is 261-rrom hotel in the city this January.

However its luxury hotel product is to continue expanding this year with the opening of Four Seasons Hotel Toronto and Shangri-La this summer, adding more than 300 rooms to the bedbank. In addition, The Delta Toronto is scheduled to open in 2014 with 556 rooms and a focus on sustainability.

Hotels outside the luxury market have also spruced up their offering, with the Holiday Inn Toronto Airport East and The Glenerin Inn & Spa having completed renovations. More properties are also offering WiFi including the Radisson Hotel Toronto East and The Sheraton Centre Toronto. 

An artist's impression of the new bar

The Four Seasons Hotel Sydney has started work on a multi-million dollar refurbishment to its food and beverage outlets and meeting facilities.

The hotel is planning to upgrade its guest facilities, with the addition of a new bar, restaurant, four new meeting rooms and a business centre.

Work is already underway on the bar, which has replaced the previous Holmes conference room to the right of reception, facing George Street. The new outlet is expected to open in early September.

The new restaurant will be located on the lobby level in place of the existing bar. Construction is due to begin in July with opening expected in early November.

In addition, four new residential-style meeting suites will be added to the hotel’s second floor. These are expected to be ready in early 2013.

“The hotel is making a significant investment to offer guests a greatly-enhanced experience with some trendy new outlets to eat, drink, meet and entertain in,” said the hotel’s GM, Vincent Hoogewijs. “The icing on the cake is that the hotel intends to work with one of Australia’s rising star young chefs who will be the creative force behind the bar and restaurant’s cuisine, so you’ll just have to watch this space!”

Participating in the summer discounts are Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at First Residence, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano and Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh.

Throughout the duration of this exceptional offer, Visa Platinum debit and credit cardholders can take advantage of one extra free night when they stay for three consecutive nights at the hotels published rates, or save 25% when staying in a suite at published rates; they can also save 15% at Four Seasons food and beverage outlets and another 15% on spa treatments. Meanwhile, Visa Infinite debit and credit cardholders will receive the same offers as Visa Platinum cardholders with a free room upgrade on three or more nights, a 30% discount on suites at published rates. On top of a 15% discount at dining outlets and at the spa, guests will receive a complimentary dessert and an extra 30 minutes on their spa treatment.

Water throwing during Thailand's Songkran festival

Next month Thailand will celebrate Songkran, the Buddhist New Year holiday season traditionally marked by religious cleansing ceremonies and water throwing. And there are plenty of great promotions and packages to be had at hotels in the Kingdom. Here are some of the best Songkran offers, recommended by Travel Daily Asia:

Songkran in Chiang Mai at Centara’s Khum Phaya Resort

Centara Hotels & Resorts is offering a Songkran Package for two people at the Khum Phaya Resort & Spa in Chiang Mai. Valid from 9-16 April, the rate for two people staying in a Lanna Deluxe Room for two nights is THB5,950 (US$194) net. The package includes daily breakfast for two people, a Khantoke dinner for two with Lanna cultural performance, free Wi-Fi and roundtrip airport transfers. The hotel also provides daily transfers to and from Chiang Mai’s famous night bazaar and Sunday walking street. For more information please email: kpc@chr.co.th.

Three of the best from Banyan Tree 

Guests staying three nights or more at Banyan Tree and Angsana Hotels & Resorts from April to June 2012 will receive up to three complimentary inclusions as part of the group’s new ‘Good Things Come in Threes’ promotion. Running throughout the Songkran holiday period, the promotion offers a complimentary dinner for two, 60-minute spa treatment for one person and a tour or activity for two for guests booking a three-night stay. The offer is valid for bookings made from now to 31 March 2012 for stays from 1 April to 30 June 2012. Please visit www.banyantree.com.

Wet and Wild celebrations at Four Seasons Hotels

Four Seasons Hotels in Thailand are offering new Songkran packages, including Songkran Survival Kits with plastic covers for valuables. Valid from 1-30 April, the three-night package at Four Seasons Bangkok starts at THB7,350 (US$240) per night and includes daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade (subject to availability) and the Songkran Survival Kit for guests staying between 13-16 April. Guests staying three nights or more also receive access to the Executive Club. For more information please visit: www.fourseasons.com/bangkok.

Traditional Songkran water bowls

Spa breaks at Andara Phuket

Andara Resort Villas, Phuket, is offering an altogether more relaxing Songkran, giving guests the chance to indulge in a luxury Spa Experience. The package offers a three-night stay in a luxury suite or villa including breakfast, one-way private airport transfer, one complimentary 90-minute Spa Massage per person per stay, free Wi-Fi, complimentary access to the Andara Beach Club, late 4pm check-out and a 10% discount on all other spa sessions. Rates start from US$2,390 net for three nights in a one bedroom Terrace Suite to US$7,810 net in a three bedroom Pool Villa. For more information and reservations, please email: reservations@andaraphuket.com.

Songkran specials with Anantara

 Anantara is offering a choice of four Songkran packages next month. In Bangkok, Anantara Baan Rajprasong’s special offer is a 25% discount on a suite and high tea experience, while guests at the Anantara Bangkok Sathorn’s poolside buffet will receive a complimentary water gun. Anantara Phuket is offering 20% off a pool villa and a complimentary special dinner, and finally the Anantara Si Kao in Trang is organising a full day of cultural events, concluding with a Thai market buffet dinner with Thai dance performances. For more information please visit www.anantara.com.