Shangri-La Hotels has selected the heart of Toronto as the location of its second signature Canadian property following the phenomenal launch of Living Shangri-La Vancouver. Shangri-La Comes to Downtown Toronto; East Meets West with the Arrival of Living Shangri-La: Five-Star Hotel and 352 Luxury Residences by Canada’s Leading Residential Developer

Living Shangri-La Toronto, a new $430 million tower, will redefine luxury living downtown, offering a collection of elegant residences atop the five-star hotel, jointly developed by Westbank and Peterson Group with James K.M. Cheng Architects (design architect) and Young + Wright Architects (architect of record).

Slated to open in spring 2011, the 65-storey, 704-foot luxury hotel and condominium tower on prestigious University Avenue at Adelaide Street boasts a dynamic central location on the nexus of the Financial and Entertainment Districts, across from the new Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. The tasteful, five-star Shangri-La Hotel and lobby, with CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, includes signature retail, lounge and restaurants and is distinguished by a glass-flanked podium with 220 spacious guestrooms on levels 1 to 17.

“We are delighted to announce our second project in Canada with Westbank and Peterson,” said Giovanni Angelini, Shangri-La’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. “Our Canadian properties will offer travelers Shangri-La’s renowned Asian-style hospitality complemented by luxurious guestrooms, fine dining, and state-of-the-art facilities.”

Promising a level of architecture and interior design to complement and exceed Toronto’s current downtown real estate developments, Living Shangri-La Toronto features breathtaking views and an impressive array of world-class amenities designed to captivate Toronto’s skyline and attract discerning connoisseurs.

Floors 18 - 48 will be home to 279 luxurious one- and two-bedroom Residences with floors 49 - 65 reserved for the most exclusive 73 Private Estates, each encompassing penthouse-worthy appointments and soaring city or harbour views. Visitors and residents alike will enjoy access to Shangri-La’s incomparable 24-hour five-star service and security, exquisite amenities, exclusive CHI treatments and an ambience of tranquil grandeur.

“It is a privilege to bring this calibre of hotel and residential offering to any city, but to bring Shangri-La to a city as dynamic and exciting as Toronto is an honour,” says Ian Gillespie, President of Westbank. “We are confident that the people of Toronto along with international buyers will embrace this outstanding example of urban architecture and enjoy a Shangri-La Toronto lifestyle that is second-to-none.”

The successful track record of Westbank and Peterson Group with James K.M. Cheng Architects and Rennie Marketing Systems has already had a significant positive impact on the luxury real estate market in Vancouver, B.C. The team is currently constructing a trio of signature projects including Living Shangri-La Vancouver, the city’s tallest tower (with 300 luxury residences substantially sold out and on schedule for a winter 2008 opening); The Estates Fairmont Pacific Rim on Coal Harbour’s waterfront; and the acclaimed redevelopment of the historic Woodward’s property. Collectively, these projects represent well over $1 billion in real estate development.

Westbank and Peterson Group have developed or have under development $5 billion in projects consisting of over 15 million square feet of residential, retail, mixed-use and office space. Their creative and architecturally-focused approach to the creation of premier residences has made them Canada’s leading luxury residential developers.

“Here we have crafted the most exciting fusion of retail and urban amenities, hospitality and residential design for this signature address,” says Ben Yeung, President, Peterson Group. “We’re delighted to contribute to Toronto’s celebrated skyline and cityscape while enhancing the city’s global destination status.”

The accomplishments of this team have impressed former Vancouver head planner, Larry Beasley, often credited with orchestrating the Vancouver model for urban design, contributing to its most livable city status and impressive international urban development prowess.

“Westbank, Cheng, Rennie and Peterson simply understand the complex nuances, commitment and investment behind successful urban real estate design and development,” says Beasley. “They add value to cityscapes and investors, demonstrated repeatedly by the success of their projects in Vancouver.”

Astute urban planning, timeless design and sound business acumen are behind the acclaim, notes Beasley. By securing key downtown locations, attracting the highest calibre of consulting partners and crafting an unbeatable combination of public, private and residential amenities, savvy developers like Westbank and Peterson, with the guidance of Canada’s leading real estate marketer Rennie Marketing Systems, routinely lead the competition at every level of development and set the precedent Beasley contends.

As with their previous developments, Living Shangri-La Toronto will feature sustainable design, integrated landscape architecture and a significant public art component along with heritage conservation/restoration of the Bishop’s Block property on Simcoe Street, a Toronto landmark since 1829. Teaming up with James K.M. Cheng Architects is the well established Toronto-based firm, Young + Wright Architects Inc., whose portfolio includes work on the Sharp Centre for Design at the Ontario College of Art & Design, the Rogers Centre and the design of One Bloor Street East.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently manages 50 hotels under Shangri-La and Traders brands with rooms inventory of over 23,000 in Australia, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Thailand, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. The group has over 40 projects under development in Canada, mainland China, France, India, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Qatar, Seychelles, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Inspired by the legendary land featured in James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon published in 1933, the name Shangri-La encapsulates the serenity and service for which Shangri-La is renowned worldwide. Shangri-La’s tradition of service excellence started with the opening of the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, in 1971. The hotel’s 15 acres of landscaped gardens, beautifully appointed guest rooms and gracious Asian style set a new standard for hotel excellence, which to this day continues to guide the group’s design features.

Training is Shangri-La’s top priority and significant resources are allocated annually to ensure employees have the skills and knowledge to be the best in their fields. This has earned the group international awards and recognition from guests, prestigious magazines such as Conde Nast Traveler, as well as industry partners and made Shangri-La one of the preferred hotel employers.

For more information on Living Shangri-La Toronto, please visit www.livingshangri-latoronto.com .
——-