Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, opened its first hotel in India, Wednesday, the Traders Hotel, Chennai. The group is also developing more properties in India, including Shangri-La Hotel, New Delhi which will open mid 2005, and three new properties in Bangalore which will open between August 2007 to December 2008.
“The opening of Traders Hotel, Chennai is a significant milestone marking the first entry into India for the Shangri-La group and particularly the Traders brand,” said Giovanni Angelini, chief executive officer and managing director of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. “We are excited to be represented in Chennai with its key position in India and strong links to Southeast Asia. This is an important progression of our expansion plan for the region.”

Chennai is well known as ‘the jewellery and silk capital of south India’. The Traders Hotel, Chennai is conveniently situated in the heart of the city, close to the shopping hub. All 162 guestrooms, with a minimum size of 30 square metres, have data ports and broadband Internet connectivity. Amenities and services include 24-hour room service, same day laundry and valet, and satellite TV. Located on the tenth to twelfth floor of the hotel, the Traders Club offers exclusive privileges and services such as express check-in and check-out, free use of meeting room, and a club lounge for daily breakfast and evening cocktails.

Dining and entertainment facilities include Seasons Café, Indiana, a contemporary Indian restaurant; Zodiac, the hotel bar; and a rooftop restaurant which will open in a second phase. Meeting and banquet facilities feature a 516-square-metre grand ballroom which can be divided into two rooms, as well as other banquet halls with a total space of 450 square metres. Facilities such as business centre, health club, massage rooms and swimming pool are also available.

“We are very excited to see the opening of Traders Hotel, Chennai, we are certain the hotel will become an attractive choice for business and leisure travellers to this region,” commented Dr. J. Sri Nisha, co-owner of J-Hotels Ltd., the developer and owner of Traders Hotel, Chennai.
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