Odyssey Magazine, October 16, 2006
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has signed anagreement with Al Jaber Establishment andTourism Development and InvestmentCompany, Abu Dhabi to manage the Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, openingFebruary 2007. This is the second suchmanagement agreement between the twogroups; the first was for the Shangri-La Hotel,Dubai.
The 21-acre (8.5 hectare) property, includingthe luxury hotel, serviced apartments anddeluxe villas, complemented by dining,entertainment, retail and recreational facilities,will be the first development of its kind in AbuDhabi.
The Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, designedby Northpoint Architect of Johannesburg,South Africa, faces a 1,000-metre-long (3,300foot) private beach. The luxury hotel is 10minutes from the airport; 15 minutes from theAbu Dhabi Corniche and five minutes from thenew Convention Centre.
All accommodations will feature sea views,including the 214 guestrooms with room sizesover 45 square metres (484 square feet), 161studio to four-bedroom serviced apartments,and seven four to six-bedroom deluxe villas.
Each villa will have its own private swimmingpool. Dining choices will include a poolside bar, lobbylounge, all-day dining coffee shop, andrestaurants serving French, Vietnamese andChinese cuisine. A lively souk (Arabianmarketplace) will be a center for dining andcolorful shopping activity.
The hotel will feature CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, Shangri-La’s signature spa brand. Theconcept of CHI is to create a sanctuary oftranquillity inspired by the legend of Shangri-La, with therapies based on the ancient healingtraditions and rituals of the Himalayas andChina. In addition to CHI, recreational facilities willinclude a health club, five outdoor swimmingpools and water sports. A 700-metre-long(2,296 foot) waterway with ‘abras’ (Arabgondolas) will transport guests on itsmeandering pathway through the property.
