St Regis raises the luxury stakes in Singapore The first international luxury hotel to open in Singapore for 11 years, and the first St Regis property in South East Asia, has raised the stakes at the top end of the market in a city noted for its opulent accommodation. The 299-room hotel, occupying a prime site on Orchard Road in the city centre, offers all the trappings of luxury living: elegantly appointed rooms and suites, butler service for all guests, a vast ballroom with two large skylights, the first Remède Spa outside the US, and a fleet of customised Bentley Flying Spurs to whisk guests to and from the airport, to business appointments and for shopping trips. And taking its cue from the artistic heritage of the legendary St. Regis Hotel in New York, the Singapore property houses one of the largest private art collections in Asia. Anticipation prior to the opening of the hotel was running high after the St. Regis Residences, located next to the hotel tower, fetched the city's highest ever real estate prices when they were first released for sale. Hotel facilites include an outdoor pool, a fitness centre featuring the latest gym equipment and personal trainers, and an air-conditioned indoor tennis court as well as one outside. In addition to New York, there are St Regis hotels located in Washington DC, Monarch Beach, San Francisco, Aspen, Houston, Fort Lauderdale, London, Rome, Bora Bora, Beijing and Shanghai. Cabin hotel concept extended Yotel has opened the second of its cabin hotels at a UK airport. The 32-unit facility at Heathrow's Terminal 4 is aimed at those in transit or with early morning departures, or who find themselves stuck as a result of unexpected delays or cancellations. The first Yotel, the creation of Yo Sushi! founder Simon Woodroffe, opened at Gatwick last year and a third is planned for Amsterdam Schiphol in the spring. Other gateway destinations are on the drawing board. Cabins come with desks, free wi-fi and wired internet access, workstations and 'techno wall' entertainment systems. Rates are £35/€47 (standard) for four hours and £55/€74 (premium). Part of the URBN landscape... What is claimed to be China's first 'green' hotel has opened in Shanghai. The 26-room URBN is the first of 20 similar properties planned in key business and leisure destinations over the next three years. Located on Jiao Zhou Road, just north of Nanjing Road and close to the city's former French Concession district, the carbon neutral property is a conversion of a 1970 Post Office, and is designed to "immerse guests deeply into their surroundings, offering activities beyond the traditional hotel experience so they become part of the urban lifestyle of their surroundings". As such, URBN properties will offer localised services such as tai chi and yoga classes, in-room beauty and health treatments, unique bike and walking tours, Chinese cooking classes and basic lessons in Mandarin Chinese. Adding to the China collection Millennium & Copthorne Hotels this month gains its second foothold in China, taking over the management of the former Crowne Plaza Harbourview Hotel in Xiamen. The 352-room property is located close to the city centre, with easy access to the airport. With an existing hotel in Shanghai, the company says Beijing will be the next gateway in which it plans to establish a presence. Going flat out Serviced apartment operator SACO has added more than 70 locations in major cities worldwide over the past six months as part of a major expansion plan. It now offers a total of 11,000 apartments in 35 countries, with new properties signed up in the UK, Europe, the US and Far East. Soweto’s new Inn place A 48-room Holiday Inn has opened in the South African township of Kliptown, in Soweto. Located within Walter Sisulu Square, the hotel has two executive board rooms, complete with the latest conferencing facilities.
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