Following extensive renovations spanning two and a half years, the Traders Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar has been rebranded as the Sule Shangri-La, Yangon.
With 484 rooms, the hotel is located on Sule Pagoda Road in Yangon, near the 2,000-year-old pagoda – now a major fixture of the city’s central business district.
The view from the hotel
Although the exterior of the building is modern, the lobby of Sule Shangri-La, Yangon evokes bygone colonial days with imposing white columns and a grand staircase that ascends to an open balcony.
Also in reflection of Myanmar’s colourful history are the staff uniforms – incorporating traditional ‘longyi’ (a large sheet of cloth folded to form a cylindrical shape), while doormen can be found wearing one of seven different uniforms, each representing the seven states of the country.
Ornate Burmese vases, panes of intricate woodcarving and specially commissioned art pieces by local artists also adorn the hotel’s café, conference rooms and suites.
A selection of restaurants offer business travellers a vast choice of cuisines. Summer Palace – Shangri-La’s signature Chinese restaurant – boasts six distinctive private dining rooms, specialising in Cantonese dim sum and authentic Chinese dishes.
Now modified to reflect a public drinking house from the past British era, The Galley Bar’s nostalgic photographs from the early 1800s blanket the walls.
Shepherd’s pies, steaks, light bites and crisp cold beers feature on the traditional pub fare menu, while a balcony gives guests a view of the bustling Lobby Lounge.
Café Sule
International flavours and Asian favourites can be found at Café Sule, while the Peacock Lounge caters for informal meetings and catch-ups between friends or executives.
The Peacock Lounge
Freshly-baked goods, snacks and beverages are also on tap at The Gourmet Shop.
Overlooking the outdoor pool and with at over 850 square meters, the Health Club (above) stocks a variety of fitness equipment, along with sauna, steam and massage rooms.
Meeting spaces are prominent here – spanning three levels at Sule Shangri-La, Yangon, these have all been refurbished in a modern palette with gold accents.
Pagoda Meeting Room
While the décor references the past, guestroom amenities are contrastingly modern – with views of the city, river or Shwedagon Pagoda, flat-screen TVs, free wi-fi and marble bathrooms all come as standard.
Keeping in line with the local tradition, the rooms also incorporate Burmese artefacts and are trimmed with dark wood.
The suites, including the city’s largest presidential suite, measure between 66 and 189 square-metres and come with both a bathtub and a rainforest shower in the spacious bathrooms.
A Deluxe Suite
The new Horizon Club Lounge on level 21 provides an unobstructed view of Shwedagon Pagoda, spaced at over 490 square meters with two private meeting rooms.
The Horizon Club Lounge
Here, guests can arrive and depart in privacy, with a late check-outs available upon request and complimentary beverages and refreshments provided all day.
A dedicated lounge concierge is on hand, while breakfast, in-room wine and snacks upon arrival, suit pressing and daily fruits are all free for guests on the Horizon Club floors.
To mark Sule Shangri-La, Yangon’s rebranding, the hotel is introducing a ‘celebration package’, starting at US$215 per night plus tax and service charges until July 31 2014.
A minimum two nights’ stay in a deluxe room includes a one-way airport transfer (pick up or drop off) and US$40 hotel credit – redeemable for hotel food and beverage, laundry, massage services and at the beauty centre.
Members of Shangri-La’s Golden Circle loyalty program can also earn double GC Award Points during the promotional period.
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Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
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