Shangri-La Signs First Hotel in Turkey

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has signed an agreement with Tanriverdi Holding Company to manage the Shangri-La Hotel, Istanbul. Scheduled to open in April 2012, the hotel will be the group's first in Turkey.

Shangri-La Hotel, Istanbul will be located between the Dolmabahce and the Maritime Museum on the European coast of the Bosphorus Straits, the 30-kilometer stretch of water separating Europe and Asia. Set within the Besiktas district, the shopping and transport hub of Istanbul, the hotel will be near the city's financial district and the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Centre.

 The neighborhood surrounding the hotel is home to many historical and cultural sites including: the Istanbul Concert Hall, the Ataturk Culture Centre, the newly restored Akaretler complex of neoclassical buildings, palaces from the Ottoman Empire period, and several theaters.

The hotel will be a five-minute walk from the Dolmabahce Palace, the former center of the Ottoman Empire and home to six sultans, which is now a national heritage museum. Also within easy reach is the Nisantasi neighborhood known for its restaurants, cafes and bars and the prestigious Macka luxury shopping area. Guests will be able to reach Sultanahmet, the historic center of the city that lies across the Golden Horn, within 15 minutes by public transportation.

Built on the site of a former tobacco factory and warehouse from the 1930s, the Shangri-La Hotel, Istanbul will recreate the exterior facades of the old building, which are protected by the city's Cultural and Natural Assets Committee. From the hotel's prime coastline location, guests will enjoy views across to the Asian coast of Istanbul, the Bosphorus Bridge and the city's historic peninsula. The hotel will be designed by Istanbul-based architect Piramit with 14 storeys, seven of which will be underground to protect the historic facade. The building will be the second tallest on the coast after the Dolmabahce Palace.

The hotel's 200 guestrooms, some of which will have private terraces, will reflect the city's proud heritage while also including the Asian design touches and modern travel technologies for which Shangri-La is well known. The hotel will offer several restaurants and bars including a rooftop restaurant with views of the city's historic skyline and coastline. Additional facilities will include a health club, spa, swimming pool, business centre, ballroom, and conference and meeting room facilities.

"We are proud to work with the Tanriverdi Group on their first hotel project to make their dream of a world class luxury hotel a reality," said Kuok Khoon Ean, chairman of Shangri-La Asia Limited. "We are honored to have the opportunity to create a Shangri-La in Istanbul, a city that has welcomed distinguished guests since the Roman and Byzantine empires, and look forward to becoming a part of the city's future."

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