Wednesday, 4 June 2008：Hotel group Shangri-La is looking to double the amount of properties in the company in the next three years, as well as present themselves as a truly international hospitality chain.
Speaking to e-Travel Blackboard while she was in Sydney this week, Barbara Pang, Shangri-La Group Senior VP Sales & Marketing discussed the new developments in store.
“We currently have 55 hotels, and we’re looking to have 100 by 2011,” says Ms Pang. “We’ll always be based in Asia... 50% of our properties will still be in Asia.”
The Hong Kong-based hospitality group still has its focus on Asia, but is also looking to expand in international gateway cities in Europe, the United States as well as the United Arab Emirates.
Early 2009 will see their long-awaited Paris property, with the opening of the Shangri-La Hotel, Palais d´Iena. Not only will this be Shangri-La’s first French property, but it is also the Group’s first European property.
North American properties set to open in the next few years include Vancouver, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, Miami and Toronto.
“Even though we’re expanding, the underlying core values of our company won’t change,” adds Ms Pang.
Looking forward in the short term, the group is looking to launch a new meetings initiative called ‘Green Meetings’, whereby meetings planners will have the option of selecting a meetings package with a much smaller carbon footprint.
“The new program will incorporate a range of green initiatives from areas such as waste management to reducing the amount of materials used,” said Ms Pang.
‘Green Meetings’ is set to be launched in the next few months across all Shangri-La properties.
