Shangri-La hotels set for expansion
Hotel Shangri-La Kathmandu and Shangri-La Village Pokhara are expanding their capacity and upgrading facilities to better cater to both leisure and business travellers. The new project is laying particular emphasis on equipping both the properties with the latest and the best to cater to the corporate market.
The 30 new rooms to be added to the Shangri-La Kathmandu by the end of October 2000 will bring the hotel’s total rooms to 100. All the new rooms will be executive class and will be located on a separate and exclusive executive floor. Once the Kathmandu renovations are over, the Shangri-La Village will also see similar expansion and refurbishment.
Mr. Prabin Bahadur Panday, Executive Director of the hotels, says that the Shangri-La is targeting corporate clientele especially from India. The new rooms with their special facilities will enable both the hotels to cater more effectively to this growing high-yield segment.
Mr. Panday feels that the success of hotels depends upon their ability to be flexible enough to adapt to the changing needs of travellers. The Shangri-La hotels are doing just that. With their friendly service, homely atmosphere, excellent food and beverage outlets, and further improvements being ushered in with new facilities, both hotels are poised to enhance their position as market leaders in their category.
Another China Town at Jawalakhel
The China Town Chinese Restaurant & Bar at Lazimpat, Kathmandu boasts the best Chinese fare in town. And it has reasons to. The sumptuous food is prepared by its Chinese chef John Liu, and this, coupled with the homely atmosphere and prompt service, has made it the favorite haunt of visitors on the lookout for authentic Chinese food for more than a decade now.
Riding on its remarkable success, its promoters recently opened a branch at Jawalakhel, just a few minutes’ drive from downtown Kathmandu. The restaurant’s ambiance transports you to China with its red paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling and large paper fans forming the wall decor. The restaurant is well lit and seats 95 people. The menu is the same as that of Lazimpat, and there is ample parking space. If the crowds it has been drawing from the very beginning are any indication, then the China Town Chinese Restaurant & Bar at Jawalakhel is bound to be another hit.
Another China Town at Jawalakhel
The China Town Chinese Restaurant & Bar at Lazimpat, Kathmandu boasts the best Chinese fare in town. And it has reasons to. The sumptuous food is prepared by its Chinese chef John Liu, and this, coupled with the homely atmosphere and prompt service, has made it the favorite haunt of visitors on the lookout for authentic Chinese food for more than a decade now.
Riding on its remarkable success, its promoters recently opened a branch at Jawalakhel, just a few minutes’ drive from downtown Kathmandu. The restaurant’s ambiance transports you to China with its red paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling and large paper fans forming the wall decor. The restaurant is well lit and seats 95 people. The menu is the same as that of Lazimpat, and there is ample parking space. If the crowds it has been drawing from the very beginning are any indication, then the China Town Chinese Restaurant & Bar at Jawalakhel is bound to be another hit.
Stimulating lunch at the Annapurna
After much research into the eating habits of busy, overworked Kathmandu executives with very little time either for a proper lunch or a work out, Hotel De L’Annapurna has recently introduced, what it terms, the “Executive Lunch”. The specially designed meal is quick, balanced, low calorie and light on the stomach and pocket. In other words, very stimulating and appetizing!
The lunch features a choice of vegetarian and non-vegetarian fixed menus and is available between 11 am to 3 pm. If your extending waistline and escalating weight are causing you distress, you needn’t actually sweat it out. Annapurna’s Executive Lunch will do the trick for you.
Everest plays football with Uruguayans
In what is an unsual act of hoteliering to strengthen guest and staff relationship, The Everest Hotel took to the football ground against visiting Uruguayan students on June 2. The first match saw the Everest team that included its Executive Director Shariq Lari beaten 4-3. The winning team was awarded a shield donated by Mr. Sujit Banerjee, Managing Director of Yantrik.Com, a Delhi-based travel agency that brought the 200 Uruguayans to Kathmandu, and a bottle of champagne.
The tides turned in the second match and The Everest Hotel won.
Said Mr. Raju Bikram Shah, Resident Manager of the hotel, “In taking hoteliering outside the hotel premises, our idea was to humanize both the staff and its guests to each other.”
To this, Mr. Banerjee added, “What a wonderful thought it is to imagine a shield made in Nepal in a prominent place in a University in Uruguay. It will carry the message of a place where the unusual can and generally does happen.”
Grand Hotel celebrates first anniversary
On June 17, Grand Hotel marked its first year of operation with a grand party. All the who’s who of Nepal’s travel trade were invited as were media people and journalists.
The celebrations kicked off with the Managing Director of the hotel, Mr. Ram Avtar Goyal, cutting the anniversary cake.
Located at a quiet enclave of Tahachal at the western junction of Kathmandu city, Grand Hotel is an imposing 12-story property with 91 luxurious rooms, including seven executive suites. All the rooms are well appointed with modern facilities.
The hotel’s Maharaja restaurant offers the best Indian cuisine in town with live entertainment and a wonderful view, while the coffee shop, Rendezvous, serves breakfast and a selection of Continental food. And while the Aroma Bar provides the perfect place to unwind with exotic drinks, its Jharna Tea Lounge is an ideal place for small business get togethers or simply to relax. Grand Hotel also has conference facilities that can cater to 300-350 people in two different halls.
Soaltee, WWF launch conservation initiative
Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal Program recently announced the launch of a joint initiative called “Sleep Well, You Have Just Saved a Life” which is aimed at conserving Nepal’s wildlife. Till November this year, travellers to Kathmandu staying at the Soaltee can help stop the disappearance of some of the planet’s most endangered wildlife species by allowing an extra US dollar to be added to their hotel bill.
A mechanism to add the amount to the guests’ bills is already in place to ensure maximum donation. The proceeds will go to WWF’s ongoing wildlife conservation work in Nepal. The campaign is part of Bass Hotels & Resorts (the managing company of Soaltee Crowne Plaza)/WWF initiative launched throughout the Asia Pacific region.
Nepal harbors some of the world’s most unique and endangered animal species like the Royal Bengal tiger, the one-horned rhinoceros, the snow leopard and many others. WWF works to reduce the threats to these animals through projects which include conserving the animals’ habitats, involving local communities in wildlife and habitat management and implementing awareness and education programs on the importance of conservation.
Dr. Chandra Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal Program, said that the money collected from the joint project would initially be used to implement anti-poaching measures. The project is likely to be extended beyond November depending upon whether it is successful in raising sufficient funds or not.
Radisson posts heady growth
Radisson Hotel Kathmandu announced spectacular occupancy and profitability in the 18 months it has been in operation. Located in the posh locality of Lazimpat to the north of the Royal Palace, the luxury property threw open its doors in November 1998.
Radisson features 163 beautifully appointed rooms. There are two full service restaurants, the multi-cuisine Fun Cafe which overlooks a beautiful garden where cocktail parties and barbecues are held, and the Olive Garden, an Italian specialty restaurant. Conference facilities consist of the main banquet hall holding 800 persons and five meeting rooms of various capacities.
Radisson Hotels & Resorts operates more than 400 hotels in 53 countries and is adding one new location every 10 days. The latest developments introduced by the parent company Carlson Hospitality Worldwide are the Gold Rewards loyalty program for frequent stayers and its new strategy 24k.com.
HAN holds talks for tourism promotion
Recently, members of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) and newly appointed envoy to Qatar HE Mr. Shyamananda Suman discussed strategies to promote tourism in both the countries.
HAN President Mr. Narendra Bajracharya said that Qatar could be a good source of tourists because Qatar Airways links both the countries. He said HAN was willing to organize a food festival, cultural program and handicraft exhibition to promote Nepal during the inauguration of the Nepalese embassy in Doha.
Mr. Suman on his part said that during his tenure, he would give special priority to enhancing tourism between the two countries.
HAN members also interacted with newly appointed envoy to Sri Lanka HE Mr. Bal Bahadur Kunwar and Sri Lankan ambassador to Nepal Her Excellency Mrs. Pamela J. Dean to promote tourism jointly. During the interactions, Mr. Bajracharya emphasized the need to air link both the countries and undertake joint ventures for the promotion of tourism.