Shangri-La expands in Suzhou: Shangri-La Group opened the Shangri-La Hotel, Suzhou Yuanqu on June 1 in the central business district of Suzhou, a 2,500-year-old city near Shanghai known for its canals and silk production. The 303-room hotel also has 16 serviced apartments and is the second hotel for the company in the city (the first, opened in 2007, is also in the central business district) – that follows a “Two Hotels in One City” strategy, which allows both properties to leverage brand awareness and reputation.
The new hotel is in a commercial complex with offices, residence and retail. Interiors were done by LRF Designers. Guest rooms, which the company says are among the largest in the city, are available in either a light or dark color scheme; all have a sliding wall to separate bath and living areas. Current ADR is 900 yuan (US$130).
Serafina adds hotel in Turkey: The Italian team behind Serafina Restaurant Group, Vittorio Assaf and Fabio Granato, opened their first hotel in Puerto Rico last year. Earlier this month, they opened their second, the Serafina Mare Deluxe Residence, on Turkey’s Bodrum Peninsula, with 18 apartment-style suites with “sleek and minimalist furnishings,” kitchens and private balconies, and turquoise bathroom sinks created by local artisans. The property also has a beach club and waterfront restaurant, Serafina Mare. It’s open for the season through September 30; rates range from US$285 to US$1,000 per night.
Auberge in Utah: Auberge Resorts Collection added to its portfolio, this time in The Lodge at Blue Sky, outside Park City, Utah. The newly opened 46-room resort sits on a 3,500-acre ranch, with farm-to-table cuisine, a spa and even a whiskey distillery. Buildings were designed by Salt Lake City-based AJC Architects, with interior designs by Design 360 Unlimited, and utilize wood, stone, glass and other materials, some locally sourced, in its indoor-outdoor living spaces. Guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, outdoor private spaces and a natural color palette; some sit alongside the on-property creek, available for fishing; there’s also a 70-foot infinity pool, an on-site organic produce farm and meeting space. Rates start at US$975 per night.
