After two and a half years of renovations, the former Traders Hotel, Yangon in Myanmar has reopened as Sule Shangri-La, Yangon.
The 484-key hotel has a modern exterior but a colonial-style lobby with white columns and a grand staircase. The adjacent lobby lounge features a high ceiling with a tiered crystal chandelier; one of Myanmar’s national animals, the peacock, appears in design motifs. Public areas also feature tall vases, intricate wood carvings, and bespoke pieces by local artists such as Ba Khine and Hla Phone Aung in the cafe, conference rooms and suites.
Staff uniforms incorporate local traditions, such as the traditional longyi (a cloth folded into a cylindrical shape). The seven uniforms for doormen represent the country’s seven states.
Remodeled guestrooms overlook the city, river or Shwedagon Pagoda; amenities include flat-screen televisions, and marble bathrooms. Three suites on the top floor feature plush fabrics, dark wood finishes, and bathrooms with bathtubs and rain showers.
Shangri-La’s signature Chinese restaurant, Summer Palace, occupies a space with red and mahogany accents and six private dining rooms. The Gallery Bar, meanwhile, draws design inspiration from a British-era pub, with half-curtained glass windows, dark wood, and details in wrought iron and brass; the menu includes British comfort fare such as shepherd’s pie. Cafe Sule serves international food, the Peacock Lounge serves as a casual meeting space, and the Gourmet Shop offers snacks and beverages. Shangri-La says its food and beverage outlets are the first in Myanmar to have HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) certification for standards for food management and hygiene.
The Horizon Club Lounge, relocated to the hotel’s 21st floor, has an unobstructed view of Shwedagon Pagoda and two private meeting rooms. Horizon Club benefits include late check-out, complimentary beverages and refreshments, and a dedicated concierge.
The health club overlooks the outdoor pool and offers fitness equipment, sauna, steam and massage rooms. Meeting spaces, which span three floors of the property, have been redecorated to give them a more modern look with gold accents.
The Traders Hotel, Yangon opened in 1996 on Sule Pagoda Road.
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