Northstar

HOTELS www.travelweeklyweb.com Accor's first upscale lifestyle resort in Phuket PHUKET – Accor, the leading international hotel operator in AsiaPacific and Thailand, announced the opening of Pullman Phuket Arcadia, the first Pullman resort on the island. Located on idyllic Naithon Beach, one of the most stunning stretches of Phuket's western coastline, Pullman Phuket Arcadia overlooks the Andaman Sea View from the ballroom foyer and is surrounded by tropical hills, all less than 15 minutes from the airport. "Pullman is Accor's upscale brand specifically catering to the needs of today's modern traveller. Pullman Phuket Arcadia is a newlybuilt resort that will showcase the brand's new 'lifestyle' identity, with world-class facilities that will set the benchmark for the rest of the Pullman hotels and resorts to come," says Patrick Basset, senior vice-president of Accor Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines. The 277-room resort features a sophisticated design that blends the highest international standards with local beauty. The resort's architecture and landscaping will leave guests with a lasting impression, with cascading waterfalls and uninterrupted views of the Andaman Sea from all angles. Besides the luxury appeal, the property's meeting spaces and facilities also abide by the Pullman's Co-Meeting promise of Commitment, Connectivity, Comfort, and Cohesion. The 389 square metre Arcadia Ballroom has an eight metre-high ceiling that creates a sense of opulence and grandeur. The facilities have been designed to keep meetings, breaks, and accommodation rooms all centrally positioned in the heart of the resort. The five state-of-the-art meeting rooms and six outdoor function spaces with fantastic ocean views can accommodate small to large groups from 10 up to 600 guests. Confucius' birthplace gets luxury touch HONG KONG – Qufu, the birthplace of philosopher Confucious, will be getting its first international luxury accommodation on August 1, 2013 when Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts opens in the city. Shangri-La Hotel, Qufu, will be within walking distance to the Temple of Confucius, the Mansion of Confucius and the Cemetery of Confucius. All three are UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites, and Qufu is one of mainland China's 24 government-designated famous historical and cultural cities. Located in Shandong Province, Qufu is two hours from Beijing and three hours from Shanghai by high-speed rail, making it a convenient cultural excursion from either city. Chinese architecture sets the tone, with the hotel's façade designed to resemble a traditional Chinese pavilion and roofs topped by grey tiers of flying eaves. Supported by eight large pillars, the porte cochere is also shaped like a traditional Chinese pavilion. It is covered in red lacquer panels with Chinese motifs imprinted on the sides of the ceiling and traditional Lo Shu Squares (a square-within-a-square motif) repeated on the ceiling. The hotel's interior design concept expresses the three key principles of Confucian philosophy – order, harmony and hierarchy – and is based on Confucius' "Six Arts" (which include the disciplines of Rites, Music, Archery, Chariot Racing, Calligraphy and Mathematics). Among the 211 spacious guestrooms to open in August, rooms facing the Yi River are designed with balconies offering views of the old city wall, palaces of the Temple of Confucius and the hotel's traditional 8 | ■ TRAVELWEEKLY ASIA | JUNE 2013 Shangri-La Hotel, Qufu Chinese landscaped garden dotted with pavilions. All the rooms and the public areas throughout the hotel feature complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access. The hotel also features Café Kong, an all-day casual dining venue serving international dishes cooked in open kitchens, and the Lobby Lounge, which will offer an extensive tea menu. Other venues include the hotel's 1,600-square-metre pillar-free Qilu Grand Ballroom with an outdoor terrace connected to the ballroom foyer; six additional function rooms, a Bridal Room and the Hall of Wisdom VIP room. www.travelweeklyweb.com

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