Northstar

NEWS www.travelweeklyweb.com China's next green hotel SHANGHAI – URBN Hotels & Resorts is collaborating with Vanke, China's largest residential real estate developer, to construct and operate what will be the most forward- thinking, sustainably-built and green- operated hotel in Asia. The 20,000 squa re me t re boutique hotel is part of a larger project which will become a 200,000 square metre commercial, retail and residential development in the Sanlin district of Pudong in Shanghai, China. URBN's RMB 312 million (US$47 million) project will include 55 unique hotel rooms, 50 URBN serviced residences, and 4,500 square metres of dining, wellness and art spaces. Vanke has engaged URBN Hotels & Resorts to bring its philosophy of inspiration, sustainability and connection to Vanke's first hotel project. "We are del ighted to be coopera t ing with such an experienced and forward-thinking developer", says Amina Belouizdad, director of URBN Hotels & Resorts. "The aim is to make this hotel go beyond sustainability ... it will be the first positive-impact hotel in China", says Jules Kwan, managing director of URBN Hotels & Resorts. There are sever al ideas being developed which will be revealed over the course of the 18-month construction period. "The hotel will increase the biodiversity of the site, and will discharge water that is cleaner than the water from the city's water supply", says Jules Kwan. The hotel will also be carbon- neutral, and will aim for LEED and China Green Star certif ications. Discover Angkor Wat with Soneva Kiri ANGKOR WAT – Soneva Kiri by Six Senses is delighted to announce the launch of an exclusive and unique experience: an expedition to Angkor Wat. A vi s it to the temples of Angkor is a profound experience, as few sights on earth can match the majesty of Angkor Wat or the mysterious faces of the Bayon. Angkor is situated in the northwest Cambodian province of Siem Reap and this once lost city boasts 1000 archaeological sites over an area covering 170 square miles. The Angkor Wat expedition starts by boarding Soneva Kiri's private plane and enjoying the hour's f l ight to Siem Reap. Al l modern travel worries – visas and historical, cultural and archeological marvels of the awe inspiring sites. Guests may plan their trip by permits and paperwork – are done seamlessly by your Mr or Mrs Friday; this is travel the way it used to be. When the plane lands guests are met by their experienced guide and whisked into waiting luxury vehicles for the short drive to the city of Angkor or direct to the splendid Angkor Wat temples. A UNESCO World Heritage site, for those who wish to explore Angkor Wat with the ul timate expert, a UNESCO professor is on hand to guide you through the Sex History Museum in China spans 9000 years SHANGHAI – Ever wondered how there got to be more than a billion Chinese? Maybe a visit to the China Sex Museum will enlighten you in more ways than one. Hidden away in the water town of Tongli after being exiled from Shanghai, the tasteful museum delivers honest to goodness sexual history. Sculptures, carvings, pottery, www.travelweeklyweb.com paint ings and numerous other artifacts document that people have been interested in sex for a very long time. Of the 1400 objects in the collection, the oldest dates back 9000 years. The exhibition has made previous world tours including New York, Berlin, Melbourne, Singapore and Yokohama. "The China Sex Museum is not pornogr aphic, it 's ver y legitimate and is something which should appeal to anyone interested in Chinese history, archaeology, sociology or sex" comments Peter Danford, general manager of The China Guide travel agency in Beijing. The China Guide can arr ange private shopping tours to the China Sex Museum as part of a complete China wide itinerary or as a single trip. 30 NOVEMBER 2010 | TRAVELWEEKLY ASIA ■ | 3 travelling fi rst to Siem Reap before enjoying the glories of Soneva Kiri, or indeed to fl y home directly from Angkor. There is a choice of staying overnight at the contemporary Amansara Hotel in Siem Reap or the famous Raf f les Grand Hotel d'Angkor, which first opened its doors in the early 30's. For every guest that visits Siem Riep, Soneva Kiri donates $25 to the Nginn Karet Foundation for Cambodia. A Foundation committed to helping disadvantaged Cambodian villagers to help themselves, thereby improving their life expectancy and living standards. In addition, URBN Hotel Pudong will continue its green operations legacy by aiming to surpass the 35 percent energy savings target hit by the fi r st URBN Hotel . URBN Hotel Pudong will open in Spring 2012.

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