St Regis and Melia in Shanghai
Visitors to Shanghai can now check into the first St Regis in the city, the St Regis Shanghai Jingan, the company's ninth property in mainland China. Situated on West Beijing Road in the Jingan district, 11 kilometres from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, the hotel is on floors 36 to 68 of a new high-rise tower. There are 491 rooms including 67 suites and some apartments. There is an indoor swimming pool, gym, spa and three restaurants. Rooms cost from CNY3,008 (Dh1,635) per night including taxes (www.starwoodhotels.com).
On a smaller scale and closer to the airport and the National Exhibition and Convention Centre, Meliá Hotels International has opened the Meliá Shanghai Hongqiao, its second property in the city. It has 187 rooms, a spa, gym, indoor swimming pool and one restaurant. Rooms cost from CNY1,140 (Dh620) per night including taxes (www.melia.com).
Hotel Jen opens in Beijing
The Hotel Jen by Shangri-La, a four-star brand with properties across Asia, has opened in Beijing's Central Business District. Located in the China World Trade Centre Tower in Guomao, there are 450 rooms, two restaurants, a fitness centre and a pool. Rooms cost from CNY1,049 (Dh570) per night including taxes (www.hoteljen.com).
Mindfulness in Myanmar
The luxury travel company Belmond has launched a mindfulness and mediation cruise through Myanmar on its ship, the Belmond Road to Mandalay. The October itinerary offers guests Tibetan yoga sessions, meditation classes, sunrise yoga on the deck, in addition to excursions to local villages and significant temples along the journey.
Prices start from US$2,656 (Dh9,755) per person for a three-night departure on October 11 from Mandalay and $4,632 (Dh17,013) for the seven-night departures on October 7 from Bagan; based on two guests sharing a deluxe cabin. Prices include all mindfulness sessions, meals, international house wines and local beers, and excursions as per itinerary. Domestic flights and transfers from Yangon to the ship are excluded but can be booked through Belmond at a supplement (www.belmond.com).
A first for Park Hyatt in Thailand
Fans of the Park Hyatt brand can now check into a landmark new property in downtown Bangkok. The Park Hyatt Bangkok is part of the Central Embassy complex on the Phloen Chit Road, built on the former grounds of the British Embassy and now including a luxury shopping mall.
The hotel has 222 rooms and 32 suites, a 40-metre rooftop saltwater infinity pool with gardens, 24-hour fitness centre, spa and two restaurants. Rooms cost from THB10,000 (Dh1,092) per night including taxes (https://bangkok.park.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html).