September 17, 2008

LANGHAM HOTELS INTERNATIONAL SIGNS FIRST INDIA PROPERTY
Luxury hotel operator to open in Pune

Langham Place Koregaon Park, Pune, India

Langham Hotels International (LHI) brings its highly successful brand of stimulating hospitality to India for the first time with the signing of the management contract with Wadhwa Developers for Langham Place, Koregaon Park, Pune, India.

The move marks the start of LHI’s plans to expand along the new Silk Road of China, India and the Middle East.

Connected Lifestyle

Scheduled to open in early 2010, Langham Place, Koregaon Park, Pune will comprise 180 contemporary guestrooms, appealing to travellers who are adventurous, fun-seeking early adopters.

Featuring the latest technology to support connected lifestyles, Langham Place, Koregaon Park in Pune will blend with the city’s reputation as the technological and academic hub of India. Each room is innovatively designed to inspire and stimulate a sense of enjoyment and connectivity.

The property will feature an expansive atrium with eye-catching transparent walls seamlessly merging indoors with the outdoor environment. In keeping with its sense of modern living, the centrepiece of the atrium will be a DJ booth overlooking the lobby with a resident DJ setting the mood of the hotel with stylish mixes.

India’s First Chuan Spa

The hotel will feature India’s first Chuan Spa, bringing a signature range of pampering spa treatments based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Stylish and serene surroundings accompanied with oriental hot tubs, ice caves, herbal steam rooms, singles and couples treatment suites and an infinity edge indoor & outdoor swimming pool. Chuan Residences are also incorporated featuring infinity baths to complete the ultimate accommodation experience to compliment the Spa rituals.

Engaging Restaurants

Langham Place, Koregaon Park, Pune will be the perfect place to meet, work and play as the restaurants become destinations in their own right. The hotel will introduce the innovative hybrid concept of Portal - Work & Play. By combining a lobby lounge, cocktail bar and business centre, Portal is where work and play seamlessly intertwine to meet the needs of today’s multi-tasking world.

Dining will include a truly authentic Chinese restaurant featuring the culinary heritage of northern China which will take guests on a rich flavoursome adventure within a dramatic setting.

Langham Place, Koregaon Park, Pune will also feature an Indian Tapas tea lounge concept. This fresh and fun outlet will serve traditional Indian snack cuisine with a modern twist.

For all-day dining, The Place Theatre Brasserie will stimulate the imagination as well as the taste buds with an interactive buffet featuring the cuisines of India and South East Asia.

Meet Me

The property will host Pune’s key corporate and private events with a dedicated spacious ballroom. Combined with a number of smaller function rooms, the hotel will offer the latest in event management facilities.

Dr KS Lo, Chairman of Langham Hotels International said: “Planting our first flag in India is a significant milestone. We’re delighted to partner with Wadhwa Developers who have seen an exciting niche in Pune.”

“India’s GDP is set to double by 2020 as trade between China, the Middle East and India continues to grow. The new Silk Road will emerge as a formidable corridor for global commerce, fuelling the demand for business and leisure travellers and filling five-star hotel rooms.

Mr Sanjay Chhabria, Director of Wadhwa Developers said: “Pune is one of India’s Silicon Valleys and it’s where the academic brains behind the Indian technology boom are located. However, this vibrant city has lacked a five star brand that reflects 21st century living through design, technology and attitude, hence our partnership with Langham Hotels International.

Mr Chhabria added: “Our location in the heart of the city at Koregaon Park will give us the best addresses in town from which guests can do business.”

Background Notes:

About Langham Hotels International

Langham has a legendary hotel heritage dating back to 1865 when The Langham in London originally opened as Europe’s first Grand Hotel. Over 140 years, this flagship hotel has been at the forefront of sophisticated and gracious hospitality. Today, all Langham Hotels worldwide inherit the same philosophy that reflects elegance in design, innovation in hospitality, genuine service and captivation of the senses creating a truly unique hotel experience.

The group is pursuing an aggressive portfolio growth strategy using its distinctive brands – The Langham, Langham Place and Eaton. Currently, 16 hotels are open or in the pipeline in the Langham Hotels International portfolio.

Six hotels on four continents are branded The Langham where guests can enjoy service with poise. Be enchanted by our innovation and traditions in Auckland, Boston, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne and Pasadena. The Langham, Yangtze Boutique, Shanghai is due to open at the end of 2008.

Langham Place, the fun sibling of The Langham, is the epitome of stimulating and artistic hospitality. Two Langham Places are open – Hong Kong and Koh Lanta, Thailand. Three new Langham Places are scheduled to open in 2009 in Beijing (2) and Changchun. Langham Place Vineyard Resort + Spa, Waiheke Island, Auckland and Langham Place Miora Resort + Spa, Phuket, Thailand will open in 2010.

Eaton is a premium four star property that aims to surprise and delight our guests with a value-for-money proposition, delivering an affordable yet stylish, modern level of comfort and spirited, can-do service.

Langham Hotels International is a wholly-owned company of Great Eagle Holdings (Stock Code: 0041) which was founded in 1963 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1972.

Reservations for Langham hotels can be made by logging onto langhamhotels.com.

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