Hospitality Breaking NewsCurrently in the final phase of restoration, The Heritage Hotel Kempinski Yangon is scheduled to open its doors to guests in spring 2018. Located on The Strand, in the heritage district of Myanmar’s largest city and opposite the new riverside cruise terminal, this outstanding five-star deluxe hotel will define luxury in the city of Yangon. Built in 1927 as the New Law Courts, The Heritage Hotel Kempinski Yangon was created by architect Thomas Oliphant Foster and built by Doorman Long UK, the builders of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as the first multi-level steel structure in the Far East. With its imposing columns standing three floors high, the Heritage hotel seems to stretch endlessly along the Strand. Over the last five years the building has been carefully restored from the inside out to preserve the spirit and grandeur of its past. This fine work has been done in partnership with the Yangon Heritage Trust, founded in 2012 by Dr. Thant Myint U, the eminent Burmese writer and historian. The building is the first property to receive Conservation Management Plan approval from the Yangon Heritage Trust focusing on local artistry and specialist skills by carefully undertaking the transformation into Myanmar’s finest luxury hotel.
The Heritage Hotel Kempinski Yangon will offer 219 spacious rooms and suites with crafted décor and high ceilings. The dining experience will be truly gastronomic: it will feature a modern Cantonese restaurant as well as the Brasserie serving breakfast, lunch and dinner under a skylight. As breakfasts at Kempinski hotels fully reflect the European heritage infused by local customs, guests may expect a sumptuous experience
ranging from best bircher muesli, baked bread and pastries right from the oven, freshly squeezed juices and power shots, homemade jams and chocolate spreads, to dishes full of flavours and traditions from the destination.
The hotel will have a classic bar and cigar lounge designed with timeless elegance as well as a roof top bar by the pool where guests and Yangonites alike can enjoy breathtaking views of the Irrawaddy river from dusk to dawn.
“We are proud to unveil this magnificent new jewel in the Kempinski constellation, located at the heart of a fascinating city with incredible potential for international and local travellers,” said Markus Semer, Chairman and CEO of Kempinski Hotels. “The Heritage Hotel Kempinski Yangon symbolises our original pioneering spirit and commitment to craftsmanship in this carefully restored heritage building of exceptional beauty.”
A dedicated culinary team will create an array of delicious local, Asian and internationally-influenced cuisine together with reinterpretations of regional recipes. These dishes will be complemented by an impressive beverage menu of inventive and classic cocktails in the hotel’s various restaurants and bars. The Brasserie serves a breakfast buffet, elegant lunches, high tea on weekends, Sunday brunches, and intimate dinners with a farm-to-table concept, featuring crafted food from local producers. The elegant, contemporary Chinese restaurant will take Cantonese food to a new level in Yangon, while the signature restaurant, presided over by Master Chefs from Hong Kong, will offer one of the finest wine collections in the city selected by expert sommeliers.
The Lobby Lounge and Tea Room will serve a modern take on afternoon tea, and will showcase the art of coffee and tea complemented by gourmet chocolates. The Classic Bar & Cigar Lounge will be a haven for cigar aficionados with its curated selection of the finest Cuban cigars, together with a rum and malt whiskey menu, and bespoke cocktails. It’s the perfect place to unwind and relax after a busy day.
One of the highlights of The Heritage Hotel Kempinski Yangon will certainly be the chic Roof Top Bar with its spectacular view over the city. The place to see and be seen, it will feature professional mixologists and DJs spinning their tunes in breezy surroundings.
“Yangon is not only a stopover for business travellers, but an incredible destination rich with heritage and hidden treasures,” says Ed Brea, General Manager of The Heritage Hotel Kempinski. “Our hotel is also ideal for weekend getaways for discerning guests who enjoy high standards of quality, comfort, refined services and the latest technology.”
Art and culture have a special meaning in this legendary building. The Heritage Room will be an exclusive banquet venue for intimate gatherings, elegant private events, chamber music, art exhibitions, wine tastings and antique auctions. The Kareweik Grand Ballroom, the hotel’s spectacular ballroom is the ideal space for hosting cinema, theatre and concerts, as well as the perfect venue for luxury weddings and galas.
With its extensive facilities spread over three levels of the hotel, Kempinski The Spa, Yangon’s greatest wellness & beauty haven, will invite guests to enjoy soul nourishing and pampering treatments. Designed with a blend of Myanmar’s rich heritage, the Spa & Health Club will feature 6 treatment rooms, a double VIP Suite, a state of the art gym, a yoga studio, a rooftop pool, a barbershop and a beauty lounge, offering ladies and gentleman a place to relax, socialise and enjoy head-to-toe beauty treatments.
“Since we have started to work on this hotel project, we have an even better understanding of the location and are embracing Burmese customs,” adds Ed Brea. “Blended with our European etiquette this cultural empathy creates outstanding and truly original destinations. Within short walking distance to the Sule Pagoda, Maha Bandula Gardens and the Bogyoke Aung San Markets or a short drive to the infamous Shwedagon Pagoda, the road to Mandalay starts here where European Hospitality is served with the warmth of the Burmese heart.”