Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts opens the property in New Delhi in two phases, beginning with a "soft opening" on September 8, 2005. Shangri-La manages the hotel in agreement with Hotel Excelsior Private Limited, a member of the Eros Group of India.

The US$70 million property was designed by the renowned Hong Kong-based Leese Robertson & Freeman Designers Limited.

The contemporary style, 17-storey hotel is centrally located in landscaped gardens in the historic government district and is a 40-minute drive from the airport. It is within a two-kilometre radius of Parliament House, the Presidential Palace, and the bustling commercial and shopping district of Connaught Place.

The hotel soft opens with a limited inventory of guestrooms and suites. Dining and entertainment options include Café Uno with open kitchens, live cooking stations and grand buffet with terrace overlooking the swimming pool; Uno 2 Go, a patisserie offering a range of confectionery with extensive variety of cakes and breads; the contemporary designed Island Bar; and Lobby Lounge offering an array of refreshments throughout the day.

A health club and spa features a gym, treatment rooms, sauna, steam room, indoor and outdoor whirlpool and an outdoor pool, set in the hotel's landscaped gardens.

The Shangri-La hotel, New Delhi caters to business guests with high-speed internet access and wireless LAN throughout the hotel as well as a business centre, three meeting rooms and a 600 square-metre ballroom divisible into four.

At the hotel's grand opening in early November 2005, the remaining rooms inventory will be unveiled, for a total of 323 guestrooms and suites. Included will be the Horizon Club on the top four floors, comprising 78 guestrooms and suites, which will offer an exclusive retreat with a host of special privileges and amenities, including an exclusive lounge with complimentary refreshments and dedicated concierge services.

Additionally the hotel's signature Pan Asian restaurant "19 Oriental Avenue," serving Chinese, Thai and Japanese cuisine will open.

"Shangri-La Hotel, New Delhi is a landmark property representing the introduction of our signature Asian-style hospitality to the capital and an important milestone in our expansion in the sub-continent," said Giovanni Angelini, Shangri-La's chief executive officer and managing director. "We are grateful for the support and trust placed in us by Hotel Excelsior Private Limited."

"We selected Shangri-La to operate our hotel due to the strength of the award-winning brand and its reputation for highly personalized service," said Jagdish Rai Sood, chairman of Hotel Excelsior Private Limited.