Shangri-La has signed a management contract with Riverside Infrastructure to operate Traders Hotel, Chennai, scheduled to open in early 2012.

Located in the middle of Old Mahabalipuram Road as part of the MARG Junction Mall, a multi-use complex, the hotel will be equidistant to both Madhya Kailash and Siruseri IT Park.  The development will include a mall, office block and the 246-key hotel along with 52 service apartments.  One unique feature of the complex is a perennial river flowing across the entire northern side of the mall, offering customers a view and respite during shopping.
 
Guestrooms are designed to be modern and will reflect a classic yet contemporary style combined with local cultural influences.  Wireless and broadband Internet access will be available in each room to meet the needs of business travellers.  The hotel will provide four dining and entertaining outlets including a café, a speciality and an all-day dining restaurant as well as the lobby lounge for light refreshments.  Meeting and banqueting facilities will offer over 2,236 square metres of function space.  A health club, spa with beauty salon and 25-metre outdoor pool will complete the public facilities.

"The addition of Traders Hotel, Chennai complements our portfolio of hotels in India -  Shangri-La's Eros Hotel, New Delhi; Shangri-La Hotel, Mumbai, due to open in 2011; and Shangri-La Hotel, Bangalore, scheduled to open in early 2012," said Greg Dogan, Shangri-La's president and chief executive officer.  "Traders caters to today's business and leisure traveller, who is looking for simple, efficient, down to earth functionality presented with a smile."

Commenting on the association, Mr. G. R. K. Reddy, chairman and managing director of MARG Ltd., said, "It gives me great pleasure to be associated with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.  Junction Mall was created with the purpose of providing world-class amenities to our valued customers.  With PVR, Shoppers' Stop and Hypercity already setting up shop, the addition of Traders Hotel, Chennai will add to the value quotient of the space.  It gives me great honour to bring this brand to the people of Chennai, and I strongly believe that the association will get stronger in the near future."