South China's First St. Regis Resort Set to Open November 2011

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St. Regis Hotels & Resorts announce this week that The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort, set along China's premiere resort destination of Hainan Island, is scheduled to open this November, 2011.

As South China's first St. Regis Resort, The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort is poised to introduce the region to a new level of luxury, sophistication and bespoke services along the most coveted and beautiful stretch of coastline on Yalong Bay.

"We are excited to introduce the St. Regis brand to Hainan island," said Sunny Heng, General Manager of The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort. "The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort will redefine luxury for this resort destination - offering unrivaled services and amenities and a stunning, contemporary design that will elevate the resort experience for the world's most discerning travelers."

Located at the southernmost tip of China, the island of Hainan is often compared to Hawaii because of its tropical climate and beautiful beaches.  Yalong Bay, on the southern part of the island, already one of the favorite leisure destinations in China, is the up and coming exclusive tropical playground for the world's most cosmopolitan travelers.  The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort is ideally situated on a generous stretch of the most coveted location on Yalong Bay, with exclusive access to more than 800 meters of pristine coastline.

A resort unlike any other on Hainan Island, The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort offers wide appeal across a variety of audiences - from business executives to couples seeking romance to families seeking a fun and relaxing vacation. The contemporary design by Brennan Beer Gorman Architects is exquisitely designed with luxury in mind, offering 401 guest rooms and suites, including 28 beachside villas.  The resort's architecture is inspired by the concept of two intertwined dragons. From the soft concave arch of the arrival pavilion to the repeated form of the "dragon backs" incorporated in the guestroom wings, the St. Regis presents a dramatic shape on the skyline, echoing the ridgeline of the surrounding mountains and the movement of the waves.

The resort's interior design celebrates the sea, sand, marina and nautical elements - creating a casually elegant environment reminiscent of the world's most luxurious ocean liners. The entrance features an impressive porte-cochere leading to a main lobby with clean-lined voluminous spaces accentuated with yacht-like wood finishes, sand-colored exotic diamond stones, and brightly colored fabrics and furnishings. The guestrooms and villas themselves evoke a sophisticated and relaxing "guest quarters by the sea" environment that will exceed the discerning expectations of the St. Regis guests. Within the perfect marriage of things past and present, each guest room will be sumptuously appointed with deluxe amenities, including high thread-count linens, plush bath towels and St. Regis signature bath accessories. Guests will have the option of remaining connected to the world through discreet technology thoughtfully placed within the relaxed privacy of their own room.  Each room will be equipped with state-of-the-art modern conveniences such as HD plasma cable televisions, computer and MP3 charging stations, and WiFi access.

The bespoke services and amenities available at The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort will redefine luxury for Hainan Island.  The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort will be the first hotel on the island to offer butler service to all guests who stay in the resort.  The signature St. Regis butlers are trained in the English tradition of service; at the ready to cater to individual requests, no matter how great or small at any hour of the night. St. Regis butlers provide flawless, personalized attention to each guest, and they are the one point of contact for the guest - answering all of their questions and meeting all of their needs. With an ever-present yet discreet manner, St. Regis butlers share an innate ability to anticipate guest and resident needs, tastes and preferences.

The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort will also introduce the Iridium Spa to Southern China, setting a new standard for spa luxury.  The Iridium Spa combines a five-star experience with traditional Chinese ingredients and treatments, allowing guests to renew and refresh mind, body and spirit with completely customized experiences.

The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort offers a world of epicurean experiences, with restaurants that are certain to become the elite culinary destinations on Hainan.  Guests can enjoy all-day dining at Social, offering a wide selection of international cuisine that offers something for every palette.  The Beachfront Restaurant -Driftwood serves up freshly-caught local seafood accompanied by unrivalled views of Yalong Bay.  For contemporary Chinese cuisine, Yan Ting features sophisticated, modern Cantonese and Sichuanese dishes amidst a spacious, glamorous setting.  Unwind before or after dinner at Decanter by Haut-Brisson, featuring an extensive wine cellar from the world's most celebrated vineyards and private rooms for tastings or dinners.  Finally, the Drawing Room - Lounge and Bar is a rare haven of refined luxury in which guests are welcome to enjoy the enduring St. Regis tradition of Afternoon Tea.

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