Starwood Hotels and Resorts have taken a large stake in the city’s hotels market with the openings of two new properties – W Taipei and Le Méridien Taipei.
W Taipei has been the city’s most anticipated hotel with its 405 guestrooms in high demand since it opened in February. All guestrooms feature warm colours and subtle lighting with the hotel determined to improve on its global reputation for innovative and hi-tech spaces. Bose sound systems and MP3 player docks come as standard. What is most surprising is the W’s conference offerings with the largest ballroom in the city. The Mega Room (their name, not ours) has 1,040 sqm is a pillarless space that can be used for just about anything. There is also another 1,700 sqm in other function rooms.
The 160-room Le Meridien has opened with full-day meeting packages for US$78 while the half-day package is US$61. Both require a minimum of 35 delegates. Le Meridien offers 1,700 sqm of meetings and events space, with the ballroom able to host 900 theatre style.
Major renovation Regent Taipei was born after the brand was acquired by Formosa International Hotels Corporation from Carlson Group in April 2010. The hotel changed its name from Grand Formosa Regent Taipei although nothing was changed within the property. Now the hotel is undertaking a major renovation that will cover the lobby and the guestrooms floor by floor. This will be completed in late 2012.
The hotel recently hosted a major 300-person summit for Intel. The high-level event included the brand’s executive officers and regional brand vendors. During the five-day event the hotel arranged for the company’s intranet to be available in all of guestrooms and the conference room. “The intranet was not available in the hotel, so we began work on setting this up three months before the event date,” says Beth Tsai, public relations director of the Regent Taipei.
Healthy stayThe 856-room Grand Hyatt Taipei has just launched its newly renovated Club Oasis, the hotel’s upscale fitness and relaxation centre. “Club Oasis is the latest expression of the hotel’s long-term commitment to providing guests with the ultimate in facilities and services,” says general manager David Pacey. The space is designed by Tokyo-based design company SuperPotato, using natural materials, artwork collections and water as the key elements.