Shangri-La Horizon Club - The Work Equation

By: Soumya Jain

 

Posted on: March 10, 2012

 

 

Work never stops, does it? Might as well combine work with some wellness as well! And when work entails a lot of travel, it stacks up some further considerations of which hotel to book whose location is central, has a fast internet connection, a large enough meeting space and a lot more. Comfort is a thought as well certainly. 

 

While these are some extremely basic facilities which a hotel should provide in any case today, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts decided to go beyond the usual and create an easy working atmosphere for its business travelers. 

 

The hotel group has set up ‘Horizon Clubs’ in their various properties worldwide which are designed exclusively for business travellers, and are intended to make their stay a trouble-free and comfortable one. Ms Caroline Cheah, Group Director of Rooms, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, said, “The Horizon Club is a section of rooms and suites with an exclusive Club Lounge within many of our Shangri-La city hotels, usually located on their uppermost floors, which may be reserved by guests allowing them to enjoy more luxurious standards of accommodation, personalized service and a range of exclusive privileges and services.”

 

The Horizon Club Rooms allow private check in and check out and personal concierge services. Little extras like private facsimile machine, personal voice mail and an executive size desk make work much simpler. The exclusive Club Lounge provides a wide selection of newspapers, magazines, books and board games. An extravagant buffet breakfast spread is offered every morning in the Club Lounge to kick-start the day.

 

Since long work hours demand some leisure, guests can access to free fruit juices, soft drinks, tea and coffee. In the early evening, refreshing cocktails are available on the house. 

 

Guests of Horizon Club rooms can also make use of the complimentary suit pressing service upon arrival – making sure you look fresh for that all-important meeting. Guests can also use the Horizon Club meeting room facilities for a complimentary two hour period each day, subject to availability.

 

Shangri-La also takes care of recreation activities after a heavy day of business through its fitness centre, Golf course, the swimming pool, and the sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi. Furthermore, the Horizon Club Purser is on hand to make things even easier by taking care of your onward travel, hotel reservations, shopping and entertainment arrangements as well.

 

As for Internet access, the group has already been providing free WI-FI and wired Internet to every guest in all its hotels and resorts in all areas including guestrooms, public areas, restaurants, lounges and function areas as well. 

 

As mentioned, the concept of Horizon Club will be implemented in all Shangri-La properties, including the soon-to-come-up property in Mumbai too. “The Shangri-La Hotel, Mumbai will have 31 suites and 71 Horizon Club rooms from the 26th to the 30th floor, where the Horizon Club Lounge will be located,” Ms Cheah said.

 

To put it all in perspective, work need not be as high-pressure as it’s deemed to be. A few things can be straightened out by the Shangri-La hotel, which proves to be a headache-saver in most cases, and allows you some ‘me’ time as well in between that chaotic to-do list!