Company Perspectives:
The name Shangri-La was inspired by James Hilton's legendary novel Lost Horizon. A tranquil haven in the mountains of Tibet, Shangri-La casts a spell on all who resided there. Today, Shangri-La stands as a synonym for paradise. And even though mythical in origin, the name perfectly encapsulates the genuine serenity and service for which Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts have come to be recognized.

Key Dates: 1971 : Robert Kuok extends interests into property and hotel development, building his first hotel in Singapore. 1981 : Kuok establishes a second hotel in Kowloon, launching the Shangri-La brand, and entering direct hotel management. 1982 : The company incorporates as Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts. 1984 : The company opens its first Shangri-La hotel in Hangzhou, China. 1989 : The mid-range Traders Hotel brand is launched, with the first site in Beijing. 1995 : The company establishes publicly listed Shangri-La Asia, which acquires the Kuok-owned hotel properties, and then goes public on the Singapore and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges. 1996 : Shangri-La Asia buys 15 hotel sites under development in China from the Kuok-owned companies. 1997 : Shangri-La Asia acquires Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, creating an integrated hotel ownership and management group. 2005 : Shangri-La Asia announces plans to add 15 new hotels in China, five hotels in Europe, and hotels in North America, in order to reach a total of 100 hotels by 2010.

Company History:
Shangri-La Asia Ltd. is the Asian region's leading and fastest-growing luxury hotel group. The company, part of Malaysia's Kuok Group, operates 45 hotels throughout Asia. In 2005, the company also began a drive into the European and North American markets, including the launch of construction on its first European hotel, in London, expected to be completed in