Le Meridien Opening Le Meridien Taipei

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. December 07, 2010

December 6, 2010 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today opened the doors of its newest hotel, Le Meridien Taipei. Located in the most cosmopolitan district of Taipei - Xinyi District - and steps away from local cultural offerings, Le Meridien brand's first hotel in Taiwan ushers in a new dimension of timeless chic and will be a gathering place for creative guests, with an emphasis on the arts, an inspiring atmosphere, and innovative cuisine.

Chic and minimalistic, the 160-room Le Meridien Taipei goes beyond the traditional five-star hotel experience and invites guests and the local community to discover more than just a new destination - to experience a new perspective with a focus on contemporary art and cuisine. Le Meridien Taipei introduces the signature arrival experience programme for Le Meridien brand in Taiwan; a comprehensive contemporary art program "light and shadow; two inspiring new restaurant concepts:Humble House and Latest Recipe; an innovative coffee and chocolate cafe ChocoArt; and the chic lobby lounge bar Latitude 25 as well as the hotel's destination bar Quube. In addition, Le Meridien Taipei offers 1,700 square meters of contemporary meeting and function space which makes the hotel a perfect destination for creative workshops or board meetings.

"Le Meridien brand offers style, originality and a passion for culture, with a focus on contemporary art and cuisine in more than 100 hotels around the world. The progressive city of Taipei is known to be one that embraces culture and creativity, with its vibrant arts scene, rich cultural institutions and position as an international business epicenter. Taipei is definitely a great fit with Le Meridien brand and its clientele," said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, Le Meridien.

"We are excited about the debut of Le Meridien in Taipei," said Daven Tai, General Manager of Le Meridien Taipei. "Through our extensive and curated contemporary art events and innovative cuisine, Le Meridien Taipei will soon be the creative hub for Taipei, bringing a rich cultural experience to Taipei and inspiring our guests and local community to discover a new perspective."

The Arrival Experience at Le Meridien Taipei

In conjunction with its opening, Le Meridien Taipei has unveiled a signature arrival experience for its guests. The hotel has unveiled "Inner Waves 01," an artwork created for Le Meridien by artist Hisham Bharoocha. The artwork across the hotel's entrance is a signature element of Le Meridien brand's arrival experience, designed to reset the guest's mind upon arrival, leaving the outside world behind and open its mind for the world of Le Meridien.

Once through the hotel doors, guests will be enveloped by Le Meridien brand's signature scent, sound and use of light. Eddie Roshi and Fabrice Penot, LM100 members and founders of Le Labo, the innovative perfume house with stores in New York, Paris, Los Angeles and Tokyo, have created a signature scent for Le Meridien hotels. The exclusive custom scent, called LM01, has been designed based on a construction inspired by Meridian lines and shall evoke memories with the guests and create a sense of home.

Le Meridien brand has also transformed the expected and mundane event of riding an elevator into an "elevated experience" through the use of sound. Henri Scars Struck, another LM100 member, uses a mix of natural sounds and beats with music to create a 24-hour soundscape of forgotten sounds that is played in the elevators, an engaging experience for guests that evokes curiosity and dialogue.

A final component of the arrival experience is the Le Meridien UNLOCK ART programme, which includes an artist-designed key card collection that offers access to more than the guest's hotel room. Le Meridien Taipei's keycard has been created by LM100 member Michael Lin and is intended to become a collector's item that also grants guests complimentary access to a local cultural institution - the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei.

Timeless Chic Design with Contemporary Art at Its Center

Sophisticated and original in style, Le Meridien Taipei's design approach is understated and timeless, featuring over 700 original artworks created exclusively for the hotel by contemporary artists from around the world, including Taiwan, China, Japan, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Germany, among others, imbuing the modern space with a sense of culture and art where travelers can begin exploring the charms of contemporary Taipei. Designed with the curious traveler in mind, the 160 guestrooms define contemporary luxury with sumptuous sitting and work areas, the Le Meridien signature bed, state-of-the art technology, and elegant bathrooms with rainforest shower and separate bath tub.

Innovative Cuisine

Le Meridien Taipei offers a range of innovative dining options, certain to impress even the most discerning guests. The hotel surpasses the traditional five-star dining experience through partnerships with three-star Michelin Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and acclaimed mixologist Ernesto Lechthaler. My Humble House features traditional Cantonese cuisine in a casual and sophisticated setting, while international and local flavours abound at Latest Recipe. At ChocoArt, guests will discover the pleasures of chocolate in surprising new ways with its impressive array of chocolates, baked goods, coffee and even chocolate-infused body lotions and candles.

"I believe cuisine is a great way to express arts, culture and creativity," noted Mr. Tai. "Through our exemplary offerings, we strive to provide our guests a unique and more innovative hotel and dining experience."

While taking a break from exploring the dynamic Xinyi District that surrounds the hotel, guests of Le Meridien Taipei as well as local community have ample options to socialize, from its lounge bar Latitude 25 that features live entertainment and is an ideal locale to pass the time with friends or all-day dining atLatest Recipe. On the fifth floor, the chic lounge bar Quube is one of the few bars in Taipei with an outdoor seating area, allowing guests to unwind and enjoy the night scene of Taipei. To stay in shape and keep in form guests can enjoy the indoor heated pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, and well-equipped health club.

Meetings and Events at Le Meridien Taipei

Le Meridien Taipei takes the stress out of planning for business-minded guests, who will have no trouble adjusting and working efficiently with the hotel's state-of-the-art audiovisual technology and professional business centre. With over 1,700 square meters of contemporary meeting and function space, Le Meridien Taipei serves as an ideal venue for business gatherings, weddings, creative meetings and private events. The talented creative event staff accommodates every need to the utmost ability, making it almost effortless to host an inspiring and successful event.

Location

Le Meridien Taipei is centrally located at 38 Song Ren Road in Xinyi District, one of the most desirable addresses in Taiwan. A financial hub and premier shopping destination, the Xinyi District will suit guests visiting for business and pleasure alike. Just a few steps from Le Meridien Taipei are some of the most recognized landmarks in Taiwan, including Taipei 101, the second tallest building in the world, the Taipei World Trade Center, and an array of boutiques and department stores.