Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced that it will debut the St. Regis brand in Kazakhstan’s capital city with the opening of The St. Regis Astana and The Residences at The St. Regis Astana. Developed by MG Development, the project is scheduled to open in 2017.
“As we sign our first deal together, I would like to thank MG Development for putting their trust in Starwood. Together, we are proud to open the first new-build St. Regis hotel in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), introducing a new level of luxury to the region,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. “CIS represents an untapped market for international hotel development and the signing of The St. Regis Astana and The Residences at The St. Regis Astana is perfectly timed to the increasing global interest in Kazakhstan as the country prepares to host Expo 2017.”
MG Development commented, “We are delighted to work with Starwood Hotels & Resorts – one of the largest hotel companies in the world – and are convinced that this will be a mutually beneficial cooperation. The arrival of such a big player in Astana with its most luxurious brand adds to Kazakhstan’s emerging global infrastructure and makes Astana a destination with international appeal.”
The St. Regis Astana will encompass one of the most prestigious addresses in the capital city, located in Astana Central Park – known as the heart of the city, and nearby embassies, corporate headquarters and banks. The new-build hotel will feature 120 luxurious guest rooms, including 18 suites and a Presidential Suite. The hotel will also offer unrivalled event and meeting space for special celebrations including a ballroom, five meeting rooms and a business centre.
The hotel’s sophisticated culinary offerings will include an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, the distinguished St. Regis Bar & Wine Vault, a cognac bar and library. Luxury leisure facilities include a spa, pool and exercise room, as well as a children’s club. Guests will also enjoy the signature St. Regis Butler Service, providing anticipatory service and customising each guest’s stay to specific tastes and preferences.
The project will also feature 50 St. Regis-branded Residences at The St. Regis Astana, which will come with a private entrance. Featuring two, three or four bedrooms, the luxurious 250-square-metre apartments will be adjacent to the hotel and residents will enjoy access to the services and amenities at The St. Regis Astana.
“We’ve carefully watched the gradual transfer of business and institutions to Astana, driving an expansion of the city’s international airport and the development of a new railway station, and believe this is the ideal time to bring the St. Regis brand to this burgeoning capital city,” said Bart Carnahan, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “Cities throughout the CIS are seeing an increase in regional and international visitors who are looking for high-end accommodations, creating excellent opportunities for the introduction of Starwood’s brands into this important growth market.”
Currently, Starwood operates five hotels in the CIS under three of its distinctive lifestyle brands, including The Luxury Collection, W and Sheraton. Starwood is expanding its presence across the region with 11 new hotels expected to open by the end of 2017. These include Four Points by Sheraton hotels in Kaluga, Krasnodar and Moscow Vnukovo Airport, as well as Sheraton Rostov-on-Don and Aloft St. Petersburg in Russia; as well as Sheraton Dushanbe in Tajikistan.
