I was last in Lhasa in November 1987 and haven’t felt a great inclination to go back. Seeing recent photos and hearing the tales of friends who have been there since, I’m not sure I would feel comfortable in Lhasa anymore, so great are the changes that have re-shaped the city.
Now I learn that St Regis (Starwood Group) is opening a five-star hotel in central Lhasa (rendering above).
Slated to open May 2010, the St Regis Lhasa will have 118 guest rooms, 51 villas and a variety of meeting and hospitality spaces, including a big grand ballroom. Not to mention “personalized service provided by your St. Regis butler.” (That was the caption to the image above, which is one of just two images posted on the hotel’s webpage to date.)
Fancy a wedding reception on the roof of the world? A grand cru Bordeaux? A spa session? What next?
Now with a fast train to whisk us from Beijing to Tibet’s capital city, and a St Regis resort, Lhasa is ready to welcome even the most persnickety of travelers. Will wonders never cease?
