Myanmar Times | Sule Shangri-La Hotel, Yangon will temporarily close for a period of nine months starting February 1, according to the Shangri-La Group in an announcement released today (January 13). However, Sule Square Mall & Office and Shangri-La Residences will remain open to tenants, guests and visitors.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have implemented multiple cost management initiatives to mitigate the unprecedented financial impact, including the difficult decision to streamline our workforce last December,” it said.
The company has nevertheless decided to close the hotel due to the prolonged period of “low business levels and after exploring all other viable options.” It added that it intends to reopen the hotel in nine months’ time, “when hopefully business conditions would have improved.”
Guests and clients with affected reservations at Sule Shangri-La Hotel will be contacted personally, and all cancellation charges will be waived.
Besides a small core team to maintain and upkeep operations across the complex, most of the hotel’s employees will be placed on extended leave-of-absence and will not have to return to work during the closure. However, they will continue to receive partial pay and full healthcare benefits.
The hotel first opened in 1996 and was formerly known as Traders Hotel. It was the tallest building in Myanmar from 1996 to 1999. The 466-room hotel was rebranded as Sule Shangri-La Hotel, Yangon in 2014 by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, following a 2.5-year renovation.
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is part of the Shangri-La group, which also operates hotels in South East Asia under the Shangri-La, Kerry, Jen and Traders brands.
The Shangri-La group was founded by Hong Kong tycoon Robert Kuok in 1971.