Accomodation Archives

Book your home away from home at the Riverside Majestic Astana Wing

Published on October 21, 2019

Lifestyle

What type of traveler are you? Are you the type to hit the ground running, or the kind that just wants to relax, kick off your shoes and absorb your surroundings first? At Riverside Majestic’s Astana Wing, you can have it both ways (or more).

Situated in the middle of Kuching City’s golden triangle made up of a unique balance between the city’s architectural and cultural heritage sites, and its business district; you can explore, enjoy the local cuisine as well as its nightlife, all on foot from the ease of your hotel.

Riverside Majestic Astana Wing itself provides a luxurious hotel stay for casual travellers, while also providing fully-equipped facilities for digital nomads. It’s perfect for local event planners as well as incoming business travellers looking for an event venue and hotel stay with a killer view, and that is of one of Kuching’s most iconic heritage locations, the Kuching Waterfront.

No matter what floor you are on, the Kuching Waterfront remains the mainstage of your view. Thanks to constant upgrading and recent additions to the waterfront like the Darul Hana Bridge and most notably the Darul Hana Musical Fountain, you can never take a bad photo of the waterfront, morning, noon or night.

Book your home away from home at the Riverside Majestic Astana Wing — The view of Kuching’s historical waterfront from the Riverside Majestic’s events and meetings floor which features the spacious Alamanda Room, Orchid Room and Rafflesia Room.

For digital nomads and business travellers

Riverside Majestic Astana Wing enables digital nomads to plug and play here. Besides free wifi throughout the hotel, facilities such as the Surf & Chat business centre at the Mezzanine allows you to work while on holiday.

It’s neatly placed just above the buzz of families and fellow travellers checking in at the reception counter, and private enough for business professionals to work or hold discussions and meetups with clients and partners. Their choice of punchy colours and comfortable sofa arrangements definitely provide inspiring backdrops for serious business discussions.

Meanwhile, the Sape Restaurant provides a diverse and comprehensive breakfast buffet spread offering Western and Asian breakfast favorites.

The Deli Cafe below the Surf & Chat is perfect for a quick munch or a sugar hit with your coffee or tea.

The Sape Restaurant gives you the chance to enjoy the fresh air with an outdoor terrace.

For a fine dining experience at the top where you can enjoy the skyline over the Kuching Waterfront, you can spend the evening with a business partner or a loved one at Suasana on 18 Fine Dining.

Meanwhile, for those who don’t want to skip leg day or want to take advantage of the sun, the gym and swimming pool facilities are in the main Riverside Majestic Puteri Wing, and navigable through a scenic corridor connecting the two buildings.

A look at the Insiders Club

This is the handy app you didn’t know you needed. Free to download, membership is also free. Once you’ve logged in, you are automatically an Insiders Club member and can enjoy great deals and prices on their rooms and restaurants.

For frequent travelers to Kuching’s Cat City who enjoy the luxury, convenience and reliability of this hotel chain made up of Riverside Majestic Astana Wing, Puteri Wing and Grand Margherita Hotel, you can keep updated with their deals, book your rooms under member prices or collect and redeem Insiders Club points.

You can even book Room Promo Packages which will include sightseeing packages along with your hotel stay, making this app a perfect tool for business travellers and families looking for a fuss-free, memorable holiday.

Kuching may not be the biggest tourist draw when it comes up against tour destinations like the Maldives or Phuket, but Sarawak’s capital city has a lot of heart made up of its living and historic heritage, all of which can be experienced from the comfort of Riverside Majestic Astana Wing.

5 things you should know about Andaz Seoul Gangnam

Published on September 14, 2019

Travel

Hyatt Hotels Corporation recently announced that Andaz Seoul Gangnam has opened in the heart of the South Korean capital.

Hence, this marked the Andaz brand’s entry into the country.

So, here are five things you should know about the newly opened Andaz Seoul Gangnam:

5 things you should know about Andaz Seoul Gangnam — Andaz Seoul Gangnam’s one king bed deluxe room.

1.Andaz Seoul Gangnam’s unique design

With direct access to Apgujeong metro station, Andaz Seoul Gangnam is designed to fuse traditional local culture and creative modern living.

The hotel concept’s inspiration is bojagi. It is a traditional Korean wrapping cloth used in significant ceremonies. Besides, according to traditional Korean folklore, it is a gift wrap to preserve good luck.

As for the brain behind the design, internationally renowned Dutch design firm Studio Piet Boon designed Andaz Seoul Gangnam. As guests move through the hotel’s light-filled interiors, unique layouts unfold to reveal unconventional corners and dynamic architectural angles that are layered with contemporary bojagi patterns cloaked in soothing muted shades and subtle textures.

All of the artworks in the hotel is created by artists either from Seoul or with a strong connection to the city. With this, the hotel will actively nurture local talent, offering a platform for emerging young artists.

Greeting guests at the entrance is Wish. It is an 8-foot-high (2.5 meter) bronze abstract of a mother with overlapping hands by Choi Jong-tae, a notable Korean contemporary artist.

While checking in, guests can admire Dialogue. It is an oil painting of frantic brushstrokes in cobalt blue by Oh Su-fan, who combines eastern calligraphy with western abstraction.

In A’+Z bar, there is an artwork by Lee Jung-woong called Brush. It is a strikingly hyper-realistic depiction of a Chinese calligraphy brush on Korean rice paper by Lee Jung-woong.

2.Guestrooms with spectacular view of Seoul

Andaz Seoul Gangnam houses 241 contemporary and stylish guestrooms. Plus, all of them are offering a bird’s-eye view of the bustling downtown district through floor-to-ceiling windows.

The striking diagonal walls inspired by the asymmetric angles of bojagi patchwork complement the fluid layout and clean-lined furniture which provide a floating illusion.

Guests looking to entertain may opt for one of two rooftop ‘hospitality suites’. These suites are spanning the entire seventeenth floor with private outdoor terraces overlooking Han River and the city.

As for the ultimate indulgence, the 1,755 square-foot (163-square-meter) Gangnam Penthouse Suite houses a vast entertainment terrace, a multifunctional living space with a bar and dining area.

Additionally, it can accommodate up to 20 people, a TV den with a theatre AV system.

The highlight must be its luxurious bathroom with a circular tub from which one can soak in the city views.

3.Well-assorted choices for drinking and dining

The hotel’s bars and restaurants are led by Executive Chef Hamish Neale and Sora Choi. She is the youngest Hyatt food and beverage director in Korea.

On Level 1, A’+Z serves as an all-day bar. This is where guests and passersby can drop in throughout the day.

Furthermore, freshly prepared savories, cakes and pastries are available for guests to either grab ‘n’ go or enjoy at the communal table or bar counter.

Then ascending the central staircase guests arrive at JOGAKBO, which means ‘traditional patchwork’ in Korean.

Here, it offers a sophisticated reinterpretation of Seoul’s immersive street and alleyway dining.

4.Rejuvenating wellness facilities

The Summer House features a 16-meter pool surrounded by a whirlpool and cold and warm baths, cabana-style niches and a seven meter LED screen showing immersive scenes of Seoul.

Guests can also relax in the infrared sauna, herbal bath, cool, warm and hot baths, marble-clad wet and dry saunas and ice fountains.

In the meantime, the spa offers only cutting-edge treatments. They are using products from premium K-beauty brand AmorePacific as well as Ling New York by facialist Ling Chan.

The 24-hour Fitness Center comes with the latest Life Fitness and Pilates equipment for energizing workouts.

Additionally, there is the Juice Bar serving fresh pressed drinks for patrons.

5. Andaz Seoul Gangnam’s collaborations with Korean brands

Andaz Seoul Gangnam has collaborated with several Korean brands to create an authentic local lifestyle experience for guests.

The art-inspired perfume brand Tamburins developed a signature fragrance for the hotel’s public areas. The brand is inspired by the nostalgic scent of mugwort rice cakes wrapped in bojagi, as well as an exquisite blend of amber, pine needles and sweet wormwood.

Meanwhile, local brand Hohodang will host a series of exclusive Andaz Salon events on bojagi wrapping.