A new chapter has begun for Shangri-La, the hotel group that helped define the idea of “Asian luxury.” The brand has announced Kuok Hui Kwong, daughter of founder Robert Kuok, as its new Chief Executive Officer.
For over 50 years, Shangri-La has been more than just a collection of hotels. From its first property in Singapore in 1971 to its presence in more than 75 destinations today, the group has built a reputation for hospitality that is understated, thoughtful, and deeply personal.
The philosophy of Asian luxury
When Robert Kuok opened the original Shangri-La Singapore, he wanted to create something different. Rather than copy the formality of Western hotels, he placed Asian values at the centre of the guest experience: humility, attentiveness, and quiet respect. Staff were trained not to follow scripts, but to notice the small things—a favourite tea blend, a child’s preferred breakfast, the perfect moment to step forward or step back.
That ethos still guides the brand today. A stay at Shangri-La is designed to feel effortless, as if the hotel somehow knows what you need before you ask. This approach has created generations of loyal guests who return not just for the rooms and restaurants but for the sense of ease that follows them throughout their stay.
Icons of comfort and calm
Each Shangri-La property reflects its own destination, yet carries the same quiet promise of care. In Singapore, the flagship hotel remains an urban oasis, with its sprawling gardens just minutes from Orchard Road. In Hong Kong, the Kowloon property frames Victoria Harbour with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering guests a front-row seat to one of the world’s most famous skylines.
Beyond the major cities, Shangri-La has become a gateway to extraordinary landscapes. At Shangri-La Guilin, guests wake to views of limestone karsts rising from the Li River. In Boracay, the resort is cocooned in lush tropical greenery, with private villas that open onto white sand beaches.
In the Maldives, the group operates Hotel Jen Malé, a stylish urban retreat at the heart of the capital. Just a short speedboat ride from Velana International Airport, it offers travellers a gateway between city life and the islands beyond, combining contemporary design with the intuitive service for which Shangri-La is known. With its rooftop infinity pool overlooking the Indian Ocean and proximity to Malé’s bustling streets, Hotel Jen highlights the group’s ability to adapt luxury hospitality to diverse contexts—from serene resorts to vibrant capitals.
Growing with intention
Unlike rivals that expanded rapidly through franchising, Shangri-La grew carefully and deliberately, building and owning each property to ensure its philosophy was preserved. Over the years, the group has become synonymous with destinations across Asia, from the gardens of Singapore to the waterfronts of Hong Kong, and later to cities across mainland China.
Despite challenges—including economic downturns and the pandemic—Shangri-La has held onto its identity. Guests still find the same calm presence and heartfelt service that made the brand famous in the 1970s.
A family-led future
With Kuok Hui Kwong stepping into the role of CEO, Shangri-La remains firmly in family hands. Her appointment signals both continuity and renewal: a promise to uphold her father’s vision while guiding the brand into a future shaped by changing traveller expectations.
For guests, little is likely to change. Shangri-La will continue to be the place where business travellers find peace amid hectic schedules, families create lasting memories, and discerning travellers discover a style of luxury that is less about show and more about sincerity.
As the group looks ahead, its story remains one of quiet strength and timeless hospitality—a brand that has always been more about care than spectacle.
