St. Regis Coming to Tibet

January 2010 will mark the opening of a newly built St. Regis in Tibet. The St. Regis Resort Lhasa, with 169 rooms, will be constructed on the eastern side of the capital city, a 10-minute drive from the Potala Palace. The resort will have three restaurants, a health club and spa, a heated indoor pool, a business center and meeting space. Other highlights will be the noted St. Regis butler service. Included in the room count are a presidential suite and 50 villa-style suites. The completion of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway has spurred interest among travelers, with arrivals up 15 percent since completion. Tibet expects to receive more than three million domestic and international tourists this year, which would represent a 28 percent growth from the 2006 tally. Visit [www.stregis.com].