"Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has searched for the perfectvenue and partner in Japan for a long time," said Madhu Rao,managing director and CEO of Shangri-La, at the opening. "TheJapanese market is an essential market for us as we expandinternationally. Today, I am delighted to say we now have a hotelin Tokyo, one of Asia's and the world's key capitals, and that wewill be able to offer our guests in Japan traditional Shangri-Lahospitality."

The 202-key Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo is housed in the top 11floors of the Marunouchi Trust Tower Main, it contains tworestaurants the Piacere, an Italian restaurant, and Nadaman, aJapanese restaurant. The Marunouchi tower is a 37-floor, mixed-useproject near the Tokyo Station.

The hotel also houses meeting rooms and banquet facilities, ahealth club, the CHI spa, which is a staple in all the Shangri-Laproperties, and indoor swimming pool. It was designed by SantaMonica, CA-based Hirsh Bedner Associates.