London, 28 FEBRUARY 2018: On Tuesday 20th February, YTL Hotels were proud to officially unveil exclusive footage and details of their brand new Monkey Island Estate, set to open in late spring 2018. Hosted at one of YTL Hotels' London properties, the five-star Threadneedles Hotel in Bank, the event saw 100 guests attend to celebrate this exciting launch, with speeches from Executive Director of YTL Hotels, Dato Mark Yeoh, General Manager of Monkey Island Estate, Lee Kelly, and Vice President of Development for YTL Hotels, Anthony Champalimaud.

The event took place beneath the hotel's stunning original 19th century stained glass dome. Comprising incredible flora and fauna centrepiece, edible plant pots, and a rustic vegetable cart, the event transported guests from a February morning in the heart of the City to a gorgeous country garden on a warm Spring day, evoking the very ethos behind Monkey Island Estate.

Threadneedles served up delectable breakfast canapes and refreshing Bucks Fizz, while a traditional jazz band performed for guests throughout the morning. Exclusive drone footage of the hotel build was shared, alongside beautiful mood boards created by award-winning Champalimaud Design to show off sketches of the interiors and give a real feel for the design of the hotel. Guests were gifted a rich history of Monkey Island Estate, a sample of Monkey Shoulder whiskey, a slice of orange and walnut cake as a nod to the walnut trees native to the island, and a copy of Riverside Lane by Ginger Black, based on Monkey Island.

YTL Hotels Spa Consultant, Melissa Mettler, who is behind the famous Spa Village concept, was on hand to serve guests bespoke spa elixirs to debut her spa initiative for the island, based on the holistic healing powers of the monks, who settleon the island 800 years ago. The hotel will launch its 'Floating Spa' later in the year, the first of its kind to provide a physical exaltation of the River Thames, seasoned with touch points that pay homage to the lore, activities, and power of the island.

The event also saw the official signing between YTL Hotels and Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) to sign on the brand new property. Andrew Jordan, Executive Vice President of YTL Hotels, Colin Skellett, Chairman of Monkey Island Estate, and Filip Boyen, Managing Director of SLH, were proud to extend their existing relationship to include the new hotel.

Opening in late Spring 2018, Monkey Island Estate will be set across seven acres and will consist of 27 bedrooms and three suites on the island, as well as 6 individual luxury residences forming the rest of the estate. The furnishings of Monkey Island will juxtapose timeless glamour and traditional features, with a modern, relaxed countryside style, creating a unique blend of past and present. Monkey Island will be making its own mark on the famous culinary excellence of Bray with their relaxed Monkey Island Brasserie serving up modern British cuisine.

Steeped in stylish yet laidback luxury, Monkey Island will be the perfect spot for weekend escapes from the city, weddings and romantic breaks. For those who want to enjoy Bray-on-Thames in comfort and style, Monkey Island will be the ideal retreat to experience the rejuvenation of this historic landmark to its full former glory.

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About YTL Hotels
YTL Hotels owns and manages a prestigious collection of award-wining resorts, hotels, boutique experiences and Spa Villages with a hospitality footprint across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Japan, Australia, France and the United Kingdom, including Pangkor Island Resort, voted the world's best resort in 2003 by Condé Traveller UK. The group also co-owns the Eastern & Oriental Express luxury train. The Gainsborough Bath Spa, the only hotel in Bath to be part of the Leading Hotels of the World's collection of legendary hotels, was named in the 2017 Condé Nast Traveller Awards World's Top 100. The portfolio also encompasses the ownership management of a number of Marriott properties in Australia and Kuala Lumpur as well as properties under the brand's prestigious Autograph Collection banner. The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui is the latest addition to this partnership. Future plans include the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Japan which is set to complement YTL Hotels' master plan for Niseko Village.
With each new experience that it presents, the company strives to embrace and highlight the natural essence of culture, character and tradition of its surroundings. YTL Hotels is the hospitality arm of YTL Corporation Berhad. Visit http://www.ytlhotels.com/for more information and follow us on our social media platforms for #TreasuredPlaces #TreasuredMoments
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FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Geraldine Dreiser

Vice President, Marketing & Communications

geraldine@ytlhotels.com.my

Jessisca Yong

Director, Marketing & Communications

jessica_yong@ytlhotels.com.my