Lhasa Meets Luxe

Dubbed the roof of the world, mystical Tibet may be celebrated more as a mist-cloaked haven for backpackers than a luxury destination. But that could soon change as its breathtaking capital Lhasa welcomes an influx of world-famous high-end hotels.

The first luxury chain to open an outpost in the Himalayan city, the St Regis Lhasa Resort counters environmental concerns of Tibet’s tourism boom by using solar and geothermal energy, as well as hybrid vehicles.

On top of the chain’s trademark efficient, English-trained butlers, the resort, which opened last month, boasts 162 guest rooms, all lavishly furnished with local artefacts to reflect rich Tibetan heritage and culture.

There are also three upscale restaurants including one that serves up traditional favourites such as yak meat. Joining the St Regis resort in the next two years are luxury hotel chains, the Intercontinental and Shangri-La. Clearly, helping sea-level dwellers acclimatise to the thin air is a chief concern.

While Iridium, the six-room spa at St Regis offers Tibetan herbal treatments to remedy altitude-induced headaches, Shangri-La, set to open in 2012 will use extensive garden landscaping with indigenous plants to increase oxygen levels all around.

While it remains to be seen how Tibet’s tourism growth will affect local culture and its environment, one thing’s for sure: the alluring mountaintop escape can now add luxury to its name.

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