Uma Paro in Bhutan and Uma Ubud in Bali join Design Hotels for 2008

Uma Paro in Bhutan becomes the first in the country to be listed in the 2008 Design Hotels’ directory while Uma Ubud in Bali joins an elite selection of Design Hotels’ members on the Indonesian island.

Both hotels form part of COMO Hotels and Resorts, which also owns the Metropolitan London (a Design Hotels’ member since 1993) and the Metropolitan Bangkok, which joined Design Hotels in October.

Design Hotels™ represents and markets a hand-picked collection of more than 160 hotels in over 40 countries across the globe. Established in 1993 as the first of its kind, the company offers unparalleled international representation to member hotels – all independently owned but united by a commitment to individuality, progressive design and cultural authenticity.

The company has its headquarters in Berlin and branches in London, Barcelona, New York, Singapore, Bali and Tokyo.

This exciting development for both Uma Paro and Uma Ubud recognises both properties’ belief in a sophisticated luxury credo, which is shared by Design Hotels. Luxury is defined as something which adds pleasure to our lives, highlighting real substance over that which is only packaging. The hotels speak to guests as individuals, enhancing our quality of life.

With both properties, guests can enjoy a unique cultural adventure, complemented by the core of the COMO Shambhala experience with Yoga and Asian-inspired therapies. In design, each hotel reflects local aesthetics, combining indigenous detailing with a serene modernity. The number of rooms is deliberately limited. In cuisine, both Uma properties incorporate local organic foodstuffs with sophisticated Asian-led traditions. Uma Paro and Uma Ubud also offer the opportunity to explore the surrounding landscapes with experienced guides.

Uma Ubud in Bali, new in July 2004, is located within Ubud, an inland town revered as the island’s cultural hub. The 29-room hotel overlooks the Tjampuhan Valley. The interiors are by Japanese designer Koichiro Ikebuchi. Carved panels open up the rooms to incorporate views, while the simplicity of pared-down spaces keeps light flowing through the interiors, from the bedroom through to garden terraces, private courtyards and pretty plunge pools. This respect for Uma Ubud’s natural surroundings is repeated in the choice of materials, including local woods and alang-alang thatched roofs.

Uma Paro, which opened in November 2004, is located on a 38-acre hilltop site. It is close to the town of Paro, one of the main cultural centres of Bhutan. There are only 20 rooms and nine villas, with interiors by traditionally-trained Bhutanese artisans working alongside Cheong Yew Kwan, architect of COMO Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri, and Kathryn Kng, who did the contemporary-styled Metropolitan Bangkok. The hotel staff have substantial experience in trekking and cultural excursions, taking guests all over the country to explore monasteries, markets and hidden Himalayan valleys.

For more information on Design Hotels, visit www.designhotels.com  

For COMO Hotels and Resorts, visit como.bz

A Report by The Mole