Guests list favourite hotel amenities

Hotel guests list free Wi-fi as their No 1 factor when choosing a hotel room, with only 11 per cent of guests willing to pay for the service, according to a recent survey by Hotels.com Leisure travellers also look for a free breakfast, swimming pool and free parking, whereas business travellers opt to be near transit and dining areas, and like a comfortable chair in their rooms. Topping the list of favourite modern amenities in a hotel room is a high-end coffee machine, followed by internet access, a single remote, iPads and massage chairs. The favourite newly offered hotel services are free snacks, happy hours, wine tasting and breakfast to go. Hotels.com surveyed 8,600 people in 28 countries.

Shangri-La debuts in Turkey
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts brings its brand of Asian hospitality and luxury to Istanbul, Turkey - its second hotel in Europe after Paris, which opened in 2010. The opulent 186-room Shangri-La Bosphorus overlooks the city's domes, minarets and green hills, situated on the Europe side of the Bosphorus Straits. The modern interior takes a cue from the glamour of nearby Dolmabahce Palace, with its dome-shaped atrium lit by a skylight. There are more than 1,000 pieces of European and Asian art throughout the hotel. Most of the hotel's 17 suites have private terraces with views and the ultimate indulgence. The Shangri-La Suite has three terraces overlooking the Old City, Asian shores and Bosphorus Bridge.

Regent expanding in Bali
The Regent Bali opens this month as the only all-suite beachfront resort in Sanur, Bali. The 94 suites boast contemporary Balinese-style interiors, spacious living areas, and sea or tropical garden views. The property's singular sensation is the 937-square-metre, two-bedroom Regent Villa, featuring a private pool, Jacuzzi and spa treatment room with a steam room for two. The Regent Bali also boasts 25 Regent Residences, all of which are two storeys and ranging from 308 to 660 square metres, with carport, private infinity swimming pools, living and dining rooms, and separate butler entrance and quarters. Regent Bali is the first Regent Hotels & Resorts property to offer residences. Nearby attractions include the Mount Batur volcano, Ubud art village and Gunung Kawi Hindu temple.

Mandarin opening in Shanghai
Set on the east bank of the Huangpu River, within the Harbour City development comprising office towers, residences and high-end retail and entertainment space, the Mandarin Oriental Pudong opens its doors this summer offering 362 rooms and 210 fully serviced executive apartments. The new hotel has 44 suites designed by world-renowned architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia. It also boasts the largest and most expensive presidential suite in Shanghai, spanning 788 square metres and featuring a sky garden.