Shangri-La is defined as an imaginary earthly paradise.
Today, there is more than one Shangri-La in Dubai, but perhaps not for much longer.
What's in a name, one might argue. Plenty, actually, would say the owners of two properties, each named Shangri-La.
In the name of globalisation, many local companies are forced to change their names. The big global player moves into a new market and asks the first person to come up with a new name.
The name Shangri-La is currently being used by two parties two hotels, in fact in Dubai.
Shangri-La Dubai, owned by Nasser Rashid Lootah Group and managed by Bangladeshi hotel operator Abdus Salam Talukder, has been registered in Dubai for two decades as a two-star hotel. It is located in Al Riqqa in Deira.
The Hong Kong-headquartered Shangri-La entered the emirate through a partnership with Abu Dhabi-based Al Jaber Group. Its trade name was registered with the federal Ministry of Economy and Commerce (now Ministry of Economy and Planning) before it entered the market as a five-star brand.
It operates two hotels in Dubai: Shangri-La, and Traders Dubai Hotel. Shangri-La opened in summer 2003, while Traders, a four-star brand of Shangri-La, opened this year.
Shangri-La's owner's representative Ahmad Ramadan told Gulf News: "Shangri-La's corporate officials are pursuing the issue from its headquarters in Hong Kong to end the dispute. They are in touch with the federal ministry to resolve the issue, as there cannot be two organisations engaged in the same business using the same name. We hope this will be resolved amicably."
Hotel guests booked for the five-star Shangri-La hotel often find themselves at the Al Riqqa hotel because taxi drivers are not yet familiar with the new Shangri-La on Shaikh Zayed Road.
A source from Shangri-La Dubai said his company is willing to discuss the issue with Shangri-La of Hong Kong. "Shangri-La Dubai has been in operation for 20 years in Dubai. We are not aware of any move to change our name. No one has approached us about this issue.
"If approached, we are willing to listen to them."
Perhaps, then, a price will finally be put on paradise.
Gulf News
