Bookings open now at amba Taipei Zhongshan for stays from April 20, 2015

TAIPEI - amba Taipei Zhongshan is now taking reservations for stays from April 20, 2015 when the hip new hotel opens its doors in central Taipei's historic Zhongshan district. As an introductory bonus, guests booking to stay before August 31, 2015 can enjoy special introductory rates plus a complimentary guided Zhongshan Walking Tour to discover the fascinating local neighborhood.

The amba brand has been created to resonate with a new generation of savvy travelers who engage with the hotel's key themes of creativity, culture, community, connectivity and conservation. amba Taipei Zhongshan is the second amba hotel in Taipei after amba Taipei Ximending. A third hotel, amba Taipei Songshan, and the first amba resort, amba Kenting, are both scheduled to open in 2016.

"amba Taipei Zhongshan is ideal for today's millennial travelers who are looking for a simple, fun and relaxing retreat with an authentic connection to a fascinating Taipei neighborhood. Our superior technology, Smart WiFi and thoughtful extras enable guests to experience a productive and truly comfortable stay. They'll also enjoy more free time to have fun and discover inspiring travel experiences through initiatives like our exclusive Zhongshan Walking Tour," says Hubert Lee, President of Ambassador Hotels & Restaurants.

A convenient and cultured neighborhood
amba Taipei Zhongshan is a stylish new address in leafy Zhongshan district, one of Taipei's most culturally rich neighborhoods. Enabling guests to enjoy a glimpse of authentic Taipei, this historic area mixes century-old European architecture with a treasure trove of hip restaurants, boutiques and museums. Cultural gems such as SPOT-Taipei Film House and Taipei Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) are all within walking distance of the hotel.

amba Taipei Zhongshan is a convenient central location for exploring citywide attractions, as well as accessing nearby cities. It is just 10 minutes to Ximending in western Taipei and 20 minutes to Taipei 101/Taipei World Trade Center in the east of the city. The hotel is well-connected via public transport, within five minutes' walk to Taipei Metro Zhongshan Station and one metro stop from Taipei Main Station, which offers high-speed inter-city rail services. Taipei Songshan Airport is 15 minutes by car, and Taiwan International Taoyuan Airport is a 40-minute drive from the hotel.

Fresh and digitally-equipped guestrooms
Guests can relax and unwind in one of amba Taipei Zhongshan's 90 thoughtfully designed rooms, from 20 sqm (213 sq ft) Smart rooms to 31 sqm (332 sq ft) Balcony rooms. Rooms are equipped with all the essentials for a happy guest experience, including a comfortable, supportive bed, pure cotton linens, a well-lit workspace and convenient 110V universal power points. The bright, fresh and minimal design features rustic teak furnishings and a stylish eco-friendly bamboo work chair, offset with fun artworks and large windows.

Corner rooms are especially delightful, featuring windows on two sides with abundant natural light and views of tree-lined Zhongshan North Road. Spacious Balcony rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace, ideal for relaxing after a long day beside the flowering sakura tree.

Functionality is important at amba and each room is packed with a range of value-added amenities. A dream for tech savvy travelers, complimentary Smart WiFi is offered hotel-wide at super high-speed data transfer rates of up to 200 Mbps with a separate access point in each room for an optimal WiFi experience. The 42-inch Sony Full HD TV offers a range of international and local cable channels, along with built-in Facebook, YouTube, Skype, photo sharing, music and other entertainment connections. Guests can enjoy their favorite music in their room through a wireless Bluetooth speaker and help themselves to excellent Taiwanese tea and fresh coffee from the automatic pod coffee maker.

Black mosaic bathrooms feature a separate shower room fitted with dual Ecostat Comfort rain shower and massage showerheads as well as a spacious countertop. Additional features include Japanese-style TOTO Washlet in Large and Balcony rooms, and a full-size bathtub in Large rooms. Calming ginger bath products are exclusively provided by the socially responsible all-natural Taiwanese brand, Two Acres. Guests will also appreciate the new-edition "guangba" (explore) amba flip flops, which can be taken home and form part of an amba flip flop collection. A handy self-service laundry room plus a wide array of thoughtful extras are available on a complimentary basis for all guests. These include phone chargers and HDMI cables, fitness balls, free weights and yoga mats, board games, Xbox, Apple TV and even a selfie stick.

Social dining, drinking and music
Dining and socializing are a highlight of the amba experience. ACHOI on level one is a sophisticated yet relaxed restaurant serving a modern seasonal menu that champions quality ingredients, outstanding flavors and great value. The restaurant name is inspired by the Taiwanese pronunciation of the word "vegetable," adding a fun localized twist.

ACHOI's contemporary design combines natural reclaimed woods, vintage colors and textures, and original black and white artworks. Guests can choose from creative small plates and dishes to share, accompanied by a selection of wines by the glass from the automatic wine dispenser. The open kitchen, chef table and sit-up dining counter enhance the friendly, interactive ambience, while the specialized desserts and weekend brunch cannot be missed.

Meetings and events with a difference
amba Taipei Zhongshan is a memorable venue for small meetings and private events. ACHOI restaurant can host up to 80 guests (cocktail) or 50 guests (seated). Casual settings, creative bespoke menus and an energetic staff combine to make amba an ideal choice to get inspired, think creatively and speak freely.

Contemporary eco-friendly design
Upholding amba's brand commitment to environmental sustainability, amba Taipei Zhongshan combines eco-friendly amenities and infrastructure with natural and reclaimed materials to create a healthy, green environment.

Bioarchitecture Formosana – designers of Taiwan's greenest building, the award-winning Beitou Branch of Taipei Public Library – have masterfully transformed a 1970s office building into a highly efficient contemporary hotel, continuing its lifecycle. The building's original aluminum window frames have been preserved and repurposed as an intricate urban art installation. The abstract steel screens across the street entrance and intimate lobby are both visibly impressive and represent amba's eco-friendly focus and heritage neighborhood spirit.

Other eco-friendly design features include a large sakura tree on each terrace that shield rooms from strong sunshine and offer added privacy. Low-E glass is used throughout to maximize light while minimizing ultraviolet and infrared rays. High-performance VRV air-conditioning systems feature precise, individual-zone climate controls, while public spaces are also fitted with Haiku60 fans, the world's first Smart Fan that automatically adjusts speed according to changing temperature conditions.

Eco-certified cleaning products, recycled keycards and a preference for electronic communications also highlight amba's green credentials. Guests are encouraged to join in amba's commitment to a healthy planet by consuming responsibly and reducing waste, for example they can take home their trendy amba flip flops.

A sense of fun
Expressing amba's playful spirit, eye-catching graphics and artworks depicting iconic Taipei and amba experiences, such as Taiwan's famed bubble tea, are visible throughout the hotel. A pop art mural measuring 30 meters (100 feet) x 15 meters (50 feet) is emblazoned across the southern hotel facade, and cinema-themed guestroom and hallway signage takes its inspiration from SPOT-Taipei Film House.

Fun and games in public areas include an interactive wire buzzer game in the form of a "painting" of Taiwan's highest mountains, fortune telling bamboo blocks and a gumball machine dispensing fortune-quotes and surprises for guests.

Introductory offers
Guests who book the Discover Zhongshan Opening Package on amba-hotels.com and stay two consecutive nights or more between May 1 and August 31, 2015 will receive not only the special introductory rates but also a complimentary Zhongshan Walking Tour. The guided tour, designed exclusively for amba guests, includes interesting stories about the historic neighborhood and covers impressive local sites such as SPOT-Taipei Film House, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and Chifeng Street, ending up at Ningxia Night Market in time to try Taipei's famous traditional evening snacks. The tour will be available in Mandarin and English on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, subject to availability and weather conditions.

In addition to the above offers, reservations made 28 days in advance will receive another 10% discount on best available introductory rates with breakfast. Stay four consecutive nights or more and receive an additional 15% discount.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia