Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, announced its very first “My Shangri-La” photography competition on 18 August 2009, inviting amateur and professional photographers from across mainland China to discover their own “Shangri-La,” as well as encourage the message of conservation.
In partnership with Top Travel magazine, Photographer’s Companion magazine and sina.com, the competition will run from 18 August to 18 October 2009. It aims to have photographers capture the essence of the “Shangri-La” concept and spirit through the camera lens while reflecting the following “Shangri-La” qualities: grace, natural, serene, mystical, enchanting and caring.
The “My Shangri-La” photo competition comprises two Award categories: a General category in which contestants can photograph any subject as long as it reflects their “Shangri-La” and the “Shangri-La” spirit; and a Shangri-La Conservation category award in which photos should reflect conservation efforts in China, as well as the “Shangri-La” spirit.
“By encouraging people to explore the world through photography, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts hopes to encourage a deeper appreciation for Earth’s beauty and diversity. China is renowned for its stunning landscapes and natural beauty, which many of our properties are surrounded by, so it was an ideal location to launch our first ‘My Shangri-La’ contest,” said Kent Zhu, group director of sales and marketing of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. “China is a key market for us and we look forward to seeing how the people of China interpret their own ‘Shangri-La’ while also best capturing the spirit of Shangri-La’s famous hospitality – of serenity and service.”
All participants can enter up to three digital images or scanned transparencies in colour or black and white, and should submit their work online via sina.com. The deadline for photo submissions is 18 October 2009.
A renowned panel of judges including Oscar winner Timmy Yip and Wang Chuan, Professor and Director of Photography Department, School of Design of China Central Academy of Fine Art, will select the winning photographs. Prize winners will be announced at a grand gala dinner in November 2009.
Exhibitions of the winning photographs will be held at various Shangri-La hotels in Shanghai, Chengdu and Shenzhen during November and December 2009.
Winners will receive the following prizes:
Shangri-La Conservation Category (one recipient):
- Two round trip business class ticket to the Maldives, and a four night stay at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives
- Professional digital camera
- An exclusive photo shoot assignment with Top Travel magazine
- The winner’s photograph will be published on sina.com, as well as in Photographer’s Companion and Top Travel magazines
- The winner will participate in photo exhibition tours
- One-year subscription to Top Travel magazine
- One-year subscription to Photographer’s Companion magazine
General Categories:
a) Gold Prize (one recipient):
- Round trip airfare to Kota Kinabalu and a four night stay at Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort
- The remaining prize items are the same as the Shangri-La Conservation Award
b) Silver Prize (one recipient):
- Round trip airfare to Guilin and a three night suite stay at Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin
- The remaining prize items are the same as the Gold Prize
c) Bronze Award (three recipients)
- Round trip airfare to Chengdu and three night stay at Shangri-La Hotel, Chengdu
- Photographer’s backpack
- The remaining prize items are the same as the Silver Prize
d) Excellence Award (ten recipients):
- A two-night weekend stay at select Shangri-La hotels in China
- Photographer’s jacket
- The remaining prize items are the same as the Bronze Prize
For more information on the “My Shangri-La” photo competition, please visit http://travel.sina.com.cn/myshangri-la
About Media Partners
Top Travel
Top Travel, launched in 2007, is a luxury travel magazine run by the Lifestyle publishing group. The monthly magazine covers travel information, travel style, destinations, culture and features personal travel experiences. With a circulation of 220,000, its readers are dominantly cosmopolitan residents aged between 30 and 50 with annual incomes of more than RMB80,000.
Photographer’s Companion
Photographer’s Companion, launched in 1985, is a leading photography magazine with a circulation of 310,000. The magazine’s readership comprises mainly of professional and amateur photographers in China.
sina.com
Created in March 1999, sina.com is a leading Internet media company for Chinese communities worldwide, offering a full array of Chinese-language news, entertainment, e-commerce platforms, financial information and lifestyle tips. With separate websites in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and North America, sina.com provides global content and services that speak directly to its audiences, enriching its users’ online experiences.
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, currently owns and/or manages 65 hotels under the deluxe Shangri-La and mid-market Traders brands, with a rooms inventory of over 28,000. The group has over 40 projects under development in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Macau, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Seychelles, United Kingdom and the United States. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.
For digitised pictures of the group’s hotels, please go to http://www.shangri-la.com/imagelibrary.