Chinese investors plan to construct a 5-star hotel from the Mandarin Oriental chain in Astana.

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is part of the Hong Kong-based Jardine Matheson holding and manages 45 hotels worldwide. The cost of the future project in Astana is estimated at 300 billion tenge.

Brand History The brand's story began in 1963 with the opening of The Mandarin in Hong Kong, which was the tallest building on the island at the time. Its reputation was built over years, quickly becoming a historical symbol of the city. The second pillar of the brand is The Oriental in Bangkok, which opened in 1876 as the first luxury hotel in the Kingdom of Siam. The names of these two legendary properties eventually merged into a single brand.

Today, the group operates hotels in 26 countries and boasts 28 Michelin stars across its restaurants. A night at any of the chain’s properties regularly exceeds $1,000.

Throughout its history, the chain has occasionally been at the center of high-profile events, not all of them pleasant. In 2018, the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London caught fire during renovations. Among the guests who were urgently evacuated was singer Robbie Williams, who was filmed leaving the burning building.