City’s Newest Upscale Hotel Unlocks Local Contemporary Art Scene for Guests with Leading Art Gallery

DHAKA, 21st JUNE, 2015 – Le Méridien Dhaka, city’s newest upscale hotel, and Bengal Art Lounge, a leading art gallery in the country, this week signed a non-commercial partnership to help guests of the hotel to better engage in the local contemporary art scene. The partnership is critical for the roll out of one of the brand programmes of Le Méridien, Unlock Art™. The agreement has been signed by Managing Director Nawshin Khair and Director Luva Nahid Choudhury of Bengal Art Lounge and by General Manager Ashwani Nayar and Marketing Communications Manager Zaireen Sultana Lupa of Le Méridien Dhaka.
Under the terms of the Unlock Art™ Partnership, guests of Le Méridien Dhaka will be encouraged to visit a local contemporary cultural centre throughout the year at Bengal Art Lounge. Furthermore, Bengal Art Lounge will also provide a cultural experience directly to the guests of Le Méridien Dhaka by organizing arts-related events in the premises of the hotel on a periodical basis.
Since 2006, Le Méridien has been approaching the hospitality industry in a new way to attract its aspirational target guest the “Creative-minded” through relevant, interactive and engaging experiences such as the Unlock Art programme. Hotels under the brand have been establishing this unique partnership with contemporary cultural centers within their destinations across the world to provide guests with easy access to “unlocking” a local contemporary cultural experience. Unlock Art™ Partnerships aim to present to all guests of Le Méridien a doorway to a new perspective that are executed in an original, refined and sophisticated way.
“Le Méridien Dhaka expects to add a completely new dimension of hospitality in Bangladesh,” summarised Ashwani Nayar. “We are an arts and design inspired hotel with a substantial collection of contemporary art installations ourselves. And now the Unlock Art programme will help us to gain momentum where our guests may visit Bengal Art Lounge to view works of contemporary Bangladeshi artists.”
“This partnership is in line with our strategy to project a culturally rich Bangladesh to global audiences” explained Luva Nahid Choudhury. “Bengal Art Lounge is a platform where the public can engage with the creativity of Bangladeshi contemporary artists, and we are delighted to propose this experience to the distinguished guests of Le Méridien” added Nawshin Khair.
Guests of Le Méridien are upon check-in presented with collectible keycards designed by commissioned artists that open more than guestrooms and suites; they provide special access to partner local cultural centres, allowing them to witness artistic expressions of how present-day events affect the society – an opportunity that Le Méridien guests of Dhaka may now enthusiastically look forward to.

About Bengal Art Lounge
An important actor of the Dhaka art scene, Bengal Art Lounge produces, curates and documents exhibitions of contemporary Bangladeshi artists with a focus on art that is aesthetically compelling and intellectually stimulating. The gallery was created by Bengal Foundation, a not-for-profit trust for the arts, in 2011. Over time, Bengal Art Lounge has gained a reputation in promoting artists whose work push the boundaries of medium, genre or content. With its sleek architecture and distinctive space design, it offers an ideal platform for artists, collectors and art lovers to meet, discuss and engage through a variety of cultural events.

Media Contact:
MS. MAHZABIN HAQUE
Senior Executive
Bengal Art Lounge
Contact: +8801715135209

About Le Méridien Dhaka
Within 02 km of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Le Méridien Dhaka is situated to connect the Central Business District and cultural nodes of the capital to the township of Uttara, home of RMG sector’s major corporate offices, providing new perspectives of the city for leisure and business travellers alike. From public areas to private spaces, including 304 guestrooms and suites, the hotel is designed to captivate and stimulate curiosity, revealing an inviting threshold of indulgent amenities and décor of vibrant hues on achromatic tones. A choice of 07 restaurants and bars offer a selection of global cuisine in local flavours alongside key brand programmes to excite the creative-minded and culture-seekers. The hotel also features the Explore SpaSM, which is signature to Le Méridien brand, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, and the only rooftop tennis court and a skyline infinity pool on the 16th story in the city, reinterpreting luxury to at new heights of imagination.

Media contact:
ZAIREEN SULTANA LUPA
Le Meridien Dhaka
79/A Commercial Area, Airport Road
Nikunja 2, Khilkhet, Dhaka 1229
Bangladesh
+88 01717601104 / [email protected]