The Strand Yangon has become the first hotel to receive a commemorative blue plaque from the Yangon Heritage Trust in acknowledgement of its significance in the historical and cultural heritage of Yangon.  The Strand Yangon has been a city landmark since it was first founded in 1901 as a luxury hostelry to accommodate the first influx of international travellers arriving in South East Asia by steam ship and later by air.

The recently renovated 32-suite hotel is highly acclaimed as one of South East Asia's leading luxury hotels and one of its most architecturally beautiful.  Classic but never old-fashioned, a visit to The Strand Yangon is a 'must do' for visitors to Yangon, who are invited to walk in the footsteps of famous guests such as George Orwell, Noël Coward and Rudyard Kipling by taking afternoon tea at The Strand Café, cooling off with one of the famous Strand Sour cocktails in the Sarkies Bar or checking into one of its beautifully appointed suites. 

On display under the portico at the entrance to the hotel, the blue plaque states that The Strand Yangon was established in 1901 by the Sarkies brothers and is the oldest hotel in the city, often referred to affectionately as Yangon's 'grande dame', having played host to royalty, writers, raconteurs and weary travellers alike for more than a century.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the installation of the blue plaque was held at The Strand Yangon on 7th February 2019, attended by Yangon's Chief Minister, U Phyo Min Thein, and the Yangon Heritage Trust's Vice Chairman and Director, Daw Moe Moe Lwin, amongst other tourism ministers and members of the Yangon City Development Committee. 

Commenting at the ceremony, Suki Singh, Vice President Operations, Myanmar for GCP Hospitality, operators of The Strand Yangon, said, “We are honoured that The Strand Yangon is the first hotel to be the recipient of a blue plaque from the Yangon Heritage Trust and that the Strand's history is being commemorated with this internationally recognised symbol of cultural significance.”

Singh continued, “The entire Strand team considers itself fortunate to be the guardian of this beautiful building and thereby to over a century of Yangon heritage.  If the walls of the hotel could talk, they would tell tales of the adventurers, explorers, writers and raconteurs who have passed through its doors, as well as the highs and lows of the city we live in.  We look forward to preserving this piece of Yangon heritage for future generations of hoteliers and travellers.”

Despite its recognised place in Myanmar's history, The Strand Yangon has constantly evolved to meet the expectations of modern luxury travellers. In 2016 the hotel underwent a six-month restoration project that preserved the heritage at its heart while creating a more relaxed, refined and glamorous setting for 21stcentury travellers.  Local artisans restored original antiques and architectural detailing; the latest technology installed; and the hotel's décor given contemporary twist through a refreshed colour palette and subtle decorative details.  The renovation was completed with the addition ofa new outdoor swimming pool, dining terrace, therapy rooms, gym and private garden. 

The Strand Yangon is the 27th building or historical site in Yangon to be commemorated by a blue plaque, and the first hotel to receive such an honour.  The Yangon Heritage Trust's blue plaques are permanent signs installed on heritage buildings and locations to commemorate a link between those buildings and places and a famous person, event or landmark, serving as a historical marker.  The objective for installing blue plaques is for people to understand the cultural value of established heritage sites and also to discover lessor known heritage sites. The Blue Plaque Project is supported by the Yangon City Development Committee and implemented by the Yangon Heritage Trust (YHT). YHT believes that Blue Plaques are one of the most effective and visible means to celebrate Yangon's rich history. With their direct appeal to the public, they will make Yangon's history accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.

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About The Strand Yangon

Highly acclaimed as one of South East Asia's leading luxury hotels, the iconic Strand Yangon has been a city landmark since Aviet and Tigran Sarkies, the hoteliers responsible for many of the finest colonial hotels in the region founded it in 1901.  Since that time, the Strand has become the social epicentre of Yangon for locals and international travellers, and declared 'the finest hostelry East of Suez' by John Murray in his Handbook for Travellerswritten in the early 20th century.  In November 2016, The Strand Yangon entered a new era as it reopened after a six-month restoration project that saw the luxury heritage hotel ushered elegantly into the 21stcentury. The renovation project preserved the heritage at the heart of the hotel and honoured the Strand's part in Myanmar's history, whilst creating a more relaxed, refined and glamorous setting for 21stcentury travellers and explorers.  Local artisans meticulously restored every original architectural detail of The Strand Yangon, from the teak panelling and antique bedsteads of the hotel's 32 suites, to traditional Myanmar lacquer ware and marble flooring, whilst giving the hotel a complete upgrade and contemporary twist through the latest technology, a refreshed colour palette and subtle decorative details.  In November 2017, The Strand Yangon completed its transformation into Yangon's finest urban resort with the with the addition of a new outdoor swimming pool, dining terrace, therapy rooms, gym and private garden.  www.hotelthestrand.com

About The Yangon Heritage Trust

Established in 2012, the Yangon Heritage Trust promotes the proper conservation of Yangon's rich urban heritage within a cohesive planning process. It believes that good integration of conservation and development can make Yangon into one of Asia's most beautiful and liveable cities. The Trust assists in the conservation of urban heritage places, advocates for sustainable and sympathetic development within the historic city, advises on the adoption of planning policies and manages a range of training, public outreach and advocacy programs.   www.yangonheritagetrust.org