Described by visitors as ‘staggeringly beautiful’ and ‘one of the most magnificent resorts in Southeast Asia’, the Empire Hotel & Country Club, Brunei, has a lot to live up to.
Located 15 miles from the international airport and 20 minutes from Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, the luxurious beachfront resort overlooks the South China Sea and is close to the Shahbandar forest reserve.
There are 16 villas, 465 rooms and 51 suites, including the 675-sq-m Empire Suite which boasts its own swimming pool, Jacuzzi and a moveable screen to show the latest DVD movies.
All rooms have private balconies, with panoramic views of either the ocean or the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, as well as marble-clad bath tubs, glass-enclosed shower units, multi-channel television, safe, IDD telephone and voicemail, tea and coffee making facilities and a fully-stocked refreshment bar.
Bedding is Egyptian cotton imported from Italy, suites and many of the public areas sport gold-plated finishes, furniture and fittings have been sourced from the top-name brands in Europe and there is enough carpet to cover 14 basketball courts!
From murals and artworks, specially produced following intensive research into Brunei’s history, to ‘scandalous’ amounts of Italian marble and a soaring atrium that reaches more than 53 m, no expense or luxury has been spared.
The venue also has impressive meeting facilities including the 700-seater Empire Theatre, the Empire Cinema shows the latest Hollywood releases and a range of restaurants serves up every sort of cuisine prepared by master chefs.
The country club features the 18-hole floodlit course, which until 2012 will host the Aberdeen Senior Masters, as well as a driving range and putting green, three floodlit tennis courts, squash, badminton and multi-purpose courts, a bowling centre, snooker and pool facilities, an indoor spa pool, a lap pool and fitness centre.
There are a total of nine pools, including a children’s pool with water slide and from the beach there is access to a whole range of water sports from sailing and windsurfing to ocean kayaking and parasailing.