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The Empire Brunei
The Empire Brunei
	The Empire Brunei in 2023
Former names	The Empire Hotel & Country Club
General information
Status	Completed
Type	Luxury hotel
Location	Jerudong, BG3122, Brunei
Coordinates	4°58′6″N 114°51′13″E / 4.96833°N 114.85361°E
Construction started	1994; 31 years ago
Completed	2000; 25 years ago
Opened	16 October 2000; 24 years ago
Cost	US$1.1 billion
Owner	Brunei Investment Agency
Grounds	180 hectares (440 acres)
Design and construction
Architecture firm	McKerrell Lynch
Other designers	Jack Nicklaus
Other information
Number of rooms	532
Website
	theempirebrunei.com
References

The Empire Brunei is a luxury hotel located in Kampong Jerudong, near the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, in the Brunei–Muara District of Brunei.^[4] Originally funded by Prince Jefri Bolkiah and completed in 2000, the hotel encountered financial difficulties that resulted in government investment and a transfer of ownership.^[5] Relaunched in 2019 with updated branding,^[6] the hotel offers a range of accommodations, including the "Emperor Suite".^[7] The hotel has won awards, including for its golf course, and has hosted a number of ASEAN events.

History

In the 1990s, Prince Jefri Bolkiah financed the construction of a hotel valued at approximately US$1.1 billion.^[1] The financial strain on state resources led the government to invest in what was initially intended as a private enterprise.^[8] Construction commenced in 1994 and spanned six years, involving 220 architects and designers from the Australian firm McKerrell Lynch.^[3] Initially owned by Amedeo Development Corporation,^[9] and led by the Prince,^[1] ownership was transferred to the Brunei Investment Agency following Amedeo's collapse in 1998.^[1]

The hotel was formerly known as the Jerudong Park Hotel.^[10] The Empire Hotel and Country Club, developed over a period of six years with the collaboration of approximately 300 designers, technologists, and artisans, officially opened on 16 October 2000.^[5] The opening of the hotel was scheduled to precede the November APEC Brunei Darussalam 2000 meeting, to help address a lack of hotel space in Bandar Seri Begawan.^[10]

On 30 October 2019, the hotel was rebranded as The Empire Brunei to mark its 19th anniversary. The rebranding, managed by & SMITH, maintained the original name "The Empire" while adding "Brunei" to emphasise its location. The updated logo incorporates the national flower, bunga simpur, surrounded by lilies and employs a gold and teal colour scheme to represent the sea and woods.^[6]

Design and features

The hotel is situated on a 180-hectare (445-acre) beachfront property overlooking the South China Sea.^[11]^{[unreliable source?]} It offers both rooms and conference facilities.^[2] It has been considered a "six-star" hotel.^[12]

Recreational facilities include an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus–designed golf course,^[13]^[14] other sports facilities, two private beaches,^[15] restaurants, and a three-screen movie theatre.^[2] The "Emperor Suite", the hotel's most expensive accommodation,^[7] spans 665 or 675 square metres (7,160 or 7,270 sq ft)^[16]^[3] of the seventh floor,^[17] and includes features such as a private dining area, swimming pool, grand piano, sauna, Jacuzzi, private elevator access, and a movie theatre,^[18] as well as security features, bulletproof glass, and private elevators.^[18] Rates range from $16,600 to $23,000 per night.^[19]^{[better source needed]} The suite is often reserved for high-profile guests.^[18] Its first guest was United States President Bill Clinton who stayed there during the APEC Brunei Darussalam 2000 meeting. Other former guests include the then-Prince Charles.^[7]

The sultan's 1521 welcoming of Ferdinand Magellan and his crew from the Bruneian coast is shown in a mural at the hotel.^[20]

Events

The 25th ASEAN Summit was held at the Empire Hotel on 18 March 2015, in the hotel's largest conference room.^[21]^{[unreliable source?]}

A meeting of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community was hosted at the hotel by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports from 28 to 29 May 2024.^[22] In August 2024 the hotel hosted an ASEAN Cooperation on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM) meeting.^[23]

The hotel's golf course hosted the Brunei Open.^[24]

Awards

The Empire Hotel has been recognised and awarded the following:

Brunei's Leading Hotel (2004–2017; 2020–2024)^[25]
Asia Pacific's Best Golf Resort (2010–2011)^[24]
World's Leading Hotel Suite (2003–2005)^[25]
Asia's Leading Golf Resort (2004–2005)^[25]
Asia's Leading Resort (2003–2004)^[25]

Gallery

Map of the hotel complex
The atrium at dusk
The atrium's exterior
The west atrium wing
The right atrium wing
Corridor to the West atrium wing
A mosque model in-front of the main entrance
The atrium's mosaic tiles

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d WainStaff, Barry (13 August 2001). "Auction of Assets of Brunei's Amadeo Offers Little Solace to Most Creditors". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c The Report: Brunei Darussalam 2010. Oxford Business Group. 2010. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-907065-29-3.
^ ^a ^b ^c Berthelsen, John (1 September 2006). "A Stately Pleasure Dome". Asia Sentinel. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
^ Martin, Keith (24 October 2017). Strange But True Tales of Car Collecting: Drowned Bugattis, Buried Belvederes, Felonious Ferraris and Other Wild Stories of Automotive Misadventure. Motorbooks. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-7603-5360-8.
^ ^a ^b "The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Brunei". Royal on the Park. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b "'The Empire Brunei' unveiled". Darussalam Assets. 30 October 2019. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c Nicholson, Sarah (12 September 2015). "Palatial Emporer Suite at Brunei's Empire Hotel has hosted Bill Clinton and Prince Charles". www.escape.com.au. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
^ The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (Travel Guide eBook). Apa Publications (UK) Limited. 1 June 2018. ISBN 978-1-78919-418-0.
^ Far Eastern Economic Review. Review Publishing Company Limited. 2001. p. 27.
^ ^a ^b "Brunei's Empire Hotel to open before APEC". Travel Weekly Asia. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
^ Henderson, John (16 January 2008). "Brunei's $23,000-a-night hotel room blows minds as much as budgets". johnhendersontravel.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
^ Megan Flamer (1 March 2012). "Six-star hotel offers luxury surrounds, shame about the service". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
^ "Sultan of bling". The Sunday Times. 25 January 2004. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
^ Footprint Borneo. Footprint. 2006. p. 259. ISBN 978-1-904777-60-1.
^ Rajna, Lisa Niver; Rajna, George (14 July 2013). Traveling in Sin: Eleven Months, Twelve Countries, Sixty Pounds and One Proposal. Lisa Niver Rajna. ISBN 978-0-9897119-0-6.
^ Jenkins, Keith. "Inside the most opulent suite I've ever seen!". velvetescape.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
^ Nick Boulos (18 January 2014). "Brunei: A kingdom of gold and green". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c Nowell, Iris (28 June 2004). Generation Deluxe: Consumerism and Philanthropy of the New Super-Rich. Dundurn. pp. 196–197. ISBN 978-1-55002-972-7.
^ Scher, Brent (22 May 2015). "The Clintons and the Sultan of Brunei Have a History". The Washington Free Beacon. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
^ "Gazo: Brunei beauties". Sun.Star. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
^ Gilmore, Mike (28 February 2014). Levels of Power: The Diplomat. AuthorHouse. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-4918-6658-0.
^ "Meeting focuses on climate change, biodiversity". Borneo Bulletin. 30 May 2024. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
^ "Brunei outlines strategies and activities". Borneo Bulletin. 6 August 2024. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Luxury Golf Escapes at Brunei's Luxurious Empire Hotel & Country Club". Luxury Travel Magazine. 21 August 2013. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "The Empire Brunei". World Travel Awards. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.