Proudly displaying its renovated facilities, a new name and brand, and a bright business outlook, Illume Taipei held its inauguration ceremony and reception on November 3 last year. The new Illume, nestled in the heart of Taipei just a mile down the road from Songshan Airport, provides an unforgettable stay for both business and leisure travelers. 

The name Illume reflects the rays of light that reach all corners of the hotel, from the radiating atrium to the spacious banquet halls, and the bright experiences on offer. The hotel now has 312 newly renovated rooms, service apartments for long-term stays, and new improved event services with venues boasting a spectacular view of the city. 

“We wanted to create something we felt proud to show our guests,” says Jürgen Klemm, Illume Taipei’s owner representative and an industry veteran with more than 30 years’ experience of hotel management in Taiwan. “Now that we have renovated the hotel and improved our offers, we can provide a more comprehensive offer of products and services. It also means we need to do things differently.” 

Under the leadership of parent company Sunrider International, the nearly four-decade old hotel has been modernized and refurbished and become almost unrecognizable from its former state, Klemm notes. “I’ve seen regular guests walk in, looking around with surprise and amazement of the change,” he says. 

Klemm’s approach to maximizing guests’ experiences is simple but brilliant: let the experts do what they do best. As such, Illume has entrusted the highly reputable Palais de Chine Collection with the mission of providing hotel guests with first-class catering and banquet conference services.  

With Michelin-level professionalism, Palais de Chine manages all Illume’s food and beverage services, including the extensive buffet selection with local and international cuisines offered in the light-filled atrium.  

“It’s really a win-win situation for us, and we couldn’t be happier with the cooperation,” says Klemm. “Palais de Chine have the resources, organization, and talent to create an efficient system and provide our guests with unforgettable experiences.” 

Similarly, Illume’s gym, which has been renovated and outfitted with state-of-the-art training equipment, is managed by a professional gym operator and is open to both guests and members of the general public. The hotel’s Health Club is divided into a gym and weight training area on the first floor and a steam room, dry sauna, and outdoor pool on the fifth, comprehensively covering guests’ wellness and fitness needs.  

Pervading the hotel’s operations is also a commitment to environmental protection. Illume’s sustainability efforts encompass both the grand and the minute, from its energy efficient systems to the utilization of reusable glass bottles. Single-use amenities are available for a small charitable donation until February, when they will be fully replaced by more sustainable options. 

“Seriously promoting sustainability in the hotel business is not the most convenient or easiest path, but it’s something we prioritize and find very important,” says Klemm. “A lot of our efforts are also things you won’t notice at first glance, like our upgraded AC systems and energy-saving LED lights.” 

While Illume’s revamped hotel and events businesses are already taking off, Klemm emphasizes that he and his team will continue to strive for excellence and explore new avenues for long-term growth in 2023 and beyond. As domestic travel in Taiwan rebounds, travelers who wish to stay in a newly renovated brand hotel at a reasonable price, enjoying a comfortable trip with extremely convenient transportation, should consider Illume the natural choice.