Shanghai’s hotel inventory is in an awesome flux. At last count before the opening of 2010 World Expo Shanghai on May 1, there were about 500 properties of various categories on both sides of the Hwangpu River, and more debuts continue to be announced. The city is still proving to be an attractive market, prompting deluxe chains such as the Hyatt, InterContinental and The Ritz-Carlton to branch out to a second, and even a third property (as in the case of the Grand Hyatt and Park Hyatt in Pudong and Hyatt on the Bund in Puxi).
In the latest wave of openings, two heritage properties, Fairmont Peace Hotel and Waldorf Astoria emerged after months of work to reveal a sensitively restored product.
Business travellers to Shanghai have indeed a bewildering choice of stay options before them, especially since most of the hotels have been tempting them to upgrade to their club floors with reasonable supplements or value-laden offers.Here are what some of the new properties are offering:
Gran Melia
The Red Level has been designated for the hotel’s corporate clients. Located on floors 27, 28 and 29, it comprises 63 Superior rooms measuring 48sqm, six Deluxe suites measuring 81sqm, one Presidential suite at 138sqm and one Imperial suite at 200sqm. Privileges include entry to the lounge which offers express check-in and check-out, concierge services such as reservations for dining and excursions, daily buffet breakfast, open bar in the evenings and free two-hour meeting room use, among others. In-room perks include free local calls, free pressing of one suit per stay and an aromatherapy menu. The two largest suites come with more extras such as a fax machine, DVD entertainment system and dinnerware and cutlery.
PRICE: Upgrading to the Red Level requires an extra CNY400 (US$59) added to the Standard room rate.
CONTACT: 1288 Lujiazui Ring Road, Pudong, Shanghai 200120, China, tel 86 21 3867 8888, www.gran-melia-shanghai.com
InterContinental Shanghai Puxi
Housed in two sleek glass towers, the 533-room hotel is located in the fast-rising commercial hub of Zhabei and within walking distance of the Shanghai Railway Station and underground subway. Those wishing for an upgraded level of service can find it in the 17-storey Club InterContinental Tower (Tower B), featuring 112 Club rooms, including 13 Executive Suites, 12 Executive Deluxe Suites, one Ambassador Suite and one Presidential Suite as well as the second-floor club lounge. Perks that come with the territory include entry to the lounge, private check-in and check-out, use of the meeting room, daily buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails, use of workstations with internet access, free Wi-Fi service and free internet service in the guestrooms. Suite occupants receive in addition VIP reception, entry to the private Executive Fitness studio and use of selected business equipment.
PRICE: A CNY500 (US$29.38) supplement, single occupancy or CNY700 (US$102.84) supplement, double occupancy added to the Standard room rate allows guests to enjoy executive lounge benefits.
CONTACT: 500 Heng Feng Road, Zhabei District, Shanghai 200070, tel 86 21 5253 9999, www.intercontinental.com
Langham Yangtze Boutique Shanghai
One of the city’s most exquisitely restored hotels is this 96-roomer, near People’s Square, and now under the aegis of the Langham group. Opened in 1934 as the Yangtze Hotel, the contemporary product has retained much of the art deco features that make it stand out as a true design gem. This is clearly evident in the lobby with its stained-glass ceiling and in the suites – designated as the corporate product in this hotel – Bel Etage Suite, Rose Suite, Chuan Residence and the Presidential Suite, some with French windows overlooking bustling Hankou Road. The club lounge is located on the second floor.
PRICE: From November 1, guests, staying in the Art Deco and Shanghai Grand Rooms can add CNY380 (US$55.82) to enjoy Langham Club privileges including free international calls, 1600 check-out, free laundry and pressing and butler service.
CONTACT: 740 Hankou Road, Shanghai 200001, China, tel 86 21 6080 0800, www.langhamhotels.com
The Puli
Part Balinese, part Oriental in theme, this 229-room property is a refreshing alternative to the glass-and-marble environment that many hotels in Shanghai are fond of adopting. The water feature in the garden channels a resort in the cool highlands of Ubud and the very very long lobby bar is a conversation piece. Occupying levels 21 to 25 are the club products, consisting of 61 guestrooms and suites. Privileges stray from the regular items offered in other hotels, and include guaranteed 6am check-in and 11pm check-out (arrival and departure details should be provided), daily CNY300 (US$44) Long Bar beverage allowance (non-accumulative), complimentary full minibar and refreshments replenished daily, priority bookings at restaurants and the Anantara Spa and daily in-room aperitif. Butler service and use of the boardroom for two hours are also part of the Puli experience.
PRICE: Best Available Rates apply, but fluctuate depending on the time of the year. A mid-October executive floor rate starts from CNY3,480 (US$518) for a Deluxe room.
CONTACT: 1 Chang De Road, Jing An District, Shanghai 200040, China, tel 86 21 3203 9999, www.thepuli.com
The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong
Shanghai’s second The Ritz-Carlton is ensconced in the upper levels of the 58-storey Shanghai IFC tower in the heart of the Lujiazui commercial hub in Pudong. Its Ritz-Carlton Club features these categories: Club Bund View room, Club River View room and Club Deluxe room as well as the 24-hour lounge offering the chain’s trademark five daily complimentary food presentations with live cooking stations at breakfast, and evening cocktails. Also offered is a concierge service, high-speed Wi-Fi access, work stations and two meeting rooms, which are free for two hours for residents. Internet access in the club rooms and suites is free.
PRICE: For a CNY500 (US$73.52) supplement plus tax per room per night, a guest can enjoy a host of club lounge privileges.
CONTACT: Shanghai IFC, 8 Century Avenue, Shanghai, Lujiazui, Pudong 200120, China, tel 86 21 2020 1888, www.ritzcarlton.com
Shanghai Marriott Hotel Changfeng Park
Shanghai Marriott Hotel Changfeng Park is located in the western area of Shanghai and part of the Changfeng Ecology Commercial District. Adjacent to the hotel is Chang Feng Park and the MGM Studio World Entertainment Centre.
Of the 501 guestrooms, 138 occupy the club floors and are classified as Executive Room, Executive Park View Room, Executive Suite and Presidential Suite. Not one, but two executive lounges, both measuring 495sqm, are located on the 31st floor.
Executive perks include express check-in and check-out, access to the lounge including one guest, free two hours’ use per stay of the meeting room, Wi-Fi internet access within the lounge and use of workstations with free high-speed internet access, among others.
With some variations, most club rooms feature a spacious writing desk, 42-inch flat-screen TV, multi adapters, an alarm clock with iPod docking stations, iron, ironing board and safety box. High-speed internet access is charged at CNY120 (US$17.64) for 24 hours. Views from the rooms are either of Changfeng Park or Suzhou River.
PRICE: For CNY200 (US$29.40), a guest can easily upgrade to the executive floor.
CONTACT: 158 Daduhe Road, Shanghai 200062, China, tel 86 21 2215 6666 www.marriottchangfeng.com
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund
The former Shanghai Club (circa 1911) re-emerged last month, after a sensitive refurbishment and sizeable expansion, as a Hilton-managed hotel. Two buildings make up this Waldorf Astoria: the Waldorf Astoria Club heritage building featuring 20 suites, four F&B outlets (Salon de Ville, Long Bar, Pelham’s and Wei Jing Ge), the ballroom with a balcony, and the New Tower that opens by year-end with 251 stylish guestrooms.
Exuding a classic European flavour, popular in Shanghai during the early years of the 20th century, the hotel’s suites include plush curtains, walk-in closets and marble-finished bathrooms with claw-foot bathtubs, along with mod-cons such as state-of-the-art entertainment systems and complimentary internet access. Round-the-clock butler service is another plus occupants of these premier spaces can expect. Complimentary Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the hotel.
PRICE: Suite rates start from CNY7,500 (US$1,100).
CONTACT: 88 Sichuan Zhong Road, Huang Pu District, Shanghai 20002, China, tel 86 21 6322 9988, www.waldorfastoria.com
Fairmont Peace Hotel
The much awaited re-entry of the 270-room Peace Hotel into Shanghai’s social scene took place in late July when it emerged as the new Fairmont Peace Hotel. Continuing the tradition of sheltering traders and fortune hunters as it did in the early 1930s, the establishment now offers the Fairmont Gold experience. Rooms are classified as the Fairmont Gold room, Fairmont Gold Grand room and Fairmont Gold One-Bedroom suite. Its lounge, located on the 7th floor, promises private check-in and check-out, daily breakfast, afternoon beverages, evening cocktails, late night snacks, concierge service and free Wi-Fi internet access at the lounge as well as wake-up calls and free beverage delivery to the room. Guests who want more indulgence can take up a Grand Suite or Signature Suite with views of the Huangpu River and Pudong’s modern skyline, the vintage Nine Nations Suite preserved from the original structure or the Sassoon Presidential Suite, once home of the hotel’s colourful owner, tycoon Victor Sassoon.
PRICE: Until October 31, stay three nights and get the fourth night free, all for US$399 nightly.
CONTACT: 20 Nanjing Road East, Shanghai 200002, China, tel 86 21 6321 6888, www.peacehotel.com
OPENING SOON
Guoman
Opening on October 15, the newest and first Asian member of the UK-based Guoman hotel group is part of the Guoson Centre Changfeng complex in Shanghai’s emerging Putuo precinct. A second Guoman in Beijing is under development.
Housed in a 26-floor tower block, the 442-room property includes 41 Executive rooms, 125 Executive Suites and one Presidential Suite, occupying floors five to 26. All Executive room and suite residents enjoy Guoman Club lounge access, which offers complimentary breakfast and evening canapés and cocktails, private check-in and check-out and free internet access. Suites come with a CD/DVD player and 17-inch TV in the bathroom.
The hotel will import some service touches that reflect its British parentage such as using black London Taxi Cabs for airport transfers.
CONTACT: Block 3, 78 East Yun Ling Road, Putuo District, Shanghai 200062, tel 86 21 6095 8888, www.guoman.com
