Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels has expanded its hotel portfolio with the opening of The Peninsula Shanghai along the bank of the Huangpu River. Located next to the former British Consulate Gardens, the grand and glamourous property is the first new building on the city’s celebrated Bund in over 60 years and marks the company’s return to its Shanghai roots.
Built in the style of a noble 1920s and 1930s residence, the hotel combines art deco features with subtle Chinese influences to reflect Shanghai’s glorious heyday. Special features include an elevator large enough to deliver a limousine to the ballroom, a custom-made 1930s Schindler cage lift, a full-scale replica of a 1930s seaplane and a fleet of customised Rolls Royce Phantom limousines.
The 235 guestrooms and suites are amongst the largest in the city and boasts views of Huangpu River, Pudong skyline or the former British Consulate Gardens. Each room is furnished with luxury bedding, a marble bathroom with separate bathtub and shower, 46-inch flat screen plasma television, CD/DVD player with sound system and iPod connectivity, in-room safe, minibar and Nespresso coffee machine. Business travellers will enjoy complimentary high-speed internet access, dual-line telephones with voicemail function, a 3-in-1 fax, printer and photocopier machine, VOIP and spacious workdesk.
4 themed suites (Astor, Majestic, Palace and Peninsula Suites) provide unique, private accomodation for discerning guests. Floor-to-ceiling windows open out to a landscaped terrace with its own table and whirlpool, making them perfect for romantic retreats. The Peninsula Shanghai’s most luxurious accomodation, the 900-square meter Palace Suite, promises utmost privacy and exclusivity. Accessed by a dedicated private lift, the suite features a large foyer with 3 grand reception rooms perfect for private parties and events, complemented by the wraparound outdoor rooftop terrace.
The Peninsula Shanghai brings 5 unique restaurants and bars to Shanghai, spearheaded by Sir Elly’s Restaurant, Bar and Terrace serving modern European cuisine. At Yi Long Court, Executive Chef and China’s first Michelin Star winner Tang Chi Keung offers mouthwatering Cantonese and regional dishes. The Lobby recreates the world of a wealthy noble house of the 1920s where guests can enjoy breakfast in the mornings, exquisite afternoon tea and drinks in the evenings. Guests preferring a more intimate venue can proceed to The Compass Bar, where the dark timber floor, deep navy and purple furnishings combine with nautical memorabilia to create a cozy haven for meetings and socializing. In the basement, Salon de Ning provides a glimpse of Shanghai’s decadence during the 1930s with 4 private alcoves (Azure, Indian, L’Atelier and Cinema).
Business travellers and meeting planners have 6 flexible venues at their disposal, including the spectacular Rose Ballroom, which is capable of accomodating up to 1,000 guests for a cocktail reception. Recreation facilities at the hotel include a fully-equipped gymnasium with state-of-the-art equipment, a 25-meter long indoor swimming pool with its own fireplace, vitality pool and glass doors that open onto an outdoor terrace, as well as a Peninsula Spa by ESPA. The expansive facility boasts 7 treatment rooms and 2 VIP suites, tropical rain showers, steam rooms and saunas with iridescent light features and shaved ice fountains, where guests can indulge in holistic massages and treatments with spa products from ESPA.
The Peninsula Shanghai is the 9th hotel for Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, joining other Peninsula properties in Bangkok, Beijing, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Hong Kong, Manila, New York and Tokyo. The group is slated to further expand its portfolio with The Peninsula Paris when it opens in the French capital in 2012.
For more information, visit www.peninsula.com.
