Shangri-La Will Open Second Hotel In Suzhou In June 2019

Suzhou, China Shangri-La Group today announced Shangri-La Hotel, Suzhou Yuanqu will open June 1, 2019, enhancing the city’s luxury accommodations and service offerings. A draw for both leisure and business travelers, Suzhou is famous for its classical Chinese gardens and silk production and is easily accessible by high speed train from Shanghai.

Shangri-La Hotel, Suzhou Yuanqu will have 303 guestrooms and suites and 16 serviced apartments. Starting from 48 square meters, the guest rooms are some of the largest in the city and will offer expansive views of Jinji Lake and the city skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows. Designed in a soothing palette of silver, beige and blue, the guest rooms reflect the many lakes and canals found within the city. An innovative sliding wall separates the bathroom from the living and sleeping area enabling a guest to create an open floor plan or segment the space for privacy. Guestrooms are adorned with art inspired by Suzhou’s famous gardens created with a modern approach to traditional Chinese landscape paintings, while brocade fabrics pay homage to the important role that silk production has played in the city’s history. The hotel’s concierge level Horizon Club Lounge on level 31 will offer exclusive amenities and services.

Currently accepting reservations, Shangri-La Hotel, Suzhou Yuanqu is offering a special breakfast buffet price of CNY1 (about USD0.15) for stays booked under the flexible rate from June 1 to October 31, 2019. Golden Circle members can earn double GC Award Points for each room booking.

Travelers will be able to choose between two distinctive restaurants at the hotel. Shang Gardenwill serve regional Chinese cuisine, while the all-day dining restaurant Café Hong will feature live theater kitchens serving global fare. For those seeking an elegant escape to relax and socialize from day to evening, the Sip Lounge will offer an extensive selection of tea, wine, cocktails and live entertainment.

Guests can relax and rejuvenate in the Health Club on Level 7 with a 24-hour gym, 25-meter indoor temperature-controlled swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, and steam bath. The Spa at Shangri-La will offer a selection of wellness therapies based upon the healing traditions of Asia.

The addition of Shangri-La Hotel, Suzhou Yuanqu will boost the city’s total event space with two pillar-less ballrooms at 1,000 square meters (about 10,763 square feet) and 384 square meters (and 4,133 square feet). Seven multi-function spaces and a boardroom will complement the ballrooms and all venues will be equipped with advanced lighting, audio and video systems.

Located in the new central business district of the vibrant Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), Shangri-La Hotel, Suzhou Yuanqu is part of GCL Plaza, an integrated commercial complex that comprises an international office tower, a high-end residence and a four-story retail space. The hotel is within walking distance of the Jinji Lake, the largest city lake park in China, as well as Suzhou International Expo Centre and Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre.  The hotel is also within walking distance from the subway, making it an easy connection hub to major local attractions.

The hotel is a 10 minute drive from the SIP railway station and the Beijing-Shanghai/Nanjing-Shanghai expressway, the major thoroughfare which leads to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Sunan Shuofang International Airport. Travelers can also reach Suzhou from Shanghai via bullet train within 30 to 40 minutes on almost 200 trains daily.

Shangri-La Hotel, Suzhou Yuanqu is the second hotel in Suzhou, China for the luxury Asian hospitality group. The first Suzhou hotel, Shangri-La Hotel, Suzhou, was opened in 2007 and is also located in the city’s core business district.

For reservations and enquiries, email reservations.sljs@shangri-la.com or call (86 512) 6263 9999.

Famed for its classical Chinese gardens, traditional canal water towns, and silk production, Suzhou has welcomed visitors from throughout China and abroad over the course of its 2,500 year history. While the city’s gardens were built from the 10^th to 19^th century, the art of the Chinese garden reached its zenith in Suzhou in the Ming and Qing dynasties, when the country’s elite created elegant homes and gardens as retreats and the city became a cultural center. Four of Suzhou’s numerous traditional Chinese gardens are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city’s historical heritage can also be found in the canals and half-moon bridges of the Tong Li and Zhujiajiao water villages. Since the Song Dynasty, Suzhou has also been an important center for China's silk industry, and its silk weavers and embroiderers are considered amongst the best in China and once supplied silk to the country’s imperial family and important dignitaries. 

About Shangri-La Group

Shangri-La Group is one of the world’s premier developers, owners and operators of hotel and investment properties which comprises office buildings, commercial real estate and serviced apartments/residences. The Group’s other principal activities include hotel management services as well as property development for sale. It currently owns and/or manages over 100 hotels globally in more than 75 destinations under the Shangri-La, Kerry, Hotel Jen and Traders brands. Prominently positioned in Asia, the Group has a substantial pipeline of upcoming hotel and mixed-use development projects in Australia, Bahrain, Mainland China, Cambodia, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

Luxury Hotel Built In Former Pit Mine To Open In China

SHANGHAI (AP) — A luxury hotel opening outside Shanghai is offering guests with deep pockets the chance of a very deep sleep.

The 18-story Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland Hotel has been built into the side of a huge hole in the ground left by a former pit mine. Sixteen of its floors are below ground level, looking out onto the rest of the former quarry. Two floors are underwater.

“I designed many different types of buildings in U.K., in Europe, in Dubai, and so on but this one was totally different and became almost life work, so that’s why I’m saying it’s probably the most important building that I have designed,” said chief architect Martin Jochman, who is known for the sail-shaped Burj Al-Arab skyscraper in Dubai.

The project began in 2006 and construction got underway in 2013. The team faced delays and a host of technical challenges, including meeting strict earthquake regulations and maintaining water levels.

UNESCO representative Michael Croft described the 336-room hotel as a model for sustainable development.

“It’s a model that has been inspired by a vision of a better future, and a present that looks to its past for answers,” he said at a news conference introducing the hotel Thursday.

The hotel, which is in Songjiang near Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, opens Tuesday. Rooms are priced from 3,666 to 6,000 yuan ($530 to $860).

“We could have abandoned this quarry,” said Xu Shitan, vice chairman of Hong Kong property developer Shimao Group, which developed the hotel. “But we didn’t. We turned it into a treasure.”

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This Nov. 13, 2018, aerial photo and released on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2018 by Xinhua News Agency, shows the Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland Hotel in Songjiang district of Shanghai, east China. The 18-story hotel has been built into the side of a huge hole in the ground left b

Conrad Hotels & Resorts Unveils Smart Luxury In China’s Fujian Province With Opening Of Conrad Xiamen

 –  Conrad Hotels & Resorts,  Hilton’s (NYSE: HLT) smart luxury hotel brand, today announced the opening of  Conrad Xiamen, on the southwestern coast of Xiamen Island. Owned by Shimao Group and managed by Hilton, Conrad Xiamen is the first Conrad hotel in Fujian province, the sixth in China among a portfolio that includes Conrad Hong Kong, Conrad Sanya Haitang Bay, Conrad Dalian, Conrad Macao, and Conrad Beijing, and joins the larger Hilton portfolio of over 70 hotels in China.

“Conrad Xiamen is an excellent addition to our China portfolio. It underscores our commitment to growing our presence across the top destinations of this market and our confidence in the increasing demand for luxury accommodations from a new generation of smart luxury travelers,” said Bruce McKenzie, senior vice president of operations, Greater China & Mongolia, Hilton.

Conrad Xiamen occupies the 37^th to 54^th floors of the iconic 300-meter tall Shimao Straits Tower, in the heart of Siming’s Central Business District. Designed to be a shopping, leisure, and business hub, Shimao Straits Tower is a striking sea-facing landmark with a sail-shaped design boasting expansive views of the famous Gulangyu Island. Guests of Conrad Xiamen will enjoy direct access to a shopping mall and a cinema, as well as the prestigious Shapowei dining precinct. Nan Pu tuo Temple and Xiamen University are within walking distance and Conrad Xiamen is also close to major businesses and popular attractions such as Gulangyu Island ferry terminal, Zhongshan Road and Baicheng Beach. Conrad Xiamen is 22 kilometers from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport.

“We are delighted with the debut of our Conrad Hotel & Resorts brand in Fujian. Conrad Xiamen is a great flagship hotel that epitomizes the luxurious facilities and intuitive service that will provide our guests with inspired experiences and define a new standard for luxury in Xiamen,” said John Vanderslice, global head, Conrad Hotels & Resorts.

Conrad Xiamen has 241 guest rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer breathtaking views. Averaging 60 square meters, the rooms have walk-in wardrobes, large flat screen TVs, Wi-Fi and wired Internet access, Nespresso machines, hydrotherapy rain showers and 400-thread count luxury bed linens. Alternatively, guests can opt for suites and executive rooms with exclusive access to the Executive Lounge on the 54th floor.

Overlooking the city from the 37^th floor is a 24-hour Health Club with a full range of cardio and strength training equipment, as well as personal trainers. The heated 25-meter indoor pool offers sea views and guests can also unwind in the Jacuzzi or enjoy personalized treatments at Conrad Spa, which uses only the purest natural products.

With over 2,000 square meters of flexible meeting space and state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, Conrad Xiamen is also an ideal venue for corporate events, social gatherings and weddings. There are eight multifunction meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 210 people and a pillar-less, 760-square meter ballroom that is connected to a sea-facing 380 square meter foyer.

Conrad Xiamen delivers exquisite culinary experiences with its five restaurants and bars. Coast Bar & Grill offers the ultimate sky dining experience, with fresh seafood, grilled specialties and the highest bar in town. Lucheng serves mouth-watering Cantonese and Fujian delicacies, and has eight private rooms that are perfect for small functions. Pier 38 is an all-day dining restaurant with a buffet featuring a vast array of Asian and Western dishes, interactive cooking stations and great sea views. The sophisticated Plush serves High Tea by day and transforms into a vibrant bar in the evenings. Offering fine wines and snacks, it is a great place for socializing and relaxing. And at Parisian patisserie French Kiss, guests can expect fine pastries and Western-style meals.

To ensure that guests enjoy all that the city has to offer by way of culture, art, cuisine and adventure, Conrad Xiamen offers signature  Conrad 1/3/5experiences. Conrad Xiamen also offers the  Conrad Concierge app, which enables guests to customize the details of their stay, such as pre-selecting bath amenities, or checking-in while in transit, via a smartphone or tablet.

Conrad Xiamen participates in Hilton HHonors®, the only hotel loyalty program that allows members to earn Points & Miles® on the same stay, with No Blackout Dates on reward stays.
Along with HHonors Points, members also enjoy the lowest rates, digital check-in, complimentary internet access, and a booking fee waiver when they book directly through  www.conradhotels.com.

Conrad Xiamen is located at No. 186, Yanwuxi Road, Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361005, P.R. China. For more information or to make reservations, please call the hotel directly at +86 0592 258 6666, visit the hotel’s website at  www.conradhotels.com/xiamen, or follow the hotel on Wechat: Conradxiamen.

Hilton currently operates over 70 hotels in China, recently opening the second Hilton hotel in Xiamen, DoubleTree by Hilton Xiamen-Wuyuan Bay.

For more information about Conrad Hotels & Resorts, please visit  http://news.conradhotels.com or follow us at  www.facebook.com/ConradHotels,  www.instagram.com/ConradHotels,  http://twitter.com/ConradHotels.

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About Conrad Hotels & Resorts
Conrad Hotels & Resorts is the destination for the new generation of smart luxury travelers for whom life, business, and pleasure seamlessly intersect. Conrad offers its guests an innovative way to Stay Inspired through a curated collections of 1-hour, 3-hour, or 5-hour experiences, available through  www.stayinspired.com or through the intuitive  Conrad Concierge mobile app. Consisting of 26 properties across five continents, Conrad is part of Hilton, a leading global hospitality company. Connect with Conrad by booking at  www.conradhotels.com. Learn more about the brand by visiting http://news.conradhotels.com or following us on  Facebook,  Instagram, and  Twitter.