|
 Ask
any international business associate where the next boon will take
place, and the popular choice is
China
. Between
Beijing
being awarded the Olympic Games in 2008 and a focused effort to make the
country for hospitable to travel and tourism,
China
has become the new frontier for business, capitalism, and leisure. The
doorman, so to speak, though, is not
Beijing
but
Shanghai
, a massive port city on the alluvial plains of the
Yangtze River
delta that wears centuries of a sophisticated and seductive tradition.
Before the onset of communism in 1949,
Shanghai
attracted a diverse and at times unsavoury mix of visitors—business
tycoons, the idle rich, drug smugglers, swindlers and honest,
hard-working folks were common ingredients in the
Shanghai
melting pot. Today, as the old order becomes a distant memory,
Shanghai
is dusting off the remnants of its old vibrant glory, again welcoming
the world with open arms.
One of the
many architectural marvels stretching from the city center to the sky is
the Shanghai St. Regis hotel, a decadent symbol of a future
Shanghai
and the promise and excitement that the city exudes. A perfect first
stop to travelers, this impressive edifice beckons guests to the new
‘Gateway to the Orient,’ and to a new order of energetic growth and
hospitality. Due to the scope and breadth of the city, owing to massive
expansion both before 1949 and in the last decade or so, it is difficult
to pinpoint a heart of the city, but the Shanghai St. Regis in the
Pudong New Area is positioned as well as one could hope. Easily
accessible from the city’s new international airport and
state-of-the-art underground railway system, all of
Shanghai
—the old glory, and the new, if somewhat scattered and unfocused,
contemporary traditions—are just a short trip away.
The rapid
economic and business growth taking place in Pudong right now surrounds
the 260-room and 48-suite Shanghai St. Regis, a stunning 40-story icon
on the city skyline that has garnered its fair share of acclaim since
opening in the summer of 2001. That year, FORBES
magazine named it the world’s best new business hotel, and the
following year Asia Pacific Travel Professionals TTG awarded it the same
praise. With 48 square meters of accommodation space in the standard
room, the largest of any hotel in the city, and suites to rival the
finest condominium living, the St. Regis owes its commendations to
providing far more than just a bed for the weary traveler. No detail has
been ignored. Each room is equipped with the Herman Miller “Aeron”
chair, the only Gold winner in the furniture category of the Best in
Business 1990-2000 Designs of the Decade, a BOSE CD Wave Radio system,
rainforest shower heads, and custom 900-coil mattresses outfitted with
250-thread-count sheets, and complimentary personal care products from
“Kenneth Turner.” Along with elegant room décor designed by the
Hong Kong-based Hirsch Bedner Associates, each room is stylish and
sophisticated, coloured in rich fabrics, select artwork, and
wall-to-wall coverings. Combined with the best broadband access
available in
Shanghai
and beautiful views of the Pudong commercial center, the St. Regis
offers a personalized, pampered experience unlike any other in
Shanghai
.
As one
might expect, the rooms are only the touchstone of the award-winning
experience at the St. Regis. The dining is second to none as well, and
both Danieli’s and Saints International won best in category in 2002. Danieli’s
offers upscale new Italian cuisine on the top floor of the St.
Regis, offering the most exquisite atmosphere of any restaurant in the
city. Saints offers elegant
all-day dining with both an international buffet and a la carte option.
For drinks and jazz after a long day meandering about the city, guests
head for the Mezzanine Lounge,
open nightly until
midnight
. Authentic Chinese cuisine can be had at Carrianna,
or enjoy a drink or some peace of  mind
in the Executive Lounge and Library, where guests get complimentary
cocktails between
5:30 p.m.
and 7:00 p.m. daily, served by the world-renowned butlers of the St.
Regis Butler Service.
The perks
do not end there. As a testament to the St. Regis commitment to provide
their guests with an unforgettable service, a host of other
complimentary services are available for all the hotel’s guests.
Garment pressing, shoe shining service, daily newspapers and fresh
fruits, coffee and tea, and access to the hotel’s health club and spa
are all added bonuses of a St. Regis stay. The hotel also offers
complimentary shuttle service on the weekends to some of the most
interesting sites around
Shanghai
, including the Yu Yuan Garden and
Nanjing Road
, where some of the best shopping is to be found. Whether exploring
classic Chinese culture or enjoying the thriving atmosphere of a city
that is destined to restore its past glory in a futuristic veil, the St.
Regis in
Shanghai
is the conduit to both worlds, and a model for the luxury business hotel
in the twenty-first century.
Where
to Stay
The
St. Regis Shanghai - www.stregis.com/shanghai
- 889 Dong Fang Road, Pudong District, Shanghai, 200122 China - Tel.: (86)(21)5050 4567 - Fax: (86)(21) 6875 6789
Email: stregis.shanghai@starwoodhotels.com
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