Fusion hospitality
By Yang Yijun (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-25 10:15
 |
Large Medium Small |
Guoman Hotels lands in Shanghai, mixing British touches with traditional Chinese flavor in its style. Yang Yijun reports
Even before arriving at Guoman Hotel Shanghai, guests will immediately enjoy the British style of the hotel when they are picked up by one of its iconic London taxicabs.
Guoman Hotels, which has four hotels of unique style in London, just launched its first deluxe hotel outside the United Kingdom here in Shanghai.
"We are here because Shanghai symbolizes the perfect mixture of the East and the West," says Suat Binkaya, the hotel's general manager from Britain.
The hotel aims to bring a bit of "Britishness" to the city, he says. "Shanghai is a fast-paced city, and we want to mix it with our London elegance."
The British elements have been built in the details of the hotel. As an added perk, guests have access to the hotel's fleet of black taxis, a rare sight in the streets of Shanghai, to take them anywhere in the city free of charge.
Twinings tea, the popular British brand, is available almost everywhere in the hotel, from the lounge to the guestrooms. Typical British food, such as sausages and crisps, also provide guests with an authentic British flavor. The hotel's 11 individually designed meeting rooms are also all named after British cities.
Binkaya says he hopes their British hospitality will make an impact in Shanghai.
"In big hotels, saying hello to the guest is very much standardized," says Binkaya. "For us, it's a genuine smile and a genuine welcome. Putting the personality into the picture is more important than how you say it."
"We are here to respect, to share and also bring something British," he says.
Similar to the city of Shanghai, where the East meets the West, the hotel is also seeking a balance between London's elegance and traditional Chinese style.
"Apart from British tea, we also provide Chinese tea and know how to serve it in a proper way," says Binkaya.
The hotel not only offers British brunch on Sunday, but also serves traditional Chinese flavors. Hard work and careful preparation have gone into the hotel's Chinese restaurant Yin Chu Xuan, where guests can taste authentic Cantonese food with a touch of spicy Sichuan cuisine.
"Fusion food is everywhere, but we would like to offer the best traditional Chinese food," he says.
Located just opposite Changfeng Park, which is known for its soothing atmosphere and tai chi practitioners in the early morning, the 26-story hotel provides gorgeous views. With 50 percent of the guestrooms overlooking the park, the hotel is indeed an ideal place to escape the noise of the bustling metropolis after a full day.
With a sunroof terrace beside the hotel spa, the guests can sunbathe during the day and barbecue at night while enjoying the park views.
The hotel offers various choices of entertainment with its location just next to the Changfeng Park Ocean World, the city's most popular aquarium, and the Jackie Chan Museum.
The hotel is close to the Guoson Center Changfeng, a major business and retail development under construction in the center of the up-and-coming Putuo district.
The hotel offers convenient access to the city's transportation hubs, being in close proximity to Hongqiao International Airport and Shanghai Railway Station and just 54 km from Pudong International Airport.
Shanghai is the first step in the international development of Guoman Hotels. Two deluxe hotels will open, in Beijing and the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, in 2011 and 2012.
"We will open 30 hotels in China within three or five years," says Binkaya.