Or how to start the year on the right foot. On 1 January, the Hilton Group inaugurated a new Conrad luxury hotel in the heart of Shanghai. Located in Puxi, on the historic bank of the Chinese megalopolisThe Conrad Shanghai is housed in a 66-storey tower overlooking People's Square. Close to transport links and the city's main attractions, including the Bund, Xintiandi, the Shanghai World Financial Centre and Nanjing Road, the Conrad Shanghai offers 728 rooms spacious floor-to-ceiling windows, offering dazzling views of Puxi and the Pudong skyline in the distance.
Its 60 suites with a residential feel, including a presidential suite, provide access to a executive lounge located on level 44, where business travellers can find comfortable workspaces and enjoy the view while having breakfast, afternoon tea or sipping a cocktail in the evening. Free of charge, of course, as part of the VIP service. Hotel guests can also take advantage of the multiple restoration options There's a Chinese restaurant, a Spanish restaurant, a French-style bistro and a seafood restaurant, also French, as well as a vast bar-lounge on the top two floors of the tower.
It is also on these top floors, on the 64th floor, that business travellers will find two exclusive meeting spaces, Hu's Penthouse and Hu's Atelier on the 64th floor, featuring state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. With its location in the heart of the metropolis, the Conrad Shanghai is positioned as a popular new business meeting venue with a 2,500 m2 events area with 13 meeting rooms and an 864 m² ballroom for up to 600 people, all pillarless and with spectacular views over East Nanjing Road.
" We are delighted to continue our strong growth in the luxury sector in Asia Pacific with the launch of the first Conrad Shanghai, adding to our existing 17 luxury hotels in Greater China and 10 more under construction" said Alan Watts, president of Hilton Asia Pacific. Among the establishments expected in the coming years are Conrads in Wuhan and Zhuhai and a Waldorf Astoria in Shenzhen, all developed with Hilton's preferred partner for its expansion in the luxury segment in China, the Shimao Group, which also owns the Conrad Shanghai.
However, the American group's expansion in China is not limited to its most prestigious brands. " As one of our strategic growth markets, we have continued to invest heavily by launching several noteworthy initiatives in Chinaincluding our large-scale franchise model, the introduction of our Home2 by Hilton extended stay brand, and multiple strategic partnerships to develop our brands and presence." said Alan Watts.
Hilton aims to open 1,000 hotels in China by 2025. This ambitious plan comes at a time when the American group has just celebrated the opening of its 400th hotel in the country, the Hilton Lanzhou City Center, located in the central business district of the main metropolis in Gansu province. To go even further, Hilton is counting on the franchise development of its brandsIt is also counting on the expected growth of its budget brand Hampton by Hilton and on the introduction of new brands on the Chinese market with the launch this month of Home2 Suites by Hilton, positioned for long stays.
