Shangri-La in the starting-blocks ahead of the Beijing Olympics

While Olympic Games are on the horizon Beijing, Shangri-La is already on the starting line. The hotel group has just inaugurated a new address in the Chinese capital, just a stone's throw from the site that will host the snowboarding events next February. In addition to this 'Olympic' location, the Shangri-La Shougang Park is distinguished by its atypical architecture, inherited from the power plant once housed in one of the hotel's three buildings. The metamorphosis was carried out by Piero Lissoni, who succeeded in exploiting the cachet associated with the site's industrial past by adding a touch of luxury typical of luxury hotels, and the greenery associated with the surrounding parkland. The Italian designer used a vast glass façade that surrounds the original structure, bathing the concrete and steel décor in light. This historic building is linked to the other two pillars of the Shangri-La Shougang Park by a vast staircase, all in red, leading to the rooms and the meeting and events areas.

For Sunny Paw, this bold project would be " the next chapter in the Shangri-La story ". Indeed, the Executive Vice President of Operations for the Shangri-La Group in China explains: " Shangri-La Shougang Park, Beijing, embodies our brand's new interpretation of classic Asian hospitality and represents the next chapter in our history. With a bold, innovative designWe have developed a contemporary and stylish hotel experience, inspired by the city's magnificent steel heritage, to create one of the most sought-after destinations for both domestic and international guests. We are also delighted to open our doors on the eve of the 2022 Winter Olympics and to celebrate this important event in Beijing. ". As for Liang Jie, deputy general manager of Shougang Park, he sees the opening of the hotel as a new asset for the image of the district: " In the run-up to the Beijing Winter Olympics, we believe that this unique industrial-inspired hotel and the rejuvenated Shougang Park will encourage more people to enjoy this area. ".

Although the official inauguration took place on 28 December, all of the 283 rooms and suites are not yet available, nor is the fitness centre. On the other hand, the restaurants and banqueting rooms are fully operational, with the Shangri-La Shougang Park featuring 1,400 m² of event spaceThere is a large ballroom with a capacity of 700 people, as well as five multi-purpose rooms. There are also two restaurants, Shang Market and Shang Brew, and the Power Station lounge in the hotel lobby.

The Shangri-La group, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year, is soon to inaugurate another strategic establishment for business travel in China, on the site of Shanghai Hongqiao airport. The project, announced just before the health crisis, was to combine the Shangri-La and Traders brands in Terminal 2, and was due to open in 2023.