Business and Leisure

With its exotic east-meets-west atmosphere and its contemporary role as China’s top business center, Shanghai is well on the way to becoming one of the world’s most-visited cities. Shanghai offers world-class services for business and leisure travelers alike, including a number of luxury hotels and a range of other superior facilities.

Embodiment of east-meets-west

As Dao Shu Ming, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission, explains, “From a business point of view, investors look at China and see an enormous domestic market, and in Shanghai’s case, a good base to do business with the rest of the Far East. Around 51 percent of Shanghai’s visitors are business travelers, but we expect more leisure tourists in the future and aim to enrich facilities and attractions to add value for anyone coming here.”

Shanghai already offers much to appeal to world travelers. The city’s historic Bund waterfront district includes a colorful mix of 1930s buildings reminiscent of old New York, along with ancient landmarks and bustling street markets. The Huaihai Lu and Nanjing Donglu districts — with their cafes, chic boutiques, antique shops and food emporiums – are a paradise for shoppers and food-lovers.

The magnificent Yuyuan Gardens, created during the 16th century Ming dynasty and now completely restored, attract those in search of peace and greenery, while the Yuyuan Bazaar is a popular theme park depicting historical China. The Shanghai Museum in a stunning new building is both an architectural statement and a repository for one of China’s most impressive art collections, while Shanghai’s Pudong district is one of the world’s most sophisticated business centers.

Over the past two decades, the Chinese tourism industry overall has grown twice as much as in the previous 30 years, and Shanghai’s tourism sector, along with Beijing’s, is leading the way. Today, all the major international hotel groups have properties in Beijing, Shanghai or both, and many of these hotel groups have announced plans for further expansion. Shanghai now has 144 star-rated hotels, including 12 five-star hotels.

Urging U.S. travelers to discover the city’s charms, Dao says, “Shanghai is the embodiment of east-meets-west.”

Shanghai China International Travel Service Co., Ltd. (CITS)

“Shanghai CITS is the total solution for travel.”

The Shanghai China International Travel Service Co., Ltd. (CITS) was created in 1994 as a spin-off of the China International Travel Service Group, which had been serving Mainland China’s inbound and outbound travelers since 1954. The new company, which is listed on the Shanghai Exchange as CITS B Shares, is owned just over 50 percent by the state and the remainder by foreign investors. Since June last year, local Chinese have been able to become shareholders of B Share companies as well.

Shanghai was the destination of over two million tourists on organized tours last year. Nearly 200,000 were handled by Shanghai CITS, which was by far the most successful year to date. The company employs a staff of 600, including 300 multilingual tour guides fluent in some 30 languages. Close to 80,000 of last year’s tourists were helped by the company’s sales and marketing efforts. Song Chaoqi, Chairman of the Board, explains, “Very great strides were made in the ticketing, reservation, and exhibition division of the company last year to make this all possible. As one of the oldest and largest travel companies in China, we are the established leader in the industry.”

Shanghai CITS is ranked number one among Shanghai’s international tourist operators and has achieved Shanghai’s prestigious “Model Business Unit” award four times during the past eight years.
The company serves both international tour operators, for whom it can establish partnerships with local companies, and individual clients. Many relocation services look to employ the company’s services because of their expertise in accommodation and acclimatization for both long and short-term visitors. Shanghai CITS’ well-established operations guarantee visitors a problem-free visit to Shanghai and points beyond, as they can assist in both inbound and outbound travel arrangements. As Song points out, “CITS is the total solution for travel when Shanghai is on your itinerary.”

Shanghai CITS prides itself on its dedicated, highly motivated staff (Song himself worked his way up through the company’s ranks to become Chairman) and on its high-quality, personalized service. The company is ISO 9001 certified in China, the Netherlands and the United States.

Song explains that CITS will continue to play a major role in supporting the continued growth of China’s tourism industry. “I believe that the entry into the World Trade Organization, as well as the choice of holding the Olympics here, are huge positives for China. As the doors continue to open wider, I look forward to the day when the pre-conceived notions and biases that separate our cultures are greatly diminished,” he concludes.

Sheraton Grand Tai Ping Yang Hotel

“This hotel raises relaxation to an art form.”

The five-star Sheraton Grand Tai Ping Yang Hotel stands out among the city’s premier hotels with its elegant decor featuring Asian art, Oriental carpets and a range of other special touches. General Manager Andre Rolli explains, “Even the halls and corridors feel like an art gallery, with their rich tapestries, luminous paintings and statues. The hotel itself raises relaxation to an art form.” Rolli himself is responsible for the lush decor of the hotel, and has a great eye for detail and comfort.

When the hotel officially opened in March 1992, what was once a trickle of westerners into Shanghai became more perceptible. It continued to strengthen as the Shanghai stock market took off in the early Nineties and business began to boom in the city. The Sheraton Grand now has a large portion of guests who look forward to the western amenities it provides. The hotel offers 496 luxurious rooms and suites, including a range of clubrooms and suites and the extremely spacious new Grand Rooms with separate sitting rooms. The Sheraton Grand’s complete business center can satisfy any traveling executive’s needs, while a wide choice of meeting rooms can be tailored to suit groups of any size.

Dining options include Giovanni’s, Shanghai’s top Italian restaurant, as well as Emerald Garden, which features authentic Chinese cuisine. There is also Compass Rose Buffet Restaurant serving a range of Asian and Continental favorites. The cozy Library Bar pours the city’s driest martini with an outstanding top floor view, while Chelsea Bar resembles a convivial English pub. The delicatessen serves up some of the best cuts in town and the baked breads and pastries are the perfect way to start the day. Guests can relax or get fit in the Sheraton Grand’s superbly equipped Take 5 health club.

The hotel is conveniently located next to Shanghai’s International Exhibition Center and a block from Shanghai Mart. Rolli points out that the Sheraton Grand is continually being improved to satisfy the needs of sophisticated international travelers, reflecting Shanghai’s growing importance as an Asian business center. He explains, “I think that if you feel you are on the cutting edge of business and you are not in Shanghai, then you should be.”

Cypress Hotel

“This hotel is truly a paradise.”

Shanghai’s luxurious Cypress Hotel is an oasis of tranquility, set in 40 acres of beautifully landscaped, Japanese-style gardens in the heart of the city’s most prestigious district. As General Manager William Tsao says, “Taking a walk on the hotel grounds is a therapeutic experience in the true eastern style, we are an oasis of tranquility in the concrete and steel of Shanghai. The garden is truly unique in this city, and business guests tell us it gives them a sense of focus.”

Business travelers are also served by the hotel’s wide variety of meeting areas, as well as the state-of-the-art telecommunications and audiovisual facilities, including high-speed Internet access, that are standard in all meeting rooms and guest rooms. The hotel offers Deluxe and Executive Suites with garden views, as well as a wide variety of meeting and banquet halls. Many companies come to us to use our facilities as a training ground as well as a destination for corporate conventions. We have become a destination unto ourselves and guests can reserve through the Steeigenberger Reservation Service.

Guests can enjoy the exclusive Long Bai Club, open only to members and hotel guests, as well as a range of dining options, from a convivial barbecue restaurant to gourmet cuisine served in elegant surroundings. Sports facilities include an Olympic-size pool, tennis courts and a driving range. Tsao adds, “Another perk is that we are the only hotel that is allowed to showcase fireworks. That makes us an ideal celebratory destination for corporate events.”

Superior service is another reason the Cypress Hotel continues to attract Fortune 500 executives and other sophisticated travelers. We have made the decision to expand our room capacity by adding more of the villa style residences in 2002. Our guests can then enjoy relaxation under a canopy of trees and clear reflections of our goldfish ponds. Tsao says, “This hotel is truly a paradise in the modern city.”

Renaissance Yangtze

“We offer the added value of personal preference.”

The five-star services Renaissance Yangtze (formerly the Yangtze New World Hotel) is the first hotel on Mainland China that is a member of the prestigious Renaissance group, a division of the Marriott chain. The hotel has just completed an extensive renovation to achieve five-star status and features 553 luxurious, fully air-conditioned deluxe and club floor guest rooms and suites located on 33 floors, offering guests breathtaking views of the city.

General Manager Stephan Stoss explains that in addition to the high standards in facilities and services that international travelers have come to expect from Marriott, the Renaissance offers something different. “Renaissance is a place where our highest purpose is to bring out the human spirit of the frequent traveler; we have the body of a full service with the soul of a boutique. We seek to offer the added value of personal preference to the discerning traveler,” he says.

The Renaissance is ideally located in the Hongqiao Economic Area, midway between the city center and Hongqiao International Airport. The building is adjacent to the International Trade and Exhibition Center and just a few minutes’ walk from the Shanghai Mart, Shanghai’s largest commercial center.

The Renaissance offers a full range of sophisticated business services and well- equipped meeting areas, as well as the popular Dynasty Cantonese restaurant, considered the city’s best. The Renaissance Café offers all day dining in a relaxed atmosphere. During the second phase of renovation the hotel will add a Japanese and Italian restaurant as well as a wine and cigar bar. The hotel’s health club is also scheduled to be transformed into a health spa.

One of the most anticipated annual events in Shanghai is the hotel’s Octoberfest event, which lasts ten days during the latter part of September. Adhering to the original German calendar, the event features traditional Lederhosen outfits, music, food, and of course fun and beer. Everyone in the city’s business community agrees that the Octoberfest at the Renaissance Yangtze Shanghai Hotel is the place to socialize and stay connected with the beat of the city.

Addressing American travelers, Stoss says, “Come to Shanghai and be amazed at the pace of change. China, I feel, will be a major power over the next few years. The quality of life is improving rapidly and with the Beijing Olympics, the APEC meeting here in October, and the entry of China into the World Trade Organization, the Marriott Corporation is focused on this city, with the Renaissance paving the way.”

Novotel Atlantis Shanghai

“We’re a four-star hotel with a five-star attitude.”

The four-star Novotel Atlantis Shanghai is conveniently located in the Lujiazui Financial and Trade Zone in Pudong, around 20 miles from Pudong International Airport, approximately 15 miles from Hong Qiao International Airport and adjacent to the Bund. A member of the prestigious Novotel chain, the hotel is set in a tower that combines guest rooms and suites, office space and a stunning choice of 10 food and beverage outlets.

Robert Rippon, General Manager, explains, “This hotel sets the standard here in Asia as far as the Novotel brand is concerned. This hotel is slightly different from other Novotel operations in that we have 10 food and beverage outlets, five of which are restaurants. It’s a large food and beverage operation. Also, in Pudong we have a very strong product as compared to other four-star hotels.” One of the hotel’s best known dining options is its revolving restaurant on the 50th floor, Art50, that offers superb cuisine and breathtaking views as well as a trendy bar and art gallery. The Novotel also contains its own web bar, the Biz Café.

Explaining the hotel’s competitive edge, Rippon says, “Our philosophy at this hotel is that we want to be the troublemaker for the five-star hotels in the area and certainly we’ve been able to do that. We’re a four-star hotel with a five-star attitude.”

For business travelers, the Novotel has five executive floors including one floor solely for female guests. The Club Femme ladies’ floor has all the facilities offered throughout the hotel with a few added bonuses, such as added security and day-to-day essentials that are focused on the needs of the modern woman. All guest rooms are equipped with data ports for immediate Internet access as well as voice mail. In addition, the hotel offers seven meeting and convention rooms capable of accommodating up to 500 guests. As Rippon puts it, “This hotel has a boutique hotel feel to it, with a French flair.”