SHANGHAI -- A new
hotel infrastructure is, of course, part of Shanghais building
boom.
When the 720-room
Hilton Shanghai was built in 1988, it was the only five-star hotel
in the city. The deluxe hotel count today is somewhere around 20. A
JW Marriott opened in December. A second Marriott is planned for a
2007 opening, as is a Ritz-Carlton.
The newest
international property in the city is the 300-room Westin Shanghai,
located a few blocks from the Bund.
I stayed there
one night in a beautifully furnished room with a river view, a
sitting area, a comfy Heavenly Bed and a modern bathroom.
The hotel has
three restaurants, a deli, a pool, a health club and an amazing
glass staircase that rises from the lobby in a waterfall of
changing colors.
For more
information, call (800) WESTIN-1; or visit www.westin.com.
For the next two
nights, I couldnt resist moving to the Howard Johnson Plaza, upon
the recommendation of Irene Chen, Pacific Delight Tours director of
tour development, whom I met earlier aboard Viking River Cruises
inaugural Yangtze River sailing.
It was good
advice, for I was in time for the hotels Spring Savers, with
double-room rates starting at $118 plus 15% tax; doubles normally
start at $230.
And who would
expect to find a deluxe Howard Johnson property in Shanghai,
especially one with a grandly columned lobby and inlaid marble
floors?
It is one of six
in China, where Howard Johnson International has upscaled its
product line. The flagship Shanghai hotel opened a year ago, and
the company is in the process of developing nine additional hotels
in China to establish a presence in every major business
center.
Located a block
from the Nanjing Road pedestrian mall and a 10-minute walk from the
Bund, the five-star Howard Johnson Shanghai has 360 guest rooms,
including executive suites on the 23rd to 27th floors.
My room was
spacious and attractively furnished with a TV; high-speed Internet
access; a two-line phone and dataport; full amenities in the
bathroom; a minibar; and a view of Century Square.
Guest facilities
include four restaurants, an indoor pool, an exercise room and a
spa. For more information, call (800) I-GO-HOJO or visit www.howardjohnson.com.
To contact
reporter Carla Hunt, send e-mail to [email protected].