HotelChatter - cn

Shangri-La Debuts 2nd Shanghai Hotel and Delays London

JasonD — 2013-05-06T11:58:58-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/98243/ShangriLaPuxi3.jpg" class="top"> At the beginning of the year we were <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2013/1/29/162851/527/hotels/The_Wait_Continues_For_Shangri-La_And_Edition_London">hoping</a> that after seemingly endless anticipation, end of June would be the time to finally whiz up to the heights of <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Shangri-La+Hotel+London/local/4704">Shangri-La at the Shard</a> in <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/London%20Hotels">London</a>. Latest word however is that well all have to hold our breath until after the summer before that can happen, with opening of the hotel pushed back to September. While we continue to wait, the group is offering something to tie us over though: the Jing An Shangri-La Puxi, its second hotel in Shanghai, due to arrive on June 29 in the city's west end. Its older sibling can be found in the eastern Pudong business district,

Mix Your Own Martini Inside the Hotel Indigo Shanghai's 'Glamour Suite'

ASchechter — 2013-04-18T09:15:39-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/61268/shanghai_glamour_suite_Pillow_Front.jpg" class="top">Next up in our <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/sweet%20suites">Sweet Suite</a> series is this gem from the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Indigo+Shanghai+On+the+Bund/local/4762">Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund</a>. Now, we've fallen in love with this place beforespecifically, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/5/19/64335/1429/hotels/Hotel_Indigo_Shanghai_Has_Pretty_Public_Spaces_to_Match_Its_Pretty_Guestrooms">the lobby</a>, with its book-lined shelves, curvy walls, and that <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/5/17/133441/508/hotels/Can_You_Guess_The_Hotel_with_the_Bright_Yellow_Bicycle_In_the_Lobby%3F">lonely yellow bicycle</a>. But today, we're heading upstairs to the Glamour Suite, which is one of three "Icon suites" located inside the hotel. How did this one get to be so glamorous, you ask? The designers had originally wanted to create three major suites (Shanghai past, present, and future), but the hotel decided to "take things to the next level," and ended up naming the suites Shanghai Deco, Shanghai Glamour and Shanghai Future. As you can see

Last Week, Chengdu's First-Ever Bubble Hotel Popped (Up)

ASchechter — 2013-04-17T09:15:42-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/61268/Chengdu_Bubble_Hotel.jpg" class="top">Ever feel like <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/glamping">glamping</a> would just be sooo much cooler if your tent was completely see-through? Well, a France-based company called BubbleTree has gone ahead and designed one. It's called a "Bubble", and it's made of clear vinyl that allows plenty of sunshine (or, in other cases, nosy neighbors) to filter through. To acquaint Chinese customers with the product, <a href="http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/04/12/chinese-girl-spends-two-days-in-bubble-on-the-street-in-chengdu-china/">RocketNews</a> reports that BubbleTree installed one of their bubbles on a street corner in Chengdu last weekend. And to make things really realistic, there was even a young girl living inside it for two days, going about her business like reading an iPad and reclining on the bed. Unsurprisingly, the stunt worked: the bubble hotel sparked the

Serenity Seekers, Make Way to Banyan Tree Chongqing Beibei

wakeandwander — 2013-04-04T13:06:31-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/113893/chinahotspring.jpg" class="top"> While some in the travel industry are promoting wellness retreats as group-style getaways on isolated resorts that include daily workouts and a dumbed-down diet, the Banyan Tree brand has its own plan to help lower your blood pressure: They combine the local nature and culture, stick you in a suite, and close the door behind them. It's true. Space and privacy are big selling points of Banyan Tree properties, such as <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/9/13/15353/1794/hotels/The_Banyan_Tree_Macau_Opens%2C_Boasts_Private_Pools_Inside_the_Rooms">the five-star Macau resort with in-room private relaxation pools</a>. As it reads right on <a href="http://www.banyantree.com/">its homepage</a>, "The philosophy behind the hotels, resorts, residences, spas, retail galleries and destination club is based on rejuvenation of the body, mind and soul a Sanctuary for

Langham Drops Out of Yangtze, Still Has Many Other Hotels in China

juliana — 2013-04-03T15:06:34-05:00

Even though Langham Hotels is prepping to open in Chicago and have recently taken over the Setai Hotel in NYC and the Observatory Hotel in Sydney, they've actually closed the door on the Langham Yangtze in Shanghai.

Sophie Friedman, a Conde Nast Traveler contributor based in China, emailed us last week to say the hotel, a place we once called "practically perfect", parted ways with Langham (i.e. the management contract was not renewed.) Instead, the building's owners are doing their own thing and the hotel has been renamed Yangtze Boutique Hotel.