Hilton signs Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Shanghai

A Hilton Hotels Corporation subsidiary has signed an agreement with Shanghai New Union Building Co Ltd to manage the Waldorf Astoria On The Bund Shanghai. The hotel will be located in the heritage building on the infamous Bund in Shanghai and is scheduled to open in 2011.

The 266-room Waldorf Astoria On The Bund Shanghai will comprise two buildings. The main entrance at the heritage building will be located at No 2 on the Bund which housed the infamous Shanghai Club, an exclusive Gentlemen’s Club in the 1920s. This building will be connected by a courtyard to a new-build modern tower located behind the Bund on Sichuan Road.

Martin Rinck, President Hilton Hotels Asia Pacific said, “This is an extraordinarily exciting project that epitomizes our commitment to expanding our luxury offerings in the region. The Bund is a significant part of Shanghai’s vibrant history and there could not be a better location for the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in Asia. The historical significance and neoclassical architecture of No 2 on the Bund is a perfect fit for Hilton’s classic Waldorf Astoria luxury hotel brand.”

Situated in the former Shanghai International Settlement, the Bund is a waterfront landmark comprising 52 heritage buildings built in the early 1900s that stretch one mile along the western bank of the Huangpu River, with clear vantage points of the Pudong skyline.

Today, the Bund is home to a myriad of up-market restaurants, luxury hotels, and haute couture boutiques, attracting tourists from across China and worldwide. The Waldorf Astoria On The Bund Shanghai will be easily accessible by Metro as well as being directly linked to Yan’an Road, which tunnels under the Huangpu River linking Pudong New Area, the financial and commercial hub of modern China. Nanjing Road, a centre of retail and commerce in Shanghai for more than a century is also within walking distance.

The Waldorf Astoria On The Bund Shanghai will have an array of restaurants and bars, with 4 unique restaurants, 2 bars, a patisserie and a lobby lounge. Extensive banqueting facilities will aim to position the hotel as a first choice for meetings as well as wedding receptions in the city. A swimming pool, health club and spa will provide guests with luxury amenities to rest, rejuvenate and relax.

As the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in the region, the Waldorf Astoria On The Bund Shanghai heralds the growth and development of the Hilton Family of Brands’ luxury offering in Asia Pacific. With one of the major company goals cited as the growth and strengthening of the Hilton Family’s luxury and lifestyle sector offering, the prestigious Waldorf Astoria, together with its sister brands, The Waldorf Astoria Collection and Conrad Hotels & Resorts, aims to significantly increase its global portfolio over the next few years, whilst communicating a distinct brand culture.

Ross Klein, Global Head, Luxury & Lifestyle Brands, Hilton Hotels Corporation said, “The Waldorf Astoria brand is the ultimate in prestige luxury and encapsulates the core values of legendary, timelessness and culture. Each of the new Waldorf Astoria hotels will build on the traditions established by the original Waldorf Astoria in New York and enable guests to live the Waldorf Astoria legacy of personalised experiences.”

Hilton Hotels Corporation is developing Waldorf Astoria hotels and residences in key cities around the world and over the next few years expects to launch The Waldorf Astoria Orlando in Florida (2009), The Waldorf Astoria Sarasota (2010), The Waldorf Astoria Montreal (2011), the proposed Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills (2011) and the Waldorf Astoria Philadelphia (2012).

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