Five-star accommodation arrives in Jinqiao. Zhuan Ti reports.

Marriott International has launched its 20th Shanghai property and 62nd overall China hotel in the Jinqiao area of Pudong district, known for being home to many Fortune 500 companies and expatriate professionals.

The Shanghai Marriott Hotel Pudong East is the first five-star hotel in Jinqiao, with 323 stylish rooms and suites that offer sweeping views of the picturesque surrounding vistas, including a park, lake and canal.

According to general manager James Macadie, a 20-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Marriott has been "re-imagining" the guest experience to meet the demands of a new, younger generation of traveler. The Jinqiao property showcases these innovations, he said, with a lobby and other public spaces designed for both work and play.

"The spaces feel contemporary but with a certain warmth," he said, adding that the hotel features a "unique design and sense of place."

The hotel is also well-positioned for leisure travelers, who will increasingly flock to Pudong once Shanghai Disneyland opens in 2015, he said.

The Jinqiao area of Pudong falls within an official tourism zone designated by the local government which has received massive investment of more than 100 billion yuan. At the center of the zone will be Shanghai Disneyland.

With a strategic location in the center of Pudong, Marriott's newest Shanghai property also lies close to two major industrial parks where a number of Fortune 500 companies have their China headquarters and is only five minutes by car from the Shanghai New International Expo Center, which hosts many major East China exhibitions and trade shows.

The hotel also is nearly equidistant from the Pudong and Hongqiao airports, said Macadie. "In non-peak hour traffic, it's about 40 minutes to either of them," he said.

Given the hotel's location in a hub for multinational companies, it will be a natural choice for MICE travelers, Macadie said.

"The MICE segment will be one of the most important for us," he said, adding that the hotel has extensive facilities to meet the needs of meeting and events planners.

Those facilities include 1,705 square meters of banquet space, highlighted by a 655 square-meter divisible and pillar-free grand ballroom, together with an addition 10 function rooms illuminated by natural light.

The hotel's recreational facilities include a fitness center with a 22-meter heated indoor swimming pool as well as a dedicated jacuzzi and sauna for male and female guests, respectively.

Shanghai Marriott Hotel Pudong East features dining options sure to please both Chinese and Western palates. Man Ho, the signature Chinese restaurant of Marriott Hotels & Resorts, features high-end Cantonese and Shanghai cuisine. The public dining space is intimate, making it an ideal choice for couples or small groups, while numerous private dining rooms can accommodate larger meetings or celebrations.

The trattoria-style Italian restaurant Casalingo, headed by an Italian chef, will open at the end of February.

To mark its grand opening, Shanghai Marriott Hotel Pudong East has several special offers valid until Aug 31. Marriott Rewards members who stay at the hotel during this period will accrue bonus points. Additionally, guests who stay for a minimum of two nights at a rate of 1,480 yuan or higher will enjoy a free buffet breakfast for the duration of their stay. Lastly, a meetings package is available starting from 488 yuan per person per day.

Contact the writer at [email protected].

(China Daily 02/23/2013 page13)