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SCMP Reporter

(in alphabetical order)

Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai

500 Weihai Road

+86 21 6256-8888

www.fourseasons.com/shanghai

There are few hotels in China that grab you the minute you walk in, tug you over to the lobby lounge, plunk you down in a comfy chair and put a drink in your hand. The Four Seasons doesn't do this, but it is hard to resist the temptation yourself when you walk in its door after a day criss-crossing town in those horrible Santana taxis. The greeters are warm, the lobby is elegant, and the clincher is the classical music played in the lounge by three beautiful women. Business executives will also like the fact that there is no 'executive club floor'. Anyone can pay US$40 for access to the executive lounge, including an hour in a meeting room. The guest rooms are luxurious, but there is something about the way the PR team has put together guides to the city that suggests they actually want visitors to spend time outside their doors, which is refreshingly original for a luxury hotel.

Grand Hyatt Shanghai

Jinmao Tower, 88 Century Boulevard, Pudong

+86 21 5049 1234

www.shanghai.grand.hyatt.com

It's tall. It's grand. It's the Hyatt brand. What more is there to say? Okay, perhaps a few more details are in order. The hotel runs from the 53rd to the 87th floor of the Jinmao tower, making it the envy of everyone else currently planning to outdo it as the tallest hotel in the world. The art deco design blends with contemporary furnishings to produce a very classy feel. The 555 guest rooms and suites offer incomparable views of the city on clear days. There is a great selection of restaurants, and the Pu-J nightclub is one of the city's swankest. It is a relatively easier drive to the airport and the big new exhibition and convention centre, both of which are in Pudong, and it is right in the middle of the Lujiazui financial district.

Hilton Shanghai

250 Huashan Road

+86 21 6248 0000

www.hilton.com

The official hotel of the Masters Tennis Cup, which is bringing the world's top players to Shanghai in November, is suited to more than sportsmen. Its location on Huashan Rd in the old international settlement is a draw, as are its facilities.

JW Marriott Shanghai

399 Nanjing West Road

+86 21 5359 4969

www.marriott.com/property/propertypage/SHAJW

The JW Marriott is futuristic in every way: its address, on Tomorrow Square; the building's design, which takes different shapes when viewed from different angles; its elevators, which whisk visitors up to the mother ship with silently efficient speed; and its rooms, which, as the latest in Shanghai, offer new standards in luxury. If you know the value of the JW Marriott in Hong Kong, you won't be disappointed here. It is a very classy hotel. What we liked the most were the extra touches: the designs of the staff's uniforms, which seem inspired by visions of a Chinese Star Trek; the Mandara Spa, which does rare justice to the word 'oasis'; and the top-floor library which offers access to the roof and its stunning views. Needless to say, the service is top-notch (we put the unflappable concierge through contortions once) and business amenities plentiful.

Mayfair Hotel Shanghai

1555 Ding Xi Road, Chang Ning District

+86 21 6240 8888

www.mayfairshanghai.com

A member of the Hong Kong New World Group, the Mayfair offers very good value for money in the five-star range. It is not as centrally located as many of the other five-star hotels, but it is right on top of Zhongshan Park, which offers a welcome green escape from the city and an MTR stop next door The hotel lacks nothing in five-star standards, and is a particular favourite among Hong Kong celebrities for its discreet underground parking garages which link directly to the guest floors via elevator.

Portman Ritz-Carlton

Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Rd West, Shanghai, 200040

www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/shanghai

It has been recognized three times in a row as the 'Best Employer in China' by the bi-annual Hewitt Associates survey. So it should be little surprise to discover that service standards are excellent at the 578-room Portman Ritz-Carlton. What makes it special, however, is the old-fashioned ambience. 'Ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen' is how general manager Mark DeCocinis puts it. The lobby lounge takes you back in time, with its shelves of classic novels, an orchestra, and afternoon tea trays stacked with cucumber sandwiches. The bar, with a live jazz band, is Little America in Shanghai. Rooms are comfortable and will offer more high-tech amenities when the US$14 million renovation programme is finished by the end of next year. In-room check-in helps weary travelers dispense with formalities at the front desk.

Pudong Shangri-La

33 Fu Cheng Road, Pudong

+ 86 21 6882 8888

www.shangri-la.com/pudong

The Shangri-La group is pulling out all the stops on this one to make it their China flagship. About US$135 million is being pumped into its expansion, which will be rolled out in phases starting next month with the opening of the new wing. It will have 375 new suites, all at least 40 sq m in size, in a 36-storey tower. This is 'just the right height to properly enjoy views of the Bund,' says general manager Philippe Caretti, in a subtle dig at the skyscraper housing the Grand Hyatt nearby. The tower will also be home to the China Ballroom, a pillarless space that will hold up to 1,700 guests. In September, the Shangri-la's signature spa, Chi, makes its debut in China. That is also when the hotel's crown will be unveiled with the opening of the top-floor Jade on 36 Restaurant and Bar, designed by Adam Tihany. Before then, however, guests will still be spoiled for choice among 11 restaurants, including the famous Nadaman Japanese restaurant, which will be only the third established by the 175-year-old group outside of Japan.

Regal East Asia International

516 Hengshan Rd

www.regal-eastasia.com/internation

A Hong Kong brand that has captured a slice of the Shanghai market, with an enviable position on Hengshan Rd in the old French concession. The sports facilities are impressive, especially the outdoor tennis courts which provide some welcome open space in the heart of the city.

St Regis

889 Dong Fang Road, Pudong

+86 21 5050 4567

www.stregis.com/shanghai

The St Regis is not situated quite as conveniently in Pudong as the Shangri-La and Hyatt, but if you are a fan of the brand, it won't matter. The exclusivity of its service, with every guest having their own butler, is the main draw. For those familiar with the Beijing hotel, this one will probably be a welcome surprise, as the interior is strikingly modern. Most importantly, however, like its brethren, the hotel is exceptionally quiet. It's one of those places that soothes the senses the minute you walk in. You can understand why Michael Schumacher chose to stay here during last year's F1 Grand Prix.

Sheraton Grand Tai Ping Yang

5 Zunyi Nan Road

+86 21 6275 8888 www.sheratongrand-shanghai.com

The grand dame of Shanghai luxury hotels was rebranded from the Westin to the Sheraton Grand a little over three years ago, and was given a facelift for the occasion. It certainly lives up to expectations of the Sheraton Grand - not to be confused with the plain-vanilla Sheraton - which has only 11 properties worldwide. Business facilities are extensive, restaurants are tasteful and plentiful, and service is excellent.

The Westin Shanghai

Bund Center, 88 Henan Central Road

+86 21 6335 1888

www.westin.com/shanghai

Giorgio Armani likes to stay here. That ought to seal The Westin's place in any fashion-conscious person's itinerary. Indeed, as far as hotels go, it doesn't get hipper than this. The lobby lounge spreads in front of a multi-coloured staircase that serves as a stage for variety performances on Sundays, when locals and visitors fight for brunch bookings. Art hangs from the walls at every turn. The swimming pool sits at eye-level. The entrance to the famous Banyan Tree Spa makes you think you are walking straight into Nirvana. That's all even before you have laid yourself down on a Heavenly Bed. All of this is within a stone's throw of the Bund, which should provide inspiration to any businessperson with ambitions of getting a percentage of 1.3 billion people to buy their product.



Shanghai's Select