Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed an agreement with Shanghai Hongtai Industry Development Co., Ltd. to debut its tech-driven Aloft brand in Shanghai— China’s most cosmopolitan city. Slated to open in 2018, Aloft Shanghai Nanxiang will be centrally located in the Jiading district, joining Starwood’s currently operating Sheraton Shanghai Jiading Hotel and Le Méridien Shanghai Jiading, slated to open in 2017.
“The signing of Aloft Shanghai Nanxiang marks a significant milestone for Starwood, as we bring the innovative Aloft brand for today’s hyper-connected global traveler to the vibrant city of Shanghai,” said Vincent Ong, Senior Director, Brand Management, Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
“Aloft boasts the company’s second largest hotel development pipeline, and this significant signing paves the way for future development of the Aloft brand in first-tier cities,” said Nong Xia, Senior Vice President, Head of Acquisitions and Development for Greater China, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “We look forward to partnering with Shanghai Hongtai Industry Development Co., Ltd. to debut our forward-thinking design and distinctive Aloft experience to Shanghai business and leisure guests alike.”
Aloft Shanghai Nanxiang will feature 210 loft-inspired guestrooms and suites, and will be located in a mixed-use development consisting of offices and retail establishments. Amenities will include tactic meeting rooms furnished with the latest audiovisual equipment, fast and free WiFi throughout the hotel, and re:fuel, a 24-hour gourmet grab-and-go offering an array of delicious snacks, dim sum and healthy options. The signature W XYZ bar is set to be the district’s premier social destination to unwind, re-energize and mingle, and catch the latest up-and-coming music acts as part of the Live At Aloft Hotels ongoing music series.
“We firmly believe that Aloft Shanghai Nanxiang will meet the needs of today’s domestic and foreign visitors in pursuit of a smart travel experience, and will breathe new life into the staid traditional mid-market hotel services,” Director of Shanghai Hongtai Industry Development Co., Ltd., Ms. Mengyu Hong said. She continued, “The ‘Tech 50’ Intelligent Hardware Base, combined with the surrounding tourism resources of the ancient town and its traditions, manifests as a beautiful blend of Nanxiang’s cultural heritage with modern technology.”
Nanxiang is one of Shanghai’s four main cultural townships, offering a rich cultural hub of numerous historical relics and tourism resources. It was also officially established in October 2014 as China’s “Tech 50” Intelligent Hardware Base, serving as an incubator to provide capital and investment support while striving to create an enterprise-friendly eco-system for intelligent hardware.
