Business Traveller (Asia-Pacific)
Fresh look
Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai’s General Manager, Rudiger Hollweg, reveals what it takes to renovate a five-star hotel…
Q: Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai is undergoing a major renovation. What can you tell us about it? That’s right, it’s a huge project that’s taken two years so far and we're only halfway through! We're really pushing the boundaries to raise the level of luxury, comfort and quality to the next level for our guests, and we’re using the opportunity to incorporate the latest trends across the design and functionality of our hotel.
Q: Can you tell us some of the highlights of the renovation?
Probably the most dramatic transformation will be in the function area. We have decided to completely redo our event spaces to make them fresh, modern and exciting. The new mid-sized Huangpu Ballroom for example is absolutely stunning – ideal for corporate events or product launches. Taking notice of the industry trends, we're going to move away from having lots of very small conference rooms in favour of combining the spaces into larger function rooms – though we’ll be keeping the unbeatable views over the Huangpu river.
Q: What is your favourite feature of the renovation and why?
It’s so hard to pick just one, but I’d say the new Kempinski Club Lounge is going to be particularly exceptional. Our existing Kempinski Club Lounge is already very special, with a stunning 270-degree view and an amazing breakfast and happy hour concept, but the new space is really going to up the game to the next luxury level. The use of space and light will be a key part of the design, adding a sense of refinement to the lounge area. Q: What’s the most popular feature of the new refurbishment with guests so far? We’ve received many positive comments from our guests about the renovated facilities, which is amazing. I’m extremely proud of the compliments we’ve received for the designs of the Huangpu Ballroom and the Song Shan function room in particular. We consulted with clients on the upgraded facilities, and they all responded very positively – agreeing the facility is a great gain for Shanghai. Q: How would you describe Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai in one sentence?
Timeless and elegant with a rich European heritage of first-rate service and developing genuine connections with guests.