Hilton Hotels Corporation, which is developing Waldorf Astoria hotels and residences in key cities around the world, announced that its subsidiary signed an agreement with Shanghai New Union Building Company to manage the Waldorf Astoria On The Bund Shanghai.
Scheduled to open in 2011, it will be the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in the region. Ross Klein, global head, luxury and 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.”
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 newly built modern tower located behind the Bund on Sichuan Road.
Martin Rinck, President Hilton Hotels Asia Pacific said, “This is an extraordinarily exciting project that epitomises 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 new Shanghai hotel 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 OnThe Bund Shanghai will have a variety of restaurants and bars, and extensive banqueting facilities ideal for meetings and wedding receptions. A swimming pool, health club and spa are also available.
Hilton Hotels Corporation expects to this year open the Trianon Palace Versailles as a Waldorf Astoria Collection hotel, signaling the French debut of the luxury brand in one of the country’s most historic locations, as well as the Waldorf Astoria Orlando in Florida, followed by the Waldorf Astoria Sarasota (2010), The Waldorf Astoria Montreal (2011), the proposed Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills (2011) and the Waldorf Astoria Philadelphia (2012).