The Peninsula is Asia's oldest hotel company, founded in Hong Kong in 1866. Opened in 2009, The Peninsula Shanghai is the only new building on the Bund in 70 years, adjacent to the former British Consulate, with panoramic views of the Bund, the Huangpu River, Pudong and the gardens of the former British Consulate, as well as the Suzhou Creek and the historic Waibaidu Bridge, the only new building on the Bund in 70 years and the flagship hotel of the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Group in Chinese mainland.
Although the exterior of the hotel is not eye-catching, it is also classic and generous, and the interior decoration design recreates the style of Shanghai in the 20s and 30s of the 20th century, which is known as the "Paris of the East". Since its opening, it has received awards from a series of international organizations and publications, including a five-star hotel by Forbes Travel Guide in 2018 and a "Best Hotel in Shanghai" by the readers of Travel Leisure magazine in 2017.
The hotel has 235 rooms and suites, all of which are more than 54 square meters in size and more than 90 square meters in suites, ranking among the top in Shanghai. The same is true for prices, with the price of a basic room being around 2,400 yuan, and the lowest room rate for an executive suite being about 5,300 yuan per night, with certain fluctuations during holidays, including Dahua Suites, Huizhong Suites and Peninsula Suites, which are as high as six figures a night.
It is worth mentioning that The Peninsula is the only hotel group in the world to have a research and technology department, and the rooms are equipped with the latest scientific and technological achievements of the Peninsula to provide guests with a great technological experience, and the hotel's in-room operating system is available in 11 languages, making it ideal for expatriates. With a wireless console at the bedside, room temperature, lighting, telephone, alarm clock, curtains, and audiovisual systems can be easily controlled. The spacious cloakroom is also equipped with a weather display and a nail dryer.
The Peninsula is the only luxury hotel in Shanghai with a fleet of bespoke vehicles, including four custom extended Rolls-Royce Phantoms, six custom BMW sedans, two MINI Cooper cars, and the 1934 vintage Rolls-Royce II is the most rare. The hotel also offers a private cruise on the Huangpu River, offering a unique view of the Bund and Pudong's gorgeous skyline.
The Peninsula Shanghai is the only hotel in Chinese mainland that has two Michelin-starred restaurants at the same time. Awarded two Michelin stars in 2017 and 2018, the signature Cantonese restaurant features a unique Chef's Table where you can watch the chef prepare the dishes through the glass windows, and the chef will explain the Michelin menu to diners. Sir Ellie, on the other hand, has been awarded one Michelin star for the second year in a row, with a focus on French cuisine and a U-shaped terrace with excellent views, which can be used for cocktail receptions, large parties and private celebrations. Guests can also enjoy The Peninsula's signature cocktails in the lobby, pilot bar, and Lady Linglong, and enjoy authentic British afternoon tea at One on the Bund (formerly British Consulate), with The Peninsula Lobby Lounge CNPP100 topping the list of the best British afternoon tea in Shanghai.
However, the food and beverage service at The Peninsula is often criticized by guests, and the service staff who come and go are mostly straight faces, not enthusiastic enough to respond to guest inquiries, and the service level is far from that of other Michelin-starred restaurants. The breakfast buffet has more Western-style cold food and few à la carte options, which is not friendly to Chinese "stomachs".
Conveniently located on the 2nd floor of the hotel, the Business Centre offers private offices and a small meeting room with state-of-the-art equipment. In addition, the hotel also has the Rose Ballroom, 4 conference halls, which can host conferences, small meetings, seminars, banquets and press conferences, can provide high-speed Internet access and a variety of audio-visual systems, and a professional conference consultant team provides translation, binding and Chinese typing and other secretarial services to meet the business needs of guests. In addition, free parking is available on site.
Outside of work, The Peninsula Shanghai also offers guests the perfect place to relax. Spanning 1,207 square metres, The Peninsula Spa features a sleek 1930s Shanghainese interior, with a two-tone palette of navy and ivory to match the dark wood floors. Featuring the French luxury skincare brand Biologique Recherche and introducing Sabari body beauty treatments, it has been rated a five-star spa by Forbes Travel Guide, but it needs to be booked one day in advance to enjoy the service.
