shanghai ifc 468x649 Ritz Carlton Shanghai, Pudong Opens

The Ritz-Carlton Pudong opened June 21 as the latest luxury hotel to hit Shanghai, occupying the top 18 floors of the city’s giant International Finance Center South Tower.

The hotel offers 285 rooms designed by Richard Farnell, ranging from 50 meters squared to 400 meters squared for the Ritz-Carlton suite.

The rooms offer a modern interpretation of 1930s Shanghai art deco, a tribute to the restored Shanghai Bund (of which the hotel offers sweeping views).

suite ritz carlton pudong 468x231 Ritz Carlton Shanghai, Pudong Opens

From the 58th floor Flair restaurant, guests can look out over Shanghai from indoor or outdoor seating areas or admire the restaurant’s interior, designed by Takashi Sugimoto’s cult Japanese interiors firm Super Potato.

ritzshanghai2 468x307 Ritz Carlton Shanghai, Pudong Opens

Other restaurant options include the Aura Lounge and Jazz Bar, fine Chinese dining at Jin Xuan and Italian-inspired cuisine at Scena Italia.

ritzshanghai3 468x302 Ritz Carlton Shanghai, Pudong Opens

The opening of the Ritz-Carlton Pudong makes Shanghai one of only seven world cities to currently boast more than one Ritz-Carlton (there are 73 globally).

ritzshanghai5 468x302 Ritz Carlton Shanghai, Pudong Opens

However, the chain will face stiff competition from brands already operating — or scheduled to open — in the area.

ritzshanghai6 467x305 Ritz Carlton Shanghai, Pudong Opens

InterContinental opened its own Pudong site in April, ahead of the World Expo, while the famous Shanghai Peace Hotel is set to reopen soon after a three-year renovation.

ritzshanghai7 468x306 Ritz Carlton Shanghai, Pudong Opens

The Sofitel Shanghai Jing’an is scheduled to open in 2011 and Dubai-based Jumeirah has also announced that it intends to target the city, opening a new lifestyle hotel there by 2012.

Source: AFPrelaxnews

pudong skyline shanghai prc 468x312 Ritz Carlton Shanghai, Pudong Opens