REVIEWS HOTEL
Sheraton Grand London Park Lane
By Paul Revel HOTEL
Jumeirah Himalayas Shanghai
By Tom Otley
Piccadilly, London W1J 7BX • Tel: 020 7499 6321•
sheratonparklane.com
THE HOTEL OFFICIALLY RELAUNCHED – as the first ‘Grand tier’ Sheraton in London – with a spectacular party on October 20, after a multimillion pound, two-year phased renovation. Centrally located, it’s a five-minute walk from Green Park tube station, and a 1.6-mile taxi ride from Victoria mainline station.
ROOMS: The 303 rooms and suites combine modern amenities (such as ‘Handy’ mobile devices that offer free internet and phone calls, city guides and other functions) with classic decor, furnishings, and a palate of rich bronzes and neutrals that reflect the hotel’s 1920s heritage. Entry-level rooms include bathrobes, Shine toiletries, HD flatscreen TVs and those comfortable Sheraton signature beds. My eighth floor Art Deco Suite featured sweeping London skyline views over Green Park, an original black-and- white marble bathroom, and amenities including Molton Brown products and a Nespresso coffee machine. RESTAURANTS & BARS: Good F&B is a highlight of this hotel. The Mercante restaurant serves tasty, rustic, seasonal Italian dishes, including lardo bruschetta with pecorino custard, rabbit cacciatore and scialatielli pasta with crab and samphire. The Smith & Whistle bar serves signature cocktails and craft beers, plus meals such as fish and chips, black pudding croquettes and Welsh rarebit. Afternoon tea is served
90 BBT November/December 2016
in the Palm Court Lounge. The Club Lounge (for Platinum SPG members, and guests booking Club rooms and suites) offers complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea and evening drinks and canapés. MEETINGS & EVENTS: The beautiful, 500 theatre-style capacity ballroom is a high- profile London venue, its Silver Gallery and exquisite art deco murals gleaming post-renovation. Other meeting rooms range from 18-160 capacities in theatre layout. The Club Lounge has a boardroom for eight, available in complimentary two-hour bookings for eligible guests. LEISURE: The basement gym features cardio and strength equipment and is open 24/7. The hotel offers in-room spa and beauty treatments. VERDICT: This hotel is an attractive combination of period glamour, West End pizzazz, friendly service, and modern tech and amenities. Highlights such as the eye-catching ballroom and great, sensibly priced food are a pull-factor. Meanwhile, the market will watch with interest the merging of the powerful Marriott and Starwood loyalty schemes.
1,108 Mei Hua Road, Pudong Shanghai 201204, China • Tel +86 21 3858 0888 •
jumeirah.com
THIS DESIGN-LED BUSINESS HOTEL opened in 2011. It was originally intended to be a Venu property – Jumeirah’s ‘contemporary lifestyle’ brand, which is still to be launched. The hotel is part of the large Himalayas Centre designed by Arata Isozaki (architect of the Barcelona Olympic stadium).
ROOMS: There are 401 rooms, including 62 suites and residences. The most common categories are Deluxe and Grand Deluxe (105 and 100 rooms, respectively). Next up are Premier and Grand Premier. All are contemporary with dark wood furniture, hardwood floors and modern Chinese art. Wifi is fast and free, and there is a 42-inch HD LCD TV, a good workdesk, a laptop safe, a minibar, tea facilities and an Illy coffee machine. Bathrooms are semi-open with a separate bath, shower and L’Occitane toiletries. Upper floors offer good views of the Pudong district. One side of the hotel overlooks the Expo Centre. Club floors are 18, 19 and 20, with the executive lounge located on the 21st, offering alcoholic drinks in the evening and soft drinks throughout the day. RESTAURANTS & BARS: On the ground floor is the lobby bar and Arte Café and Lounge, where a buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner are served – the breakfast was good, with lots of international choices.
On the upper floors are Shang High, Japanese restaurant J-Mix, and the Grill Room. MEETING & EVENTS: The hotel has two ballrooms – the Grand, with a 12-metre high ceiling and space for 800 delegates theatre- style, and the Himalayas (350 people) – as well as various other options, including a 5,000 sqm infinity garden on the sixth floor, connecting the two parts of the Himalaya Centre. LEISURE: There is a gym and an indoor pool, although local memberships are sold, so this was the only busy part of the hotel at the weekend. VERDICT: Next to Shanghai New International Expo Centre, it is also convenient for the airport, as the high-speed Maglev train terminates one metro stop from the hotel’s nearest station. This location won’t suit everyone, but if your work is in Pudong or accessible via metro Line 7, it’s a top-class business hotel, recognisably a Jumeirah but with distinctive Chinese design and helpful staff with good English skills.
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
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