The venues moving mountains in Shanghai

A city rich with heritage as well as business opportunities, Shanghai constantly stands at the cutting edge of innovation. Commercial capital, tech hub, hotbed of innovation in hospitality—Shanghai weaves business together with art, culture, entertainment and leisure like no other destination.

That distinction has made China’s most electrifying city an increasingly attractive choice for meetings, incentives, conventions and events.

Shanghai’s most exciting new hotels

This year, several world-class hotels have opened in Shanghai, offering stunning new options across the city.

Foremost among them might be the Bulgari Hotel Shanghai. One of only six Bulgari-branded hotels in the world, this luxury landmark is located in the Suhe Creek development, near the Bund, and is connected to the historic Chamber of Commerce. More than just a luxurious place to stay, the 82-room hotel offers unique meeting and banquet spaces for planners as well. That includes the 500sqm Bulgari Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 500 guests for cocktails or 300 for banquets; a 160sqm meeting room; and a garden pavilion and rooftop lounge for private functions.

The Edition Shanghai has opened to similar fanfare. Located in historic Puxi, the luxury property features 145 beautifully designed guestrooms and suites as well as five meeting studios and nine food and beverage options. That includes high-end Cantonese restaurant Canton Disco and Electric Circus, a Studio 54-inspired VIP club that can accommodate 300 people for after-meeting parties.

The Bund waterfront in central Shanghai

Famed Thai brand The Sukhothai recently unveiled its latest property in Shanghai. The 201-room Sukhothai Shanghai, located in the HKRI Taikoo Hui complex in the Jingan district, offers a stately space for events, meetings and weddings with its 300sqm Grand Shanghai Ballroom. The historic Cha House (in the same complex) can also be used for events, from product launches to dinners.

Outside of the downtown core, along the Suzhou River in the Hongqiao hub, the Anandi Hotel aims for well-being. The hotel has integrated the concepts of mindfulness and healing into all its 333 guestrooms, wellness centre (complete with Ayurveda, reflexology and energy healing treatments) and 19 meeting rooms—a first of its kind for China, and a great place to unwind after the day’s events.

The InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, meanwhile, brings MICE delegates closer to nature. Located about 30km from Hongqiao Airport, the 337-room property, sitting on 61,000sqm of space, offers unrivalled views of of Shenkeng Quarry—that’s because the hotel has been built into it. Out of 18 floors, only two are technically above-ground (two are below water), and all guestrooms come with balconies. For events, there are four well-equipped meeting rooms and grand ballrooms, too.

Venues in Shanghai

Furthering the city’s innovative developments, the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration (SMTA) has its own tailor-made tool for meeting planners: Venues in Shanghai.

Catering to the specific needs of the meetings industry, Venues in Shanghai is a brand-new app for iPad that makes it much easier for meeting planners and business travellers to stay on top of all the exciting growth happening in the city.

The app, now available for download in the iTunes store, gathers all the information meeting planners need and puts it in the palms of their hands.

All the city’s leading hotels, including the five highlights mentioned above, are featured with HD images, as well as supplementary information about their conference and meeting facilities. The app also showcases all of Shanghai’s exhibition halls and convention centres, helping planners find the right facility in the most fitting part of the city for their event. For those looking for something special, there is also a section dedicated to Shanghai’s unique venues.

Beyond working as a digital guide, where all the most important information is condensed and neatly sorted, the app also keeps meeting planners abreast of the latest tourism news and promotions. That means access to special deals, as well as new attractions and activities, that can turn business and incentive trips to Shanghai into experiences delegates will never forget.

For more information about hosting your meeting or event in Shanghai, visit meet-in-shanghai.net.