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Boutique hotel includes tai chi and yoga, bike and walking tours, Chinese cooking and Mandarin lessons. The new URBN Hotels Shanghai, is pioneering uniquely extended concierge services encouraging guests to embrace the city’s “urban lifestyle”. Beyond traditional concierge advice and assistance are such localized extras as tai chi and yoga classes, bike and walking tours, Chinese cooking classes and lessons in Mandarin Chinese. In-room beauty and health treatments including acupuncture, herbal baths, exercise kits, therapeutic massage, manicures and pedicures also set a new benchmark in guest services. The 26-room boutique hotel opened in December 2007 on Jiao Zhou Road, close to the premium shopping and entertainment district of Nanjing Road and the famous former French Concession district. Converted from a former 1970s factory turned post office, it was conceived by developers Scott Barrack and Jules Kwan of URBN Hotels & Resorts to provide a “uniquely Shanghainese experience”. “Our vision is to immerse guests deeply into their surroundings, offering activities beyond the traditional hotel experience so they become part of the urban lifestyle,” said Mr. Barrack. “Our job is to cater for every whim and offer services above and beyond the norm.” URBN‘s vision is to expand its concierge concept to other cities in China, providing guests unique experiences reflecting the diversity of the destinations they visit. There are plans to develop 20 URBN hotels and resorts in tourist and business cities throughout the country in the next 3 years. The company is currently negotiating to open hotels in Beijing, Hangzhou, Dalian and Suzhou. Key features of the brand also include business services, wireless broadband internet, airport transfers, DVD & Gaming library and mobile phone rental with local sim card. The flagship property in Shanghai is also China’s 1st carbon neutral and “truly earth conscious” hotel. URBN Hotels & Resorts owners, Scott Barrack and Jules Kwan, previously founded Space Development, with a proven track record of successful development projects in Shanghai. Over the last three years, Space Development has engaged in over 20 niche redevelopment projects throughout the city ranging from luxury residential and serviced apartments to office complexes and industrial buildings. URBN Hotels Shanghai is their first hotel project. “We are beginning to see the boutique hotel phenomenon evolve in Shanghai, a trend seen in most major cities around the world for the past 10 years,” added Mr. Barrack. “URBN Hotels Shanghai will offer an experience that will parallel the likes of London, New York and Barcelona, with a unique Shanghai chic unto itself and international quality western comforts and conveniences.” Jules Kwan said: “Our vision is to create destinations of comfort, style and interest across China. Our first hotel will be unlike any other, and we want to be at the forefront of promoting environmental awareness, protection and sustainable buildings within the hotel industry.” More information is at www.urbnhotels.com. (information provided by the pr company)
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