GLOBAL UPDATE
SERENITY NOW
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and PT Tiara Raya Bali International have debuted the newbuild Le Méridien Bali Jimbaran that includes a rooftop , glass-encased function space called Celebration Pavilion with panoramic views of Jimbaran Bay . “ We took Le Méridien brand ’ s vision of creativity to heart : arts in different mediums , designer furniture with stories to be told and details in everyday objects that induce curiosity ,” says Richard Wiriahardja , owner of PT Tiara Raya Bali International .
MEET METROPOLO
Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotel Group Co .’ s recent acquisition of 21 Smart Hotels in China will jump-start its new midscale Jinjiang MetroPolo brand , which within three years is expected to expand to 100 hotels in key first-tier cities and provincial capitals . The first hotel will open later this year with another 28 planned for 2014 .
Christopher Sheldon , executive vice president of Jinjiang MetroPolo Hotel Management Co ., says the brand will target well-educated , travel-savvy and experience-seeking professional Chinese . “ Since the government here has joined with the European governments ’ frugality programs , revenues have been declining at the top tier of hotels ,” Sheldon says . “ MetroPolo ’ s sassy , urban chic is designed to fit this economic scenario quite well .”
As the brand ’ s first few hotels are all to be designed into historic buildings in Shanghai , a MetroPolo Classiq group will also be developed .
Sheldon says the MetroPolo brand will be mostly owner-operated to iron out any early kinks before being offered up to the Jinjiang Inn franchise
THE NEW MIDSCALE
JINJIANG METROPOLO BRAND
WITHIN
3
YEARS IS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE
100
HOTELS
IN KEY FIRST-TIER CITIES
AND PROVINCIAL CAPITALS IN CHINA .
Exterior rendering of the Metropolo Dahua
community . The first MetroPolo hotels will be priced at the mid-range of Shanghai ’ s fine hotels , according to Sheldon , and include free Wi-Fi , breakfast social hour and a gym . “ As for room rate , we see this changing with location and the per room costs of each renovation , but generally in the Chinese Yuan 450-750 range ( US $ 73- 123 ), with the higher end set for the Classiq hotels ,” Sheldon says .
By the end of 2014 , Sheldon says there will be six Classiq hotels open in Shanghai , restored from 1920s-30s buildings . The first to open before the end of 2013 will be the recreation of the renowned Hotel Dahua originally designed by Art Deco Hungarian architect Laszlo Hudec .
Sheldon is now busy establishing the new brand standards , making operational decisions , reviewing marketing solutions and starting to define the culture of a MetroPolo hotel . He adds that the MetroPolo values are to be professional while fun , with stylish design and a hint of adventure . “ The phrase used to describe our guests will be ‘ artists for life ,’ and we plan to play on this with the marketing promotion ,” he says .
12 HOTELS November 2013 www . hotelsmag . com