Opening marks debut of Andaz brand in Asia
CHICAGO, Oct 18, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today the opening of Andaz
Shanghai, introducing its vibrant lifestyle brand Andaz to Asia. The
newly constructed 28-story hotel is located in Xintiandi, a landmark
entertainment area in the heart of downtown Shanghai and a short walk to
the Metro and Huai Hai Zong Road, one of the city's main shopping areas.
The Xintiandi neighborhood, on the edge of the former French Concession,
retains the antique walls, tiles and façades of the traditional shikumen
(stone-gate) houses of old Shanghai, while the interiors showcase
prestigious modern brands, fashion boutiques, stylish restaurants and
bars, creating a landmark destination that combines the historical and
cultural identities of the city.
Inspired by dynamic and distinctive surroundings, Andaz Shanghai is
devoted to providing highly personalized, uncomplicated service in an
atmosphere that fully embraces the best of Shanghai and allows guests to
experience it authentically.
Guestrooms, Facilities and Architecture
Andaz Shanghai features 307 spacious guestrooms, including 47 premier
rooms and suites, ranging in size from 850 to 2,000 square feet (80 to
193 square meters), all enjoying vibrant views over Xintiandi or the
city. In an effort to make a stay as uncomplicated as possible, all
non-alcoholic mini bar drinks and all-day light snacks in the Andaz
Lounge are complimentary, as are local telephone calls and wireless
Internet access.
Mood lighting has been used to impressive effect: LED lighting on the
ceiling allows guests to choose the color and mood of their room, while,
in the bathroom, where the walls resemble a roughly hewn rock face, the
transparent sink and translucent bath can also be programmed to glow in
different colors.
"Andaz Shanghai sets a new standard for modern, high-rise buildings in
historic urban districts in its innovative design, diverse program mix,
and connection to surrounding context. Synthesizing old and new, the
hotel responds sensitively with a warm-gray stone cladding and low-rise
podiums that engage the historic neighborhood at street level, while at
the same time, the project's powerful architectural form and high-end
amenities embody the dynamism of modern-day cosmopolitan Shanghai," said
Joshua Chaiken, design principal, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, the
architecture design firm for the hotel. "Andaz Shanghai conveys a
fashionable sensibility that extends and further develops the character
of the historic Xintiandi."
Restaurants and Bars
Restaurants and bars at Andaz Shanghai showcase the vibrant local
neighborhood and adhere to the "market-to-table" philosophy of offering
fresh, seasonal local produce. The accompanying wine lists offer the
best of boutique vintners and include international selections.
The Andaz Lounge is the heartbeat of the hotel, a casual, all-day
space where guests and visitors can congregate for a convivial drink or
snack. The signature drink in the Andaz Lounge is the Kir Royale, made
with original crème de cassis liqueur from France.
Adjacent to Andaz Lounge is Éclair, a patisserie which, as the
name suggests, specializes in the classic French pastry, as well as
freshly baked breads, cakes, homemade ice cream and refreshing drinks.
The main dining and wining outlet in the hotel is Hai Pai (a
local phrase meaning "modern Shanghainese spirit"), which is a
four-level hub positioned to become Shanghai's premier dining and
entertaining destination housing two restaurants, a bar and private
dining rooms, which cast a beckoning, welcoming light across the
surrounding streets.
With terrace views overlooking Xintiandi, the restaurant aspires to be a
friendly, neighborhood eatery offering unpretentious Shanghainese and
French comfort food. Four private dining rooms with seating for six to
16 people, are available for guests who prefer privacy, and in these
rooms, tailor-made menus can be offered for special occasions.
Events
Three floors of sophisticated event space provide unique venues for
meetings, social occasions, fashion shows and weddings.
Three Meeting Andaz Studios measuring from 538 sq ft (50 sq m) to 1,119
sq ft (104 sq m) are ideal for intimate meetings or events, while the
5,845 sq ft (543 sq m) Ballroom can hold cocktail receptions for 460
people or cater to 300 guests for banquets.
At the end of the year, the residential-style Andaz Garden Studio will
open, featuring fourevent rooms and a spectacular Glass Pavilion
surrounded by water - an ideal "wedding chapel" or red-carpet event
space - and two organically shaped outdoor terraces. From the Glass
Pavilion, a glass elevator will descend directly into the Ballroom,
creating a dramatic entrance for a VIP or wedding couple.
Recreation
Andaz Shanghai offers more than 23,000 square feet (2,200 square meters)
of relaxation facilities, featuring a translucent indoor pool, which
glows with internal LED lighting and a 24-hour gym with the latest
cardio workout equipment to help drive away stress and enable guests to
stay fit while traveling.
Opening at a later stage, Optime Spa, like its legendary city, will draw
on both old and new, paying homage to proven Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM) methods while adopting the best of modern holistic and
wellness practices to offer cutting-edge, anti-aging and
results-oriented treatments.
Art
The artwork at Andaz Shanghai - all by artists with a strong connection
to the city - was selected around the theme of "Collective New Media
Art," referencing the hotel's unique location, and exploring themes of
past and present, new and old, deconstruction and reconstruction. The
artwork aims to challenge the conventions of art in a hotel space and
break down boundaries for visual experiences, allowing guests not only
to observe, but also to interact with pieces. The diverse mixed media
used, from LED lighting to sensors and from video projections to
recycled materials, combine to create an eclectic and refreshingly
unconventional collection.
"We look forward to introducing the Andaz brand to Asia and welcoming
guests to experience our personal, flexible, authentic hospitality first
hand," said Wilson Lee, general manager of the hotel. "Andaz Shanghai is
for people who want to truly discover the city while enjoying all the
comforts of a leading international hotel brand. We want our guests to
experience Shanghai and our hotel the way they want to, while we
are doing everything we can to cater to their andaz."
Andaz Hotels
Global in scale while local in perspective, Andaz delivers an innovative
hospitality experience and attentive, uncomplicated service designed to
accommodate guests' personal preferences. Hotels in this unique
collection reflect the spirit of their locale and are dedicated to
creating natural and vibrant living spaces where travelers can indulge
in their own personal sense of comfort and style.
Hyatt's Andaz brand has earned a devout following among global travelers
since its introduction in 2007, and has developed a reputation for
delivering opportunities for guests and neighbors to engage in creative
inspiration, most recently with the launch of the Andaz Salon. A regular
series of events and discussions to be held at every Andaz hotel under
the guidance of a unique event host, the Andaz Salon gives guests an
experience of seeing the local scene through the eyes of leading
cultural arbiters.
Andaz hotels kicked off the Andaz Salon series by focusing on the
following themes: culinary and cocktails, performance and fine arts, and
fashion. Each salon will reflect a hotel's local culture and creative
landscape. In addition to on-property cultural events, the Andaz Salon
can be experienced on the road on the Andaz Facebook page, which is
designed to connect and inspire creativity digitally. In the future,
salons will also focus on music, the written word and other themes.
With locations in London, New York, San Diego, West Hollywood, and now
Shanghai, the brand is gaining a foothold in the key gateway cities
where its guests travel. Additionally, Andaz hotels are under
development in Amsterdam, Netherlands; Papagayo, Costa Rica;
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos; Delhi, India; Sanya Sunny Bay, China;
and Maui, Hawaii.
For more information and reservations, visit www.andaz.com.
About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading
global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel
more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family strive to
make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by
providing authentic hospitality. The Company's subsidiaries manage,
franchise, own and develop hotels and resorts under the Hyatt, Park
Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Placeand Hyatt
Summerfield Suitesbrand names and have locations on six
continents. Hyatt Summerfield Suites is being rebranded as Hyatt
House. Hyatt Residential Group, Inc., a Hyatt Hotels
Corporation subsidiary, develops, operates, markets or licenses Hyatt
Residencesand Hyatt Vacation Club,which is changing its name to Hyatt Residence Club. As
of June 30, 2011, the Company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 456
properties in 44 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are
"forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include
statements about our plans, strategies, financial performance, prospects
or future events and involve known and unknown risks that are difficult
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that may cause actual results to differ materially from current
expectations include, among others, the rate and pace of economic
recovery following the recent economic downturn; levels of spending in
business and leisure segments as well as consumer confidence; declines
in occupancy and average daily rate; hostilities, including future
terrorist attacks, or fear of hostilities that affect travel;
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labor law; the financial condition of, and our relationships with,
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SOURCE: Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts - Corporate Office
Katie Rackoff, 312-780-5361
katie.rackoff@hyatt.com
or
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts - Asia Pacific
Daniella Wu, 852-2768-1271
daniella.wu@hyatt.com