The Diary of a Hotel Addict
Mainland China's Best Hotel
© 2010, yohanes.budiyanto
Let's cut to the chase and see which hotel excels on my recent trip to Mainland China. As I mentioned in the past, Chinese hospitality is a good decade away from the level of refinement found at other sister cities in the region, such as Hong Kong or Tokyo. Last year through Shanghai 777-777, I was pleasantly surprised to find that one hotel could pull out such a high standard on service; and it was The Peninsula, Shanghai. I scored them 95 for service. Remember, this is China, the spitting capital of the world.
I expected similar standard could be maintained for this stay; and I'm pleasantly surprised that they took it to an even higher level. Wow. Everything was almost flawless in my experience; and what really impressed me was their sincerity and genuine nature to make my stay more enjoyable.
From the bellboys in the driveway to the porter, and housekeeping to room service attendants; and right to managers, etc. Everybody was giving their 110% and it seemed very natural without over-the-top feeling. It has raised the bar so high, unprecedented in Mainland China; and it certainly rivals Hong Kong.
When I was waiting for a taxi in the driveway, a random staff greeted me by my last name and asked where I was heading. When I told him I was going to the Lost Heaven, -a restaurant renowned for its Yunnan folk cuisine-; he and some other staffs immediately told me that it's a good choice as it is a great restaurant with a tendency towards spicy and sour in taste (to warn me if I could tolerate spicy food). Mind you they are not the concierge, but they were great. It was one of those simple gestures and candid moments that matters: a smile, good attitude and being natural that give you the warmth and reminded you of home.
One of the managers I met during the stay was probably the best hotel staff I've ever met during my entire hotel journey to date. It's hard to find a sense of humility nowadays.
So here's the new overall score, with revised mark highlighted from previous stay:
1. Location: 95
2. Room: 100
3. Bathroom: 95
4. Quality of Bed: 100
5. In-room Tech: 100
6. Service: 95
7. Dining: 90
8. Facilities: 90
9. Wellness Facilities: 85
10. Design: 85
11. Value: 100
12. View from Room: 95
OVERALL: 94,16
More pictures and info from previous stay here.
The big question: Does Peninsula Shanghai exceed Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong? We just have to wait and see..
THE PENINSULA, SHANGHAI
32, Zhongshan Dong Yi Road
The Bund, Shanghai
General Manager: Paul Tchen
Hotel Manager: Joseph Chong
Executive Chef: Terrence Crandall
Executive Chef (Chinese): Tang Chi Keung
Architect: David Beer (formerly of BBG Architects)
Interior Designer: Pierre-Yves Rochon
Mainland China's Best Hotel
© 2010, yohanes.budiyanto
Let's cut to the chase and see which hotel excels on my recent trip to Mainland China. As I mentioned in the past, Chinese hospitality is a good decade away from the level of refinement found at other sister cities in the region, such as Hong Kong or Tokyo. Last year through Shanghai 777-777, I was pleasantly surprised to find that one hotel could pull out such a high standard on service; and it was The Peninsula, Shanghai. I scored them 95 for service. Remember, this is China, the spitting capital of the world.
I expected similar standard could be maintained for this stay; and I'm pleasantly surprised that they took it to an even higher level. Wow. Everything was almost flawless in my experience; and what really impressed me was their sincerity and genuine nature to make my stay more enjoyable.
From the bellboys in the driveway to the porter, and housekeeping to room service attendants; and right to managers, etc. Everybody was giving their 110% and it seemed very natural without over-the-top feeling. It has raised the bar so high, unprecedented in Mainland China; and it certainly rivals Hong Kong.
When I was waiting for a taxi in the driveway, a random staff greeted me by my last name and asked where I was heading. When I told him I was going to the Lost Heaven, -a restaurant renowned for its Yunnan folk cuisine-; he and some other staffs immediately told me that it's a good choice as it is a great restaurant with a tendency towards spicy and sour in taste (to warn me if I could tolerate spicy food). Mind you they are not the concierge, but they were great. It was one of those simple gestures and candid moments that matters: a smile, good attitude and being natural that give you the warmth and reminded you of home.
One of the managers I met during the stay was probably the best hotel staff I've ever met during my entire hotel journey to date. It's hard to find a sense of humility nowadays.
So here's the new overall score, with revised mark highlighted from previous stay:
1. Location: 95
2. Room: 100
3. Bathroom: 95
4. Quality of Bed: 100
5. In-room Tech: 100
6. Service: 95
7. Dining: 90
8. Facilities: 90
9. Wellness Facilities: 85
10. Design: 85
11. Value: 100
12. View from Room: 95
OVERALL: 94,16
More pictures and info from previous stay here.
The big question: Does Peninsula Shanghai exceed Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong? We just have to wait and see..
THE PENINSULA, SHANGHAI
32, Zhongshan Dong Yi Road
The Bund, Shanghai
General Manager: Paul Tchen
Hotel Manager: Joseph Chong
Executive Chef: Terrence Crandall
Executive Chef (Chinese): Tang Chi Keung
Architect: David Beer (formerly of BBG Architects)
Interior Designer: Pierre-Yves Rochon