Daniel Chen

Swissôtel Kunshan has appointed Daniel Chen as Director of Operations at Swissôtel Kunshan.

Malaysian-born Chinese Daniel Chen began his career in 1982 in Malaysia where he held various food and beverage positions in a number of Malaysian hotels in Damai Laut, Kuala Lumpur, Kuantan, Malacca, Pangkor Island and Sabah, as well as in Brunei Darussalam.

In 2005, he ventured further afield to Bangkok, Thailand where he held the position of Director of Food and Beverage with Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel. Most recently, Daniel was with the Mayfair Hotel in Shanghai, China as Director of Food and Beverage.

Daniel has extensive pre-opening experience, serving on the pre-opening teams of the Dorsett Regency Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, the Syuen Hotel, Malaysia, the City Bayview Hotel in Malacca, the Malacca Village Resort and Tanjung Aru Beach Resort, Sabah. He was also part of the pre-opening team of the Riverview Hotel in Brunei Darussalam.

As Director of Operations at Swissôtel Kunshan, Daniel will assist hotel’s General Manager oversee all the operations of this charming hotel that has 387 well-appointed rooms, three food and beverage outlets, meeting and banquet facilities that can accommodate up to 500 guests and a fully equipped fitness centre, heated swimming pool and spa.

Tomas Hansson, General Manager of Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel

Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel was selected the ‘Best Business Hotel in Shenzhen’ in the 16th Business Traveller Asia Pacific Travel Awards 2008.

This has come to be regarded as one of the regional travel and tourism industry’s most prestigious awards. The results are based purely on an annual Readers’ Poll conducted and analysed by Synovate.

The prize titles were given out at a luncheon ceremony at Conrad Hong Kong.

Our picture shows Tomas Hansson,  General Manager of Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel, accepting the award on behalf of the hotel.

Fully refurbished, the Golden Phoenix integrates Chinese classical elements with modern styles. Classically dark red complement the gold and black striped carpets giving this new restaurant a warm yet contemporary feel.

Golden Phoenix restaurant

The name Phoenix is, in a sense, particularly appropriate because the Phoenix was a bird that rose again in a newer and more beautiful form.

The phoenix is a mythical bird with a tail of beautiful gold and red plumage (or purple and blue. It has a 1,000 year life-cycle, and near the end the phoenix builds itself a nest of cinnamon twigs that it then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again.

No, the original restaurant was not 1,000 years old and it was not burned in a nest of cinnamon twigs but it HAS been reborn anew. And in great style which fits the image of the Hotel Equatorial Shanghai..

During the ceremony, Mr. Edzuar Zar Bin Ayob Azari, Tourism Director of Malaysia Consulate Shanghai Office and Ms. Wu Min, The International Promotion Agent of Suzhou Tourism Bureau delivered speeches.

Neil McDonald, the General Manager of Sheraton Suzhou Hotel & Towers, announced the Starwood signing of its 100th hotel in China.

This came with the signing of the Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel.

Starwood was the first international hotel chain to enter China when the Great Wall Beijing Sheraton Hotel opened in 1985,

Starwood today is the largest international upscale hotel company in China and continues to grow with the expansion of its brands.

It current brands include Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, aloft, Four Points by Sheraton and W hotels in established and emerging cities as well as resort destinations.

Starwood celebrates its 100th signing.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced its 100th Hotel in China and to celebrate this Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel held a poolside party.

Over 100 guests were invited to the party which marked a major milestone in the expansion of Starwood in China.

The moment actually came with the signing of the Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel.

Starwood was the first international hotel chain to enter China when the historic Great Wall Beijing Sheraton Hotel opened in 1985.

Starwood today is the largest international upscale hotel company in China and continues to grow its footprint there with the expansion of its brands including Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, aloft, Four Points by Sheraton and W hotels in established and emerging cities as well as resort destinations.

A place to work out of the office.

Work out of the office and stay connected on Global Out of Office Day with The Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft via GOOD activities on September 16 at the Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel. Drinks, canapés, a lucky draw and giveaways.

All of this comes from the idea of Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and Microsoft have signed an agreement to implement products and services at the ‘Link @ Sheraton.’ Under the agreement, Sheraton will also co-brand and rename the space ‘The Link @ Sheraton experienced with Microsoft’.

Sheraton’s Link is a virtual and physical lobby lounge space that enables Sheraton’s guests to work, relax and remain connected with friends and family during their travels. It offers a convenient online experience, including free Wi-Fi and Internet-enabled computer stations, to allow guests to email, search the web and review local attractions.

Think of The Link @ Sheraton as communal computing brought to the luxury level. There is a signature designed communal lounge area. This has 4 HD desktops with 21” monitors. The lounge area at the heart of the Link has newspapers and magazines and the latest on sports and news on the 46 inch High Definition Philips LCD television. There is an extensive range of food and beverage options.

The Sheraton Shenzhen Futian hotel has taken it that one step further and linked it to a Global Out of Office Day which luckily has the acronym GOOD.

Annike Sorenstam

The Taihu Golf Cup & Ladies Golf Open 2008 will be held from October 30 to November 2 at the Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club. This match has been approved by the Golf Association, the Ladies European golf tour and the Ladies Asia golf Tour.

It is a professional event sponsored by the China Golf Association and run jointly by the Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club and Hongkong Futong Co.Ltd

Annika Sorenstam will be playing in this her final season.

Zhang Xiaoning, Deputy Chairman and Secretary General of the China golf Association said that this event will bring more golf to Shuzou.

Suzhou Taihu International golf club

Raevadee T. Suwan, the Chairman of ladies Asia Golf tour said this event is a big news. It will encourage more amateurs to become professional players.

Annika Sorenstam, on her final year of competition golf, said, ‘China represents the future for golf and I feel I should be there at this time in my career. The Ladies European Tour gave me my start in pro golf and so I want to be part of this historic moment together with my fellow European players.’

This will be a major event. There will be 132 players in all. Some coming from  overseas, some local.  They will compete for $300,000.

Conrad Shanghai

Internationally renowned architecture firm Kohn Pederson Fox Associates, of New York, has designed a striking modern building that will become the new gateway to Xintiandi, Shanghai’s entertainment hub.

The 24-storey tower curves gently to create an elegant profile with the building distinguished by its window wall patterns in Chinese granite, based on traditional Chinese latticework from the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD).  The result is very contemporary but unmistakably Chinese.

Paul Katz, Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates said ‘Our aim for the Conrad Shanghai was to design a property which advanced the city’s new role as a global hub of commerce and culture, while echoing the vibrancy and prosperity of the Han Dynasty’.

Conrad Shanghai interior

‘We also wanted to ensure that the hotel related well to the largely low-rise architecture of the surrounding Xintiandi area.  Xintiandi is a stunning example of restored traditional Chinese architecture and we wanted the Conrad Shanghai to honor this masterpiece of architectural expression.

‘We therefore used grey granite which mirrors the renovated grey brick townhouses with carved stone gates that are a feature of Xintiandi. At street level, many of the hotel’s restaurants and cafes will face onto a central plaza, replicating the outdoor café culture of the neighborhood.’

A total of 2,900 windows were individually handcrafted.

The Conrad Shanghai’s interiors will be contemporary but draw on the materials and patterns that were a feature of the Han Dynasty.

Peter Remedios, President and Managing Principal at Remedios Siembieda, said, ‘The challenge of the designer is to go beyond the obvious reproductions of a particular style. For the Conrad Shanghai, we used a sophisticated and modern interpretation of the Han Dynasty to evoke the look and charisma of that style.’

Sheraton Suzhou Hotel & Towers

Sheraton Suzhou Hotel & Towers has appointed Philip Zhao as their new Director of Sales & Marketing.

He has in-depth knowledge of the China market with over eight years experience in some of China’s most competitive markets.

Sheraton Suzhou Hotel & Towers is the award winning 5-star international hotel in ancient Suzhou.

This city recalls the splendor of China’s past with its traditional hump-back bridges, waterways and gardens, all enclosed within a city wall.

Sheraton Suzhou pool

With 386 rooms and suites, the hotel also has comprehensive meeting facilities — which makes it a MICE hotel —  a business center as well as fully-equipped health & fitness center.

More hotel information can be viewed at:
Sheraton

Its roots can be traced back to antiquity with much of the foundation of the cuisine told in myths and legends. Evolving from a cuisine which was highly influenced by Chinese culture with Buddhism and Confucianism, the cuisine eventually came into its own by differentiating itself in a number of ways.

The Korean royal court cuisine once brought all of the unique regional specialties together for the royal family. Meals taken both by the royal family and Korean citizens have been regulated by etiquette unique to Korea.

The cuisine is largely based on rice, noodles, tofu, vegetables, and meats. Traditional Korean meals are noted for the number of side dishes (banchan) that accompany steam-cooked short-grain rice.

Every meal is accompanied by numerous banchan. Kimchi, a fermented, spicy vegetable dish is usually served at every meal. Korean cuisine usually involves seasoning with sesame oil, doenjang (fermented soybean paste), soy sauce, salt, garlic, ginger, and gochujang (red chili paste). It is a cuisine much sought after by connoisseurs.

From August 22 to 31 the Sheraton Suzhou Garden Brasserie will be a Korean restaurant offering a selection of Bibimbap, Kimchi, Bulgogi, Grilled galbi, Haemultang.

Priced at RMB198 (plus a 15% surcharge) per person it allows a taste of Korea in China in what will be for the time the most unique restaurant in the Suzhou city.