INTERNATIONAL REPORT—IHG has signed a management agreement with Shanghai 21st Century Hotel Co. Ltd. for its property located in Lujiazui, Shanghai, China, to become the first Regent hotel since the company acquired the brand in 2018.
“Welcoming Regent Shanghai Pudong to the Regent family represents a significant milestone for the brand not only in Greater China, but also in the world,” said Justin Channe, managing director, Regent Hotels & Resorts, IHG. “Since acquisition, we have been committed to making the brand a real leader within luxury hospitality and taking it to the world’s best destinations. We are excited to team up with Shanghai 21st Century Hotel Co. Ltd., our long-term strategic partner, to bring Regent to Shanghai in such a prime location. We look forward to working closely with the owner to proudly bring Regent hallmarks to life in the hotel.”
On May 16, 2020, the hotel will be officially branded as Regent Shanghai Pudong. All existing reservations will be automatically forwarded and honored by Regent Shanghai Pudong. Under the deal, IHG will also take over the management of its luxury apartments, which sit above the hotel in the same tower.
Expanding its luxury footprint, IHG acquired a majority stake in Regent Hotels & Resorts in March 2018 and brought the brand into the top end of its portfolio. Since then IHG has worked quickly to combine its expertise in luxury with Regent’s deep heritage and revered legacy, relaunching the brand by evolving it to appeal to the modern luxury traveler, according to the company.
A renovation is also already underway to rebrand the InterContinental Hong Kong into a Regent hotel in 2021, bringing the hotel back to its roots as it first opened its doors as a Regent in 1980. In addition, the brand is also expecting new openings in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, later this year; Bali, Indonesia, in 2021; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Chengdu, China, in 2023.