
New Shangri-La luxury brand lures rich Chinese tourists with unique cultural experiences
Advertisement
The company was spearheading a move among global hoteliers to focus on unique offerings, operational agility and the evolving preferences of Chinese travellers to stay abreast of the competition.
'Affluent Chinese travellers, particularly millennials and Gen Z in mainland China, are reshaping the meaning of luxury,' said Ulrich Joblonka, general manager of the Silk Lakehouse at the Shangri-La Hangzhou, in an interview. 'No longer defined solely by opulence, today's luxury is rooted in authenticity, emotional connection, cultural depth and personal well-being.'
The Silk Lakehouse, located on the shores of Hangzhou's West Lake – a Unesco World Heritage site – is the first outlet to open under the new brand, inaugurated in May.
Shangri-La, founded by Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok Hock-nien in 1971, said each Shangri-La Signatures room would be a refined private residence, rooted in local heritage. The brand would also be expanded to other parts of Asia.
Advertisement
'In cities like Hangzhou where prime sites near the West Lake are becoming increasingly scarce, a well-positioned luxury hotel can surely stand out,' said Zhou Tao, head of hotels and hospitality at JLL in China. 'High-net-worth travellers continue to place a premium on experiences that combine exceptional location with thoughtful design and cultural relevance and a product that delivers on these fronts is well placed to capture their attention.'
According to the property services firm, revenue per available room on the mainland dropped 5 per cent from a year earlier during the first five months of 2025. But luxury and upscale hotels showed resilience and experienced strong demand, Zhou said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


RTHK
24 minutes ago
- RTHK
Xi calls for 'correct strategic choices' from EU
Xi calls for 'correct strategic choices' from EU President Xi Jinping listens to European Council president Antonio Costa make a point as European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen looks on. Photo: Reuters President Xi Jinping said China and the EU must deepen trust and make "correct strategic choices" in a turbulent world, as he opened talks with the European bloc's bosses at a key summit in Beijing on Thursday. Both sides can find common ground, Xi stressed, despite areas of friction such as trade. Beijing has sought to draw the European Union closer as it positions itself as a more reliable partner than the United States and a bedrock of stability in a troubled world. "Fifty years of China-EU ties have yielded fruitful cooperation outcomes and benefited the world," the president said. "The more severe and complex the international situation, the more China and the EU must strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust and deepen cooperation," he told European Union Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa. "Chinese and European leaders should... make correct strategic choices that meet the expectations of the people." Xi called on both sides to "provide more stability, certainty for world through steady, sound bilateral relations". China and the European Union, he said, are both constructive forces for multilateralism, openness and cooperation. (Xinhua & agencies)


South China Morning Post
24 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
SenseTime, Mengniu join UBTech in wave of Chinese firms tapping capital markets
Chinese companies are stepping up their fundraising activities to shore up liquidity and manage refinancing needs as market sentiment shows signs of recovery in the second half of the year. Advertisement On Thursday, artificial intelligence firm SenseTime unveiled an agreement to raise HK$2.5 billion (US$318 million) through a share subscription, and dairy giant Mengniu Dairy said it would generate 3.5 billion yuan (US$489 million) through a bond issuance. Those plans came to light a day after UBTech Robotics divulged a HK$2.4 billion share placement plan. The financing moves come amid strong momentum in Hong Kong's equity market . Initial public offerings in the city surged 695 per cent year on year in the first half to US$14.1 billion, making it the world's largest IPO market during the period, according to a report released by bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) on Wednesday. 'Investor sentiment has improved markedly,' despite complicated geopolitical tensions, HKEX said, noting that both international institutions and retail investors had shown strong demand for new offerings. Equity fundraising was particularly active in the consumer sector and the technology, media and telecommunications sector, with firms in AI, healthcare and fast-moving consumer goods raising substantial capital to fuel expansion, it said. SenseTime said its conditional subscription agreement with unnamed investors would involve 1.67 billion new shares priced at HK$1.50 apiece, representing a 6.25 per cent discount to its last closing price. The proceeds were expected to support the firm's business development and general corporate use, including ongoing investment in AI infrastructure and research into generative models, as well as new areas such as robotics and digital finance, it said. Advertisement Mengniu, one of China's largest dairy producers, said it would issue two tranches of yuan-denominated bonds: a 2 billion yuan bond maturing in 2030 with a 2 per cent coupon, and a 1.5 billion yuan bond maturing in 2035 with a 2.3 per cent coupon. The company said the proceeds would be used for refinancing existing debt, with an equivalent amount to be allocated to eligible green and social-responsibility projects under its sustainable-financing framework.


South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
As ‘2 big guys' on world stage, China and Europe must work together: Xi
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for stronger communications and further engagement with the European Union, that he said could add certainties to the world. 'China and Europe should enhance communication, strengthen mutual trust, and deepen cooperation, providing the world with more stability and certainty through a stable and healthy China-Europe relationship,' the Chinese leader told visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa on Thursday. Xi described China and the European Union as 'two big guys' in the world, adding that the two sides should join efforts so as to 'firmly grasp the right direction of China-Europe relations and work together to usher in an even brighter next 50 years' in bilateral relations. As the two sides mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and the European Union were 'once again standing at a critical historical juncture'. A key lesson to draw from the 50-year experience was 'mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, openness and cooperation, and mutual benefit and win-win outcomes,' he said. 'China and the EU must once again demonstrate foresight and responsibility, making strategic choices that meet the expectations of their peoples and stand the test of history,' Xi continued.