Fairmont Peace Hotel adds soul to special occasions
Print Edition
The Fairmont Peace Hotel, once the “Number One Mansion in the Far East” and where old-fashioned glamour now sparkles with new luster, is expected to continue its legend with the staging of an exclusive charity ball on New Year’s Eve.
The Peace Charity Ball will be “an unrivaled night” of exclusive entertainment with a charity auction supporting the Shanghai Children's Foundation, said George Wee, general manager of the iconic hotel on the Bund’s doorstep.
The ball will be hosted by famous celebrity, modern dancer and actress Jin Xing.
“It is our honor to restore the tradition of the Fairmont Peace Hotel,” Wee said. “This Peace Charity Ball will recreate the glorious heritage of this historic hotel.”
The Fairmont Peace Hotel, a luxurious Art Deco masterpiece that British businessman Victor Sassoon opened in 1929 under the name Cathay Hotel, was a symbol of power and wealth.
The hotel once hosted the city’s best parties where the most influential people gathered.
British historian Harriet Sergeant described Sassoon as an “amusing, cynical” bon vivant who hosted brilliant parties in the 1991 book “Shanghai.” It was a reflection of the hotel’s close connection with the good life.
The Peace Hall, where the ball is to take place, is said to be Shanghai’s most famous and most beautiful ballroom. Located on the eighth floor, it is adorned with Art Deco detailing, crystal chandeliers and a 6.5-meter-high ceiling. The original sprung white maple dance floor remains.
The Fairmont Peace Hotel is delighted to be able to team up with Jin, who founded Jin Xing Dance Theater, China’s first independent dance company. She led it to international acclaim. Jin has an honorary doctorate in the United Kingdom and won the French government’s Chevalier de l’Ordre des Letters et des Artists.
Back in 2007 when the hotel was closed for renovations, Jin also chaired the hotel’s last ball. As fate would have it, she is back.
All proceeds from the charity auction will go to the Shanghai Children’s Foundation, a publicly run organization established in 1981 to support projects and research that are beneficial to the health and wellbeing of children. The money will go towards establishing a fund to help families with children of outstanding talent who do not have the financial resources to pay for education.
The Fairmont Peace Hotel has always been enveloped in an awe-inspiring and elegant atmosphere that smacks of exclusiveness. After the renovation, which took three years and cost US$80 million, the 11-story, 270-room hotel’s mystique was enhanced. While other hotels may be able to accommodate more guests, the Fairmont Peace Hotel has uniqueness, history and heritage most can only dream of.
Take the charity ball as an example. Only 250 people will be able to attend.
“We want our guests to be more than happy,” Wee said. “They will take away a stunning experience that they remember forever.”
At the Fairmont Peace Hotel, these memories come from the spectacular building, its legendary history and the heartfelt service provided.
Although Shanghai has numerous hotels and getting a slice of the city’s MICE market (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) is not easy, Fairmont Peace Hotel has no parallel. The most influential people, past and present, choose the Fairmont Peace Hotel.
The hotel has just unveiled its rooftop events space, suitable for parties of up to 1,000 people. It is an ideal area for everything from wedding ceremonies to corporate events, featuring one of the finest views in Shanghai — looking out over the Huangpu River and across the water to the awesome skyline of Pudong.
Along with the re-opening of the rooftop terrace, there are two dining rooms and the Nine Heavens Hall, all of which were originally reserved for the private use of hotel founder Sassoon. The New England and Scotland rooms have been restored to their original glory.
The hotel also reopened Chun Shen, the largest function room on its Mezzanine Level. Chun Shen was the original name of the Huangpu River. This 215-square-meter room is designed to complement the hotel’s Art Deco style, with wood paneling lining the walls and original cast-iron windows that offer a compelling view of the Bund.
The new Thames Room, a 110-square-meter space to the west of Chun Shen, blends the hotel’s opulent design with modern corporate comforts. It can seat up to 50 people when furnished with round tables.
“There is also our famous Old Jazz Band to enjoy at the end of each busy day — an experienced one should never forego!” Simply put, theFairmont Peace Hotel is indeed a hotel with a soul.
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