HOTELS x 15CONTACT US AT: 8351-9033, CICITAN2011@GMAIL.COM

Fri/Sat/Sun February 2~4, 2018

room fare from an open kitchen, with a fi ne wine selection guided by a professional sommelier. Signature Chinese restaurant Canal Luna showcases authen-tic Cantonese and traditional Chinese cuisine. All-day inter-national restaurant Café Aqua serves a buffet breakfast and an “East meets West” selection of Western, Southeast Asian, Japanese, Indian and Chinese favorites. Roof-top hotspot Sky Bar and Restaurant is a trendy sky-high retreat with a boundless view of the city’s landscape, serving up alluring cocktails and live band shows. The Lobby Lounge serves Chi-nese and English teas, specialty coffees, beer, wine, cocktails and tasty snacks, with pockets of privacy amid a “reef-rock” design concept.

The pinnacle of meeting and event venue options is the grand pillarless 1,800-sqm Crystal Ballroom, suited with a welcom-ing foyer that has a 180-degree glass window view overlooking the Pearl River and able to cater

to both Western-style and tra-ditional Chinese weddings and banquets. The Crystal Ballroom offers amazing holographic projection technology for high-impact events. A more intimate 500-sqm pil-larless Jade Ballroom and 10 multifunc-tional rooms from 68 to 200 sqm accommodate receptions, corporate presentations and board meetings.

The hotel has a total of 350 spacious rooms, 42 suites and a presidential suite overlook-ing the stunning scenery of the Pearl River and the city. Other facilities include the I-Spa and the fi tness center.

To celebrate the grand opening, the hotel is offering a special room package through March 30. Priced at 1,382 yuan (US$210.6) with service charge and tax included, the package includes an one night’s stay at a deluxe room with a buffet breakfast for two, and 500-yuan credit to be used in all the res-taurants and bars or for SPA.Add: 828 Yuejiang Middle Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou (广州市海珠区阅江中路828号)Teli: (020) 8922-8888 (Maggie Tang)

Tan Yifancicitan2011@gmail.com

CARRYING the gene of cre-ativity and living in such a fast-changing world, people who are staying in Shenzhen are more likely to start anew than keep up their cultural tradition, let alone promote it.

But for Jean-Marc Poli, the newly appointed general manager of Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen, and his team, their resolution for the coming Year of the Dog is to retain the tradi-tion of Shangri-La and create a platform to present Chinese heritage through their work.

It is nearly impossible to associate Poli, an Africa-born French-Italian with a neat quiff and a sharp suit and tie, with Asian cultural traits upon fi rst sight. But beneath his crisp shirt cuffs are carefully braided bracelets that were given by Myanmar monks, and in his pocket he keeps several tiny damask-made hop-pocket amulets that he got from Chi-nese temples.

“I have lived all my life in dif-ferent cultures as a foreigner. Culturally, I feel closer to the Japanese and Chinese,” he said.

Long before coming to Asia, Poli was fascinated by Asian culture, especially by Chinese culture. “When I was young, I could always enjoy Asian movies from the window of my room because almost every night the concrete open-air screen that was not far from my house showed either Indian or Chinese movies. And when I grew up, I was infl uenced by literature that describes China,” he said. “China has such a long history, rich cultural tradition and hard-working ethic; I felt I had come to the right place when I relocated to China.”

Poli’s determination to work in the hospitality industry was reinforced when he traveled with his parents throughout his adolescence in Asia and stayed at a fancy hotel in Hong Kong. Ten years later, when he came back to China, he has a lot to learn in order to catch up with the fast pace of the Asian

giant and distinguish between new inventions and traditional remains, which together make up his idea of the real China.

“I think tradition has its merit. Luckily, the drive to pre-serve and showcase the heritage and traditions of the culture is increasing. Being traditional doesn’t necessarily mean to be outdated or reserved. On the contrary, things can be done in an innovative way,” Poli said.

“In Shangri-La, we are proud of ourselves to be able to pro-vide hospitality from the heart, excellent cuisine and excellent service throughout the group,” he said. Poli added that being at Shangri-La also means to adapt to the changing environ-ment and to integrate into the local community.

Poli received his professional education in Switzerland. He has served in the industry for more than 30 years. He has worked as general managing director at hotels in Japan, Singapore, Spain, Myanmar and in Chinese cities such as Shanghai.

Jean-Marc Poli: be true luxury, be Shangri-La

INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels & Resorts continues expand-ing their brand in China with the opening of InterConti-nental Guangzhou Exhibition Center, right in the heart of South China’s economic and cultural hub. InterContinental Guangzhou Exhibition Center is InterContinental’s fi rst hotel in Guangzhou.

The new luxury hotel opened Monday in the landmark Poly Skyline Square complex on the Pearl River in the heart of Guangzhou. The brand’s 40th property in China is adjacent to the Canton Fair-Guangzhou International Convention & Exhibition Center, one of the world’s largest exhibition centers.

Inspired by the China Maritime Silk Road, the hotel’s interior design features an ocean wave-colored fl oor, a reef-shaped lounge chair and a wall modeled after a ship’s hull that showcases elements from the Maritime Silk Road. A cus-tomized world map symbolizes the prosperity of Guangzhou maritime commerce. Abstract paintings in each room tie-in with the maritime theme. From the guestrooms to the ballroom, crystal fl ower lights adorn the space with a design inspired by the history and culture of Guangzhou.

Among diverse local and international dining experi-ences, Western grill CHAR serves sizzling steaks and grill-

InterContinental opens new hotel in GZA MOVIE or a concert will be on the agenda for many couples this Valentine’s Day. To make it more perfect, lovebirds may

want to indulge in a lus-cious candle-lit

dinner too.T h e

S e a s o n s Restaurant at fi ve-star K e m p i n -ski Hotel S h e n z h e n

is offering a buffet, featur-

ing top-quality Angus steak and delicate desserts created by their chef team, for this special occasion. Adding to the romance in the air will be music in the elegant dining environment.

There is also gift for early lovebirds who prepay for their reservations before Feb. 14. The original price is 428 yuan (US$68) per person, but those who pay early can enjoy a discount at only 598 yuan for two, inclusive of service fees and taxes.Time: 5:30-9:30 p.m., Feb. 14Add: Haide Street 3, Hou-haibin Road, Nanshan District (南山区后海滨路海德三道)Metro: Line 2 or 11, Houhai StationBooking: (0755) 8888-8888 ext. 8318 (Debra Li)

Buffet dinner for valentines

Jean-Marc Poli