The 400-room hotel, to be operated by Shangri-La Hotels and Resort, will complement the company’s existing property in the province, Shangri-La Hotel, Qingdao, and Shangri-La Hotel, Qufu, scheduled to open at end of 2012, and further strengthen its leading position in the region.

Shangri-La Hotel, Jinan will be located on Luoyuan Street in Lixia District, the city’s commercial, business and political centre. Right facing the Spring City Square, the hotel will be near the provincial governments and the International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Within 45-minute drive from the international airport, the hotel is also close to the city’s key tourist attractions, including Baotu Spring, Daming Lake and Thousand Buddha Mountain.

Shangri-La has named Hong Kong-based Wong Tung International Limited as architect and Hirsch Bedner Associates will undertake the interior design for guestrooms and the public area.  The hotel’s 400 guestrooms will range in size from 45 square metres for a standard room to 225 square metres for a suite.

A Horizon Club, Shangri-La’s exclusive retreat for discerning travellers, will be available to offer a host of special amenities and privileges, including a 360-square-metre lounge for daily breakfast and cocktails, meeting rooms, and express check-in and check-out services.

The hotel will offer several restaurants and bars, including an all-day restaurant, speciality restaurant, Chinese restaurant, lobby lounge, bar and wine retail shop.  Meeting and banqueting facilities will include a 1,900-square-metre Grand Ballroom, several function rooms, a Government VIP Room and a Bridal Room.  Additional facilities will include an extensive health club, spa, indoor swimming pool, beauty salon and business centre.

City.Mobi

Also in China today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Shanghai.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

Shanghai.city.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide