…
A brand new boutique hotel company URBN Hotels & Resorts has opened its first property, the chic 26 room ‘URBN Hotels Shanghai’. The new ‘URBN Hotels Shanghai’ is also China’s first carbon neutral and truly earth conscious hotel.
Conceived by owners Scott Barrack and Jules Kwan from the desire to give visitors to Shanghai a uniquely Shanghainese urban experience, the 26-room hotel is converted from a former 1970s post office building and features contemporary design with Chinese, and specifically Shanghainese, influences.
URBN Hotels & Resorts is owned by the founders of Space Development, Scott Barrack and Jules Kwan who already have a proven partnership of successful development projects in Shanghai. Within the last three years, Space Development has engaged in over 20 niche redevelopment projects throughout the city ranging from luxury residential and serviced apartments to office complexes and industrial buildings. ‘URBN Hotels Shanghai’ is their first hotel project.
“While we’re beginning to see the boutique hotel phenomenon evolve in Shanghai, a trend seen in most major cities around the world for the past 10 years, URBN Hotels & Resorts will offer an experience that will parallel the likes of London, New York and Barcelona, with a unique Shanghai chic unto itself and international quality western comforts and conveniences” states owner Scott Barrack.
Jules Kwan adds: “Our vision is to create destinations of comfort, style and interest across China. Our first hotel will be unlike any other, and we want to be at the forefront of promoting environmental awareness, protection and sustainable buildings within the hotel industry.”
‘URBN Hotels Shanghai’ will be China’s first carbon neutral hotel. In May 2007, URBN entered into an agreement with Climate Bridge, an international intermediary offering bespoke solutions for companies and industries to reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions.
The total amount of energy the hotel consumes, including staff commutes, food and beverage delivery, and the energy used by each guest, will be tracked to calculate the carbon footprint. URBN will then purchase credits to neutralize its footprint by investing in “green” energy development and emission reduction projects in China.
Hotel guests can also choose to purchase carbon credits from the program to offset their flights. All credits are verified and approved by the United Nations. This voluntary action by URBN Hotels is significant, considering China is the fastest growing emitter of greenhouse gases and is central to the success or failure of the global response to climate change.
URBN‘s vision is to expand its concept to other cities in China so that people can have unique experiences reflecting the diversity of the destinations to which they travel.
There are plans to develop 20 URBN hotels and resorts in tourist and business cities throughout the country in the next 3 years.
The company is currently negotiating on sites in Beijing, Hangzhou, Dalian, and Suzhou in the immediate future.
Continuing to rehabilitate existing structures and being “green” will be essential to URBN’s strategy, although the size of future hotels may increase to 50 – 100 rooms.
