“The Gym” is the first Fitness and Health themed Reality Show in China. It follows six ordinary people over three months as they work out at a luxury gym in Shanghai. Two professional trainers judge the cast based on how effective they’ve been over the past two weeks.

In this episode, the top performer won a stay at URBN hotels, while the loser had to clean up the hotel room.

www.thegymshow.cn

The participants learnt about the different environmental initiatives and gained greater understanding of what they can do both individually and collectively to enhance and protect our natural environment.

Furthermore, participants created Eco Art on-site and later submitted via the www.ecoartchina.com website.

For Immediate Release: June 25, 2010

ICF International Report Favorable for URBN Hotel

ICF International and URBN Team Up for Sustainability

Shanghai, China June 25, 2010- ICF International has released a report on the findings of a one year case study with URBN Hotels Shanghai.  The report is based on a project between US Agency for International Development (USAID), US-China Sustainable Buildings Partnership (SBP), and ICF International (www.icfi.com).  The purpose was to initiate a series of operational measures to improve the hotel’s overall energy performance through low-cost solutions.

URBN staff began implementing no-cost and low-cost measures in June 2009, after the launch of its collaboration with SBP and ICF. From July 2009 to December 2009, electricity consumption was reduced by 36% as compared to 2008 levels—even though the hotel occupancy rate in 2009 was 12% higher than in 2008. Overall, URBN has reduced its carbon footprint by 92 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). If URBN maintains annual electricity savings of 36 percent from its baseline over the next five years, the hotel could avoid emissions of 783 MtCO2e, equivalent to the carbon sequestered by growing more than 20,000 tree seedlings for 10 years.

The staff at URBN continues to implement new and innovative ways to improve building sustainability and track success. In the coming year, the hotel plans to investigate the use of rooftop solar, grey-water recycling, and guest education as well as to continue to focus on operational excellence and energy data tracking. The Hotel’s Head Engineer, Shigong, is optimistic for the future, “The more we focus on operations, the more we’ll be able to reduce consumption.”

Links to ICF’s full report:

http://www.urbnhotels.com/2100319-SBP_URBN Case Study_2-11-10_final.pdf

http://www.urbnhotels.com/SBP_URBN Case Study_2-11-10_final.pdf

About ICF International
ICF International (NASDAQ:ICFI) partners with government and commercial clients to deliver consulting services and technology solutions in the energy, climate change, environment, transportation, social programs, health, defense, and emergency management markets. The firm combines passion for its work with industry expertise and innovative analytics to produce compelling results throughout the entire program life cycle, from analysis and design through implementation and improvement. Since 1969, ICF has been serving government at all levels, major corporations, and multilateral institutions. More than 3,500 employees serve these clients worldwide. ICF’s Web site is www.icfi.com.

URBN Hotels Shanghai:

- China’s First Carbon-Neutral Hotel

- Travel + Leisure Magazine Top 10 Greater China Boutique/Design Hotels 2009

- Conde Nast Traveler “Hot List” 2009

- CNBC Asia Pacific Property Awards “Best Small Hotel” 2009

- Official Hotel Sponsor for Shanghai Fashion Week 2009

- That’s Shanghai, Best Hotel 2009

- Partners of Shanghai Roots & Shoots, Million Tree Project

Download Image: A selection of the hotel’s images can be downloaded at

http://www.urbnhotels.com/IMAGEGALLERY.zip in high resolution.

INCLUDE BOILERPLATE

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CONTACT:

Victoria A. Hajjar

Marketing Manager

URN Hotel Shanghai

T: 51534600

Victoria@urbnhotels.com

www.urbnhotels.com

WildChina Touch is supported by WildChina, China’s #1 high-end, custom-tour operator. Founded on an ethos of sustainability, environmental protection, and ties of friendship between China and the rest of the world, we give our clients the best access to sites, experts and communities to offer a truly unique China experience. WildChina and WildChina Touch look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with URBN Hotels.

Click here to find out more

In addition to collecting clothes, The Villa has been offering 10% of all sales to be donated to help the victims.  And to further entice Shanghai residence to participate, URBN hotel donated a night the penthouse to one of the good Samaritans who donated.

Each person who gave clothes left their business card to be entered into a raffle.  We are happy to announce that the winner is Kathy Liu. Thanks to Kathy for her contribution!!

From MOP:

Before attending the Expo, please be sure to check out the media all over the world on the latest Expo news and the Expo service information, mastering the latest and the most complete information in order to have the best possible World Expo experience.

General information of the Expo:

Shanghai World Expo is held in the city of Shanghai, mainly located in the Bingjiang district between Nanpu Bridge and Lupu Bridge, on both sides the Huangpu River.

After the opening of the Shanghai World Expo, this 5.28 square kilometers site will host more than 70 million visitors within the next six month. There are many pavilions on site, each pavilion will have different programs staged on each day, the designs of the pavilions are different from our traditional exhibition centers, and each pavilion has its own characteristics. Visitors will spend most of the time waiting in line outside of the pavilions. The maximum visiting time is 15 hours a day.

Preparations before the visit:

World Expo tour, time is not only precious, it is simply priceless, but before your visit you must understand the following:

1. Even if you just give a quick glance at everything as fast as you can, one day tour can probably only cover one-tenth of the over hundreds of different counties’ exhibitions. So it is recommended that you spend more time and really explore couple of the pavilions you like the most.
Tip: Generally more resources and efforts are put into the newly constructed pavilions than the rental pavilions, so the suggestion is to spend your precious time on those newly constructed pavilions.

2. The entire Expo site is divided into 2 areas: Pudong (east of the Huangpu River) and Puxi (west of the Huangpu River), Pudong has A, B, and C three areas, mainly are Expo Axis, Expo Center, Performing Arts Center and the Festival Square, it also has all the national pavilions including the Chinese National Pavilion. Puxi has D and E 2 areas, mostly are future pavilions, shops and businesses pavilions and Urban Development Area. For those who are only doing a one day tour, it is sufficient to have most of the activities in the three areas in Pudong.

3. One day tour route is to spend the least amount of time and visit the most number of pavilions, that is why this route first goes to area B, then goes to A and C, Avoid going to the Chinese National Pavilion in the morning and evening because you will waste a lot of time waiting in line. All venues recommended here are all newly constructed pavilions; you can choose other pavilions base on your preference in the vicinity of the route.

4. Buy the ticket before you go, get to know information on traffic and the Expo opening, closing time (9:00 – 24:00). Get there before 8:30, for one day trip, lining up at the Expo entrance early is necessary. When the door opens at 9, do not rush inside right the way. There are reservation machines at the entrance, for popular venues, you must first make a reservation there. If you are going with a tour group then you probably will not need to make reservations. For example the super popular venue like the Chinese National Pavilion is going with 100% reservation system, so first thing when entering the expo is to make reservations to avoid any regrets of missing the important venues. After reservations are completed you can start your day of visiting at ease. There are total of 200 reservation machines at each entrances of the site, just ask the volunteers where they are, of course there will be volunteers at the machines to teach you how to operate them, be sure to bring your valid id and ticket.

5. For sure you cannot bring in bottled water. It is understood that the Expo Axis is the largest main entrance, will take in about 23% of the visitors. The basement of the Expo Axis has a checkpoint, it is designed like the airport security checkpoint. According to estimation, each person will spend 5 seconds to go through this process. Everything will be checked, it is possible that solid food is allowed, but no water or any other liquid. There will be free drinking water stations in the Expo.

Morning:

Area B:

Recommend to enter the Expo from Area B entrance, because it is the closes to the “One axis and four pavilions”. (the Expo Axis, China Pavilion, Expo Theme Pavilion, Performing Arts Center and Expo Center) Into the Expo and walking from Expo Axis to the end is the Festival Square where there will be opening ceremony. After watching the show, go to the Expo Center, where each day different opening ceremony of each National Pavilion is held there. you might see certain leaders or super-stars from certain country If you are lucky.

After visiting the Expo Center, go to the theme pavilions. There are five central theme pavilions (original poster said 4 but there are actually 5), They are called Urban Footprints, Urban Planet, Urban Dwellers, Urban Beings, and Urban Dreams. These are all in one building, but you must get in different lines for each, so choose the shortest line first and do not waste precious time. Just letting everyone know, in principle each pavilion has two tour routes, fast route is dedicated to tourists just want a quick glance, it is recommended to used the slow route in the main pavilions and each country’s constructed national pavilions.

Theme Pavilions: Walking along the Expo Axis, they are on the left side.

Urban Beings Pavilion: The exhibition examines the growth of the infrastructure of modern cities, presenting the perplexing networks of both traffic and of water and energy supply as core elements in the urban “organism”. The “Soul Square” is worth watching; a large theater with seven folded screens and a 7000-square-meter velarium, an 8-minute video clip with spectacular images is shown.

Urban Footprints Pavilion: The pavilion portrays the growth of the cities as a decisive factor for human progress over the ages. The exhibition consists of four segments. In three rooms, the “City Origins”, “Urban Development”, and “City Wisdom” are explored. Five of the liquid crystal display scrolling kiosk broadcast flight, train, stock and foreign exchange real-time information around the world.

New Zealand Pavilion: After visiting theme Pavilions, follow the Shiboguan Road going north, you will see the New Zealand Pavilion. Before entering the hall, there is already Maori dance to give you a warm welcome; the greatest surprise in there is the “Lord of the Rings” special effects team using imaging technology to create the spectacular New Zealand sceneries which makes you feel like you are actually there.

Australia Pavilion: Exit the New Zealand Pavilion and go west and you are there. In here the “travel” activity area has a 160 meters fully enclosed glass walkway for the visitors to view Australia’s history. Of course there are plenty of group performances.

Thailand: the south of Australia Pavilion is the Thailand Pavilion. It is easy to find this building with rich Thai style. There is a mascot named “A Tai” there, you can take pictures with him.

Area B also includes Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia and so on national pavilions located at the south of Bocheng Road. North of Bocheng Road has the World Meteorological Center, the Union Pacific Pavilion, the United Nation Joint Pavilion, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Joint Pavilion and the International Information Network Development Pavilion. If time permits you can go there and stroll around.

Lunch:

After vesting  these venues your stomach must be growling. Walk along the Shiboguan Road towards the Shibo Boulevard, you will find the Chinese Food Street between the Expo Center and the Theme Pavilions, where there are dishes from all over the country.

Afternoon:

Area A:

After lunch, you can go to the Expo Cultural Center to watch the performance. Cultural Center is in the northeast of the Expo Center, Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble has two daily free performances at the Performing Arts Center, Be sure the check the schedule, as the performance time may vary. These places just like the Chinese National Pavilion are “must-see spots”. Note that the China National Pavilion is a permanent, If you are interested in coming back to visit again, you can choose to skip the China National Pavilion to save a lot of time to visit other venues.

After entering the China National pavilion, first you can take the elevator to the 49-meters level. There are a few highlights there, one is the glass floor and underneath is the waiting square which makes you feel like “standing above the crowd”. Second is the famous painting “Qingming Festival” (清明上河图) 100 meters wide, and the people in the painting move. Third is the film directed by Lu Chuan – the main film of the Shanghai World Expo China Pavilion “The History of beauty” (美的历程).

After 49 meter level, you can go to 41-meter level. In there you can take the tracked bus tour. There will be a long line but it is worth the wait for the special experience. 33-meter level introduces the low-carbon future city in China, to see the future how we live in this kind of environment.

Local pavilions: If you have time check them out, each province has 600 square meters of space. Outside of them are Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong three pavilions. The LED dome lanterns; lying on the floor and watching the film on the ceiling and the reflective mirror design are most significant features of the three Halls.

Some other recommended halls near the “One axis and four pavilion” are: Going east, Asia pavilion and the United Arab Emirates pavilion, walk a little more there are the Japanese National Pavilion and Korean National Pavilion, do not miss those. Going west, must not miss the Australia’s ochre red pavilion. On the right side of the Australia Pavilion, a music box shaped building is the Singapore Pavilion. Not very big, it has a garden on the top you can rest there. Next to it is the Malaysia Pavilion, a typical southeast Asia architecture, with a stage inside for performances of Malaysia’s 47 ethnic dances. After viewing the performances go to the New Zealand Pavilion if you haven’t already to see the “Lord of the Rings” special effects team using imaging technology to create the spectacular New Zealand sceneries which makes you feel like you are actually there. After exiting the New Zealand Pavilion, look for building with bamboos through the roof, that is the Indonesia Pavilion.

United Arab Emirates Pavilion: After exiting the Hong Kong pavilion, walk along the Guozhan Road towards northeast direction, a rolling sand dune suddenly appears before you, this is the United Arab Emirates Pavilion. They said that this building will be taken apart and ship back to Abu Dhabi to be put together there after the Expo. There is virtual experience of the United Arab Emirates dream trip inside, enjoy the view of the Middle East. Do not forget to participate in the drawing here, so that maybe your dream will become into a reality, the prize is one-week trip to the UAE.

Israel Pavilion: on the edge of the UAE Pavilion, Israel Pavilion has some high-tech varieties, From diesel fuel extracted from plants to installing smart colts onto cows feet to learn their thoughts. The most amazing one is that you can swallow a photography capsule which can produce photographs of your body organs and complete the examination without any pain.

Saudi Arabia Pavilion: It is located in the north of Israel Pavilion. It has the largest foreign investment of 1.3 billion yuan in a single pavilion. Saudi Arabia Pavilion has the world’s largest IMAX 3D theater, a 1600 square meters wide screen.

Japan Pavilion: Northeast of Saudi Arabia Pavilion, looking like space fortress in the cartoons, Japan Pavilion highlights high-tech living, including high resolution cameras and telescopes and robots that know how to play the violin.

Area A’s other Asia Pavilions also include: Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, India, Qatar, Lebanon, Iran, North Korea, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, South Korea National Pavilions and three Asian joint Pavilions.

Area C:

From A to C, you can take the environmental friendly short-refute vehicle there.

Belgium – Europe Union Pavilion: Belgium Pavilion is expect to provide 25,000 daily individually wrapped Belgian chocolates so that visitors can taste the authentic Belgian chocolate for free. There also will be a 2 hours polishing diamond performance on each day.

Denmark Pavilion: Denmark Pavilion allows visitors to play in their swimming pool, visitors experience the feeling of ocean genteelly touching their toes. Little Mermaid will also keep you company there.

Spain Pavilion: Spain National Pavilion is located on the north of Finland National Pavilion, looks like a rattan basket. While learning about the history of Spain you also can enjoy the Latin music and dance at the indoor square.

France Pavilion: The France Pavilion is at the west of Spain Pavilion, looks like an art palace, and it has many treasures, including Rodin’s “Bronze Age” and so on. If you are lucky, you can also witness the 2010 pairs of couples’ new romantic weddings held inside.

United Kingdom: Once exiting the French Pavilion you can the bright UK Pavilion, tens of thousands of light-emitting feelers light up during the day through the optical fiber transmission for indoor lighting, at night they illuminate the entire building through the built-in lights.

Canada: Canadian Pavilion is located at the southwest of Area C, walk along the Tongzijing road to Guozhan road, you can see three separate buildings. You can ride a bike in from of the three-dimensional images as if you are traveling in Canada. There is also the famous Sun circus.

The United States Pavilion: The U.S. Pavilion is at the west of the Canadian Pavilion, the pavilion wall is a media waterfall. Inside the pavilion, there will be Chinese-American youth on the media screen imagining the future time and space with you.

African Join Pavilion: Walk out of the U.S. Pavilion along on Houtan road and going north you can see the last pavilion – African Join Pavilion. The outside of the pavilion has some strong African elements and there is African market inside where you can buy some souvenirs to take back home.

Other venues in area C include: Turkey, Brazil, Luxembourg, Finland, Norway, Russia, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Kenya and other European African, North and South American national pavilions.

If area C makes you linger, and you feel that you did not have enough time in the afternoon, then you can find a place to eat dinner there and continue the tour after dinner.

Evening:

Dinner:

According to the first two trails, media reported that China Aviation Pavilion, the Chinese Ship Pavilion and Space Pavilion are gradually getting warmer. However Puxi area where mostly are future pavilions, shops and businesses pavilions and Urban Development Area are still far less popular than Pudong area where the Chinese National Pavilion is. So if you want to solve the problem of waiting in long line for dinner, the best solution is taking care of dinner in Puxi.

Area D and E:

Walk around in Puxi at night, do not think the pavilions in Puxi Area E are not important, in fact as long as you understand the Expo, you will find corporate pavilions at the Expo also play an important role. While the organizers of the Expo also provided a place called “Urban best Practice Area” letting us know how countries improve the quality of urban life. In which the French Roa Pavilion’s lighting is very beautiful, very suitable for viewing at night.

You can take the subway line 8 or the ferry to go to Area D. First take a look the Jiangnan Shipbuilding Pavilion which was converted from a old factory, you can see the China’s ship making history as well as the model of Zheng He Treasure Ship.

Come out of Chinese Ship Pavilion, and walk towards the Nanpu Bridge, first go to China’s Private Enterprises Pavilion, Vanke as China’s largest real estate companies has been very creative, Vanke Pavilion is made of compressed wheat stalks. You can go there look at China’s future urban life in year 2049.

Next to it is Yuanda Pavilion, whose construction and design embody the idea of environmental protection. The construction of the pavilion took only a short time, in addition it displays the new energy saving air-conditioning system.

Yuanda Pavilion highlights: the cylindrical sculpture in the air is a 5o million times magnified human DNA, composed by hundreds of different sized transparent spheres, the inside are filled with helium, glittering under the sun.

Information Science and Technology Pavilion Highlights: It uses Expo’s cool water technology to adjust indoor temperature in order to reduce energy consumption and emissions. All the major building materials are recyclable; the building uses Green materials to eliminate air pollution and noise pollution.

Shanghai Automotive – General Motors Pavilion: It has the world’s first sophisticated visual and dynamic experience, letting people feel the excitement of moving through the future cities and nature, all the way to year 2030 and getting shocked by it.

Private Corporate Pavilion highlights: Emphasizing environmental friendly green life, it is equated with solar panels. The entire area is powered by solar energy. The inside also has dry mist system to keep the air cool and moist. Under your feet, impressively shows 16 1.5-meters in diameter ecological aquariums with all kinds of marine life inside them.

National Grid Pavilion: The “Magic Box” uses six-face LED screen display mode, integrating with environmental concepts and world-class high technology, gives visitors unprecedented “immersive” viewing experiences. And this is the first time the technology is exhibited in the world.

Finally we can take a boat at the water gate terminal, sitting in the boat while enjoying Huangpu River’s night-views, in your head going over what you have seen at the Expo through all the day. Just like that your one day tour of the Shanghai World Expo has successfully ended.

Lastly, for those of you chose to tour the Expo in one day, please take care of your health, wear suitable sports gears and comfortable shoes.  Fashionable girls are adviced not to wear high heels.  In addition visitors who bring an umbrella please be sure to bring the short and foldable ones, the long umbrellas are not permitted to be taking inside.

Lasting one year and covering Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, Travel + Leisure magazine’s annual Top 10 awards are selected by a committee of readers, editors, journalist, and industry experts.  The award is a platform to highlight the strength of participating hotels and their brands and also serves as a valuable travel reference for business professionals and travel lovers.  Travel + Leisure, regarded as one of the world’s leading travel lifestyle magazines, has a monthly circulation of almost one million readers internationally.

Downstairs with David Laris at Urbn Hotels, Shanghai

David Laris and his consultancy, David Laris Creates (DLC) are excited to announce their recent collaboration with Urbn Hotels. DLC has been commissioned by Urbn Hotels to create a brand new line-up of dining and drinking options within the hotel premises on Jiaozhou Road and the first of these new restaurants is set to open in Spring 2010.

Aptly named “Downstairs with David Laris”, the new restaurant will be located on the first floor of the hotel adjoining the hotel arrival and check-in experience. Keeping in line with Urbn Hotels’ core beliefs of carbon-neutral and sustainability, David Laris has created what he calls an “honest, chic, urban eatery”.

It is the type of restaurant centered around smart and sustainable living in the modern world that is authentic and real. The space and design is completely new and will reflect elements embracing reusable, recyclable and natural principles. Expect natural accents of stone, wood, warm and lush textures to create a cohesive urban environment.

The “Downstairs” menu will feature products that are traceable back to the farm, organic and handmade wherever possible as well as promoting sustainability, quality and quite simply, honesty. The menu concept created by Laris will showcase some of the best local produce available from vendors and artisans that speak the same language; natural, real, honest and traceable. The concept is about taking green and healthy living to the dining table; from homegrown herbs tended to by our head gardener to free-range meats from happy and stress-free animals.

A farm to table philosophy means the food will be affordable, approachable and designed to reach out to a larger audience. The food philosophy is rooted in simple and honest bistro fare yet still manages to excite and surprise with fresh ingredients and ever-changing blackboard specials. Affordable wines by the glass and innovative cocktails enjoyed in the bar or alfresco simply add that touch of cool simplicity and rustic sexiness.

As the menu is inspired by the freshest ingredients available, “Downstairs with David Laris” will be the urban chic eatery for all seasons and as the weather warms up, the perfect place for highly coveted alfresco dining and drinking.

With Laris and his DLC team working closely with the Urbn Hotel there will be more good things set to come.

For more information, contact nk@davidlariscreates.com

About David Laris Creates (DLC)

David Laris Creates (DLC) focuses on creating and developing strong, identifiable ‘lifestyle food and beverage concepts’ for both China and global markets. Its scope encompasses high-end fine dining, mid-range eateries, exclusive clubs and bars, cafés and delicatessens, and boutique gourmet products.

Creative advice and analysis expertise covers every aspect of bringing an idea or concept to reality, from conceptual design and management, to strategic planning and budgeting, menu development, appointment of key staff, tabletop selection, uniforms, staff training, procurement, entertainment and marketing.

DLC has also provided management, consultancy services and concept development and execution for several high profile brands – including Dunhill; Dolce & Gabbana Martini Bar on the Bund, Shanghai; Mattel’s Barbie Flagship Store, Shanghai; all five restaurants and bars at the new boutique hotel The Opposite House, Beijing by Swire Group, as well as the Baccarat Residences Shanghai, Shanghai Pie Company and in various capacities for the Shanghai World Expo 2010.