Check out Downstairs’ amazing special for lovers and daters

888 RMB
includes 2 appetizers, 2 mains, 2 deserts,
mignardises and a bottle of wine.
one lucky couple who order the lover’s prix fixe special
will be automatically entered to win a complimentary room night
at URBN within the month of February.

Don’t let these delicacies and a romantic night at URBN slip through your fingers.

Four Course menu

Dill cured golden trout, apple, olive oil and baby cucumber
*
Truffled mushroom soup with parmesan crisp
*
Lamb rack with organic grains, buttered Spring vegetables, rosemary jus
or
Sea bass with cauliflower cream risotto, trout roe, capers
*
Orange and cardamom soufflé with hazelnuts and rose syrup

Petit mignardise

]]> http://www.urbnhotels.com/blog/join-us-for-a-romantic-valentines-day-6.html/feed 1 http://www.urbnhotels.com/blog/clean-energy-makes-big-strides-but-just-how-sustainable-is-the-growth.html http://www.urbnhotels.com/blog/clean-energy-makes-big-strides-but-just-how-sustainable-is-the-growth.html#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:23:02 +0000 victoria http://www.urbnhotels.com/?p=5698

Global investment in clean energy capacity expanded by 5 percent in 2011 to $260 billion. The growth comes despite the considerable drag from economic crisis in Europe and weak growth in the U.S. The new research, compiled by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, was announced yesterday in New York at United Nations headquarters building, site of the Investor Summit on Climate Risk & Energy Solutions.

Up from $247 billion in 2010, last year’s rise in spending on clean energy capacity offered reasons for optimism along with rising cause for concern. Note that this data includes spending on renewable energy technologies, but not advanced coal, nuclear or conventional big hydro.

The good news: Spending has quintupled in the past seven years, with outlays for solar power leading the expansion — soaring by 36 percent to $137.5 billion during 2011. And in the global horse race for green energy leadership, the U.S. regained its lead over China for the first time since 2008. U.S. spending hit a record, at $55.4 billion, up 35 percent, as investment in China rose by just one percent to $48.9 billion.

“The performance of solar is even more remarkable when you consider that the price of photovoltaic modules fell by close to 50 percent during 2011, and now stands 75 percent lower than three years ago, in mid-2008,” Michael Liebreich, chief executive of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said in a statement.

For the full article, click here.

A lot of people say that working in the business of hospitality is quite hard. There are long working hours and there is a lot of pressure. But everyone knows that if you love what you are doing and if you do it with passion, there’s no disadvantage, no barricade and no problem, not worth getting over it. And there is one thing that can reward us for everything. To see people happy and satisfied!
For example imagine how much effort and work is behind a wedding, but when you finally see the bride and the groom kissing, you recognize that you are a small part of the reason why they are happy. Click here to take a look at a recent wedding hosted at URBN Hotels and see the reason, why we aim for a perfect service and always give our best.

Dear friends,

Winter has taken over, we are sure you have noticed it, too!  To keep up with Old Man Winter, we have switched out our summer menu to our current winter menu, offering amazing new dishes that will help prepare you for the frigid cold.
To take a glimpse at the fabulous new winter treats, click here!

Start with our delicious gnocchi parisienne to bring the warmth back to your body and follow with an unbelievably tasty roast black cod, served with hearty baby potatoes and fantastic ratatouille that will strengthen your body’s defense for the winter. For dessert, our amazing Chef Siobhan will prepare a tantalizing chocolate soufflé that will make you feel like being in heaven.  There’s a lot more, find out and judge for yourself: the perfect dishes for a perfect, enjoyable, cozy winter meal!

Christmas is the season of getting together. Are you looking for a place to hold your corporate dinner, a festive meal with friends & family or any other holiday dining?  Would you like a place with some of the city’s best food?  High quality?  Are you looking for a place with great service and style?  Are you looking for a place where you can also support the environment while eating delicious food?  You want a place where you can have all this, but does it exist?  Is it affordable?

Where do you want to hold your perfect party?

Look no further!  Come over to Downstairs with David Laris for your unforgettable event.

Click here to have a look at what we are able to do for you.

Honestly speaking, what picture does your brain create when thinking of “eco-friendly acommodation”? Maybe some leaking tents out in the forest, a wooden shelter or a stone hut? We are proud to be listed by Fodor’s as one of ten eco-friendly hotels where travelers don’t have to sacrifice luxury and comfort when going green. Click here for great review from Fodor’s written by Jessica Festa.

October 29, 2011 – SHANGHAI, CHINA Flexing its big heart, our hotel’s restaurant, Downstairs with David Laris, offered a table for the project “Chi Fan for Charity” (CFFC) to help reach 200,000 RMB along with other well-known restaurants all over Shanghai.
Chi Fan for Charity’s innovative model takes the standard concept of a large gala charity dinner and throws it out the window. Instead, CFFC invited some of Shanghai’s best restaurants to prepare a special menu accompanied by a selection of pairing wines for each course. Many of the tables were hosted by some of Shanghai’s best known personalities, some by associations and others by groups of friends.  Interested individuals bought seats at these tables through the Chi Fan for Charity website. The price per seat ranged from 500 RMB to 1,500 RMB.

Click here to get to know more about it.

Shanghai, China – November 15, 2011 – Fodor’s, the leading name in travel guides, today announced that URBN Hotel has been recognized as a 2011 Fodor’s 100 Hotels selection. This distinction designates URBN Hotel as an outstanding hotel as selected by Fodor’s editors and travel experts, highlighting excellent service and stylish accommodations that make every stay unforgettable. It is the only hotel in Shanghai to be awarded with this honor.

The 75^th anniversary year for Fodor’s Travel also marks a re-imagined Fodor’s 100 Hotel Awards, featuring hotels worldwide selected by Fodor’s to receive the distinction of best in class in 8 exciting new categories:

• New & Noteworthy — The year’s best new and reinvented hotels

• Grande Dame — Legendary hotels with superlative history and service

• Casual Chic — Effortlessly stylish hotels with rustic-modern appeal

• Design – Cutting-edge boutique hotels at all price points

• Local Flavor – Go-to hotels for a truly authentic experience

• Clubby Atmosphere — Hip urban pied-à-terre

• Luxurious Retreat — Top choices for a complete escape

• Trusted Brand — World-class examples of international hotel chains

“Our editors and writers travel the globe each year to scout hotels, and the Fodor’s 100 Hotels represent the best of the best,” says Arabella Bowen, Executive Editorial Director, Fodor’s Travel. “Fodor’s understands that choosing where to stay is one of the most important decisions a traveler makes, and we believe these 100 hotels deliver the style, service, and quality that our discerning travelers seek.”

As a 2011 Fodor’s 100 Hotel Award-winning property URBN Hotel will be featured on www.Fodors.com and celebrated at the announcement event in New York City. A complete list of all 100 selected hotels is available at http://www.fodors.com/world/hotel-awards/2011/.

About Fodor’s

Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House, Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of travel information.  Covering over 300 destinations worldwide, Fodor’s guidebooks and website, Fodors.com, have provided the most up-to-date, accurate information for travelers for seventy-five years.  Written by a team of over 700 writers located around the globe, Fodor’s provides travelers with engagingly written, intelligently and accurately reported, and absolutely indispensable travel guidance. Visit www.Fodors.com.

About URBN Hotels and Resorts

URBN Hotels Shanghai is China’s first carbon neutral hotel and Shanghai’s most awarded boutique hotel.  It is located in a vibrant hub of local activity, close to the premium shopping and entertainment district of Nanjing Road, amid restaurants, colonial lane houses and the famous former French Concession.  URBN is focused on immersing guests deeply into their environment, offering activities beyond the traditional hotel experience so they become part of the urban lifestyle of their surroundings.  As such, URBN offers localized extra services such as tai chi and yoga classes, in-room beauty and health treatments, unique bike and walking tours, Chinese cooking classes and basic lessons in Mandarin Chinese.

URBN Hotels Shanghai:

- China’s First Carbon-Neutral Hotel

- Fodor’s Choice, 2010

- That’s Shanghai, Best Hotel 2009 & 2010

- That’s Shanghai, Best Hotel 2011

- Time Out Shanghai Best Boutique Hotel 2010

- 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

- Partners of Shanghai Roots & Shoots, Million Tree Project

Download URBN’s Electronic Brochure:
http://www.urbnhotels.com/brochure.html

Download Images:
http://www.urbnhotels.com/IMAGEGALLERY.zip

Shanghai will offer 5 million energy-saving lightbulbs by the end of this year at subsidized prices as part of a campaign to save electricity and cut emissions of carbon dioxide, city officials said yesterday.

The city started in 2009 to offer residents energy-saving lightbulbs with an extra subsidy of 20 percent of the cost on top of a 50 percent national subsidy, bringing the average price to as low as 2 yuan (31 US cents).

On Monday, October 10^th, Mercedes Benz AMG unveiled their new 2012 CLS63 AMG E-class in front of over 150 media and guests at URBN Hotel.  The 150 privileged guests and media members present at the event caught glimpses of the sleek vehicle in two different colors: black and silver.  It was the first time Mercedes Benz combined the elegance and dynamism of a coupé, the comfort and practicality of a sedan, and the performance of a sports car.

It was also the first time the German auto company revealed the highly anticipated car in China, as the official release to the rest of the country wasn’t until the day after the event.  Two-time Formula One World Champion Mika Hä
kkinen was the special guest at the event, posing with guests in front of the cars for pictures.