The new Regent Shanghai Pudong is set to open in May 2020. (Photo: IHG)

IHG defies coronavirus panic by signing a management agreement of their first Regent property, in Shanghai, China.

IHG isn’t letting the global lockdown get in the way of its expansion and development plans. Despite the current crisis that has sent shockwaves through the hospitality industry on an unprecedented scale, IHG has signed a new property in China which will come under the umbrella of its Regent brand, which it acquired in 2018.

We find out more about IHG’s inaugural Regent property.

Regent reigns again

According to a recent press release by InterContinental Hotels, the hotel giant has signed its first property under the Regent brand. IHG became the largest shareholder in Regent Hotels and Resorts in March 2018, and it has taken them two years to settle on a property that would become their first under the brand’s umbrella. As of May this year, a landmark property, formerly a Four Seasons hotel, in the Lujiazui area of Shanghai will welcome guests under the new moniker Regent Shanghai Pudong. This property will be a blueprint in terms of the level of luxury and service that IHG aims to offer with Regent now that it has come under their wing. Regent’s mission for the past 40 years has always been to combine western elegance with Asian hospitality, and this new Chinese signing under IHG’s leadership will no doubt be instrumental in achieving this goal.

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A luxurious legacy

When IHG bought the largest stake in Regent, the intention behind the move was to expand IHG’s top tier of luxury brands. Part of this strategy has been to reimagine the Regent brand under IHG so that it appeals to the modern traveller who is seeking exclusivity and elegance in a contemporary setting. This evolution of the Regent brand will be perfectly situated in the high-rise financial district of Lujiazui, where the Regent Shanghai Pudong will be located. The deal signed by IHG and the Shanghai 21st Century Hotel Co., Ltd. will also allow IHG to manage the luxury residences that sit atop the hotel and are housed within the same tower. As part of their luxury expansion underway with the Regent brand, IHG also has a number of other projects in the pipeline, including the rebranding of the iconic InterContinental Hong Kong into a Regent hotel in 2021, as well as new openings in Phu Quoc, Vietnam later this year, Bali, Indonesia in 2021, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Chengdu, China in 2023.

Justin Channe, Managing Director, Regent Hotels & Resorts, IHG, spoke of the signing, and the future of the Regent brand, saying, “Welcoming Regent Shanghai Pudong to the Regent family represents a significant milestone for the brand not only in Greater China but also in the world. Since the acquisition we have been committed to making the brand a real leader within luxury hospitality and taking it to the world’s best destinations. We are excited to team up with Shanghai 21st Century Hotel Co., Ltd., our long-term strategic partner, to bring Regent to Shanghai in such a prime location. We look forward to working closely with the owner to proudly bring Regent hallmarks to life in the hotel.”