Shangri-La Hongqiao Airport,Shanghai

The hotel itself and its location are good, and the staff are great. But the reception team couldn't speak English. It's hard to believe that at an airport hotel in Shanghai, such an important international business city. That was pretty funny.

I happened to be taking an early flight from Hongqiao this month, so I got to visit the new Shangri-La property there. Over the last two years, airport hotels have opened across China, including international brands linked directly to terminals. At Shanghai's two main airports, six new hotels are now competing with long-standing names such as Hyatt. Staying inside the terminal seems to be becoming a new way to catch a flight. This latest addition to SHA is Shangri-La Traders Hotels, a dual-brand complex that adds convenience and luxury to the Hongqiao transport hub. I think it may be the strongest airport hotel in the world today. The hotel and Traders Hotel opening together set a new standard for airport stays in China, and their overall quality stands out internationally. You can go straight from the terminal to the hotel, and the rooms are all high-standard Horizon Club rooms. Modern Chinese maximalist design, aviation details, and the mix of Art Deco lines with Shanghai-inspired touches give the place a polished yet modern look. Shangri-La seems to be moving beyond its somewhat conservative image and appealing to travelers who care about both style and quality. It works for business guests who need to get to meetings efficiently, people resting after a red-eye, travelers from Yangtze River Delta cities transferring between rail and air, aviation fans who enjoy hearing planes, and loyal Shangri-La guests. It covers practical needs while making room for quieter, more considered moments. The group also appears to be entering a new phase. Since Ms. Kuok took the helm, she has been guiding the brand toward a more refined, upscale direction. Soon after her appointment, she led the launch of Shangri-La Signatures, a new ultra-luxury line. Its first hotel in Hangzhou takes the brand into the top luxury segment and moves beyond the old structure centered on Shangri-La, Kerry, JEN, and Traders. Shangri-La Hongqiao Airport is the group's first airport project and its first boutique hotel made entirely of Horizon Club rooms. To me, it captures this strategic shift well. Under Ms. Kuok's leadership, Shangri-La seems to be adapting more quickly to changing times, with an exciting future ahead.

Lots of robots help make things efficient and give the hotel a high-tech feel. It's a great hotel.