Can you introduce Mansion Hotel?
Nested in the heart of Shanghai Former French Concession, Mansion Boutique Hotel is a gem of historical architecture.
The place is a museum itself, everything reminds old Shanghai and the 30’s. We often see some tourist or curious people pushing the door of the hotel to take a tour and feel of the Old Shanghai atmosphere.
The building was the former residence and office of the famous Shanghai Gangster Du Yuesheng back in the 30’s. The place carries a lot of history, and when we took over the property three years ago, we did major renovations to build five star hotel facilities while preserving the furniture and the cultural heritage.
Our customers are foreigners as well as local clients looking for meeting places that differ from traditional hotel facilities.
Our concept is a mix between historic cultural heritage and western culture, just like the Old Shanghai.
Can you present the history of the building?
All started with Huang Jinrong who was working for the French Concession Police and gangster at the same time.
Du Yuesheng also known as “Big-Eared Du” was an orphan and in his early life started to work in 1902 as a fruit-stand in the French Concession. Caught stealing he was fired and soon introduced to Huang Jinrong.
He started at the lowest level in the Shanghai mob organization and thanks to his outstanding intelligence, social skills and understanding of finance, he rapidly seconded Huang Jinrong and finally took his place.
He became very central in the French Concession area, he founded the “Club of Finance” and he gradually appeared to the board of many companies and banks founded in Shanghai by the French expatriates at this time.
Our building built 80 years ago in 1932, was the head office of Du Yueshang company Sanxin Trading.
Can you tell us more about you and your career?
I started my career in the 80’s at the famous Peace Hotel on The Bund, which turned recently into the Fairmont Peace Hotel.
The building was also built during the Concessions period, and the owner was Sir Victor Sassoon, a famous Tycoon back during the Concessions period. I worked there during 14 years before moving to Beijing Kunlun Hotel.
Beijing Kunlun Hotel is a massive convention center with no less than 900 guestrooms and a ballroom with over 1000 square meters. The hotel is very famous and hosts a lot of official and government related meetings.
A few months ago I decided to move back to Shanghai to take over a new challenge. Mansion hotel is a tiny property compared to Kunlun Hotel, customer needs and expectations are totally different.
We like to define ourselves as “Your place in Shanghai”. The size of our venue enables us to deliver a highly personalized service to our guests. We remember their names and their habits, our guests feel like home.
At the same time we often receive a lot of feedback and of suggestions from our customers, which is very enjoyable with a property of this size.