Concierge Tips

Our Concierge at your service

Fred became Grand Mercure Hongqiao’s Concierge in 2009. He has worked and gained experience in Shanghai most famous hotels. Fred has been awarded the Golden keys (Clés d’or) by the International Society of Hotel Concierges, which guarantees a high quality of concierge services.

   “I’m proud to be at Grand Mercure guests’ service and to leave them with a pleasant souvenir of Shanghai”.

Don't miss Fred’s Shanghai monthly tips!

Come to the Hotel Concierge Desk to get more information about these events or to make a reservation!.

• Christmas Market : Christkindlmarkt

Dec 9, 10 & 11 – Fenyang Lu near Fuxing Lu

The unique German Style Christmas village in Shanghai. Attendees are treated to the tastes and smells of an Old World Christmas with warm spiced Glühwein, sizzling Bavarian sausages, pastries and other seasonal specialties.  Besides delicious and comforting edible treats, vendors sell gifts including Christmas cards and wreathes, special artisanal items as well as small accessories and ornaments from decorated booths. Several activities are also set up for kids during the event. 

• Jingle Bells Children’s Choir

Dec 17 – Shanghai Oriental Art Center

Listen to sounds of the season when the children’s choir from “Little Shining Star” Arts  group perform Western and Chinese holiday tunes. “Little Shining Star” Arts Groups is affiliated with SMG(Shanghai Media Group)’s Hahachild Channel,which was set up in 1985.It is a large-scale children integrated artistic performances organization, including dance group,chorus group, sing&dance group ,playing group, and film &TV & theatre group.

• Twocities Exhibitions : 2011 Review

50 Moganshan Lu – until Dec 30

From the teapots featured in last spring’s “Tea Talk” to their most recent showing of lacquer works in “Lacqution”, this exhibit represents a survey of this past year’s exhibitions at two cities. Featuring artists Chen Jiu, Zhang Jingjing, Wu Hao, Xu Jin, Wu Oohong, and others.

• Arts : Picasso Exhibition

Untill January 2012 – Shanghai Expo Pavilion
62 authentic Picasso artworks : 48 oil paintings, seven sculptures and seven block prints under one roof in Shanghai. Picasso’s seventy- year career resulted in the creation of more than 37,000 classical masterpieces, and the 2011 Shanghai exhibition will showcase pieces from his major periods including the Blue period, the Rose period, and cubism.

• Hairy Crab Season in Shanghai

October 1st to December – L’Atrium Restaurant
It is the Hairy Crab season now, and the best way to celebrate it is to head to the restaurant ! The hotel’s main restaurant : L’Atrium serves Hairy Crab in it’s daily Seafood Dinner Buffet. Chef Morris has hand-picked the best pairs; and will treat us to a luscious gourmet experience with the authentic steamed hairy crabs. Famous for its succulent meat and rich creamy roe, the hairy crab is a Shanghai specialty, and a much sought-after dish in Chinese speaking countries.
 

• Fred's stories

 A US guest has lost his passport the day of his departure; he had just a few hours before his 1PM flight. All hotel security has been searching it all around the Hotel. I knew that the guest had a few drinks the night before, so I had the idea to check the bin. Few minutes later, we found his passport in the garbage can behind the hotel and the guest managed to fly back to the US.

A Chinese art seller needed a translator for a deal with a US art company. Fred managed to translate all the contract content and is now in regular contact with the art seller who became one of his best friends.

The strangest thing he has done
A Taiwanese guest from outside the hotel came to have a coffee in our Hotel Lobby Lounge. While reading the local expat magazines, the Guest recognized one of his middle school friends from Taiwan and told Fred that it would be great to meet him again! Fred managed to contact the friend on the magazine picture and arranged their reunion a few hours later! Since, Fred keeps contacts with this guest and became a good friend.

Fred has already had the pleasure to serve lots of celebrities including Tony Blair, the Princess of Saudi Arabia and Chinese star Ellen Tan…