Following a five year refurbishment programme, which was completed this summer, the 5 star OKURA Garden Hotel Shanghai, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, has been nominated by the EXPO 2010 Administrative Committee as one of the official hospitality hotels.

The Universal World Exhibition 2010 will take place from 1st. May to 31st. October 2010 over an area of 5.28sq.m. on both sides of the Huangpu River in Shanghai and hotels are already being designated for the event.

The OKURA Garden Hotel Shanghai is situated on the Mao Ming Road in the heart of Shanghai, 20 minutes from Hong Qiao airport and around 50 minutes from Pudong international airport. The hotel is set in seven acres of tranquil gardens and comprises a three-storey historic building, which was built in 1926 as the French Club and still reflects the history and splendour of its original Art Deco architecture in the entrance staircase as well as the greatest show-piece hall of Old Shanghai, the original Art Deco Grand Ballroom. Alongside this stands a modern 33 storey main building which was built in 1990. The hotel has a total of 492 elegant and contemporary guest rooms, five restaurants (French, Chinese, Western, Teppanyaki and a Japanese Yamazato Restaurant), a Coffee Shop, a Lounge Bar, Business Centre, five Conference Rooms, 10 Banqueting Halls, and the Sky Wine Bar and Cocktail Lounge on the 33rd floor with live jazz music. There is also a health club with a 25m. swimming pool, Sun-terrace, Sauna, three massage parlours and a Beauty Salon, a Mitsukoshi Shop (a well-known shopping address in Japan), a florist's shop, a hairdresser, a Watabe Wedding Salon and a Bridal Shop.

The French Quarter, in which the OKURA Garden Hotel is situated, is well known for its historic buildings, antique shops, exclusive boutiques and restaurants and it will be a hot spot in town, especially during EXPO.