Concierge Corner: Jeffrey Xiong

Head Concierge, JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai

There are a lot of new hotels opening or being built in Shanghai. What’s distinctive about the JW Marriott at Tomorrow Square?

Location. We are five minutes’ walking distance to People’s Park, People’s Square, the Shanghai Grand Theater and the Shanghai Art Museum. And we’re about 30 minutes’ walking distance from the Bund.

What’s the number-one thing guests ask for at the concierge desk?

They want to go to the Bund. Then, it’s a number of other destinations, like the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Walk and Xin Tian Di for shopping. There are also some smaller streets that we know about where there are boutiques and specialty shops.

How about if someone wants to see something that’s traditional or "old" Chinese?

We can send them to a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. Tea ceremonies are an old tradition in China. We can send them to a tea shop near the Bund that has a river view, but it’s a modern tea house.

Where do most of your guests come from?

Most of our guests come from Europe and the U.S. I’d say about 10 to 15 percent are Asian.

What’s the difference between what European and American tourists want to do and see?

Americans tend to like package tours that we arrange with transportation and a guide. European tourists are more likely to strike out on their own when they go sightseeing. They’ve already brought guidebooks from their home countries. But, of course, we have to update them because, as you know, Shanghai changes very fast.

You spend much of your day telling people where to go sightseeing. What do you like to do on your days off?

I like to stay at home.