Hirsch Bedner to Restore Peace Hotel in Shanghai
HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates, the Santa Monica-based hospitality design consulting firm, has been appointed by Jin Jiang International Group to manage the historical restoration of Shanghai’s landmark Peace Hotel, it was announced on Monday, April 23, by officials of Jin Jiang Hotels, China’s largest hotel group, and Hirsch Bedner.
The restoration work is expected to take about two years. When completed, the hotel will be managed for Jin Jiang by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Plans call for it to reopen in the latter part of 2010 under the new name of the Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai.
Commenting on the historic restoration, Yu Chong Ming of Jin Jiang said, “[Hirsch Bedner] was appointed due to its unrivalled experience in sensitive historical restoration and its extensive experience with successful hotel projects in China.”
“The Peace Hotel has been a Shanghai landmark for more than a century and is the most famous hotel not only in China, but arguably throughout Asia,” noted Michael Bedner, Chairman and CEO of Hirsch Bedner and recent recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Interior Design Association as reported in the April 5, 2007 issue of the Mirror.
Bedner noted that Hirsch Bedner has been involved in many historic renovation projects around the world, and will make every effort to ensure that the renovated Peace Hotel will remain true to the integrity of the original building. hbadesign.com
U.S. Distribution Agreement for Genius Products with Discovery’s Animal Planet and TLC
Genius Products, LLC of Santa Monica announced on Thursday, April 19, that it has expanded its relationship with Discovery Communications, Inc. (DCI) to add Discovery’s Animal Planet and TLC as new distributed lines. The announcement was made by Trevor Drinkwater, President and CEO of Genius Products, Inc., minority owner of Genius Products, LLC, and Chairman Stephen K. Bannon, and by DCI’s Marjorie Kaplan, President and General Manager of Animal Planet and Discovery Kids Media, and Eileen O’Neill, Acting President and General Manager TLC.
Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, Genius will be the distributor in North America for Animal Planet and TLC branded television properties, including programs such as Meerkat Manor, Puppy Bowl, Corwin’s Quest, Little People, Big World, Miami Ink, Trading Spaces and Take Home Chef.
The planned rollout of Animal Planet and TLC properties by Genius includes the release of 12 titles a year beginning in the fourth quarter of 2007, drawing from individual programs as well as series.
“Having worked with Genius Products on Discovery Kids, we are excited to be able to expand our relationship to include Animal Planet,” said Marjorie Kaplan. “This partnership brings consumers even more opportunities to interact with Animal Planet off the television screen in a way that is convenient to their lifestyle.”
geniusproducts.com
