Marriott International has announced an agreement with Shanghai SIIC North Bund New Landmark Construction and Development Co., Ltd. to introduce the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve to Shanghai, marking the debut of the urban Reserve concept, a highly selective extension of the brand created for the world’s leading global gateway cities. Scheduled to open in 2030, the property will carry the rarity, personalisation and sense of wellbeing that define the Reserve experience into one of the world’s most dynamic urban destinations. For a collection built on remote estates reached by boat or light aircraft, this is a thrilling change of scenery.
The milestone was marked at a signing ceremony attended by senior figures from both companies. Representing Marriott International were Anthony Capuano, President and CEO; David Marriott, Chairman of the Board; Mao Yibing, President of Greater China; Bart Buiring, Managing Director, Luxury, Greater China; and Gavin Yu, Chief Development Officer, Greater China. Joining them were Zhang Qian, President of SIIC Group; Huang Haiping, Vice President of SIIC Group and Chairman of Shanghai SIIC North Bund Landmark Construction and Development Co., Ltd; and Wang Zheng, Director of SIIC Group and General Manager of the company.
Also present were Song Bo, Deputy Party Secretary and President of Shanghai Chengtou Group; Liu Yanping, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and General Manager, Shanghai Chengtou Assets Group Co., Ltd.; and Xue Yongshen, Vice President and Chief Economist of Shanghai Construction Group. Together they witnessed the beginning of a new urban chapter for the brand. The line-up alone gives a sense of the ambition attached to the project.
An urban Reserve
The collection has long been defined by destination-driven estates offering privacy, highly personalised service and a deep connection to place, and the urban concept carries those same principles into a small, carefully chosen group of cities. Growth will stay deliberate, which is precisely what keeps the format so covetable.
Each urban Reserve is conceived as a sanctuary within the city rather than a conventional luxury hotel. Guests and the surrounding community will engage with the destination through immersive cultural experiences, a strong sense of discovery and a considered approach to wellbeing. The feeling of escape comes from discretion and a slower, more intentional rhythm, a rather delicious idea to plant on one of the busiest waterfronts on earth.
“Ritz-Carlton Reserve has always been about creating rare, deeply personal experiences that could only exist in their destination. There is an intimacy to Reserve – an extraordinary level of personalisation, a deep connection to local culture, and a sense of discovery and wellbeing that allows guests to experience a place in an entirely different way. Bringing that philosophy to Shanghai for our first urban Reserve is an incredibly exciting evolution for the brand. We see a remarkable opportunity to create a true sanctuary within that energy – one that feels unmistakably of Shanghai, while offering the highly bespoke, transformative experiences that make Reserve so special.”
Tina Edmundson, President of Luxury, Marriott International
North Bund
North Bund is now one of the city’s most significant waterfront developments, combining commercial vitality, lifestyle experiences and architectural distinction. The hotel will serve as the ultra-luxury hospitality component of a landmark mixed-use scheme that also takes in retail and office space, residences and an observatory deck. Its arrival will strengthen the city’s standing as a leading global destination.
The scale is spectacular. The development will rise approximately 480 metres across 103 floors, becoming a defining addition to the skyline and delivering the view that matters most here, straight across to the Bund and along the Huangpu River. Height, water and a front-row position on the most photographed stretch of the city make for an exceptionally strong hand.
“As North Bund continues to evolve into one of Shanghai’s most important waterfront districts, our vision is to create a landmark destination that contributes to the city’s emergence as a leading global center for culture, commerce, and tourism. We are honored to collaborate with Marriott International on this project. Through this collaboration, we hope to create a world-class luxury property that reflects the unique character of Shanghai and delivers exceptional experiences for guests from around the world.”
Huang Haiping, Vice President of SIIC Group and Chairman of Shanghai SIIC North Bund Landmark Construction and Development Co., Ltd
Rooms and suites
The hotel is expected to hold 110 guest rooms and suites, a beautifully modest count for a tower of this size, giving the service team the space to deliver the privacy, discretion and strong sense of place the brand is known for. Fewer keys, more attention, and a guest experience shaped around the individual.
Many of the accommodation options will overlook the Bund and the Huangpu River, including a collection of suites and a Presidential Suite. Anyone who has watched the opposite bank light up after dark will understand the appeal of taking that view from several hundred metres in the air. The suites should prove among the most desirable in the city from the day the doors open.
Dining and wellbeing
Food and drink promise real range. Guests will find a specialty restaurant, Chinese dining experiences, a lobby lounge and a bespoke bar, a line-up designed to be enjoyed from morning coffee through to a late nightcap with the river below. Placing Chinese cooking at the centre of the offering keeps the property rooted firmly in its city.
Wellbeing has been given equal prominence, with an indoor swimming pool, fitness centre and a spa and wellness retreat. These spaces are envisioned as places of connection and restoration, answering a growing appetite for wellbeing, longevity, meaningful connection and immersive experiences. Together with the dining venues, they form a welcoming counterpoint to the pace of the streets outside.
Eight luxury brands
Opening day will hand Shanghai a distinction no other city can claim. The hotel is expected to make it the only city worldwide where all eight of Marriott International’s luxury brands are represented, bringing together The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott and W Hotels. That is a remarkable concentration of hospitality talent in a single postcode.
The group’s luxury portfolio spans more than 565 landmark hotels, resorts and yachts across over 70 countries and territories, within a company of over 10,000 properties in 148 countries and territories as of 30 June 2026, while The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company operates more than 125 hotels in 37 countries and territories. Choosing Shanghai for the first urban Reserve, in a city already this well served, speaks volumes about confidence in Greater China and the appetite for experience-led luxury over the decade ahead.