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Peace Hotel’s Nine Nations Suites

The true expressions of the world’s great nations and cultures are the Nine Nations Suites in Shanghai’s Fairmont Peace Hotel. The Nine Nations Suites, several of which were a part of the original hotel then known as The Cathay Hotel when it opened in 1929, were the creation of the founder Sir Victor Sassoon. Sassoon, a businessman from a famous banking family, was a bon vivant who lived in Shanghai and often hosted known figures such as Charlie Chaplin, Bernard Shaw, and Noel Coward, who wrote “Private Lives” while in residence. It was a heady time to live in Shanghai as the city rose to global prominence. The Cathay Hotel was considered the top luxury hotel in the city for decades.

The leading hospitality designed the new suites by the interior design firm HBA / Hirsch Bedner Associates, reflect the international nature of The Peace Hotel and the spirit of 1930s luxury travel. The French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and German suites have been redesigned by HBA in keeping with the original concept of presenting different national and historical styles, the Chinese, Indian, English and American suites have been preserved from the original Peace Hotel.

The American suite has a vintage Hollywood glamour theme. The English Suite goes Victorian with paneled walls, brick fireplaces and molded plaster ceilings. The Chinese Suite features an Imperial dragon design on the scarlet ceiling. The design is complimented by red lacquer furniture offset by gold-colored walls.

The Italian Suite evokes modern Italian design and has a marble bath room has a deep claw-foot tub with a bath-side LCD screen and a whirlpool. The Japanese Suite has tatami mats, shoji screens and furnishings suggest traditional Japanese design motifs. The French Suite presents an Art Nouveau style with classically figured wall paper; walnut carved furniture and luxuriously designed fabrics.

The Spanish Suite features rich patterns and solid wood furniture and a bathroom with a claw-foot tub with bath-side LCD screen and a whirlpool. The Indian Suite has intricate filigree plaster work on the walls, ceilings from which hang extravagant pendant lights and rich Indian carpets on the floor.