The Chongqing Guest House, which adopted its current name in 1956 after serving as a guest house for American soldiers during the anti-Japanese war, has signed a deal with deluxe hotel chain Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts that will make it the first Shangri-La hotel in the city.
However, the loss of the Chongqing Guest House name has upset many city residents, who see the change as yet another example of an international heavyweight obliterating a beloved local brand.
The local newspaper presented objections to the name change, along with rebuttals from the head of the company that owns the hotel.
Tourism Holdings Group chairman Li Yunguang said that the brand would not die but would continue to be developed in several areas.
One point he made was the Chongqing Guest House brand of moon cakes, zongzi and New Year’s gift items would not change their name. So the Chongqing Guest House brand would endure at least in that area.
Danwei reports one suggestion is the new hotel be called Chongqing Guest House: Shangri-La.
There is simply no way Shangri-La would accept that so the Chongqing Guest House will dissapear into the history books.