SINGAPORE: uberPOOL Grows In Singapore

Those who have travelled to places like Los Angeles and New York in recent years may have come across a service called uberPOOL, an option within the Uber app that allows you to share your journey with strangers to reduce the cost of your trip. You save around 25% on your journey, with the only downside being occasional delays as you pick up another uberPOOL rider.

It first launched in San Francisco in August 2014, before expanding to cities like LA, New York, Boston, London and Paris. Already, uberPOOL accounts for 20% of all Uber rides around the world. Just take a look at the large number of cities to get their hands on the service so far:

US & Canada: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Washington DC
Mexico: Mexico City
Brazil: Sao Paulo
France: Paris
China: Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzen, Suzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan
UK: London
India: Bangalore, New Delhi

This month, the service continued its international roll out, with the focus now on South East Asia, a region which has already adopted similar services like GrabHitch, launched in Singapore and Malaysia in November 2015. Earlier this month, UberPool made its debut in Manila, while Jakarta got it last month. Singapore is next on the list, with the service set to launch tomorrow – July 1st.

So what about Australia? Though no plans have been officially announced, the South East Asia expansion would suggest that Australia will be next on their list. It was reported all the way back in September 2014 that the service was eyeing Sydney, and the Daily Telegraph reported in February of this year that Sydney’s uberPOOL services weren’t far off.

While we wait for the carpooling service to launch, however, Australia has had plenty of other updates: Last week, Uber launched service to Canberra Airport, finally introduced Uber X to Adelaide in May (with unlimited free rides to roll it out) and has been rolling out the popular UberEATS around the country. Here’s hoping uberPOOL is soon added to the list. But in the meantime, our friends in South East Asia have the new service to enjoy!

CHINA: Marriott International Expands Business In China

Marriott International further expands its business in China with the opening of the Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel in Shengze, an ancient city with a modern and thriving economy. The new hotel is the first international hospitality brand in the area and the 19th Renaissance branded property to open in China.

As one of Marriott International’s leading lifestyle brands, Renaissance Hotels is dedicated to helping guests discover the unexpected wherever they travel,” said Henry Lee, Chief Operation Official, Greater China of Marriott International. “We are extremely proud of the opening of the Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel, marking the 19th Renaissance hotel in China, in addition to five Marriott International brands already flourishing within China. Our goal is to make Marriott International the most popular global tourism company in Asia Pacific,” added Lee.

The new Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel has 296 well-appointed guest rooms including 15 spacious suites that have their own kitchenettes with refrigerators. Picturesque lake views can be enjoyed by approximately half the rooms, while all guest rooms feature plush bedding, high speed wireless internet, an LED TV and a spacious work area. Guests staying on one of the hotel’s four Club Floors enjoy access to the Club Lounge and exclusive services such as expedited check-in and check-out, complimentary breakfast buffet, in addition to daily tea, coffee and snacks.

We anticipate immediate strong demand due to Renaissance’s exceptional reputation for defying business travel conventions for guests who crave unexpected experiences,” said Mr. Alex Tse Kam Chiu, General Manager of Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel. “Moreover, the area has great potential for further growth as a tourism destination and commercial center.”

The Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang brings Shengze its first five-star dining destination managed by an internationally acclaimed Food & Beverage team. General manager Mr. Tse is also a platinum member and gold medal winner of the Les Amis d’Escoffier Society and a Commanderie des Cordons Bleus de France. A 26-year veteran of the restaurant industry with years of five-star hotel experience, he will be overseeing food and beverage operations.

Guests can enjoy exceptional dining at Wan Li Chinese Restaurant where flavors of Canton, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces are served in a chic and inviting interior within 11 exquisitely designed private dining rooms.

A wide range of international specialties are prepared in open kitchens at Food Studio, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant that offers buffet and a la cart dining.

Smokimoto Korean Restaurant in the Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel offers delicious traditional Korean dishes including a sumptuous barbeque selection as well as fresh Japanese sashimi.

Locals and guests alike have the perfect place to unwind in R Bar, a chic and energetic evening gathering place that offers live music, a variety of canapés, cocktails, craft beers and fresh juices.

Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel also boasts a 24-Hour Fitness Center with top-notch exercise machines and an aerobics room, as well as an indoor heated swimming pool boasting magnificent lake views.


Impressive conference and meeting facilities make Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel the ideal place for weddings, corporate events and private gatherings of all styles and sizes with total floor space of 3,800 square meters supported by a dedicated and experienced events planning team. The Grand Ballroom offers 1,600 square meters of pillar-less space that can be partitioned into three smaller rooms, and is equipped with a stunning 140 square meter LCD screen and state-of-the-art audiovisual system. The Junior Ballroom is 400 square meters in area and can also be partitioned into three sections. There are also six multipurpose rooms for small groups and meetings.

As a major stop along the ancient Silk Road, Shengze was a famously prosperous base for silk production. Its remaining Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasty buildings now draw thousands of tourists each year. Today silk remains the focus of a more diversified local economy for Shengze, which also includes a burgeoning high-tech sector and hundreds of foreign enterprises. Local businesses benefit from the city’s location at the junction of three of the most economically developed administrative divisions of China – Zhejiang Province, Jiangsu Province and the Municipality of Shanghai.

Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel is a one-hour trip by car from Shanghai Hongqiao International and the Suzhou Railway Station. The hotel is only six kilometers from Shengze Coach Station.

CHINA: New Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel Opens In Shengze

Marriott International further expands its business in China with the opening of the Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel in Shengze, an ancient city with a modern and thriving economy. The new hotel is the first international hospitality brand in the area and the 19th Renaissance branded property to open in China.

As one of Marriott International’s leading lifestyle brands, Renaissance Hotels is dedicated to helping guests discover the unexpected wherever they travel,” said Henry Lee, Chief Operation Official, Greater China of Marriott International. “We are extremely proud of the opening of the Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel, marking the 19th Renaissance hotel in China, in addition to five Marriott International brands already flourishing within China. Our goal is to make Marriott International the most popular global tourism company in Asia Pacific,” added Lee.

The new Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel has 296 well-appointed guest rooms including 15 spacious suites that have their own kitchenettes with refrigerators. Picturesque lake views can be enjoyed by approximately half the rooms, while all guest rooms feature plush bedding, high speed wireless internet, an LED TV and a spacious work area. Guests staying on one of the hotel’s four Club Floors enjoy access to the Club Lounge and exclusive services such as expedited check-in and check-out, complimentary breakfast buffet, in addition to daily tea, coffee and snacks.

We anticipate immediate strong demand due to Renaissance’s exceptional reputation for defying business travel conventions for guests who crave unexpected experiences,” said Mr. Alex Tse Kam Chiu, General Manager of Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel. “Moreover, the area has great potential for further growth as a tourism destination and commercial center.”

The Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang brings Shengze its first five-star dining destination managed by an internationally acclaimed Food & Beverage team. General manager Mr. Tse is also a platinum member and gold medal winner of the Les Amis d’Escoffier Society and a Commanderie des Cordons Bleus de France. A 26-year veteran of the restaurant industry with years of five-star hotel experience, he will be overseeing food and beverage operations.

Guests can enjoy exceptional dining at Wan Li Chinese Restaurant where flavors of Canton, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces are served in a chic and inviting interior within 11 exquisitely designed private dining rooms.

A wide range of international specialties are prepared in open kitchens at Food Studio, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant that offers buffet and a la cart dining.

Smokimoto Korean Restaurant in the Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel offers delicious traditional Korean dishes including a sumptuous barbeque selection as well as fresh Japanese sashimi.

Locals and guests alike have the perfect place to unwind in R Bar, a chic and energetic evening gathering place that offers live music, a variety of canapés, cocktails, craft beers and fresh juices.

Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel also boasts a 24-Hour Fitness Center with top-notch exercise machines and an aerobics room, as well as an indoor heated swimming pool boasting magnificent lake views.


Impressive conference and meeting facilities make Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel the ideal place for weddings, corporate events and private gatherings of all styles and sizes with total floor space of 3,800 square meters supported by a dedicated and experienced events planning team. The Grand Ballroom offers 1,600 square meters of pillar-less space that can be partitioned into three smaller rooms, and is equipped with a stunning 140 square meter LCD screen and state-of-the-art audiovisual system. The Junior Ballroom is 400 square meters in area and can also be partitioned into three sections. There are also six multipurpose rooms for small groups and meetings.

As a major stop along the ancient Silk Road, Shengze was a famously prosperous base for silk production. Its remaining Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasty buildings now draw thousands of tourists each year. Today silk remains the focus of a more diversified local economy for Shengze, which also includes a burgeoning high-tech sector and hundreds of foreign enterprises. Local businesses benefit from the city’s location at the junction of three of the most economically developed administrative divisions of China – Zhejiang Province, Jiangsu Province and the Municipality of Shanghai.

Renaissance Suzhou Wujiang Hotel is a one-hour trip by car from Shanghai Hongqiao International and the Suzhou Railway Station. The hotel is only six kilometers from Shengze Coach Station.