Sofitel traveling exhibition features sexpot Brigitte Bardot

by Libby Zay on

Sofitel Luxury Hotels just launched a traveling photography exhibition that chronicles the rise to fame of Brigitte Bardot, a legendary French actress, singer, and model. The retrospective, which is the first in North America to feature the international icon and sex symbol, will showcase 30 exclusive photographs of Bardot. Called “BB Forever – Brigitte Bardot, The Legend,” the exhibition starts a yearlong run at Sofitel Los Angeles before it continues to Chicago, Washington D.C., and New York.

It comes as no surprise that the chic chain of boutique hotels chose Bardot for the exhibition. The starlet not only popularized the bikini swimsuit, but also famously vacationed to both St. Tropez in France and Armação dos Búzios in Brazil, a town she is said to have “discovered” with her Brazilian boyfriend during the 1960s. The townspeople credit Bardot with skyrocketing Búzios to fame and have erected a statue in her honor that makes for a very popular stop for tourist photos (especially among males).

Dates for the traveling exhibition are as follows:

  • Sofitel Los Angeles: Through March 26, 2012
  • Sofitel Chicago Water Tower: April 19 through June 7, 2012
  • Sofitel Washington D.C. Lafayette Square: June 21 through September 13, 2012
  • Sofitel New York: September 26 through December 31, 2012

Image: Fight by Jacques Héripret (Courtesy Sofitel Luxury Hotels)

Sofitel Luxury Hotels hotel signs new Shanghai hotel

by Melanie Nayer on

Shanghai is becoming quite the envy of hoteliers. Just this week, the Ritz-Carlton opened its second Shanghai property, The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, and earlier this year The Peninsula Shanghai opened its doors to China travelers. Both hotels come just in time for the flood of tourists descending on Shanghai for the World Expo 2010. Now comes word another luxury hotel group is hot on the heels of Shanghai hoteliers.

Sofitel Luxury Hotels announced it signed a new flagship hotel in Shanghai – Sofitel Shanghai Jing’an – which will open early 2011.

This will be the fourth Sofitel in Shanghai and will be located in the center of the city. The Sofitel Shanghai Jing’an will stand at the intersection of Beijing Road and Jiangning Road, steps away from the famous Nanjing Road and near the museums and the Shanghai convention center.

The future Sofitel Shanghai Jing’an will occupy 32 of the building’s 61 floors, offering 515 rooms, 82 of them suites, on levels 29 through 54. Guests will have the option of dining in the Lobby Lounge or one of two restaurant. The top level, on the 55th floor, will feature a bar with views of both the east and west of the city.

We want to know what you think: With all the luxury hotels opening in Shanghai, is Shanghai the new jewel of China?