The North Bund Sofitel Jinhui Hotel in Hongkou District, formerly the Greenland Jiulong Hotel, re-opened after more than a year of extensive renovation.
The hotel’s transformation, which involved both demolition and new construction, was a lengthy process. To expedite the administrative procedures, the Hongkou District Market Supervision Bureau provided continuous government service guidance, enabling the hotel to achieve a rapid opening.
The hotel's restaurant area required a complete redesign. Understanding the needs of the business, the bureau actively engaged with the hotel early in the process.
To help the hotel quickly obtain the food business license, the bureau’s service staff intervened even before the renovation began, conducting preliminary reviews of the layout plans.
During the process, inspectors utilized their expertise to offer specific improvement suggestions for the hotel to consider, addressing any complex issues promptly.
Given that the initial application for changes involved old property rights, layout, and facilities, the bureau’s registration department set up a WeChat group with the hotel's management.
It allowed for real-time guidance on modifying renovation plans and optimizing space layout, functionality, and workflow, thus preventing potential rework and saving operational costs for the hotel.
The bureau also provided dual-channel service guidance, both online and offline, to help the hotel complete on-site inspections.
Throughout the renovation, the market watchdog and hotel management frequently conducted virtual inspections via video calls. The final in-person inspection finished the verification of six food processing areas in a single visit.
The "one-time inspection, joint site evaluation, one-step conclusion" model significantly reduced the time and labor costs of the review process.
"It was incredibly fast. They came for the inspection in the morning, and we had the certificate by the afternoon," said Zhou Xuping, a hotel representative, reflecting on the process of obtaining the Food Business License.
To expedite the procedure, the bureau staff not only conducted preliminary reviews of the site plans but also provided a checklist of required application materials during the initial consultation, enabling the hotel to complete both the application and renovation simultaneously.
The renovation project was designated as a major engineering project for the district. The comprehensive government services provided throughout the project have been highly praised by hotel officials, bolstering their confidence in further developing within Hongkou.
The bureau said businesses will only need to report to the market supervision department for future renovations if their operational projects remain unchanged.
The change simplifies the licensing process and enhances the business environment. The bureau said it will continue to closely align with business needs, innovating and refining measures to further improve the business environment.