Airport-located hotels are overcoming their previous shabby and no-frills image. Julian Tan looks at a brand-new generation that is upping the style ante
CHINA
Crowne Plaza International Airport Beijing
Less than two months after the opening of its sister property and Singapore’s first airport hotel (also a Crowne Plaza, May 2008), Crowne Plaza Airport Beijing welcomed its first guests. Those flying into the Beijing Capital International Airport need a 10-minute car ride to get to the hotel, which is located near the New China International Exhibition Center and Beijing Airport Industrial Park. From here, one can reach the city centre via an airport expressway in 30 minutes.
In keeping with the Crowne Plaza branding as the premier meeting place, this hotel provides 1,300sqm of flexible conference and function space. It comprises 10 meeting rooms, the largest of which has a six-metre-high ceiling and can host 700 people theatre style, and comes with the services of Crowne Meetings professionals who will ensure any event runs smoothly. Cosy spots in the lobby lounge, restaurants and by the poolside cater cater to small discussions as well.
The hotel’s signature “quick check in, late check out” service takes the hassle off guests at the Crowne Plaza Executive Lounge. Broadband internet access, rain shower and bathtub and 37-inch LCD television are standard features in each of the 600 rooms and suites.
Contact: www.ichotelsgroup.com
Novotel Baiyun Airport Guangzhou
Travellers entering Guangdong province through Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport will find transferring to the airport hotel a breeze. The 460-room Novotel is located within the airport, connected to the Departure Hall by a designated passenger and accessible in just three minutes on foot.
To better assist its guests, LinQ café equipped with workstations is conveniently located on the ground floor. This is one example of clever use of space, particularly handy for business travellers without a BlackBerry, who need to get their hands on the web as soon as they land in a foreign country. The hotel’s six other food and beverage offerings are Tian Yuan for Chinese cuisine, U8 Action Cuisine for Asian and Western choices, Choco Java for a selection of sandwiches, cakes and pastries, Pool Bar, Rainbow Music Room and Societe, providing guests some relaxation and entertainment. There’s also a range of leisure options available such as a free-form outdoor swimming pool, health club with cardiovascular equipment and free weights, two tennis courts and a spa.
Contact: www.novotel.com/asia
INDIA
Novotel Hyderabad Airport
A short five minutes from Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, this 305-room property is built on 2ha of landscaped area – the second Novotel in India after the lakeside Novotel Hyderabad. (A third, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach has been scheduled for next April.)
“Located in a quiet, green environment in close proximity to the airport terminal, Novotel Hyderabad Airport with its world-class facilities is slated to emerge as a favourable choice for business travellers, and will ignite the beginning of an Aerotropolis in Hyderabad,” says Simon Jinks, general manager, Novotel Hyderabad Airport. “It is also an ideal stopover for any traveller with its unique offers such as FlexiStay package for a short duration of up to four or eight hours.”
Wi-Fi internet connectivity is provided throughout the hotel and meeting facilities can accommodate up to 450 delegates. For some TLC, there is a spa onsite. Business travellers who check into the hotel during the odd hours and feeling the effects of jetlag, can take advantage of the fitness centre that operates round the clock. A Premier Lounge caters for guests booked on this exclusive floor.
Contact: www.novotel.com/asia
SPAIN
Hilton Madrid Airport
The June opening of Hilton Madrid Airport marked Hilton’s entry into the Spanish capital – the start of a series of planned hotel openings in Spain and Portugal (50 and still counting), according to Wolfgang M Neumann, president, Hilton Hotels – Europe. “We now complete our network of purpose-built meetings hotels – some 1,425 rooms – in the Madrid-Barcelona-Valencia business triangle,” he says. Hilton has five properties in Spain and the airport hotel is located close to the main highway connecting Barcelona with Madrid.
Designed by Spanish architect Miguel Oliver Pérez, Hilton Madrid Airport is made up of two eight-storey “cubes” that are interconnected by a conference and events space and anchored around a striking 25-metre high atrium. The atrium is infused with natural light filtering through the rooftop skylights. Each of the 284 guestrooms boasts floor-to-ceiling windows and a three-metre high ceiling, and a sleek bathroom design enhanced by glass vanity basins and frosted glass sliding walls. The Hilton Serenity Bed and Serenity Bath Collection of Crabtree & Evelyn’s La Source bath amenities are icing on the cake. A highlight of the hotel is its Hilton Relaxation Room (24 of them), a new-concept premium room with three distinct zones – the workspace, relaxation area and bathroom equipped with a hydro spa bath.
Much thought has also been put into keeping the guests’ well-being, such as the avail of a hydrotherapeutic pool and fitness centre on the first floor. They can indulge in a 12-metre long pool with hydro jets and a bubble bench plus a retractable roof and solarium area for some sun soaking, sauna, Hamman and Hilton Fitness by Precor gym.
Other services include meetings and conferences – a ballroom for up to 1,000 and 14 function rooms.
Contact: www.madridairport.hilton.com
US
InterContinental Chicago O’Hare
A complete departure from the once-staid environs of previous airport hotels, jetlagged travellers booked at InterContinental Chicago O’Hare – a five-minute free shuttle ride from the airport – can find respite in the fabulous art that enlivens the premises. This consists of original artworks by the likes of Dalí, Rauschenberg, Kimler, Canady and Templeton in the form of oil paintings, sculptures, photography and prints. A gallery curated by Editions Limited, touted to be the oldest gallery in Indianapolis, features rotating art collections and commissioned artwork by both local and international artists.
Hotel guests are in for another treat as champagne art tours are conducted every week night at 6pm and last about 30 minutes. They can perhaps learn a thing or two from a staff who is versed in arts. “A high percentage of front-office and concierge team members are art students or graduates,” says Charles Yap, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts global director, public relations, based in London. The art theme continues in the guestrooms, with all 556 of them adorned with works by Chicago artists Thomas Masters and Jay Ryan. “It’s more than an airport hotel; (it is) located on Rosemont which is a brand-new shopping and entertainment complex that happens to be close to the airport,” Yap adds.
The eco-friendly hotel recently launched the “Green Meetings” programme which helps businesses and organisations support renewable energy and sustainability. It also features a green roof and uses 100 percent renewable energy credits from wind power.
Contact: www.icohare.com
aloft Chicago O’Hare
Step inside the hotel and its modern and vibrant design will instantly arouse your senses. Chances are you’ll either hate it or love it, depending on which school of thought you belong to – modern or traditional.
Conceived by the brains behind the trend-setting W Hotels (aloft’s sister brand which Starwood Hotels & Resorts rolled out in 1998), aloft hotels feature a contemporary design and this one, 2.4km away from Chicago O’Hare Airport, is no exception. With a 2.7-metre high ceiling and oversized windows, each of the 251 guestrooms is loft like and has large bathrooms with walk-in showers and Bliss Spa amenities. Road warrior techies will be pleased to know that the room is a state-of-the-art office and entertainment centre all rolled into one, boasting wireless internet access and “plug and play” for connecting PDAs, mobile phones, MP3 players and laptops to a high-definition television allowing optimal sound and viewing.
As with other properties of the same brand, aloft Chicago O’Hare offers the re:mix lobby and w xyz bar for lounging around, as well as re:fuel for satisfying hunger pangs round-the-clock. Equally hip are the re:charge fitness centre and splash, an indoor pool.
Contact: www.alofthotels.com
HOTEL CHECK SINGAPORE
Crowne Plaza Hotel Changi Airport
WHAT’S IT LIKE? After the sunny environment of Terminal 3, entering the hotel is like stepping into a tropical jungle, alternating between shady and dark. In keeping with the natural ambience, the guestroom corridors are non-air-conditioned. A flower motif, which pervades the premises, reinforces the green theme, starting with the unique trellised facade.
WHERE IS IT? It’s linked to Terminal 3’s departure hall by a covered walkway. Those bound for Terminals 1 and 2 can make use of the automated People Mover System which arrives between one and three minutes. Downtown can be reached through the MRT at Terminal 2. The Singapore Expo, business parks, golf courses and East Coast Park Beach are all minutes away by car.
HOW MANY ROOMS? 320 guestrooms, including Executive Club Rooms and suites. My King Bed unit had a front-row view of the Changi Airport control tower framed by a portion of the trellised facade. Lit at night, the facility is a stunning reminder of the exciting world of aviation.
ROOM FACILITIES: The floor-to-ceiling windows ensured a generous amount of sunlight during the day, while elegant curtains could shut out the world at night, although I preferred to leave them aside so I could gaze at an occasional plane departing. The entire building is said to be sound proof, but I could still hear the roar of takeoff, which was louder in the wee hours. But it wasn’t disturbing enough to affect my sleep.
The pristine white bathroom was elongated in design but still quite spacious. Again the flower pattern followed one into their private sanctum, hugely obvious on the glass wall between bath and bedroom. If I were the designer, I would not have added this detail because combined with the patterned carpet, it made the room look tremendously busy – an extra stimulation that business travellers don’t need when they return from a hectic day. The contemporary furnishings, however, were well chosen and comfortable.
A thoughtful touch was the eye gel placed on the bed as a welcome gift with the tag: “No old bags allowed”.RESTAURANTS: Azur is an all-day dining concept revolving around two show kitchens with chefs preparing the best of East and West cuisines, while Imperial Treasure is part of a well-known local Chinese chain.
BARS: Lobby Lounge allows you to surf the internet in between chatting with friends over high tea or drinks; Bar ’75 on the second level harks back to Asia in the ’70s.
BUSINESS FACILITIES: Design-wise, the meeting venues, consisting of 10 gathering rooms and a ballroom divisible into two, are fresh looking and, equipped with the latest technology, are rendered highly flexible. Event planners should seriously consider holding their next launch or networking here as they can capitalise on the buzz being next to a trend-setting airport. The business centre is staffed between 7am and 10pm, and Executive Floor guests can expect attentive service at the Club Lounge.
LEISURE FACILITIES: A resort-style pool, gym and four massage rooms.
PRICE: The internet nightly rate for a weekday stay in mid-December starts from S$221 (US$149).
VERDICT: Staying at an airport hotel is a treat for me as I always relish the idea of simply rolling out of bed and marching out of the hotel straight into the airport and to check in. No hassles – unless that is, your wake up call doesn’t arrive, a service, by the way, that was offered by the young lady who checked me in the day before. It was only due to my own vigilance that I woke up with more than enough time to spare. And when I mentioned the oversight to the lady at the front desk, she displayed a casual attitude which put me off somewhat.
Except for that incident, I enjoyed my stay in an exceptionally stylish hotel. I’ll just make sure the next time I stay to set the alarm on my mobile as well as I should have done in the first place.
Margie T Logarta
HOTEL CHECK LONDON HEATHROW T5
Sofitel London Heathrow
WHAT’S IT LIKE? Apart from the Hilton at T4, the new low-rise Sofitel London Heathrow is the only property attached to any of the terminals, lying parallel with the entrance to T5. It is owned by Arora International Hotels and is managed under a franchise agreement with Sofitel (similar to that at the Gatwick Sofitel). The hotel is split between five atria, which are joined by the “Avenue” along which the restaurants, bars and reception areas (21 desks ensure there is never a long wait for check in) are located. The building’s standout features include five water sculptures and a Zen garden. This and the other indoor gardens have been designed to counter the normal “airport-hotel feel”, and it works.
WHERE IS IT? For those arriving at T5 by air, rail or Tube, the hotel is accessed via a lift opposite Marks and Spencer on the Arrivals level, which takes you up to level one. From here, head down a covered walkway, past a meet-and-greet desk and down a set of escalators to the main reception. Just across from here is the entrance for those arriving by car or taxi.
HOW MANY ROOMS? 605. All rooms are at least double-glazed (those looking out towards the airport are triple-glazed), and views are of the internal atriums, T5 and the runway, or the front of the hotel.
ROOM FACILITIES: Rooms are arranged around the five atria, with Luxury Rooms and suites towards one end of the hotel, where premium services such as a separate check-in desk and Club Millésime (an executive lounge for suite guests) are located. Rooms are well signposted, and the advantage of only having four room floors is that guests never wait more than a few seconds for one of the many lifts to arrive. (In future, lifts will be keycard-activated for security.)
The room décor runs to browns and beiges, with two-tone cherry and walnut timber furniture, and prints of London landmarks on the walls. All rooms include Sofitel’s signature “My Bed”, a Hugo Boss armchair, workdesk with wired and Wi-Fi internet access (£6/US$10 per hour or £15/US$26 for 24 hours), UK and US sockets, a “media hub” allowing feeding iPod and digital-camera content through the flat-screen TVs, an empty fridge (pre-filled if requested) and many more. Wall switches control the air conditioning, room lights, and electronic “Do Not Disturb” and “Please Clean” signs. Bathrooms have polished granite floors, a separate bath and shower, mist-free mirror, Hermès toiletries, bathrobe, slippers, and for those in Luxury Rooms and above, a flat-screen TV.
RESTAURANTS: Brasserie Roux serves French regional dishes. It has been cleverly designed with a floating ceiling, allowing the area to feel intimate while still showing off the hotel’s four floors of open space above, and there is also the option of a private-dining room and chef’s table. Tea 5 Salon (get it?) offers over 40 different brews, an afternoon tea menu and a “tea sommelier”, while Vivre has five live cooking-theatre kitchens.
BARS: The Library Bar has signature cocktails and the highest-backed chairs I have ever seen; Bar Sphere and Lounge has an Icelandic “fire and ice” theme.
BUSINESS FACILITIES: This Sofitel has the third-largest meeting and conference space in the UK, with 45 meeting rooms and a separate entrance and reception area. The largest, the Arora Suite, can take up to 1,700 theatre style and can be divided into seven rooms. Other features include a 117-seat tiered theatre, an office for event organisers, and a green room for performers. Wi-Fi is throughout the hotel and the business centre opens 24/7.
LEISURE FACILITIES: Five treatment rooms, a relaxation area, sauna, steam room and hydro pool. (There is a charge of £25/US$43 for guests’ use, unless they are booking a treatment or are staying in a Prestige Suite or above, when it’s free.) A 24-hour keycard-operated gym is free.
PRICE: Classic Rooms from £223 (US$389).
VERDICT: Sofitel hopes its Heathrow property will become a destination in its own right rather than just an airport hotel, and it has certainly covered all the bases in terms of excellent facilities, both in-room and in the public spaces.
CONTACT: Terminal 5, London Heathrow Airport, TW6 2GD London, UK, tel 44 208 757 7777, www.sofitel.com
Mark Caswell
SOON TO SERVE
• When it opens this December, the Hongkong SkyCity Marriott will become the third property located near Chek Lap Kok airport – others being the Regal Airport Hotel and Novotel Citygate. Offering 658 guestrooms, SkyCity Marriott boasts views of the South China Sea from its waterfront location. It is part of the mega SkyCity project which also includes the existing AsiaWorld-Expo for exhibitions and conventions, SkyPlaza office, retail and entertainment spaces, SkyPier providing ferry services to Macau and other Pearl River Delta destinations, and a nine-hole golf course.
Contact: www.marriott.com
• Moving across to Mainland China, two properties are scheduled to open next year near Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport – the 324-room Hilton Beijing Capital Airport and the 372-room Langham Place, Beijing Capital Airport. Both hotels will be in close proximity to the recently opened China International Exhibition Center.
Contact: www.hilton.com
http://beijingairport.langhamplacehotels.com
• Elsewhere, in Bangkok, the 278-room Best Western Premier Amaranth Suvarnabhumi Airport is a 15-minute drive from the airport. Onsite facilities include a restaurant, swimming pool, sauna and banqueting and conference spaces.
Contact: www.bestwestern.com
