With just a year and some before the world's premier sporting event unfolds, Beijing hotels are fast rolling out their red carpet laden with a plethora of new-generation amenities, Margie T Logarta reports.
The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing is still a year and two months away, but the anticipation for the event is so palpable, the city positively throbs with it.
For two weeks in August next year, thousands of visitors are expected to stream into Beijing to cheer the best and brightest in sporting excellence. Countless first-timers will be dazzled to discover an ancient but surprising gateway. Now, how will this human horde be housed?
Toeing a government directive to complete (at least) exterior works within this year, Beijing hotels, new and refurbishing, look set to roll out the red carpet with plenty of time to practise getting things right for guests. Before the Games begin, nearly 9,000 rooms in all categories are expected to have entered the inventory. (There are different sets of figures being bandied about but the number above is one that’s heard often.)
The million-yuan question, of course, remains: after the Olympics, then what?
Hoteliers are unabashedly bullish on China’s business prospects, and, in particular, Beijing. Says Paul S Kirwin, president, Carlson Asia-Pacific, whose portfolio includes the newly opened Regent Hotel: “We’re looking at a strong economic growth in the next five years, which will make a softening of the market (in Beijing) much less than what happened in Atlanta after the Games were held there in 1996.
“Domestic travel here is growing faster than anywhere in the world and that’s likely to continue for 20 to 30 years more, fuelling the economy and travel.
“Then you have the Shanghai Expo in 2010, which will have a spill-over effect.”
The Games may symbolise Beijing’s coming-out party and ability to host a world-class event, but it’s not really the reason for the recent multi-billion-dollar hotel investments, which are for the long term. Edward Tai, area vice-president of Hyatt International Hotels & Resorts – operators of Park Hyatt, Park Hyatt Penthouses and Park Hyatt Residences, all housed in the distinctive Yin Tai Centre project – believes there “will be business for all (in Beijing)”. He cites the central government’s determination to streamline the investment environment and enhance tourist attractions. “In the next three years, there will be a surge of interest in Beijing due to these efforts.”
While details of ticket prices, purchasing locations and hotel rates have yet to be announced, what’s certain is sporting enthusiasts – and future visitors – will experience accommodation that equals, if not surpasses, those in established hubs such as London and Singapore. Beijing’s current generation of rooms are larger at 40sq m (even at entry level) and offer a choice of Wi-Fi or plug-in connections – generally free for guests on club floors – while bathrooms come with all manner of shower power.
The sprawling Metro Beijing is developing at a spectacular pace that bewilders even the locals, much more outsiders. Whereas previously, the central business district consisted of Shangri-La’s China World Hotel and China World Trade Centre complex and nearby buildings, there are now other business hubs such as the Financial Street district in the west side of the city as well as Zhongguancun, “China’s Silicon Valley” and Yizhuang, the favourite base of pharmaceutical and IT companies.
Business travellers are spoiled for choice in Beijing. The following options are clear proof of this happy situation.
FINANCIAL STREET
INTERCONTINENTAL
As the pioneering hotel on Financial Street, InterContinental Hotel was keenly watched by the market and the competition as it strove to meet the challenges of operating from a generally unknown location.
The small ground-floor lobby belies a set of extremely stylish F&B attractions on the higher levels, namely Monsoon Café & Restaurant featuring an extensive buffet, Si Chou Lou whose theme may be modern Chinese but its flavours remain appealing to the palate and the X-Change lounge.
Each of its 330 guestrooms and suites blend contemporary Asian elegance and efficiency matched by service that’s all about catering to travellers away from home.
CONTACT: 11 Financial Street, Xicheng, Beijing 100034, tel 86 10 5852 5888, www.icbeijing.com
RITZ-CARLTON
A strong sense of place – being in the heart China’s premier gateway – permeates this second property to claim location in the Financial Street precinct.
Starting with the porte cochere and lobby, whose floor-to-ceiling windows generously allow natural light in, Asian symbolisms and detailing are tastefully present.
The theme extends to the 253 guestrooms, which start from 50sq m, and at whose entrance is placed a good luck animal from a series by renowned artist Liu Li. These include the Fortune Bat, Noble Horse, Mandarin Duck and Mythical Bixie (lion with wings and horns).
The Coin, another popular Chinese emblem, is used to reflect the rich dining experiences available at the hotel. In the F&B portfolio are greenfish all-day dining, cepe Italian restaurant featuring a unique mushroom humidor, qi Chinese restaurant with a Chinese Kaiseki menu, the apothecary lounge and the crystal bar.
CONTACT: 1 Jinchengfang Street East, Beijing 100032, tel 86 10 6601 6666, www.ritzcarlton.com
WESTIN
The Westin complex, consisting of one tower with 486 guestrooms and the other with 205 residences, completes the branded chain names designated for the Financial Street area.
Designed to help guests “be at your best”, hotel guestrooms (minimum size: 40sq m) offer the signature Heavenly Bed, rainforest shower, free Wi-Fi internet access, flat-screen TVs, IP phones with cordless handset and, if one chooses, a WestinWORKOUT room with a treadmill. Chances to rejuvenate from the stress of travelling come in the form of the bath master, who prepares the bathtub and fills it with soothing oils, the Chinese-inspired Heavenly Spa and the 25-metre indoor swimming pool. Seven F&B outlets complete the celestial experience.
CONTACT: 9B Financial Street, Xicheng, Beijing 100032, tel 86 10 6606 8866, www.westin.com/beijingfinancial
CHANGAN AVENUE
RAFFLES BEIJING HOTEL
Sensitively restored by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, this historic property (dating back to the 1900s) is regaining its rightful place in the city’s social life. Through the decades, it has welcomed local and foreign dignitaries and celebrities, and is doing so again with great panache. It has also been designated as the official hotel of the Olympic Committee for the Summer Games next year.
In its new persona, the hotel features 171 spacious guestrooms, including a Presidential Suite measuring 884sq m, five Grand Hotel Suites and nine Personality Suites, each named after various luminaries associated with the hotel. While the elegance of the past clearly defines the ambiance, the needs of the present – catering for the corporate traveller especially – are fully understood. Essential work tools such as Wi-Fi, high-speed broadband and plasma TVs are provided.
Residents can also experience four distinctive F&B choices: Jaan Restaurant for contemporary French cuisine, East 33 for Chinese and Italian, La Vie for afternoon tea and the Writer’s Bar for cocktails and after-dinner cognac.
CONTACT: 33 East Changan Avenue, Beijing 100004, tel 86 10 6526 3388, www.beijing.raffles.com
THE REGENT
The newest kid on the block for now is a smart 500-room property that’s added cache to the emerging leisure district of Wangfujing. With interiors by Hirsch/Bedner, guestrooms come with all the expected staples: free high-speed internet access, large plasma TV screens and DVD players and spacious multi-feature bathrooms.
F&B options include The Bar and Grill offering a wide range of French wines, champagnes and premium spirits, Daccapo for contemporary Italian, Café 99 for casual all-day dining with à la carte and buffet, Li Jing Cuan for Cantonese either in the main dining area or one of 10 private spaces and The Crescent Lounge for cosy discussions.
Corporates get extra pampering on the Regent Club floors and at the lounge, which occupies the hotel’s three top floors that allow panoramic views of the Forbidden City from floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
CONTACT: 99 Jinbao Street, Dongcheng, Beijing 100005, tel 86 10 8522 1999, www.regenthotels.com/beijingcn
CHAOYANG
HILTON
One of the city’s veteran service providers has seamlessly made the transition to hip (but still tasteful). Apart from the sleek guestrooms and baths with indulgently oversized sinks, its F&B product, the 3rd Ring – a play on the hotel’s location on the 3rd Ring Road as well as the restaurants and bars that ring the tri-level lobby atrium – makes an immediate impact.
The new dining concept consists of Elements, a Pan-Asian experience featuring individual food stations best enjoyed with the Grazing Dinner; One East on Third Western restaurant; Zeta Bar, sister to other Zeta Bars in Hiltons in London, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney and Bangkok; and Tonic Lounge, Caffe Cino and Galleria on Two and Galleria on Three which provide creative spaces to network.
CONTACT: 1 Dong Fang Road, North Dong Sanhuan Road, Chaoyang, Beijing 100027, tel 86 10 6466 2288, www.beijing.hilton.com
WANGFUJING
PARK PLAZA
Exuding an intimate European feel, this 216-room property is the US-based Carlson’s group first Park Plaza in Asia (a second opened in the Science Park in May). It’s found just off the busy Wangfujing commercial area but is still near attractions such as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. All guestrooms, from the entry-level Superior Room to the Premier Executive Suite, offer complimentary internet access.
CONTACT: 97 Jinbao Street, Donghcheng, Beijing 100005, tel 86 10 8522 1999, www.parkplaza.com
MARCO POLO PARKSIDE
Due to open this month, the Hongkong-based chain’s second hotel in Beijing is located in the vicinity known as the “Asian Games Village”. The National Stadium and the “Water Cube” are a mere 1km away.
“Because of the traffic congestion, the government is trying to get a number of areas to develop in a self-contained way for business and leisure, and ours is one of them,” general manager Malcolm McLauchlin observes. The area already has attracted the likes of Siemens, Motorola, Alcatel and Lucent. The hotel will feature 315 guestrooms, a 4,000-square-metre spa, eight function rooms, duplex club lounge, five restaurants and two pillarless ballrooms.
CONTACT: 78 Anli Road, Chaoyang, Beijing 100101, tel 86 10 5963 6688, www.marcopolohotels.com
HAIDIAN
SHANGRI-LA
With the US$450 million expansion programme for this landmark came the new Valley Wing and an additional 142 guestrooms (minimum size: 50sq m), grand ballroom, venues, western restaurant, health club and CHI, the Spa at Shangri-La. Following the tradition set by the renowned Valley Wing at Shangri-La Singapore – the address for visiting dignitaries – this posh facility offers chauffeur-driven limousine service, private driveway, exclusive check-in lounge, 24-hour butler and concierge services and free flow of snacks and beverages in the Valley Wing Lounge, the largest in the Shangri-La network. Meeting rooms and computers with broadband and Wi-Fi internet access are also offered compliments of the house. The Blu Lobster restaurant is also housed in the Valley Wing.
CONTACT: 29 Zizhuyuan Road, Beijing 100089, tel 86 10 6841 2211, www.shangri-la.com
OPENING SOON
JW MARRIOTT & RITZ-CARLTON
Both five-star properties are integral features of China Central Place in eastern Chaoyang. The complex provides more than 230,000sq m of office space, eight residential towers and 160,000sq m of retail space. The Ritz-Carlton – the second for Beijing after The
Ritz-Carlton Financial Street – will lead the way, opening in summer, followed by the JW later in the year. Between them, they will provide 900 guestrooms (the JW’s comes with the Marriott Revive Bedding Package), two executive lounges, two spas, nine F&B options and 3,500sq m of conference and meeting space.
JW’s rooms measure from 45sq m and Ritz-Carlton’s are from 48sq m, among the largest in the city.
CONTACT: 81 Jian Guo Road, Chaoyang, Beijing 100025, www.marriotthotels.com & 83 Jian Guo Road, Chaoyang, Beijing 100025, www.ritz-carlton.com
LANGHAM PLACE HOTEL
The first property in China for the luxury brand Langham Hotels will certainly not be its last, with further expansion to be announced before December.
Due to open next year, the Langham Place Beijing forms part of the 400,000-square-metre Chaoyang Plaza, which also consists of five office towers, central gardens, retail space and access to the city subway. The hotel features 440 guestrooms and 40 serviced apartments, along with 5,000sq m of meeting space, five restaurants and the Chuan Spa and Residences specialising in traditional Chinese medicine and therapies.
This Langham Place, which follows upon a sister property in Hongkong, reflects a contemporary version of the more traditional The Langham brand already present in Hongkong, Auckland, Melbourne and the original Langham which dates back to 1865. Says Brett Butcher, Langham senior vice-president sales and marketing: “The new model is really a modern stimulating take on hospitality. The interior design will feature more clean lines but done in an elegant way. It will also be more high tech and more open, with spaces merging into other spaces.”
CONTACT: www.langhamhotels.com
PARK HYATT
Encased in the distinctive central tower, forming part of the future Beijing Yintai Centre, the 237-room Park Hyatt and its sister products, Park Hyatt Penthouses and Park Hyatt Residences, will introduce a different aspect of affluent living to the market – the Hyatt way. Flanking the 63-storey building on each side are two 44-storey columns earmarked for offices, and together they compose a mighty triumvirate. The peak of the central tower is crowned by a large cube with a built-in glass pyramid resembling a Chinese lantern.
The podium, linking the three structures, will house a high-end retail space, restaurants, outdoor landscaped garden, ballroom and Hyatt’s trend-setting meeting product, The Residence. Says Edward Tai, area vice-president for Hyatt International Hotels & Resorts: “We hope to put our Park Hyatt experience and standards in looking after all aspects of the Beijing Yin Tai Centre.”
CONTACT: 2 Jianguomenwai Street, Beijing 100022, www.hyattintl.com
