From brand new hotels to newly revamped properties, and from business hotels to luxury resorts, here are the hotels, resorts and serviced residences that we stayed at and reviewed in 2019:
Hong Kong
JW Marriott Hong Kong
It’s difficult to find much to fault with this hotel. The refurbishment has given the guest rooms a fresher feel and the new executive lounge is truly excellent. If this hotel is within your budget, you are going to want to weigh up staying here versus other similar properties of its calibre in the city. Read more
Intercontinental Grand Stanford, Hong Kong
The room, food and service were outstanding. The very good in-house F&B options – especially Theo Mistral and Tiffany’s Bar – made dining and drinking in a real pleasure. If you are planning to be in Kowloon for most of your trip, you can’t really go wrong with this hotel. Read more
Club Wing, Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel
The hotel’s Club Wing is an independent building that maintains appropriate distance from the other two family-oriented towers. The sound of children playing emanating from the adjacent theme park and the central pool didn’t end up being the problem I expected it to be, so it can provide a rather tranquil and undisturbed environment for business travellers. Read more
Gateway Apartments Hong Kong
For mid- to long-term accommodation in the heart of downtown Kowloon, there is little to match these apartments – especially with the considerable bonus of access to the superb Pacific Club amenities. Read more
New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel
Getting the correct balance of price point and comfort levels is therefore important, and I think this hotel has got it just right. My four main requirements – good soundproofing in the room, a good bed for uninterrupted sleep, a strong and spacious shower, and excellent food at my fingertips – were all catered for admirably. Read more
Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong Sha Tin
The best thing about the hotel is its calm and relaxing environment, and this kind of quietness is hard to find in hotels in Hong Kong’s downtown areas. Its location in the New Territories makes it more convenient for those with business on Kowloon side than for those with business on Hong Kong Island. Read more
Waterfront Suites, Hong Kong
If you’re looking at a long stay in Hong Kong, this would be a great choice – good value, brand new, great service, and a location which allows you to see plenty of the “real” Hong Kong Island experience while having great connections into Central. Read more
Macau
Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central
Price-wise, this hotel is very competitive compared with other five-star properties in Macau. The rooms are large and comfortable, and the staff I interacted with were polite and helpful. Read more
Altira, Macau
Altira provides a luxurious all-round offering that surprises and impresses. I am pleased to recommend this hotel for a stay in Macau, whether for leisure or business. Read more
Grand Hyatt Macau
The Grand Hyatt Macau offers an oasis of agreeable normalcy in an area where glitz and glamour are often prized over muted sophistication. If you’re looking for an good business hotel in Macau with comfortable rooms, a great executive lounge and top-notch in-house dining options, Grand Hyatt Macau would be a good choice. Read more
The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central
With its low-key elegance, refinement and sophistication, The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central contrasts quite starkly with some of the more flamboyant hotels on the Cotai Strip. For those seeking a quiet retreat right in the heart of Macao’s entertainment centre, the Cotai Strip, I don’t think you can go wrong with this hotel. Read more
Beijing
Chao, Beijing
It’s hard to imagine that a hotel would own such a large area of exhibition and event spaces along with such a plethora of art equipment, the likes of which you’d more typically find at a professional art school. Its location in the vibrant Sanlitun district and CBD areas add its appeal to business travellers who plan work in the day and enjoy the local nightlife in the neighbourhood. Read more
Shanghai
The Middle House Shanghai
The Middle House offers a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of Shanghai while being located in a convenient area. The in-house food and beverage options were good and there are plenty of other restaurants in the local area if you want to dine out. All in all, a great place to stay in Shanghai, especially if most of your meetings are going to be on the Puxi side of the river. Read more
Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai
Shanghai has two Four Seasons hotels: one in Puxi (the west side of Huangpu River), and the other in Pudong (the east side of the river). The Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai in Puxi has all the key facilities a business traveller on-the-go would need. Those who like to carve out time to explore the cities they visit will enjoy staying in this part of the city as well. Read more
Guangzhou
White Swan Hotel, Guangzhou
White Swan Hotel, which first opened in 1983 in Guangzhou, is one of the most recognised five-star luxury hotels in China. While most guests are likely to be impressed by the expansive view of the Pearl River from their guestroom, what also surprised me during my stay was the extensive facilities and services that are available for business travellers. Read more
LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou
It’s a very Cantonese hotel. Touches of local culture can be found nearly everywhere within the hotel from lobby and public facilities to private guestrooms. It’s also really convenient to stay at this hotel because of the extensive services available inside the property, including a range of dining outlets, leisure facilities, as well as various stores and services. Read more
LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou Nansha
As the sister hotel of LN Garden Hotel situated in Guangzhou’s city centre, this hotel in Nansha is more for leisure than business. Since it’s situated in a coastal park far from the city centre, it’s a decent choice for those who want to temporarily escape from the busy city life and enjoy the fresh air and the lush greenery surrounding the hotel. Read more
Shenzhen
Raffles Shenzhen
The Raffles Shenzhen, currently only one of two Raffles hotels in mainland China after the Raffles Hainan in Sanya, lives up to the brand’s reputation for luxury. Its facilities, service and in-room amenities are of a high standard. The professionalism and attentiveness of the hotel’s butlers met all my needs in a timely fashion and I felt I was being well taken care of, with the butlers making me feel at home. Read more
Sanya
Capella Sanya
The hotel really boasts a tranquil and relaxing environment, which is different from other areas in Sanya that are packed with tourists. So if you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life for a while, this may be what you’re looking for. You certainly won’t get bored with all the leisure facilities and programmes at your disposal. Read more
Taipei
The Sherwood Taipei
Service is what makes The Sherwood Taipei stand out. Rates tend to be reasonable compared to other luxury hotels in the city, making this a top choice for those looking for value without forfeiting service or luxury. Read more
The Regent Taipei
This still is, certainly, one of the best luxury hotels in the city, and has the feeling of being the place to stay if you’re a visiting somebody – or just want to feel like one. Novelty services like the “photobutler” may be a draw for affluent teenagers and 20-somethings (or those travelling on their parents’ dime). Read more
Singapore
Grand Park City Hall, Singapore
Generally speaking, it’s a nice hotel. Thanks to its central location, it’s easy to get around and the hotel’s mobile app adds a good deal of convenience. Staff are friendly and helpful as well. Read more
Royal Plaza on Scotts, Singapore
A well-located hotel whose recent refurbishment has given the entire property a pleasantly fresh, clean and airy feel. The rooms have everything you need (bar mouthwash) and the Club Lounge is an excellent place to get some work done while enjoying the service of the attentive staff. Read more
Parkroyal on Pickering, Singapore
A beautifully designed, modern hotel that is located within easy reach of both the CBD, major dining areas and tourism hotspots. The Orchard Club Lounge is a very well-catered space with excellent service amid a beautiful setting; I recommend you spend the extra to get a room with access to this lounge, as it really does give you a premium experience that is worth the extra expense. Read more
Courtyard Singapore Novena
This hotel has everything you need for a short stay as a business traveller, as long as you don’t mind a 20- to 30-minute commute to your meetings. The stunning views really spice up the property. For business, this hotel is perfectly adequate and the views throughout the property really add a pleasant touch. Read more
Orchard Hotel Singapore
The hotel’s location on Orchard Road offers an ample selection of retail and dining options nearby, while also allowing you to stay away from the crowds on the busy shopping avenue owing to it being situated in a slightly more tranquil residential area. The implementation of advanced technology like robots not only improves service efficiency, but also offers a fresh and novel experience for guests. Read more
The St. Regis Singapore
It was indeed a comfortable stay at The St. Regis Singapore, thanks to the spacious and quiet room environment, easily accessible location and the 24-hour butler services. It’s a classic luxury experience. The exclusive art collections at the hotel will also be a plus for art connoisseurs. Read more
Yotelair Changi Airport
This is an excellent option for a one-night stay and access to the Jewel complex that opened in Singapore’s Changi Airport this April. The rooms are comfortable and it’s worth trying one of these Yotels just for the experience, I think. Read more
The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
Located in Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay, this five-star hotel offers panoramic city views and houses an impressive 4,200-piece art collection. Everything about the hotel is grand and glamourous. Art aficionados will love this place as its full of contemporary art pieces. Read more
Fairmont Singapore
The recently renovated South Tower of the Fairmont Singapore re-opened in November this year. This is a business traveller friendly hotel due to its central location, high-speed internet access and a convenient room that works well as a workplace. Read more
Bangkok
Conrad Bangkok
The hotel’s renovation has certainly given the Conrad Bangkok a fresh, contemporary facelift that helps bring it up to standard with the many other new properties opening their doors around the city. The rooms are sleek and sizeable – a valuable find in any Asian capital – and the interesting mix of urban and resort styles gives the property a professional yet relaxing atmosphere overall. Read more
Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok
A thoroughly pleasant surprise. The size of the rooms alone is enough to recommend the property above much of the competition in Bangkok, and the wide selection of facilities, strong F&B offerings and overall relaxed charm make the hotel’s lack of a big international brand name all but irrelevant. Read more
The Peninsula, Bangkok
All in all, this luxury hotel offers a number of great amenities and the hotel staff is incredibly hospitable. The food and beverage options here are fantastic, particularly the River Cafe & Terrace with its views of the river and diverse food options. What’s more, the free and frequent shuttle boat service made it easy to get to places around the city in a relatively short amount of time. Read more
Hanoi
Somerset Grand Hanoi
A well-located serviced apartment with good-sized residences and excellent facilities. The location would make this an excellent choice for anyone new to Hanoi as it places you right in the heart of the city and within walking or short driving distance to many key points in the city. Read more
Wyndham Garden Hanoi
This new hotel is very well put together and shows great promise. The facilities here are all great, with the gym and pool being particularly impressive. A big shout out must go to the hotel staff, who were kind, courteous and accommodating during my whole stay. Read more
Pan Pacific Hanoi
The hotel’s location on and views of the beautiful West Lake are complemented by excellent in-room amenities, as well as great food and beverage outlets and leisure facilities. If you can, try to get a room with access to the Pacific Club lounge, as this is a great place to have breakfast in relative privacy, enjoy cocktails and a good spread of food in the evening, or simply as a comfortable and quiet place to get some work done. Read more
Moscow
Pentahotel Moscow, Arbat
The ideal location of the hotel allows you to get to both major city attractions and business hubs easily from the hotel. The property itself is clean with a modern, stylish design. Read more
