A day of activities that included a lion dance, Sichuanese "face-changing" performance and gala dinner marked the grand opening of The St Regis Chengdu yesterday.
The hotel initially aimed to open in July (see story), but it later decided to change the date to September 4, 2014 – the 110th anniversary of The St Regis brand when the first property opened in New York.
Performance at the opening gala of The St Regis Chengdu
The hotel is part of Chinese Estates Plaza, a commercial development by Hong Kong-based Chinese Estates Holdings. The complex will soon also have a mall called The One, catering to the middle and upper-middle class, according to Lau Wai-ming, president and chief executive of Chinese Estates, who was present at yesterday's celebratory events. The opening date is set for the middle of next year.
There are 279 guestrooms and suites with custom furnishings and technological amenities such as the in-room iPad that the guest can use to wirelessly control the room's appliances and access services. The Deluxe room, at 65sqm, is the largest entry-level hotel room in the city.
Other than Deluxe and Grand Deluxe rooms, there are six suite categories including the Lafayette Suite that is unique to The St Regis Chengdu. All of these units are reminiscent of an elegant residence and offer 110sqm of space illuminated by a circular crystal chandelier and decorated with original art pieces.
Lafayette Suite
There are six food and beverage outlets including Social for all-day international dining, and Yan Ting for Sichuanese and Cantonese cuisine. At the lobby, The Drawing Room is where the afternoon tea is served. For ultra-fine dining, Yun Fu on the top floor offers private dining with customised menus. The space can be divided into three parts, for 12, 14 and 18 people respectively. The partitions are retractable bookcases. A "skybar" called Vantage XXVII will open in spring next year at the outdoor terrace on the same level.
An original mural unveiled at Decanter bar at The St Regis Chengdu
The St Regis flagship in New York is credited for having created Bloody Mary, and each St Regis property has its own version of the classic cocktail. At the Chengdu property, Chuan Mary, spiced up with the Chinese province's famous tongue-numbing peppercorn, is served up at Decanter, the hotel's drinking venue. Above the bar counter, an original mural was unveiled yesterday, showing an abstract impression of Chengdu's skyline.
Leisure facilties include indoor and outdoor pools – the only hotel in the city to have both – The St Regis Athletic Club that will soon offer boxing and yoga classes in its exercise studio, and the Iridium Spa on the 6th floor. The nine treatment rooms include duplex spa suites for couples.
Duplex treatment suite at Iridium Spa at The St Regis Chengdu
There are nine meeting spaces, including the Astor Ballroom, measuring 500sqm and where last evening's gala dinner was held.
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Reggie Ho
