WHAT’S IT LIKE? The hotel occupies the upper floors of the north tower of a twin-building complex. A ground floor lift whisks guests to the Sky lobby on level 22. In the lobby, a ceiling-high row of wooden palisades serves as the visual anchor. Some F&B outlets, such as the all-day dining outlet and lounge, are also found on this floor.
WHERE IS IT? It is situated in Pearl River New City, in Tianhe, a prime location in the city’s emerging central business district (CBD). It is a 30-minute drive from the Baiyun International Airport, about 20 minutes from Guangzhou East Railway Station, which welcomes the trains from Hongkong, and 10 minutes from the Pazhou Complex, home of the Canton Fair. As many of the buildings in this district are fairly new, travellers – unless they have a hotel pick up pre-arranged – should have very clear directions written out for them in Chinese to hand to the cab driver to avoid going around in circles. Or, before setting off, they could call the hotel concierge to direct the cabbie.
ROOM FACILITIES The 90sqm space allocated to my Grand suite has been designed in such a way the various sections come together seamlessly and logically. Sitting and dining areas, with a concealed kitchenette, come first, then lead to a small area with a long work desk, followed by the grooming section with its granite bath and walk-in shower and finally, the bedroom dominated by a king-size bed. Mod cons include the iPod docking station, laptop-size personal safe, cable programming and wireless internet access, flat-screen televisions in both the living room and bedroom. Breakfast and evening cocktails and canapés are available in the Grand Club lounge for executive room customers.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS There are five F&B outlets – The Market Café, G Restaurant & Bar, The Penthouse with its 13 private Chinese dining suites and a Guanxi Lounge. They are all executed in sleek and contemporary lines and enjoy panoramic city views. The Market Café provides the all-day dining experience enhanced with a variety of cooking stations.
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES The 979sqm Grand Ballroom accommodates 744 people banquet style, but can be transformed by the events team into different set-ups catering to product launches, cocktail parties and corporate meetings. More traditional pow wows have a pick of six elegant function rooms.
LEISURE FACILITIES The options are found on the rooftop and include a 25-metre indoor lap pool, whirlpool, sauna and a 24-hour gym. O Spa, under Hyatt’s Pure brand, offers a variety of therapies in six treatment suites that can let in natural light.
Margie T Logarta
FACT FILE
HOW MANY ROOMS? In total, there are 357 rooms and suites – 225 Grand King, 34 Grand Twin, 23 Grand Deluxe King, 53 Grand Club King, 12 Grand Club Twin, 18 Grand Suites King, one Presidential Suite and one Chairman Suite.
ROOM HIGHLIGHTS The Grand Suite’s sheer spaciousness and the way each section fused seamlessly into the other to create a functioning whole produced an outstanding effect. The concealed kitchen-pantry was a clever touch. If the staff had not shown it too me, I might not have known it existed.
PRICE For a stay in mid July, internet nightly rates start from CNY1,200 CNY (US$175).
CONTACT 12 Zhujiang West Road, Pearl Rier new City, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, PRC 510623, tel 86 20 8396 1234, www.hyatt.com
VERDICT
With so many new buildings sprouting in Guangzhou, the hotel may still be tricky to find – a problem that will be naturally solved once more of the new CBD takes shape. Otherwise, it’s a welcome addition to the city’s corporate addresses.
