BACKGROUND

Hyatt Regency Wuxi is the city’s first Hyatt property (other Hyatts in the Shanghai-Nanjing corridor include hotels in Shanghai and Suzhou). The hotel opened in December last year, offering 358 guestrooms including 42 suites.

WHERE IS IT?

In the upper levels of the 328-metre Suning Plaza North Tower in Wuxi’s downtown district, this is the highest hotel in the city and conveniently located at the intersection point of two metro lines. It’s a five-minute drive from Wuxi Railway Station and 30 minutes from Wuxi Sunan Shoufang International Airport.

WHAT’S IT LIKE?

Enter the building and you are directed to different lifts depending on whether you’re a hotel or event guest. The front desk for check-in is located on level 43 – the height of the building and floor-to-ceiling windows result in an area that’s flooded with daylight, presenting imperious views over the city.

ROOM FACILITIES

Guestrooms are located on levels 44 to 62. My 42 sqm Regency Club King room on level 62 might not be as big as many Chinese hotels’ club rooms, but its floor-to-ceiling windows made it feel spacious, while the décor was warm and attractively lit.

The room offers complimentary wifi, bluetooth speakers and a 50-inch HD TV, next to which is an oval glass work desk; the power sockets are located under the TV and my laptop cord was only just long enough to reach. Initially I found the small beeping from the smoke detector distracting, but when I lay down on the very comfortable king bed and switched off the lights I couldn’t hear anything and slept well. The bathroom features a bathtub and a separate, very large rain shower area. Luxury spa brand Portico bath kits are provided.

LOUNGE

The Regency Club is located on level 63, and inevitably boasts panoramic views. It’s a very large lounge, but it’s not overfilled with furniture, again providing a spacious atmosphere. Service from the lounge staff was excellent: as an example, arriving at 10.30pm one evening (the lounge closes at 11pm) I fancied some pizza from the available offerings, but was informed the lounge chefs had already left. Rather than letting me eat the food cold, a staff member took it to one of the hotel’s other restaurants and returned quickly with my reheated meal – an impressive bit of proactive service.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

There are five F&B outlets in the hotel, including La Cucina, serving Italian and Mediterranean-style cuisine; Market Café, providing a buffet with a wide range of seasonal products; Mian Dian, offering locally sourced noodles, and The Lounge in the lobby, complete with live piano. I tried  Yue Fu 65 Chinese restaurant, which specialises in local Wuxi and Jiangnan dishes. Its signature Peking roast duck –
served in three ways: skin with sugar, duck meat with sauce, and duck skin and meat with spring onion and pancake – was delicious.

MEETING FACILITIES

The hotel’s event spaces include the Regency Ballroom, Ebony Room and five multifunction rooms ranging from 56 sqm to 800 sqm. A highlight is the Sky Room – a pavilion in the clouds located on the top-level 67th floor, with two multifunctional spaces measuring 120 sqm and 200 sqm, 14-metre-high ceilings and 270-degree panoramic views. A luminous crystal chandelier in the entrance hall creates a showpiece spectacle, and there’s an open kitchen for refreshments.

LEISURE FACILITIES

The fitness centre is on level 10, requiring a change of lifts on level 43. Once there, you’ll find a gym, a 25-metre indoor swimming pool and a spa offering traditional Chinese medicine treatments.

VERDICT

Its lofty position and use of huge windows gives this hotel a spacious, dominant feel in this growing city. Professional staff and a high standard of service combine with good facilities to make this a top choice for the region.

FACT FILE

  • PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in October start from RMB928 (US$140) for a Regency Club room.
  • CONTACT 109 Renmin Zhong Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu province, 214000; tel +86 510 8989 1234; wuxi.regency.hyatt.com