Hospitality Design - February/March 2021 - 88

far and away china
NEW HEIGHTS

There is no sign of a slowdown for Asia's largest country
Both the Beijing and Shanghai hotel markets are already crowded, but
that hasn't stopped these Chinese metropolises from attracting impressive
hospitality developments. Universal Beijing Resort, for instance, a joint
venture between Beijing Tourism Group and Kempinski Hotels, will open
in the capital later this year, melding two different properties. Fittingly
located outside the entrance to Universal Studios is the Universal Studios
Grand Hotel, an homage to Hollywood's Golden Age, while the NUO
Resort Hotel - Universal Beijing Resort will be steeped in Chinese
heritage and provide a more serene experience.
Among its 146 properties currently in the pipeline, according to Lodging
Econometrics, Shanghai will welcome the Westbund Hotel in 2021. The
project will be the first Rocco Forte Hotel in Asia, uniting the talents of the
company's director of design Olga Polizzi and London-based Muza Lab.
Occupying the highest floors of a new skyscraper, it will be crowned with a
rooftop bar and feature a bi-level spa, as well as a tearoom that references the
Drawing Room at sister property Brown's Hotel in London.
Other notable brands are popping up in fast-growing cities. After
recently opening the W Chengdu, with Glyph Design Studio at the helm,
W Hotels is ramping up with properties in Changsha and Xiamen.
Chengdu, the capital of China's southwestern Sichuan province, is also

088

the site of the newly opened Ocean Spring Resort Chengdu - MGallery,
surrounded by Chendgu International Triathlon Park and containing
villas with private hot spring pools, courtesy of PAL Design. Elsewhere
in the country, Accor is expanding its portfolio with the Fairmont Sanya
Haitang Bay (where a seawater canal will be the first to run through a
hotel) and the Pullman Jiaxing Pinghu Excellence, close to Ming Lake
and Jiulongshan National Forest Park.
Over the last few years, growth has been significant in Shenzhen,
luring brands like Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to strengthen its Chinese
foothold. In 2023, the Rosewood Shenzhen will open with interiors from
BAR Studio in a building by London-based Foster + Partners that is part of
a new mixed-use development.
Hyatt too has a growing portfolio in China. Following the 2020
openings of the Andaz Xiamen, designed by the late Jaya Ibrahim and
Blink Design Group, and the Park Hyatt Suzhou by Kohn Pedersen Fox
and HBA, the Andaz Shenzhen Bay debuted in January (joining a handful
of other Hyatt hotels in the southeastern metropolis), the handiwork of
Chicago-based Goettsch Partners and New York-based tonychistudio.
" Shenzhen's location links Hong Kong to mainland China and
has become a huge hub for global tech companies. With that comes
development for shopping, resorts, increasing leisure activities, and
tourists, " explains Crystal Vinisse Thomas, global director of lifestyle
brands for Hyatt. " And while Shenzhen has seen a recent rise in tourism
over the past few years, we saw an opportunity all the way back in 2009
with our first property there, the Grand Hyatt Shenzhen. "

The Andaz Shenzhen Bay is located in the core block of the
Houhai Financial Headquarter Base in Nanshan District
February/March 2021 hospitalitydesign.com
http://www.hospitalitydesign.com
Hospitality Design - February/March 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - February/March 2021
