The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is bullish on its prospects in China and will continue to expand its presence in this fast developing economy. The company currently operates six properties in China and the opening of The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, and The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong will increase its China presence to eight hotels by the end of this year.
The 285-room Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, located in the South Tower of Shanghai, a landmark commercial development in the heart of Lujiazui, will officially open in May 2010 while The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, is due to open in November 2010 as the world’s tallest hotel, occupying floors 102 to 118 at the International Commerce Centre in Kowloon, the highest skyscraper in Hong Kong. In Beijing, the Ritz-Carlton is represented by the Ritz-Carlton Beijing Financial Street and the Ritz-Carlton Beijing. While the former is a sleek, modern glass building bearing no resemblance to the chain’s signature buildings, the latter is more traditional and located in the heart of the thriving China Business District.
According to Edward Yuan, director of sales and marketing for the Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street, 2009 witnessed occupancies at 65 per cent with two per cent of guests from the Middle East.
“Since the hotel opened in October 2006, we have observed growth in the number of Middle East guests staying in our hotel,” he said. “Our biggest appeal is our location. The hotel is just 15 minutes away from main cultural and historical sights such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the National Centre for the Performance Arts, Capital Museum and much more. Adjacent to the hotel is the luxury shopping mall and less than 10 minutes away is Xidan Shopping Complex, a very popular local shopping area.”
The property is stylish and contemporary paying close attention to architectural details with oriental and Chinese accents in its design in all restaurants, public areas and guest rooms. The 253 guest rooms feature all the contemporary amenities including wireless access as well as unique features such as free-standing baths in the suites and leather-lined wardrobes styled as luggage trunks. Dining facilities include three signature restaurants, a lounge and bar serving Chinese, Italian and all-day cuisine. A 1,500-sq-m, full-scale lifestyle spa with extensive health club facilities is also available for guests.
The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing was the second Ritz-Carlton property to open in the in the capital. The hotel features 305 guest rooms, six dining outlets including Italian restaurant Barolo, Chinese restaurant Yu, all-day dining restaurant Aroma, The Ritz-Carlton Bar, the Lobby Lounge and The Davidoff Lounge. Also available is The Ritz-Carlton Spa, fitness centre, indoor pool, 1,100 sq m of meeting and conference space, 648 sq m ballroom and the only wedding chapel inside a hotel in Beijing.
“Middle Eastern guests will find China, especially Beijing, to be a destination with lots of appeal for all tastes. This historic city is well known for its cuisine, especially the famous ‘Peking duck,’ its myriad of shopping venues and awe-inspiring modern and ancient monuments. Not unlike many cities in the Gulf, Beijing has experienced an explosive growth in its social and physical infrastructure within a relatively short period of time. That would be something that the Middle Eastern guests can easily relate to,” said Vivienne Gan, regional director of public relations for the Middle East.