A shining new beacon for Beijing

With the opening of Park Hyatt Beijing, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has illuminated Beijing’s skyline with a brand new landmark. Directly opposite the China World Trade Centre and the striking new CCTV Tower, Park Hyatt Beijing occupies the uppermost floors in the main tower of the Beijing Yintai Centre — the tallest development on prestigious Chang’an Avenue, in the heart of the capital’s Central Business District.

Park Hyatt is the most exclusive of the Hyatt Hotels & Resorts’ brands, catering to elite, discerning travellers seeking luxury in the world’s most prime locations. Park Hyatt Beijing will join the likes of Park Hyatt Tokyo, immortalised in the Oscar-winning film Lost in Translation and also Park Hyatt Sydney on the banks of Sydney Harbour, recently voted among the World’s Best Hotels by Travel + Leisure magazine.

Created by the world-renowned, award-winning American architectural firm Portman, the Beijing Yintai Centre has been conceived as a city within itself; an ‘urban oasis’ where people can live, work, shop, dine and entertain in one location, minimising the stress and carbon footprint of daily commuting. The centre comprises a triumvirate of rectangular ‘intelligent’ towers — a 249.9-metre (819.9-foot) high main tower, flanked by a pair of 186-metre (610-foot) office towers.

Conceived by the US-based design company Remedios Siembieda — which has created some of the world’s most luxurious hotels including the Grand Hyatt Tokyo — the main Park Tower is crowned by a Chinese palace ‘lantern’ at its apex, which at night lights up the surrounding sky like an iconic beacon. The interiors of Park Hyatt Beijing have been inspired by classical Suzhou architecture and water gardens, and the hotel incorporates these Oriental aesthetics into a sleek, contemporary design.

On arrival, express elevators sweep guests up to Level 63 where the Lobby is located, alongside The Lounge offering all-day comfort food. The hotel’s 237 deluxe guestrooms, including 18 suites, range in size from 45 to 240 square metres (484 to 2,583 square feet) and span Levels 37 through 49. The spacious rooms feature a spa-inspired, limestone-lined open bathroom with a giant deep soaking tub; a standalone shower with an oversized rectangular rain showerhead; a separate ‘intelligent’ toilet; and designer bathroom amenities.

Contemporary and clean-lined in design, guestrooms also contain a private bar area with an espresso machine; a walk-in dressing room; adjustable mood lighting controls; electronic day and night blinds; a personal safe with a built-in laptop charger; a flat screen TV with cable and satellite programming; a DVD player; plus humidifiers upon request. A workstation is geared for full productivity, equipped with enhanced lighting; both wireless and wired broadband Internet access; dual-line telephones; and international power outlets.

All the suites, meanwhile, have additional TVs in the bathrooms, and the most exclusive Presidential and Chairman Suites both feature fully-equipped kitchens, where a private chef will cook a bespoke breakfast every morning.

Above the lobby entrance floor is the China Bar on Level 65, a stylish, atmospheric space for drinks and live jazz, while on the very top floor at Level 66, the China Grill is an informal, international eatery with a soaring glass pyramid ceiling. Officially the highest restaurant in Beijing, this elevated dining room provides the most commanding, 360-degree views of the capital and specialises in prime meat and seafood.

On Levels 59 and 60, Tian Spa features eight ‘spa suites’ with wet and dry treatment areas, deep soaking tubs, rain showers, private bathrooms, iPod docking stations and unique swivelling marble scrub slabs, offering international treatments incorporating Chinese ingredients. The tranquil two-storey space also houses an exercise studio; a relaxation deck; a 25-metre (82-foot) indoor lap pool; a giant whirlpool; pool showers surrounded by ‘bamboo forests’; and steam rooms and saunas in the changing areas.

Connecting the base of the three towers, from the lower ground floor to Level 6 is Park Life. Created by cutting-edge Japanese interior design firm SuperPotato, the six-floor complex houses luxury retail stores, a dynamic health club, plus an array of bars and restaurants. The highlight of these restaurants is The Private Room on Level 5, positioning itself as the most exclusive business entertaining venue in Beijing. Accessible by private elevator, the restaurant comprises 16 individually-designed, exclusive Cantonese private dining suites catering for up to 24 guests, with outdoor terraces and dedicated butlers.

On the Level 6 ‘podium’, Park Life Fitness is a sprawling 4,428 square metre (47,663 square foot) complex dedicated to health and wellbeing. Under a spectacular open-beamed glass ceiling, the daylight-filled complex features an extensive range of the latest exercise equipment; a 25-metre (82-foot) indoor lap pool; a fitness terrace for post-exercise relaxation; a Wellness Room for personal training and group classes; eight rooms offering Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments; a stylish nail bar; plus a juice bar and refreshment lounge.

For event planners, Park Hyatt Beijing offers a total of 2,648 square metres (28,473 square feet) of contemporary meeting space, including The Ballroom on Level 3, a 1,221 square metre (13,143 square feet) pillar-less expanse with an impressive 7.5 metre (24.6 foot) ceiling height and direct access to a car elevator, perfect for product launches, fashion shows, car exhibitions and events catering to up to 1,200 guests.

Meanwhile, eight meeting suites — Salons on Level 61 and Boardrooms on Level 62 - all of which benefit from natural daylight, are ideal for board meetings and special gatherings. All meeting facilities are equipped with the latest audio-visual technology and wireless Internet access.

A number of facilities will open from late 2008. IFW (International Food Warehouse) on the lower ground floor will be a unique, interactive restaurant and retail outlet with a wholesale market ambience and industrial feel. On Level 6 will be Xiu; a sprawling rooftop entertainment zone featuring bars and live entertainment in an expansive roof garden setting, with lush landscaping, pavilions, stone-paved terraces and myriad water features. For exclusive events, The Gallery on Level 3 will be a 750 square metre (8,073 square feet) residential-style event space, with an interactive show kitchen.

“We are thrilled to be launching Park Hyatt Beijing,” says Edward Tai, Vice President-China of Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and Chief Operating Officer of the Beijing Yintai Centre. “The Park Hyatt brand brings its premium level of style to the whole complex, and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to introduce Beijing to a more exclusive, highly personalised type of service, as well as a range of truly unique dining experiences.”

For more information and reservations log on to Hyatt.com.