China’s capital is now home to the latest Starwood property, the W Beijing – Chang’an hotel.
Situated on Chang’an Avenue, the hotel is a short distance from the headquarters of the Central Bank of China, and if you’ve a little free time, its also close to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.
It also affords easy access to central government buildings as well as the National Museum of China, the National Centre for the Performing Arts, the Silk Market, Beijing Concert Hall, and the prestigious Diplomat District.
The hotel’s 349 guestrooms and suites are all hi-tech, with tablet-controlled mood lighting, a 48” LED TV and a Bluetooth sound system.
Unwind in a 'Spectacular Room' at the W Beijing – Chang'an hotel
The suites go a step further with JBL home theatre systems and Bose portable speakers, while all King rooms come with a round bathtub for relaxing after a long day before catching some shuteye in a signature ‘W bed’.
At the very top is an ‘Extreme WOW (Presidential) Suite’ with a separate living room and 90 square metres of space for entertaining, a two-metre wide circular bed, a Jacuzzi by floor-to-ceiling windows and a 76” TV.
For mixing and mingling, the Living Room at W Beijing – Chang’an features an LED-lit catwalk, a suspended golden globe DJ booth hanging from the ceiling, and a ‘secret’ space tucked away behind the bar.
There’s also X25, an exclusive lounge at the top of the hotel inspired by Beijing’s iconic Olympic Water Cube with an extensive cocktail menu and separate DJ entertainment.
The hotel’s Chinese restaurant ‘Yen’ treats guests to dishes of southern China’s Canton province, while the Kitchen Table serves casual, home-style fare in a communal table setting.
For conferences and other events, nearly 1,500 square metres is dedicated to meeting space, while the Away Spa offers honey-based treatments after a long day's work, with a fitness centre and heated indoor pool also available.
... although who needs a heated pool when you have an oversized round bathtub?
“W Beijing – Chang’an offers a lifestyle experience that draws upon W Hotels’ New York roots, with the local flavour and design influences of Beijing,” said the property’s General Manager Greg Findlay.
“We will be offering insider access, contemporary dining experiences, local and international DJs, fashion events featuring local designers every night in W Lounge, and so much more!”
Eligible members of Starwood Preferred Guest will enjoy their usual perks such as free room upgrades and Internet access, while all SPG members will be able to earn and redeem Starpoints at the hotel.
To celebrate its opening, room rates start at ¥1,288 (A$245) per night for a ‘Wonderful Room’ overlooking the city’s iconic landmarks for stays through April 30 2015.
Also read: W Hotel Brisbane set to open in 2018
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Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
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