A suite in the hotel Photo: Courtesy of The Peninsula Beijing

 

The exterior of the newly renovated The Peninsula Beijing Photo: Courtesy of The Peninsula Beijing

After a year of renovations, The Peninsula Beijing reopened with cocktails on the new and improved hotel grounds on June 14, marking the latest chapter in The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels (HSH) group's long tradition of hospitality excellence in China.

With a front row seat in the capital city, HSH hotels have witnessed China's remarkable transition into an economic superpower and have participated in driving development in the hotel sector.

Located in central Beijing, just a short walk from Tiananmen Square and other cultural venues, The Peninsula Beijing has welcomed the world to Beijing for the last quarter century, one of the most exciting periods in the nation's 5,000-year history.

Joseph Sampermans, the general manager of The Peninsula Beijing, said the hotel was "extremely proud" of its Chinese heritage and was grateful to China and the city of Beijing for the continued support.

"After 27 years of providing legendary hospitality to guests from across China and around the world, The Peninsula Beijing readies itself for the city's next phase as a global capital," Sampermans said. "For this renovation, we wanted to create a grand hotel for Beijing that celebrates the rich history as well as the dynamic future of the capital."

The 890 million yuan ($123 million) renovation was conceived in 2013 by celebrated Hong Kong designer and long-term Peninsula collaborator Henry Leung. The inspiration behind The Peninsula Beijing's rebirth is informed by the Middle Kingdom's opulent imperial palaces and tranquil gardens, which provided a serene oasis for Chinese emperors and nobility to meditate and relax.

While modern China continues to develop at breathtaking speed, The Peninsula Beijing remains mindful of preserving the local heritage, culture, and traditions - a trait that is evident throughout the hotel. By reviving Chinese imperial architecture, design and artisanal expertise from across the centuries and combining them with modern Chinese art and proprietary Peninsula technology and service, The Peninsula Beijing upholds China's noble tradition of artisanship and innovation and provides guests with an authentic sense of destination.

Chinese artistic expression extends across every floor of the hotel, including the restyled guest rooms and suites. Leung's contemporary take on Chinese culture and heritage permeates every room with classical shapes and motifs and Chinese calligraphy painting-inspired fish mosaics.

With guest comfort and convenience being at the center of the renovation, the hotel's original 525 rooms and suites have been reimaged and reduced to just 230 suite-style rooms, each offering a separate bedroom, living room, bathroom and dressing room. Each standard room measures about 65 square meters, making them the largest standard rooms in Beijing and among the most spacious in China. They are also the most personalized guest rooms in the world, with proprietary in-room technology delivering 11 languages at the touch of a fingertip, and paperless hotel and city information and service just a click away.

The Peninsula Beijing is also one of the first hotels in China to offer a 24-hour check-in and check-out service. The seamless check-in process is accessible from each guest room or suite.

"We have combined the very best of Chinese tradition, culture and artisanship with the most contemporary standard of luxury, the most up-to-date technology and our traditional Peninsula hospitality," Sampermans said.