Hotel Of The Month: Hyatt Regency Suzhou

The Hyatt Regency Suzhou has opens its doors and refined luxury in the heart of the “Venice of China”

Last month, we were so excited to hear that the Hyatt Regency Suzhou had opened its doors and we eagerly jumped on a high-speed train to make the short, journey from Shanghai; 25 minutes by train or one hour by car.

Suzhou is synonymous in China for its ancient canals, stone bridges and UNESCO-listed classic gardens, however, it is also a bustling and modern city. The Hyatt Regency Suzhou is conveniently nestled in the Suzhou Industrial Park with a subway station at its doorstep. The hotel is part of Jinghope Plaza and includes a luxury shopping mall, entertainment venues and two Grade-A office buildings.

The hotel offers 355 spacious guestrooms and suites, plus their famous Regency Club, which provids the highest level of personalised services, including exclusive access to the 28th floor’s Regency Club lounge, serving complimentary breakfast, all-day refreshments and evening cocktails.

Upon entering the hotel, one of the many standout features is the breath-taking 29-storey triangular atrium topped with a glass roof that casts light down into the entire hotel. The interior design, by LTW Designworks, takes its cue from Suzhou’s classic gardens with traditional and contemporary design features blended seamlessly, exemplified by traditional bird cages, outside the hotel’s signature Chinese restaurant, featuring the chirping sounds of computerised birds displayed on tablet computers inside the cage.

Hyatt Regency Suzhou’s 355 contemporary guestrooms encircle the eye-catching atrium and offer impressive city views from every room. The bright, modern design incorporates Suzhou stylistic influences – from a large black-and-white mural featuring snapshots of classical architecture and garden images to woven cane lanterns and an abundance of natural woods and textures. Room size starts at a generous 430 square feet and, of course, all offer premium amenities, including: a large-screen LED TV with satellite channels and free on-demand movies; coffee and tea sets; individually controlled air conditioning; and complimentary high-speed broadband/Wi-Fi Internet access.

Hyatt Regency Suzhou offers a range of dining destinations. The hotel compromises both international flavours and authentic local dishes with fresh seasonal ingredients. We were blown away with the cuisine on offer at Hua Chi 88, a vibrant Chinese dining restaurant serving authentic Suzhou and Huaiyang cuisines, Taihu Boat cuisine from nearby Tai Lake and the city’s finest Peking Duck roasted over fruitwood in the traditional duck oven. The dishes were cooked to perfection and were served in the beautiful dining room with open kitchen. It was great to see our dishes being freshly prepared by the talented chefs and we would encourage you to also try the drunken crab when you visit.

Hyatt Regency also presents: The Fireplace, an international grill restaurant with a sophisticated European
bistro-style ambience; Tea House, serving light snacks, teainspired beverages and cocktails; The Atrium, for informal meetings; and Market Café, with double-height windows where guests can eat out of the pan, off the grill and out of the wok.

Hyatt Regency Suzhou really is the place for every occasion, be it business or leisure, with more than 15,000 square feet of innovative meetings and events space, as well as Yue Spa.

The Residence is a new-concept events venue comprised of four multifunctional rooms with large French windows, hosting up to 360 guests, where as the 6,240-squarefoot Regency Ballroom can host up to 450 people for a cocktail event and 340 for a private dining event. Yue Spa, at Hyatt Regency Suzhou, is designed to restore and maintain the natural equilibrium, or “yin yang”, which is critical to human wellbeing. Six private spa suites, plus two reflexology areas, provide a full range of body and facial treatments. Spa guests can enjoy the hydrotherapy facilities, featuring Roman-style baths and an oversized steam room.

So what are you waiting for? Plan a mini-break or business trip to the Hyatt Regency Suzhou soon. It is well worth the short journey from Shanghai.

Hyatt Regency Suzhou. 88 Huachi Lu, Suzhou Gongye Yuan Qu. Tel: (0512) 6288 1234. Web: suzhou.regency.hyatt.com