InterContinental® Chongqing Raffles City Welcomes its First Guests
InterContinental® Hotels and Resorts continues strong momentum in growth and investment across the globe.
IHG(InterContinentalHotels Group) celebrates the official opening ofInterContinental Chongqing Raffles Citytoday. Located in Chao Tian Men Square of downtown Chongqing, China, InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City is part of the iconic Raffles City complex a new modern landmark. Auspiciously located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, the state-of-the-art high-rise hotel is close to famed local attractions such as Jiefangbei and Hongyadong. The hotel occupies the top floors of one of the tallest towers, as well as part of The Crystal, an iconic skybridge 300 metres in length, connecting the top of four skyscrapers on the 42ndfloor. Guests can enjoy majestic views on this fully-glazed observation deck, experiencing the InterContinental life with a unique perspective of both the urban skyline in the city and verdant hills beyond.
World-renowned architect Moshe Safdie and his team drew inspiration from the region's unique terrain and culture to create an image of powerful sails with the eight skyscrapers of Raffles City Chongqing. Inspired by yacht staterooms, this one-of-a-kind hotel boasts 380 luxury rooms and suites from the 44thto 65thfloor that offer panoramic views and floor-to-ceiling windows. To reenergise or unwind, guests can immerse themselves in the 25m infinity pool or visit the fitness centre on the 43rdfloor. Jing Dining Room Bar is the hotel's signature restaurant, serving a unique blend of Cantonese cuisine and Chongqing's local specialties with unparalleled creativity. Drinks can be taken at The Maven or at Horizon, the lobby lounge, sitting high at an altitude of 250 metres is dotted with trees and green plants, creating an ambience of a forest in the clouds.
InterContinentalHotels Resorts has been pioneering luxury travel across the globe since 1946, delighting guests with new international destinations for decades from historic buildings to city landmarks, to immersive resorts in every region of world. 2020 and 2021 are no exception, as the brand extends its trailblazing portfolio in emerging travel hot spots, withsigningsandnew openingsin brand-defining new builds and heritage restorations.
IHG has signed three new InterContinental properties this year: FijisGrand Pacific Hotel inSuva - whose rich history has a special place in the hearts of Fijians, to the extent that an image of the hotel features on the Fijian ten-dollar note will be rebranded as an InterContinental by 2022,InterContinental Rome, a neo-renaissance style palazzo set on the iconic Via Veneto, close to the Villa Borghese, is also set to open in 2022.
Set to open in 2023,InterContinental Halong Bay Resortwill feature 175 guest rooms, while InterContinentalResidences Halong Bay will be made up of 60 apartments and 41 villas. The project draws inspiration from its beachfront location in Halong Bay, where over 1,600 islands and inlets form a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars.
Two exciting openings in Thailand will be revealed in the coming year. Two and a half hours north-west of Bangkok,InterContinental Khao Yai National Park issituated in the KhaoYaiNational Park UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hotel is designed by award-winning architect and interior designer BillBensley, who took his inspiration from the King Rama V colonial influenced architecture of the Pak Chong Railway Station. Opening with 45 luxury rooms in Q4 2020, 16 suites created from repurposed heritage train cars will be addedin 2021.InterContinental Chiang Mai Mae Pingis a conversion of the prestigious Imperial Mae Ping Hotel, which has been at the forefront of Chiang Mais hospitality scene for more than 30 years. The hotel will portray the timeless and lavish beauty of theLannaera through a modern luxury lens and is also set to open in Q4 2021.
InterContinental Luanda Miramar,is set to open in Q4 2020 in the Angolan capital, along the pristine South Atlantic Coast of Western Africa, just minutes from Luanda Bay. Inspired by the graceful contours of the diamond in its design, the hotel is the first internationally-branded luxury hotel in the city and is set to blend the highest standards of service and design with Angolan hospitality and culture.
InterContinentalPunta Piqueros,opening mid-2021, will overlook the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean in the Concon district of the Valparaso Region in central Chile, 130km from Santiago. The hotel will have spectacular views of neighboringViadel Mar, a trendy, weekend getaway spot for Santiagos well-heeled, and the colorful and bohemian port city of Valparaiso. The 140-room hotel offers five suites, two restaurants, a wine bar and pool bar and an expansive wellness centre, featuring spa, gym pool, and a sauna spanning 930sqm.
InterContinental Yao Yai Resort, opening Q3 2021, blends contemporary design elements with Southern Thailand's vernacular architecture. Guests can relax in sublime suites, sea-view villas or private residences to recharge between exploring the three restaurants, state-of-the art fitness club, spa and Planet Trekkers kids club.The resort is located on Koh YaoYai, an up-and-coming, yet serene and unspoiled island in Southern Thailand, easily accessed from the transport links and buzz of Phuket or Krabi, whilst feeling a world away.
InterContinental Mina Al Arab,in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE will welcome guests in Q3 2021, with 350 guest rooms and suites, health club, spa and two swimming pools. Covering an area of 43,770 sqm, the resort is a short drive from famous archaeological sites such as Dhayah Fort and Shebas Palace. This diverse, up-and-coming emirate is steeped in heritage and just an hour from Dubai.
InterContinental Hotels Resorts capture the allure of international travel for the modern luxury guest. Mindful that guests needs change over time, hotels are evolving their aesthetic to showcase a new standard of modern luxury design, with refurbishments and expansions in several properties around the globe.
InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resortin Queensland, Australia completed a multi-million-dollar refurbishment in January, spanning all 251 rooms, suites and its popular breakfast destination, Cove Caf. Each of the rooms and suites have their own identity and take inspiration from the resorts one-acre Lagoon Beach Pool and the 4.2 hectares of tropical gardens surrounding the property.
InterContinental London Park Lanelaunched the Mayfair Collection in early 2020, and reopens 1 September. This assortment of rooms and suites (from 21 to 60 sqm) is designed to make city life harmonious, with refinement, comfort and timeless elegance. Wood, leather, pure wool, and marble set the soulful, natural tone and subtle embroidery and cast bronze pay homage to the hotels prized location, where two Royal Parks meet.
In Japan, the much-anticipated expansion ofANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort launchedon 7 July 2020. Surrounded by blue coral seas and colorful marine life, the expansion marks a significant milestone for the idyllic Japanese region, now welcoming guests to the islands only true international luxury hotel and Japans first dedicated Club InterContinental destination.The Strings by InterContinentalin Tokyo completed its impressive multi-million-dollar refurbishment in early 2020, unveiling an all-new Club InterContinental Lounge, overhaul of its restaurant and bar concepts and redesign of its lobby.ANA InterContinental Tokyorecently opened its all-new Club InterContinental Lounge with a complete overhaul of furnishings and design; the Club lounge is the largest in Tokyo.
An investment of 60 million will see the transformation ofIntercontinental Berlin. All 558 rooms and public spaces are under a carefully-staged refurbishment while the hotel remains open. Rooms are slated to be completed later this year and the entire project is due for completion by the end of 2022.
On the Cote dAzur, the prestigiousInterContinental Carlton Cannesiscurrently undergoing a meticulous two-phased restoration programme. A revitalization of the hotels famed Belle Epoque faade is now underway and the renovation of the hotels exclusive Carlton Beach Club with beach restaurant, bar and pier is now complete. Guests can enjoy the hotels famed service with confidence as they overlook the Bay of Cannes and views over the Mediterranean this summer, thanks to the implementation of thoughtful social distancing measures. An extension, with two new wings, set to house 37 new branded suites, a 2,000sqm interior garden with bar and pool, a spa and 765 sqm conference centre is set for completion in 2023.
InterContinental Grand Seoul Parnasin the famous business and entertainment district of Gangnam is currently undergoing a one-year renovation (its restaurants and bars are still in operations) with rooms set to reopen in Q4 2020.
Raj Bhatt
Dubai, Canada