Chengdu’s popularity sparks an increase in new hotel openings, including many by top brands

As a fast-growing western city with a host of major businesses and cultural attractions, it’s no surprise that Chengdu greets an estimated 100 million tourists each year. These staggering numbers explain why the city has almost 8,000 hotels, including many of the top international brands, according to Fredrik Genberg, general manager of the Waldorf Astoria Chengdu.

For travellers, the great news is that the city’s unending parade of new hotel openings means that “average daily rates will drop because we have more competitors”, according to Kevin Xu, director of sales and marketing for the Grand Hyatt Chengdu.

Chengdu’s growing popularity comes in part because “the city has a nice reputation as a great place to be, thanks to its culture, food and relaxed way of life”, notes Genberg. The city is also a key part of China’s auto industry and is “one of the most important economic and communication centres of west China”, Xu says. Ford, Intel, GM and Toyota all have major presences, and Alibaba, which owns the South China Morning Post, for services.

Indeed, the city draws all kinds of guests, including “business travellers, leisure travellers and families”, says Adriano Vences, general manager of Niccolo Chengdu, who “share a lot in common, including a taste for fashion and style, a quest for a high-quality life and the pursuit of discovery”.

These high expectations mean that upscale hoteliers are working harder than ever to distinguish themselves.

At the Grand Hyatt Chengdu, Xu says it’s the details that impress guests, whether it’s a panda toy for children the first time they visit or tailor-made Chengdu gifts such as the city’s signature spicy-and-sweet candy. Business facilities include 1,600 square metres of function space. The hotel is the only one in the city centre to boast more than 1,000 square metres of outdoor terrace in the form of the French Garden, an ideal venue for events such as wedding ceremonies, Xu says.

Located at Chengdu’s celebrated International Finance Square in the Chunxi Road business district, the Niccolo Chengdu offers 230 rooms and suites of up to 200 square metres in size. Guestrooms are graced with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide copious natural daylight and uninterrupted views. While the Niccolo Ballroom is the centrepiece for meetings, facilities also include the Conservatory, an oval glass venue surrounded by the hotel’s Sculpture Garden which provides dramatic backdrops for events and celebrations.