As the Asian economy expands, more business travellers are arriving in Beijing, and are finding that there is a hotel to suit every need and budget

Beijing boasts 392 starred hotels. Twenty of those are five-star properties, 34 four-star, 126 three-star, 168 two-star and 44 are one-star hotels. So whatever way you look at it, discerning business travellers have a vast selection of local and international hotels offering standards and services to meet all budgets and needs.

With business gradually starting to pick up for the city's hoteliers after the Asian economic crisis, the hotel industry is experiencing a sustained increase of both domestic and international travellers staying in the capital. As a result, international hotel chains are beginning to shift their business development focus to Asia. Swissotel Beijing, one of the city's leading five-star hotel chains, for example, is actively marketing itself to this important region.

The recent opening of the Swissotel's sales office in Shanghai is also part of an on-going business strategy to boost both its domestic and international market share, while maintaining the strong brand recognition of Swissotel in one of the most prosperous metropolitan cities in China.

Other hotels are opening in Beijing to capture a slice of this burgeoning market, among which is the 595-room Oriental Harbour Plaza Beijing, which is scheduled to open in mid-2001.

Swissotel Beijing

Strategically located in the rapidly developing business district by the 2nd Ring Road, 20 minutes from Beijing Capital Airport, Metro stop at the door step, and within the vicinity of many foreign embassies, Swissotel Beijing is a five-star joint property owned by the Hongkong Macau Centre Limited and managed by Swissotel Management Com-pany Limited.

The hotel offers 423 guestrooms and suites, in addition to 72 serviced apartments. Six Swiss Executive Floors provide full business amenities, and its restaurants offer regional and international flavours ranging from Cantonese to Buffet-Bistro to Japanese.

The hotel's FIRM Fitness Club is equipped with state-of-the-art fitness facilities, sauna, and swimming pool and is an ideal place to workout after a busy day.

The Swissôffice Business Centre gives guests access to PC workstations, colour printers, private meeting rooms and secretarial services.

The hotel is also well equipped to handle everything from small meetings to large conferences and banquets with its 11 multifunctional meeting rooms.

Swissotel Beijing recently renovated its Grand Ballroom and is now fitted with high-speed Internet line to allow video conferencing through its sophisticated A/V system. Simultaneous interpretation services can also be arranged.

Swissôtel's other property, Swissôtel Dalian, is located in the heart of Dalian’s business and retail shopping district, and is just a 20-minute drive from Dalian International Airport and five minutes from the main railway station.

The five–star international hotel offers 327 guest rooms and suites including four executive floor, in addition to an executive lounge, 99 fully serviced apartments and three floors of office space.

The hotel offers five food and beverage outlets, serving Chinese, international and Japanese cuisine. The Lobby Lounge is a great place to meet associates over a cup of tea or coffee with a selection of Swissôtel’s fresh pastries, whilst Fashions Bar and Lounge provides the ideal venue for entertaining.

For business and banquets, Swissôtel Dalian's Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 550 guests with three breakaway rooms of varying sizes and configurations.

The Firm Fitness Centre offers a 20-meter indoor swimming pool, a fully equipped gymnasium, steam, sauna and expert massage, Swissôtel Dalian’s extensive recreation facilities and

Swissotel Beijing, 2 Chao Yang Men Bei Da Jie,Beijing 100027. Tel.(8610) 650102288, fax (8610) 65010-2501, e-mail beijing@swissotel.com

Crowne Plaza Beijing

The Crowne Plaza Beijing is centrally located on Wangfujing Avenue, next door to some of Beijing’s exciting new business developments and shopping malls, within walking distance of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, and a short taxi ride from key government administration buildings.

The Crowne Plaza Club floor rooms, suites, and business rooms offer free high-speed broadband Internet access from computers installed in rooms, which also have 29-inch television sets and video movies on demand.

Meeting and conference facilities from the 350-square-meter ballroom down to the 24-hour Business Centre meeting room for four are rentable by the hour.

The hotel offers a wide range of fine dining. The Plaza Grill is well-known for serving succulent American beef and Australian lamb, its Pearl Garden serves Cantonese and Sichuan favourites, while the Atrium Coffee Shop serves international cuisine. The Crowne Plaza's Inn Bar also serves snacks and is a popular place to unwind.

Other facilities at the hotel include a well-equipped gymnasium, indoor pool, sauna and massage services at fitness centre on the ninth floor.

Crowne Plaza Beijing, 48 Wangfujing Avenue, Beijing, 100006. Tel. (8610) 6513-3388, fax (8610) 6513-2513, e-mail hicpb@public3.bta.net.cn

Harbour Plaza Beijing

Located in northeastern Beijing, the Harbour Plaza Beijing is 15km from Beijing International Airport, and 15km to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven. The hotel provides frequent shuttle bus services to and from the airport and the city centre for guests.

The hotel offers 429 guest rooms and suites for business or leisure travellers, and has all the amenities and services of a five-star hotel, including a business centre, beauty salon and fitness centre with reflexology and massage service, sauna and steam baths.

It also boasts a variety of meeting and function rooms ideally suited for seminars, banquets and cocktail receptions of up to 350 people.

Guests have a wide selection of food and beverage outlets to choose from at the hotel, ranging from Western, to Chinese and Japanese. Hoi Yat Heen Restaurant features some of the finest traditional Cantonese dishes and delicacies, from light dim sum to exquisite shark's fin soup. Café California has an extensive buffet and a la carte menu, complemented by an impressive wine list to provide a unique dining opportunity in a relaxed setting. Set in natural and soothing surroundings typical of a traditional Japanese garden, Miyako offers an eclectic menu including teppanyaki, shabu-shabu and a generous sushi bar. The Pit Stop brings you American dining and funky dancing every night in a relaxed bar and grill atmosphere.

Garden Lounge is a popular spot for an informal breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea. It also serves pre-dinner cocktails and sandwiches in the evenings when a live band plays.

The Polo Bar, overlooking the lobby, is an ideal place to unwind and relax in a setting reminiscent of the early days of the 20^th century.