Bernold Schroeder, CEO, PPHG
PAN Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has finally planted a flag in the Chinese capital, following years of operations in second- and third-tier cities in China, specifically Suzhou, Tianjin, Xiamen and Ningbo.
Pan Pacific Beijing, the newest hotel to rise in Xicheng District come 1H2017, will feature 223 spacious rooms and suites, comprehensive event venues including a ballroom with a double volume ceiling, an exclusive club lounge offering views that extend to the Forbidden City, recreational facilities and a selection of dining outlets including the brand’s signature Hai Tien Lo Chinese restaurant and Keyaki Japanese restaurant.
In an interview with TTG Asia e-Daily, PPHG’s CEO Bernold Schroeder, said the group has “always wanted to bring the Pan Pacific brand to Beijing”.
Although Beijing is already home to several international hotel brands, Schroeder is confident that the upscale property will succeed in standing out from the crowd.
He said: “While the majority of international hotels have traditionally been located on the eastern part of the city, Pan Pacific Beijing is one of the few located to the west of Tiananmen Square towards the Beijing Financial Street, where government and corporate financial institutions congregate.
“It takes just 10 minutes to walk from our hotel to reach some of the world’s largest banks. Chang’an Avenue, which forms the city’s main east-west axis, links our hotel to Tiananmen Square and puts us within a 2.5km walking radius to Beijing’s historical and cultural monuments, so we’ve really got the best of both worlds.”
Artist impression of Pan Pacific Beijing
He also believes that Pan Pacific Beijing’s F&B offerings will put the hotel in good stead among the competition.
PPHG’s entry into Beijing also signals the company’s intention to expand the Pan Pacific brand into other key first-tier Chinese cities.
Schroeder pointed out that location is key in the group’s search for a suitable destination to dive into.
“Since we’re focused on building a network of hotels in key gateway cities, location is one of the most important considerations. For instance, Pan Pacific London, which opens in 2019, sits in the CBD near Liverpool Street station.
“Should a gem of a location like what Pan Pacific Beijing has were to show up in Shanghai, one of China’s financial centres and an international gateway city in its own right, we will be excited to explore it further,” he said, adding that future openings will be a mix of hotel, serviced suites, and hybrids, the current types of properties Pan Pacific now has in China.
He acknowledges that China’s hotel market is a “challenging” one due to an “oversupply situation”.
“However, PPHG is investing for the long-term and China’s future is very bright. We are seeing a gradual increase in occupancy rates due to urbanisation, which generates a constant demand for hotels and serviced apartments especially in the first-tier cities, while inbound tourism continues to grow,” he concluded.
