NUO Hotel Beijing, which is considered to be China's first luxury hotel brand, has opened its first property in Beijing, according to Superyachts.com.
NUO Hotel Beijing is described as a celebration of both old and new China, with its décor inspired by the golden age of the Ming Dynasty while also showcasing modern Chinese artwork. Designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates, it features 439 guestrooms, including 56 suites, all with floor-to-ceiling views of the city.
Owner Beijing Tourism Group told Forbes that the brand, which is being developed in conjunction with Geneva-based Kempinski Hotels, will "celebrate the depth and richness of Chinese culture."
According to Forbes, plans are for 15 hotels in the next 15 years, with cities such as Paris, London, and other global capitals on the wish list. Each hotel will have a Chinese restaurant, bar, spa, gymnasium, indoor pool, and tea pavilion.
The property also offers 2,500 square meters of conference and banqueting facilities, including 13 function rooms and the pillar-free 1,600-square meter Yongle Grand Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 1,500 guests.
In keeping with its commitment to serving authentic cuisine, NUO Hotel Beijing sources food ingredients from partner organic local farms and producers, which are then prepared in the hotel's six restaurants and bars by a team of culinary experts from 13 different countries, according to 4Hoteliers.
Unique to NUO Hotel Beijing is the Yuan Tea House, with its graceful interiors evoking an exquisite courtyard and garden in a contemporary interpretation of a Ming Dynasty-era tea house, and where a variety of premium teas sourced directly from tea plantations in Yunnan, Anxi and Wuyi mountain regions are offered, including bespoke teas created exclusively for NUO Hotel Beijing.
NUO will soon have company, according to Forbes. IHG's Hualuxe brand targeting the domestic upscale market announced its first two locations in January, while GHM launches its first Chinese luxury brand hotel, Ahn Luh, in Shanghai later this year. Four more are scheduled for 2016.