Hilton Beijing Wangfujing {CHN}
May 13, 2009, 5:29 am
#46
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Hilton Beijing Wangfujing
8 Wangfujing East Street Dongcheng, Beijing, China 100006
Tel: 86-10-5812-8888 Fax: 86-10-5812-8886
General Manager: Nils-Arne Schroeder
Hilton HHonors Reward Category: 5 (35,000 points per night)
Ni hao!
I spent May May 13 - 15 2009 at the Hilton Wangfujing, and I am very impressed. There is no way I can steal Popester's thunder here and our room is very much as s/he describes, and I can add a little to MD/DC Flyer's information - the hotel is really spacious, lovely bath, great colors and very comfy, but small touches indicating the hotel is brand new and was left by some defects by the contractors: the wooden flooring by the desk is marred, one faucet leaks, one of the marble tiles is cracked - small items the hotel should hold the constructor's feet in the fire over, though they are relatively minor, and a thorough cleaning should be instituted to get rid of leftover concrete bits, dust and rubbish in the hidden nooks and crannies (revealed when I had to get on my knees to look for a battery my wife dropped.) And it will be a while before every staff member is properly trained, not surprising given the number of hotels after the Olympics and competition for (and lack of) trained personnel. (Nonetheless, staff is eager and willing.)
We arrived Domestic (on a very nice Air China Airbus A340-300 from Shanghai) and were met by our National Geographic-arranged driver (who amazingly knew exactly where the hotel was - many drivers are immigrants from the Provinces and are generally fairly clueless about the hotel and many other Beijing locations off the main map. The location is adjacent to the APM shopping mall bus / taxi lot, not actually ON Wangfujing Street.)
On arrival at the Hilton, the desk trainee accepted our credit card and Hilton HHonors Diamond status card, and her supervisor pointed out we should be bounced upstairs to the Executive Lounge for check-in. We were escorted there, with a promise our luggage (on a hotel cart) would be delivered forthwith.
At the Lounge our passports were registered as required, credit and HHonors card (I do carry this around for a reason!) and AAA card (we had a nice AAA rate) were taken and forms filled out. Whilst we were doing this (about 1:00 PM) we were offered non-alcoholic beverages, and were given a splendid DeLuxe King nonsmoking room on the 9th floor, an even number facing no construction and fairly quiet. ^
After nearly an hour without having our luggage delivered to the room, I went down to the lobby - our bags were "parked" over to the side, with anyone who wished to having access. With a frown, I grabbed our packs and rollaboards - when a staffer ran over and asked if I wanted a taxi, I frowned and very evenly said "I am taking these up to my room." Embarrassment followed on his behalf, but in keeping my cool I "saved face" and hopefully got the message across.
The Concierge can arrange any touring or other appointments, and with the Lounge has a large and handsome looking, but somewhat flimsy, hard to read with lots of "Chinglish" information, and a poor, unnumbered key. There is no hotel shop - one must go to the nearby APM mall.
The swimming pool on the sixth is technically NOT open yet - but Executive Lounge staff says if notified they can arrange swimming between 10 AM and 10 PM / 2200.
The Lounge is open as follows:
Breakfast - 0630 - 1100
Tea - 1500 - 1730 (3 - 5:30 PM)
Cocktails - 1800 - 2000 (6 - 8 PM)
and generally open until 2300 / 11 PM.
The cocktail hour is very nice - the king prawns in chile sauce are cooked to order, there is a selection of international cheeses, a variety of foods and some so-so brand booze offerings, including a quite passable Chilean 120 brand Valle del Rapel Carmenere.
Other details include the rubber ducky - how Conrad-like, and this hotel most resembles a Conrad in its decor and fitting out - is purple, with a "rub a dub dub - take me home to your tub" label on it.
I've not tried the restaurants as yet - but the lounge's "Library" does offer light repast (sandwiches, but they are sometimes out of some of the few they offer, dessert pastries, wines including a Barossa Valley Australian Terroirs - spelled "Australian Terriors" on the menus - Chook (...!?!) wines, beers including Duvel, Hoegaarden and others, but were out of Tsingtao?!)
Given I am celebrating my 65th birthday on Friday, I booked us into "Chynna" restaurant but didn't try the duck. I already have a late checkout - we will wheel our rollaboards and schlep our backpacks a few short blocks to the Crowne Plaza and join our National Geographic Expedition. There is also a "Vasco's" restaurant specializing in Macanese cooking under Chef - I can't make these things up - Ricardo Bizarro.
Posting from the Lounge computer; more to come, as we sample brekkies and other local services between touring. And if one wishes to shop, well, Wangfujing street is certainly one place to do that!
8 Wangfujing East Street Dongcheng, Beijing, China 100006
Tel: 86-10-5812-8888 Fax: 86-10-5812-8886
General Manager: Nils-Arne Schroeder
Hilton HHonors Reward Category: 5 (35,000 points per night)
Ni hao!
I spent May May 13 - 15 2009 at the Hilton Wangfujing, and I am very impressed. There is no way I can steal Popester's thunder here and our room is very much as s/he describes, and I can add a little to MD/DC Flyer's information - the hotel is really spacious, lovely bath, great colors and very comfy, but small touches indicating the hotel is brand new and was left by some defects by the contractors: the wooden flooring by the desk is marred, one faucet leaks, one of the marble tiles is cracked - small items the hotel should hold the constructor's feet in the fire over, though they are relatively minor, and a thorough cleaning should be instituted to get rid of leftover concrete bits, dust and rubbish in the hidden nooks and crannies (revealed when I had to get on my knees to look for a battery my wife dropped.) And it will be a while before every staff member is properly trained, not surprising given the number of hotels after the Olympics and competition for (and lack of) trained personnel. (Nonetheless, staff is eager and willing.)
We arrived Domestic (on a very nice Air China Airbus A340-300 from Shanghai) and were met by our National Geographic-arranged driver (who amazingly knew exactly where the hotel was - many drivers are immigrants from the Provinces and are generally fairly clueless about the hotel and many other Beijing locations off the main map. The location is adjacent to the APM shopping mall bus / taxi lot, not actually ON Wangfujing Street.)
On arrival at the Hilton, the desk trainee accepted our credit card and Hilton HHonors Diamond status card, and her supervisor pointed out we should be bounced upstairs to the Executive Lounge for check-in. We were escorted there, with a promise our luggage (on a hotel cart) would be delivered forthwith.
At the Lounge our passports were registered as required, credit and HHonors card (I do carry this around for a reason!) and AAA card (we had a nice AAA rate) were taken and forms filled out. Whilst we were doing this (about 1:00 PM) we were offered non-alcoholic beverages, and were given a splendid DeLuxe King nonsmoking room on the 9th floor, an even number facing no construction and fairly quiet. ^
After nearly an hour without having our luggage delivered to the room, I went down to the lobby - our bags were "parked" over to the side, with anyone who wished to having access. With a frown, I grabbed our packs and rollaboards - when a staffer ran over and asked if I wanted a taxi, I frowned and very evenly said "I am taking these up to my room." Embarrassment followed on his behalf, but in keeping my cool I "saved face" and hopefully got the message across.
The Concierge can arrange any touring or other appointments, and with the Lounge has a large and handsome looking, but somewhat flimsy, hard to read with lots of "Chinglish" information, and a poor, unnumbered key. There is no hotel shop - one must go to the nearby APM mall.
The swimming pool on the sixth is technically NOT open yet - but Executive Lounge staff says if notified they can arrange swimming between 10 AM and 10 PM / 2200.
The Lounge is open as follows:
Breakfast - 0630 - 1100
Tea - 1500 - 1730 (3 - 5:30 PM)
Cocktails - 1800 - 2000 (6 - 8 PM)
and generally open until 2300 / 11 PM.
The cocktail hour is very nice - the king prawns in chile sauce are cooked to order, there is a selection of international cheeses, a variety of foods and some so-so brand booze offerings, including a quite passable Chilean 120 brand Valle del Rapel Carmenere.
Other details include the rubber ducky - how Conrad-like, and this hotel most resembles a Conrad in its decor and fitting out - is purple, with a "rub a dub dub - take me home to your tub" label on it.
I've not tried the restaurants as yet - but the lounge's "Library" does offer light repast (sandwiches, but they are sometimes out of some of the few they offer, dessert pastries, wines including a Barossa Valley Australian Terroirs - spelled "Australian Terriors" on the menus - Chook (...!?!) wines, beers including Duvel, Hoegaarden and others, but were out of Tsingtao?!)
Given I am celebrating my 65th birthday on Friday, I booked us into "Chynna" restaurant but didn't try the duck. I already have a late checkout - we will wheel our rollaboards and schlep our backpacks a few short blocks to the Crowne Plaza and join our National Geographic Expedition. There is also a "Vasco's" restaurant specializing in Macanese cooking under Chef - I can't make these things up - Ricardo Bizarro.
Posting from the Lounge computer; more to come, as we sample brekkies and other local services between touring. And if one wishes to shop, well, Wangfujing street is certainly one place to do that!
Last edited by JDiver; Jul 17, 2009 at 7:39 pm Reason: typoes ;)
May 13, 2009, 5:58 pm
#47
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Installment 2
Breakfast is very luxe - plenty of Eastern and Western specialties available, including several varieties of Asian style eggs, an omelet station, waffles, lots of fruits, breads, two kinds of congee, a self-service cappuccino machine, you name it and you can have it. More than a substantial breakfast, once more much more suited to a Conrad (but what do you do when you build a Hilton and can't open until AFTER the Olympics?) With the extended hours the lounge is a welcoming place - helpful staff, soft drinks and ice with soda water for me make it a nice relaxing place after some local walking.
The room layout (DeLuxe Plus, what I paid for and was not upgraded from BTW,) is: as you enter, the huge walk in closet with safe, drawers, clothes brush, etc. is located to the side; next is the bath area, followed by a huge (and expensive, albeit not for a hotel of this category and not unexpected,) minibar unit with minifridge - many levels of items are offered, from Tsingtao beer to XO minibottle at stratosphere prices, and even an "intimacy kit" in a metal kit with condoms and (I promise!) I don't know what else.
The bath room - the size of a normal hotel bathroom - has a clawed, rolled edge tub with modern Grohe spigot system, and a double parallel rain shower (also from Gröhe) with single control, huge, fluffy towels and a glass-enclosed LCD television with remote control (which I suspect will not last long with bath humidity.) The bathroom "wing" can be shut off from the entry corridor, and in addition to the bath / shower room has a double sink vanity area with everything you could need (even toothbrush and paste, all from the usual Crabtree & Evelyn "La Source" line,) and a toilet cabinet with magazines, a speaker with volume control, etc. (The polished stone tiles are perforated with many unfilled spalls and small voids, which I suspect will become a maintenance problem in the future, great gathering places for grunge.)
Continuing is the bed area, with LCD built into the wall and DVD player, followed by a settee / daybed with coffee table, low wall and now the office area with Ethernet-connected HSIA (Y120 per 24 hours, perhaps USD $18,) a modern chaise lounge, table with trwo chairs, and electronically operated curtains and solar curtain. (For free Internet, use the Lounge's WiFi or single computer station.)
Lots of lighting is available, but you have to hunt down the many switches - and if you throw the Master switch by the door to OFF, it ALL goes off, including the HVAC (which operates quite well, so far.) As to construction noise, we can hear some when we are in some sectors of the hotel, but our room (mid-floor x30) has no problems with noise.
The entire feel is very contemporary, with warm colors, inviting and well done other than some small details that will come and bite them in the aft - like the porosity of the tile, blemished floor boards, recessed lighting and complicated switch system in a less-complexity ordered society where skilled labor may be hard to find. But all in all, we are enjoying our stay very much.
On our departure we were given a nice cylindrical box of vacuum packed tea and a large stuffed panda. We very much enjoyed our stay.
And, yes, Chynna restaurant was very nice - with superior service. They piled on complimentary bubbly, extra servings or this and that, and the "show" service of chrysanthemum tea (good for hot weather,) served with lots of flourishes and over the shoulder. We had a very nice meal, memorable, and I'd easily recommend it (as you can imagine, in a top hotel, it can be pricey.)
The room layout (DeLuxe Plus, what I paid for and was not upgraded from BTW,) is: as you enter, the huge walk in closet with safe, drawers, clothes brush, etc. is located to the side; next is the bath area, followed by a huge (and expensive, albeit not for a hotel of this category and not unexpected,) minibar unit with minifridge - many levels of items are offered, from Tsingtao beer to XO minibottle at stratosphere prices, and even an "intimacy kit" in a metal kit with condoms and (I promise!) I don't know what else.
The bath room - the size of a normal hotel bathroom - has a clawed, rolled edge tub with modern Grohe spigot system, and a double parallel rain shower (also from Gröhe) with single control, huge, fluffy towels and a glass-enclosed LCD television with remote control (which I suspect will not last long with bath humidity.) The bathroom "wing" can be shut off from the entry corridor, and in addition to the bath / shower room has a double sink vanity area with everything you could need (even toothbrush and paste, all from the usual Crabtree & Evelyn "La Source" line,) and a toilet cabinet with magazines, a speaker with volume control, etc. (The polished stone tiles are perforated with many unfilled spalls and small voids, which I suspect will become a maintenance problem in the future, great gathering places for grunge.)
Continuing is the bed area, with LCD built into the wall and DVD player, followed by a settee / daybed with coffee table, low wall and now the office area with Ethernet-connected HSIA (Y120 per 24 hours, perhaps USD $18,) a modern chaise lounge, table with trwo chairs, and electronically operated curtains and solar curtain. (For free Internet, use the Lounge's WiFi or single computer station.)
Lots of lighting is available, but you have to hunt down the many switches - and if you throw the Master switch by the door to OFF, it ALL goes off, including the HVAC (which operates quite well, so far.) As to construction noise, we can hear some when we are in some sectors of the hotel, but our room (mid-floor x30) has no problems with noise.
The entire feel is very contemporary, with warm colors, inviting and well done other than some small details that will come and bite them in the aft - like the porosity of the tile, blemished floor boards, recessed lighting and complicated switch system in a less-complexity ordered society where skilled labor may be hard to find. But all in all, we are enjoying our stay very much.
On our departure we were given a nice cylindrical box of vacuum packed tea and a large stuffed panda. We very much enjoyed our stay.
And, yes, Chynna restaurant was very nice - with superior service. They piled on complimentary bubbly, extra servings or this and that, and the "show" service of chrysanthemum tea (good for hot weather,) served with lots of flourishes and over the shoulder. We had a very nice meal, memorable, and I'd easily recommend it (as you can imagine, in a top hotel, it can be pricey.)
Last edited by JDiver; Mar 18, 2011 at 10:26 pm Reason: add, spell check
May 13, 2009, 10:12 pm
#48
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,747
Originally Posted by jdiver[/url
Given I am celebrating my 65th birthday on Friday
May 16, 2009, 11:45 am
#50
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SoCal
Programs: SQ S-PPS, UA 1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 78
Much better stay now
I stayed at this Hilton again this week. Compared to my last stay in November which I wrote about, the hotel is much better. JDiver described things quite well. I'm Diamond too, but I was offered an upgrade, perhaps due to my return visit? I got one of the larger "suite" rooms at the end of the hall, although not a separate bedroom suite. Still, the room was quite spacious. I agree that switches are hard to locate and seemingly randomly located. I spent what seemed like several minutes hunting down the switch for the blinds and for the bathroom lights.
I took my breakfast in the restaurant instead of in the lounge, and they included it as a Diamond privilege.
I will likely be staying here again next month due to a conference in a nearby hotel. I have taken home a taxi card from the hotel to give to my driver on my return, as I find that most taxi drivers still don't know about this hotel or its location. It doesn't help that the attached Macao Centre isn't open yet.
While it doesn't have the buzz of some of the other hotels, the location is great for shopping or tourists and they are far enough along in their staff development that I can certainly recommend this hotel.
I took my breakfast in the restaurant instead of in the lounge, and they included it as a Diamond privilege.
I will likely be staying here again next month due to a conference in a nearby hotel. I have taken home a taxi card from the hotel to give to my driver on my return, as I find that most taxi drivers still don't know about this hotel or its location. It doesn't help that the attached Macao Centre isn't open yet.
While it doesn't have the buzz of some of the other hotels, the location is great for shopping or tourists and they are far enough along in their staff development that I can certainly recommend this hotel.
Jun 11, 2009, 10:31 am
#51
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
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Posts: 8,076
Hilton Beijing Wangfujing Earns International Five Star Diamond Award
The Hilton Beijing Wangfujing has won the prestigious 2009 International Five Star Diamond Award. The hotel opened its doors for the Summer Olympics 2008.
Bestowed by The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences based in New York, USA, this highly regarded award is accorded to recipients for their commitment towards excellence in luxury and service, with in-depth evaluations conducted on service delivery, facilities, ambience, attitude, gastronomy, and above all, hospitality standards.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news09...nBeijing.shtml
Bestowed by The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences based in New York, USA, this highly regarded award is accorded to recipients for their commitment towards excellence in luxury and service, with in-depth evaluations conducted on service delivery, facilities, ambience, attitude, gastronomy, and above all, hospitality standards.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news09...nBeijing.shtml
Jun 11, 2009, 11:22 am
#52
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 150
The Hilton Beijing Wangfujing has won the prestigious 2009 International Five Star Diamond Award. The hotel opened its doors for the Summer Olympics 2008.
Bestowed by The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences based in New York, USA, this highly regarded award is accorded to recipients for their commitment towards excellence in luxury and service, with in-depth evaluations conducted on service delivery, facilities, ambience, attitude, gastronomy, and above all, hospitality standards.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news09...nBeijing.shtml
Bestowed by The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences based in New York, USA, this highly regarded award is accorded to recipients for their commitment towards excellence in luxury and service, with in-depth evaluations conducted on service delivery, facilities, ambience, attitude, gastronomy, and above all, hospitality standards.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news09...nBeijing.shtml
Sep 12, 2009, 7:02 pm
#53
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,642
Tipping Extortion? Hilton Wangfujing (Beijing)
On a pleasure trip to Beijing to see my son, I arrived at the Hilton Wangfujing by taxi with my backpack and one rollerboard bag. The bellman took the rollerboard from the trunk and escorted me inside and subsequently up to the Exec level for checkin. Once checked in, the bellman took both bags and showed me to my room. At the time, I only had large bills. so I did not tip the bellman.
About 5 minutes later I got a call from someone downstairs, who described themselves with a title I did not pick up on. They asked if the bell person showed me the room, called me by name, etc. Then they asked if I tipped him. I said no, as I only had very large bills. They said thanks and hung up.
So normally I don't avail myself of bell servce, but when I do, I would normally give them a tip. Given these specific circumstances (no small bills and in a country where tipping is not mandatory), I did not feel especially guilty about leaving no tip, until the phone call. Now perhaps they pool tips and did not believe I did not give that bellman a tip, and were confirming his story. But I felt like the phone call was inappropriate, either as a guilt trip or as a means of confirming customer service by the bellman. I believe I will send my thoughts to the GM of the hotel, as I don't believe that this was necessarily a customer friendly move, and certainly do not believe that they would have done anything similar for an Asian customer.
Am I wrong in this assessment? In the end, I went down and got change and tipped the bellman, but I felt squeezed. Maybe it was an innocent followup, but I interpreted it negatively.
About 5 minutes later I got a call from someone downstairs, who described themselves with a title I did not pick up on. They asked if the bell person showed me the room, called me by name, etc. Then they asked if I tipped him. I said no, as I only had very large bills. They said thanks and hung up.
So normally I don't avail myself of bell servce, but when I do, I would normally give them a tip. Given these specific circumstances (no small bills and in a country where tipping is not mandatory), I did not feel especially guilty about leaving no tip, until the phone call. Now perhaps they pool tips and did not believe I did not give that bellman a tip, and were confirming his story. But I felt like the phone call was inappropriate, either as a guilt trip or as a means of confirming customer service by the bellman. I believe I will send my thoughts to the GM of the hotel, as I don't believe that this was necessarily a customer friendly move, and certainly do not believe that they would have done anything similar for an Asian customer.
Am I wrong in this assessment? In the end, I went down and got change and tipped the bellman, but I felt squeezed. Maybe it was an innocent followup, but I interpreted it negatively.
Sep 12, 2009, 7:34 pm
#55
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Back to Florida...... bye London
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Posts: 5,149
Please post a follow-up here so we can be nosy and see how it turns out.
Sep 13, 2009, 1:51 am
#56
Original Member
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Location: Canada
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Considering the Hiltons in Beijing add 17% to cover service fee and tax, it is reasonable not to tip-besides tipping in China is still pretty unusual, even with cabbies. I occasionally do anyway if the bellman is pleasant and goes a bit beyond.
Will be interested to see how this goes. I have been at Hilton Beijing last few days and they know me well enough not to touch my bags now.
Good stay and great service though^
Will be interested to see how this goes. I have been at Hilton Beijing last few days and they know me well enough not to touch my bags now.
Good stay and great service though^
Sep 13, 2009, 8:19 am
#57
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, DL MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,445
That's strange. I've stayed at the Hilton BJ WFJ and not had such a problem. And when a hotel adds a service charge, I don't ever tip. I would definitely talk with the GM to find out whether that was an official call.
Sep 13, 2009, 9:00 am
#58
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Roseville, CA
Programs: Lifetime Plat Marriott
Posts: 1,358
Odd, at best....
While it would seem that a "service" was provided (regardless of whether it was a 40 lb. suitcase or a skateboard bag), it would appear that a tip would have been appropriate. Having said that, we too have been in situations where we have not had time to get larger bills changed, and sometimes, we have even asked the bellman if they had change and they ALWAYS seem to so that even works out better. But we have done the same thing....get his name (not being sexist..it has never been a female), and when we get change, seek him out (we did this is Barbados and looked for this man for 4 days until we finally found him!).
But more to the point....I think it is very odd to receive a phone call. I also believe they were calling to verify the bellman's statement of not receiving a tip...but geez...must they report their tips after each and every baggage run?
I find that odd and I think it is highly inappropriate--although this now is between you and GM. Who knows if the bellman even knew they made that inappropriate phone call.
Dawn
But more to the point....I think it is very odd to receive a phone call. I also believe they were calling to verify the bellman's statement of not receiving a tip...but geez...must they report their tips after each and every baggage run?
I find that odd and I think it is highly inappropriate--although this now is between you and GM. Who knows if the bellman even knew they made that inappropriate phone call.
Dawn
Sep 13, 2009, 11:15 am
#59
Join Date: Jun 2003
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Posts: 8,090
...but geez...must they report their tips after each and every baggage run?
Sep 13, 2009, 11:23 am
#60
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Greater DC
Programs: UA plus
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While it would seem that a "service" was provided (regardless of whether it was a 40 lb. suitcase or a skateboard bag), it would appear that a tip would have been appropriate. Having said that, we too have been in situations where we have not had time to get larger bills changed, and sometimes, we have even asked the bellman if they had change and they ALWAYS seem to so that even works out better. But we have done the same thing....get his name (not being sexist..it has never been a female), and when we get change, seek him out (we did this is Barbados and looked for this man for 4 days until we finally found him!).
But more to the point....I think it is very odd to receive a phone call. I also believe they were calling to verify the bellman's statement of not receiving a tip...but geez...must they report their tips after each and every baggage run?
I find that odd and I think it is highly inappropriate--although this now is between you and GM. Who knows if the bellman even knew they made that inappropriate phone call.
Dawn
But more to the point....I think it is very odd to receive a phone call. I also believe they were calling to verify the bellman's statement of not receiving a tip...but geez...must they report their tips after each and every baggage run?
I find that odd and I think it is highly inappropriate--although this now is between you and GM. Who knows if the bellman even knew they made that inappropriate phone call.
Dawn
OP - if they had called to ensure you were satisfied with the service, that's one thing, but calling to ask if you tipped, is inappropriate regardless of the situation.