Not sure someone has better info than I have been able to find out...trying to find a more firm opening date...

Hotel: Beijing Marriott Hotel Central

per Marriott website "March 2014", though no inventory available. I see "null" when I go to book. I called Marriott's Plat line and they didn't have any better information other than it WAS slated for "Jan 2014". Just "keep checking back"...currently locked in City Wall.

In short, I have a trip for March 2-9 and would prefer to stay at the newer hotel but also a little worried even if it does open in time, it'll be constant banging and clanging b/c it isn't "finished" finished.

Thanks in advance for any help/knowledge.


p.s.
also, is this best hotel for sight-seeing? Seems fairly close to Tienanmen Square. and Forbidden City...

I don't think that anybody here knows more than the company itself.

Maybe you're right in this case, but you'd be surprised how many people here are more in tune with what's happening on the front lines than corporate.

Hotels in Asia are top notch when compared to the West, IMO. However, I would be hesitant to stay in a brand new Hotel before they work out the kinks.

Not me. I love soft opening rates. As long as the workmen aren't welding, the paint is dry, and the plumbing works, I'm usually game for a try and don't expect perfection.

OP; was just told by the hotel central sales the opening is March 29th, & by asking also scored an invite to their opening...
- Best Mrt in the Wangfujing area is the Mrt Exec apts, very modern, just no EL. IMO, best Mrt EL's in BJ are the JW, or the Mrt NE. both are 3rd/4th ring type locations & both are only a 5 minute walk to a subway line.
- Mrt City Wall is ok, just abet wierd location on 2nd ring & also very near a subway line.
- The new Wangfujing Renn will open in about a year.
- Most new BJ hotels open after the 40 days of CNY chaos, so as to train 'new' staff, & also low heating costs.

Thanks Jiatong and glad to hear you scored a win for your effort as well!! Congrats.

The reason I picked City Wall, was b/c it was close to Tienanmen Sq. and Forbidden City...is the JW better located for tourism?? Only other 2 things I'm looking to do while there is Great Wall and shop some firework shops (I collect firecracker label art, so any area I should go to for this around either hotels?).

-I'll go a step further than "weird"; the City Wall's location is actually quite bad (trapped in a traffic no-man's land between 2nd Ring and the train station)
-The JW isn't really great for tourism either, but the area is pleasant enough
-I didn't know it was possible to buy fireworks outside of CNY any more, but since you're looking for memorabilia, maybe that's a different ballgame

It sounds like the Wall/JW aren't the best located for tourism...I could also stay at a Starwood property. Are there ones better located than Marriott properties at comparable price/points levels? What makes them better located?

Thank you.

St. Regis, Sheraton Dongcheng, and Westin Chaoyang are all pretty good for tourism for different reasons.

As far as the Marriotts go, neither the Cap Ren nor the JW/Ritz are that bad for tourism, and the Marriott NE is so pleasant that I'm willing to cut it some slack in spite of the fact that its location isn't all that convenient.

Thanks moondog, you've been a great help. I'll most probably stay w/ Marriott since I'm Plat with them, and don't believe I'll make Gold at Starwood in time for my trip.

To the OP; just so you know ; The NPC, or 'national peoples congress' is meeting in Beijing from march 3-8th; the square might be closed a few hours a day that week, most other sites will be open, maybe with some extra security that week.
And, the censors will slow the internet down that week, as they have in the past.

I can deal with everything but the slow internet!! ;-D Thanks for the heads-up.

As a side-note, I did switch my stay to be at the JW. Was doing some reading and seems to have some nice things...and being a Plat, looks like I can have my breakfast downstairs at the restaurant instead of up in the lounge. Look forward to the highest library and the view.

Highest library? View? Are you sure you have the right JW?