KIcarus

Hello all. I'll be visiting Beijing for a weekend stay in the next two weeks. I'll be staying near Second Ring Road near Worker's Stadium. I will be using reward points and my options are the Crowne Plaza Wangfujing at 30k ($79 base per night) and the Regent Beijing at 50k ($130 base per night). The Intercon Sanlitun is not available. I am a Spire Elite Ambassador.

I am a Spire Elite Ambassador. Where would the forum recommend I stay? My understanding is that lounge access is a guaranteed benefit at Crowne Plaza's in Mainland China. I'm not sure there are any benefits for Spire's (or Ambassdors) for that matter. I'm interested to stay at the Regent because it's a hotel brand in the IHG family that I have not yet stayed, and I'm sure, objectively speaking, the facility is nicer than at the Crowne Plaza.

I guess my other option would be to stay at the Holiday Inn Express Dongzhimen, but that would be my lowest end option. Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you!

moondog

Wangfujing is too far away...Regent only a little closer. Meanwhile the HI Express Dongzhimen is walkable to Gongti (north gate at least), but I wouldn't stay there unless I could avoid it. Have you looked at other options in or near SLT?

KIcarus

Well, I'll be staying at one of those three hotels in order to use up my IHG points. Between the Crowne Plaza or the Regent, which would be the better choice?

FlyerTalker688786

There is virtually no benefits in Regent hotel. But Regent is much nicer compare with the CP. The CP is OLDDD....And there is rumor earlier this year saying the CP will be deflaged. If you have enough points, go to Regent.

On another hand, the HIX Dongzhimen is one of the nicest Holiday Inn Express in Beijing. If you don't mind using transit or taxi, Crowne Plaza Sun Palace and Crowne Plaza Beijing Airport both are very nice hotel to stay in.

336

Don't be blinded by the branding.

There are CPs much nicer than ICs.
There are HI(X)s much nicer than CPs.

Listen to the people with actual experience at the hotels.

dcisneros

Regent is luxury brand. Crowne is business focussed. I would stay at Regent.

FlyerTalker688786

In Greater China region, there is no fundamental difference in hardware between Regent, InterContinental and Crowne Plaza. All are very similar. It is all in the name, nothing else. Except the CP in Wangfujin is really old, and is definitely two level below the Regent as it is much newer. That being said, you still need to look at each hotel individually as like @336 said , there are CPs much more grand and better than some of the ICs and even Regent.

Also Crowne Plaza is not business oriented, it is MICE specialist. It is an upper scale brand with focus on MICE. Every brand would have am mix of business folks and tourists as well as groups.

moondog

In theory, there are certain brand standards that properties need to meet in order to retain their flags, but these are often overlooked (by the management companies) in China.