《大酒店》三月封面故事：独树一帜 焕然一新 ——揭秘南中国区最新一家“洲际酒店及度假村”品牌扛鼎之作

Celebration of Distinct Nature and New Momentum

--A Look inside InterContinental Dongguan, the Newly Opened Signature Property of InterContinental Hotels and Resorts in Southern China

独树一帜 焕然一新

——揭秘南中国区新近开业“洲际酒店及度假村”品牌扛鼎之作东莞洲际酒店

Dongguan has been previously known as the World Factory where the manufacturing industry played a dominating role in the city. In recent years, Dongguan is transforming itself and becoming increasingly more international with a booming service sector strongly promoted at the heart of its new economic model. With such momentum, the city becomes home to a new international luxury hotel, InterContinental Dongguan, which is a development after 8 years.

Officially opened on December 6^th, 2020, InterContinental Dongguan is invested and built by Minying Group and managed by InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG). As an upscale brand, its inception plays a vital role in transforming the city’s image. “The completion and opening of InterContinental Dongguan will not only help to improve the infrastructure and enrich the cultural offering of Dongguan’s hospitality sector but bring new vitality into the local hotel industry as well, raising the awareness among the mass public about the city’s integration into the international market,” said Mr. Qian Chao, Chairman and President of Minying Group.

InterContinental Dongguan is located at the heart of the city’s CBD area, where Dongguan Avenue, the urban central axis, and the transport hub of two city metro lines form an integrated multi-level transportation system. The interchange of R1 and R2 metro lines is an overground station, from which passengers may go directly to other important transportation hubs, such as Dongguan Railway Station, Humen Station, and Dongguan-Huizhou Railway Station (also known as Xiping Station) to travel further to other major cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The prime location of the hotel keeps guests away from travel-induced fatigue to some extent and ensures convenient everyday travel. InterContinental Dongguan is also an important part of Minying International Trade Center Complex, an urban landmark in Dongguan integrating dining, entertainment, and open-air theatre, which grants hotel guests easy access to all kinds of enjoyment at one stop.

Compared with others, InterContinental Dongguan, as the latest brand hotel in the city, features uniqueness in both design and service. IHG has always attached great importance to the integration between the hotel and the local features of a city, where InterContinental Dongguan comes as a true manifest. The original site of Haogang Village in Dongguan was found with traces of human activities some 5,000 years ago, and Haogang Village is hence known as "the first village in the Pearl River Delta". Therefore, the logo of the hotel at the entrance is made with oyster shells, which shine brightly in sunlight and bring vitality to the logo. Into the lobby, the wall decoration and lighting of the reception gracefully adopt elements of the Lingnan-garden style, introducing a perfect blend of elegance and charm. Dongguan obtained its name from the local agarwood, literally referred to as Guanxiang in Chinese, which is now used as decoration at the doorway and as plaited wallpaper in each room or suite. Even the painting frames in the room also show the style of Keyuan Garden in Dongguan, one of the four famous gardens in Guangdong. The rich and delicately-embedded Lingnan cultural elements manage to clear away the sense of alienation usually found at business hotels and create a cozy environment that embodies Confucius’ idea of “what a pleasure it is to greet friends who have come from afar.”

The hotel has 285 rooms and suites, each designed in a contemporary oriental manner that beautifully integrates the traditional Chinese style and modern simplicity. The black wooden sliding door divides each room into several functional areas with a clearly-defined layout. Through the large and bright floor-to-ceiling windows, guests may enjoy the charming city or Qifeng mountain views. All rooms feature an array of premium amenities and a tech-ready environment, as part of the investment of the newly-opened property. For example, the intelligent light-sensing system would automatically switch on the lights and open the curtains upon guest entry. Moreover, all hotel rooms are equipped with digital entertainment, tropical rainforest-style bathing facilities, spatial workspace, and high-speed internet connectivity, creating a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere for both leisure and business guests.

As Cantonese people are famous for their passion and philosophy for food, InterContinental Dongguan provides guests with unique carefully selected catering services. The hotel offers excellent Chinese and foreign dining options, including three specialty restaurants, featuring a Lingnan style and Southeast Asian vibes, and the Lobby Lounge. The COMMUNE All Day Dining Restaurant offers a mix of global cuisine and local specialties and opens throughout the day where guests can drop in for a bite at any time. In the mornings, the restaurant serves up the best breakfast buffet to help guests start the day, with fresh abalone and lobsters of various flavors. Here, open kitchens allow them to experience the creation of the chefs’ culinary masterpieces, killing some time and ensuring good kitchen sanitation. Cai Feng Lou is an upscale Chinese restaurant with a 300-square-meter design that carries a note of exquisite modernity while evoking a warm nostalgia for Chinese tradition. The restaurant uses light bird chirping as the background music, allowing guests to fully relax and enjoy authentic Cantonese and Dongguan local dishes. The 7 luxurious private dining rooms, each named after a Chinese songbird, feature an air of exclusivity. There are also Kung Fu chefs showcasing traditional Chinese cooking skills in the open kitchen, bringing a unique and immersive experience to guests on the food and cultural appreciation.

Spices Specialty Restaurant welcomes those who favor a Southeast Asian dining experience. The seasoned Chef makes use of fragrant spices, raw herbs, leafy vegetables, and original recipes from Thailand and Vietnam and delivers a full range of sweet, spicy, and refreshing cuisines, leaving all guests positively satisfied. The Lobby Lounge is a comfortable place to relax, enjoy your favorite drink and socialize with either friends or business partners. The Lounge offers a wide assortment of snacks, afternoon tea options, fine wines, and warm drinks. Live band performance also keeps guests company and adds to the urban nightlife vibe.

Dongguan is becoming more international in recent years and a preferred spot for business travelers. InterContinental Dongguan boasts a massive 5,000-square-meter versatile state-of-the-art conference space that allows it to accommodate all types of major business events and activities. This includes the 2,200-square-meter pillarless Grand Ballroom with a 110-square-meter LED screen, able to hold up to 2,000 people at the same time and be split into three smaller ballrooms upon request. The additional 1,000-square-meter outdoor space is equipped with a high-tech 5D holographic projection system, where guests may enjoy mountain views and relax after participating in meetings. In addition, InterContinental Dongguan undertakes various types of civil events, including weddings, exhibitions, cocktail receptions, and art salons, using eight multi-function rooms, the outdoor space, auditoriums, and the chapel, where guests create and celebrate the best moments in their lives. The hotel’s conference specialists and servicing team provide customized services and bring the extraordinary “InterContinental Meeting" experience to all guests.

As the latest brand hotel in Dongguan, InterContinental Dongguan fills in the eight-year gap when there were no international high-end hotels opened in the city and creates new momentum for the development of the local tourism industry. Bringing a new look to the urban landscape, the luxury hotel has become a true demonstration of “Welcome to Dongguan” with true devotion and exquisite service. With this idea in mind, Dongguan extends greetings to people from all over the world and earns recognition through its extraordinary strengths and relentless efforts.