Hitting the right spot

The spectacular collection of wines at Suzhou Marriott Hotel. Photos Provided to China Daily

Hotel profile | Jiangsu

Suzhou Marriott's ideal locale makes it perfect for business, leisure, Cang Wei reports in Suzhou.

With its prominent location, the stylish Suzhou Marriott Hotel offers excellent accommodations and luxury services for business guests and leisure travelers alike.

Suzhou Marriott Hotel is ideally situated in the heart of Suzhou. The hotel is a stone's throw from the commercial entertainment district and the new and hi-tech development zone, and it sits adjacent to the Suzhou Government and Administrative Service Center, offering convenient access to the Suzhou Industry Park. It is also not far from the Suzhou International Expo Center and the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park.

As a member of Marriott International, a leading hospitality company with more than 3,300 properties in 68 countries and territories, the Suzhou Marriott aims to provide excellent service to customers in terms of socializing, relaxation, business meetings and cuisine, says Benny Lee, cluster general manager for the Suzhou area.

"The hotel industry attaches great importance to details, and the success of a hotel can only be achieved through maintaining high standards," says Lee, who has been working for Marriott International since 1990. "Suzhou Marriott Hotel won its market through good management and excellent service."

With Lee at the helm, Suzhou Marriott Hotel won third place in a customer satisfaction survey of all hotels in the Asia-Pacific area in 2012.

"To stay in the Suzhou Marriott Hotel is to experience Chinese culture," Lee says. "Chinese elements are widely used throughout the hotel, enabling guests to appreciate tradition and modernity at the same time."

The hotel features sophisticated guest rooms with local characteristics, in which traditional musical instruments, such as the Chinese flute can be seen. With plush new bedding, bathrobes, flat-screen televisions, ergonomic chairs, high-speed Internet and a well-lit full-sized desk, the rooms are designed to accommodate leisure and business visitors.

In line a company-wide strategy to transform the traditional hotel lobby into a social hub, the Suzhou Marriott Hotel lobby space is open, with defined zones allowing guests to utilize the space for a range of activities.

Located in the lobby area are two food and beverage outlets. The Lounge is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while the Pulp Bar serves up drinks, dinner, music and entertainment. Sometimes Pingtan, a kind of traditional Chinese music especially popular in East China, is played for the guests.

The hotel also offers three specialty restaurants featuring international cuisine and local favorites. Guests can pick from restaurants like the Asia Bistro and Alto Vino or experience traditional Cantonese cuisine at Man Ho.

Alto Vino, an Italian restaurant with 78 seats and one private room, offers fine dining and a menu dominated by southern Italian dishes. The Asia Bistro is an all-day buffet restaurant that serves a variety of Asian cuisines.

Man Ho is the hotel's signature restaurant, serving Cantonese and local dishes, fine French wines and Chinese liquors. For small parties, the restaurant also has five private rooms with personal hostesses.

For fitness and relaxation, the hotel offers a 24-hour fully equipped fitness center with the latest cardio machines, strength-training gear, free weights and an indoor swimming pool. Guests can also relax in Marriott's Quan Spa, which features hydrotherapeutic treatments and massages using pure essential oils and natural fruit extracts.

The hotel, which occupies 1,580 sq m of space, is also a perfect place to host meetings or events. The largest meeting room has a maximum meeting space of 462 sq m. Comprehensive meeting facilities complemented by expert catering and audio-visual resources are also provided.