Guangzhou is not only one of the wealthiest cities in Mainland China but there is also no shortage of high-end hotels available to the savvy Western traveler. On a recent business trip I chose the Sheraton Guangzhou Hotel in Tianhe, as I had some Suite Night Awards to burn before the end of the year. Hence, here is my review of the elevated experience in a Club Grand Suite for you to enjoy.
Consistent brand style
The Sheraton is a 5-star property located in the Tianhe district of Guangzhou which is pretty much “where it’s at”. It’s a modern Skyscraper building in a complex that also hosts stores and restaurants, several malls are close. It’s also easy to reach the public transport and the Tianhe stadium is adjacent. Upon pulling up the driveway, I was greeted by associates taking care of my luggage, while I was guided to the front-desk, located in the large lobby which was buzzing with people. Several restaurants and ballrooms are situated around the lobby while the rooms are on the upper floors, with the club lounge occupying the top floor. The whole style of the property is exactly what you would expect from a Sheraton. Materials, colors, smell. If you look for consistency within an international chain – this is the example. The check-in for starters took place in the main lobby, not in the lounge as I was expecting as both rooms were upgraded to suites with my remaining SNAs. The hotel however “lost” the Bonvoy upgrade on the day of arrival so the whole experience was a bit bumpy and took forever. Then again, I received a nice box of chocolate as a compensation and the guest experience manager came personally to apologize which was a nice touch.
The suite life
My Club Grand Suite was located on one of the top floors. The room is nothing short of amazing! With 100m² of space it’s twice the size of my first apartment. A super large living room with a dining table and massive couch is the centerpiece of the suite. It also features a nice guest bathroom and connects through a hall to a proper office and finally a large bedroom with the master bathroom. Best of all: The views! Large floor to ceiling windows boast impressive views over Guangzhou from different angles, such as the Tianhe stadium. The signature king-size Sweet Sleeper bed of Sheraton must be my favourite of all hotels. The bedroom is located on the corner and thus has two windows, TV, reading chair and wireless charging for your mobile. My bathroom with double sinks also features a nice window in the shower/bathtub which allows you to enjoy the views while allowing for some daylight. Everything is in very good condition although I personally don’t like the new “Le Bain” amenities of Sheraton too much. Beside the bedroom there’s a study/office with plenty of daylight, a large working desk, visitor chairs and plenty of shelf space. I can easily imagine being super productive here while soaking in the views and enjoying the silence. Four (!) air-condition panels allow you to fine tune the climate of all rooms separately. On a sidenote, probably due to the check-in mixup, there was no welcome note, amenity or similar during my whole stay. I would have expected something for Bonvoy Titanium members, especially in Asia. However, there are plenty of complimentary water bottles available throughout the room which are replenished daily. A turn-down service at night freshens up the bathroom, towels and closes all curtains which is a nice touch considering the amount of windows 😉
Club Lounge with a view
The “Sheraton Club” is located on the very top floor and again 100% consistent with what you would expect from a Sheraton. There are plenty of tables and comfortable seating options available plus even a dedicated open air outdoor area. The whole lounge has amazing views over Guangzhou. As I traveled for business I’m not exactly sure about the service offerings (such as happy hour) but I can tell that the breakfast buffet is great with plenty of hot and cold Western and Asian options plus an made-to-order egg station. During weekdays, the atmosphere is relaxed and not too crowded. However, on a Saturday the lounge is packed for breakfast and it was hard for me to even find a table. In most lounges I experienced worldwide, the associates are exceptionally well-trained. At the Sheraton Guangzhou club lounge however my impression was not the best in many small service glitches. I was never greeted upon entering or leaving. At breakfast I didn’t receive assistance in finding a table and no service at the table was offered. The check-out in the lounge was efficient but not warm. You might blame it on the language barrier but in total the service experience was not a true 5* one that you would expect.
Passport & Palmtree conclusion
I enjoyed my stay at the Sheraton Guangzhou Hotel despite the small service glitches due to the amazing room, superb location within the city and consistent brand experience. Unfortunately I could not experience all offerings of the property but would recommend it in a heartbeat. With the amount of high-end properties in the city the Sheraton is a good choice with a reasonable price/value ratio and optimal for business travelers!
Have you been to China? What’s your favourite brand for foreigners?
Guangzhou is a two hours flight from Hainan, you may be interested in my experience of the Mandarin Oriental Sanya too!
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