EAST, Beijing by Swire Hotels Opens in China's Capital ; The New Place to Work and Play

EAST, Beijing will open in the Chinese capital on 24 September 2012. This follows the successful opening of EAST, Hong Kong in 2010. It will be Swire Hotels' second property in Beijing after The Opposite House in Sanlitun Village.

To mark the opening, EAST, Beijing is offering special opening rates from RMB 798 + 15% per night between 24 September and 31 December 2012. Bookings can be made directly on the hotel's website www.east-beijing.com.

EAST, Beijing is located at INDIGO in Jiangtai in the Chaoyang District. The new destination between the 4th and 5th Ring Roads consists of a trendsetting shopping mall, the 369-room business hotel EAST, Beijing, the 25-storey Grade-A office tower ONE INDIGO, as well a 17 hectare park in development.

EAST, Beijing is designed to provide a refreshing and contemporary approach to the business hotel experience. A high-tech environment, paperless check-in/-out, and a one-stop Guest Experience team mean that life at EAST is efficient and business-ready.

EAST, Beijing has 369 rooms, including 23 suites, divided into Urban View rooms overlooking Beijing's iconic downtown and Park View rooms with panoramic views to the east. From 30 to 70 sqm, they offer plenty of space to work - and then unwind. All rooms come equipped with an iPod Touch® and docking station, multi-scene lighting and a built-in array of international power points. Complimentary WiFi broadband Internet access is also available in-room and throughout the hotel.

As well as bath amenities by Elemis, rooms and suites on the two uppermost levels enjoy complimentary access to the Upstairs Lounge on 24-25/F. This social business lounge offers VIP check-in, full breakfast, all-day refreshments, and Happy Hour drinks from the cocktail bar and Enomatic wine dispenser. iPads® are on hand for guests to borrow and browse, and a meeting room is also available.

Dining is another highlight of EAST, Beijing: the hotel has two restaurants, a live music lounge and a cafe. Overseeing the dining is Executive Chef Robert Cunningham, an Australian chef who joins EAST, Beijing from the award-winning Capital M restaurant in Beijing.

Feast (Food by EAST) is a bustling all-day restaurant promising 'simple things, done well'. International favorites using the freshest ingredients are cooked on the spot in a vibrant open kitchen, while guests can also choose to dine alfresco on the terrace overlooking the park. Hagaki is a Californian-inspired Japanese restaurant serving signature maki rolls and classics like tonkatsu, tempura and udon, plus take-out bento box lunches if you have to eat and run.

On the ground floor, dynamic, multi-element bar Xian seamlessly melds a pub, a whiskey bar, a live music venue and a games room complete with a pool table, foosball and arcade games. Xian's design is inspired by the industrial architecture of Beijing's 798 Art Zone, and it steps out to a spacious garden terrace edging the park. The cafe, Domain, is a relaxed hangout to meet, work and network with a full menu for all-day dining and a pastry selection. Workstations as well as iPads® are on loan for maximum convenience.

Other facilities include Beast (Body by EAST), which features a fully equipped gym, indoor swimming pool and outdoor splash pool. The Workshop is EAST, Beijing's meeting and events space on the third floor, offering four meeting rooms designed to inspire. Equipped with the latest technology and led by a dedicated events team, The Workshop also has plenty of intriguing break-out spaces for scheduled meals or impromptu snacks, including an open kitchen area, noodle bar and a candy wall. Other venues throughout EAST, Beijing can also be tailored creatively for events.

"We're very excited about the opening of EAST, Beijing and being a part of the local Jiuxianqiao neighborhood. With our proximity to the Lido and Wangjing areas, we hope to bring more options to the mix in terms of where to eat, drink and relax, whether one is here on business or leisure," says Anthony Ross, Area General Manager-Beijing of Swire Hotels.

Only 15 minutes from the Beijing International Capital Airport, Jiangtai is one of Beijing's most attractive business addresses. Its proximity to the city's CBD and Wangjing area, home to many prestigious local and multinational corporations, makes the property ideal for business travellers. 798 Art District and Chaochangdi Art Zone are also close at hand. Beijing Subway Line 14 will connect to INDIGO in the near future.

About Swire Hotels

Swire Hotels has been created to create and manage intriguing urban hotels in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the United Kingdom, providing a characterful experience for travelers who seek individuality, style and personalised service.

The Opposite House, Beijing, opened in 2008 and was followed by The Upper House, above Pacific Place, Hong Kong, in October 2009.

Swire Hotels opened a 345-room lifestyle business hotel called EAST, Hong Kong in Hong Kong's Island East, on 25 January 2010.

Swire Hotels has also launched a new collection of locally-inspired and stylish hotels in the heart of great British towns and cities, called Chapter Hotels. The first hotel in the collection, The Montpellier Chapter, opened in Cheltenham in 2010. The second hotel, The Magdalen Chapter, opened in Exeter in June 2012.

About INDIGO

INDIGO, situated south of Jiangtai Road and east of Jiuxianqiao Road in Chaoyang District, Beijing, is a retail-led mixed-use development with a total site area of approximately 59,000 sqm (approximately 631,000 sq ft), and a total gross floor area of approximately 176,000 sqm (over 1,890,000 sq ft), excluding car park. The complex opened in September 2012 and consists of a trendsetting shopping mall; a 25-storey Grade A office tower ONE INDIGO; EAST, Beijing, a lifestyle business hotel with 369 rooms and suites; and a park covering over 17 hectares. INDIGO mall and ONE INDIGO have been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold (pre-certified) and Platinum (certified) ratings from the U.S. Green Building Council respectively.

INDIGO is a joint venture between Swire Properties and Sino-Ocean Land. For more information, please visit www.indigobeijing.com.

Issued by Grebstad Hicks Communications on behalf of EAST, Beijing