China
Nestled in the heart of the Nan’an District in Chongqing sits the Conrad Chongqing, a 275-room hotel that marks Hilton’s first Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand in the region and the 700th Hilton hotel in the Greater China region. The hotel is located in the Jiafa Cross-Border Trade Center, spanning the 38th to 55th floors of the building and located close to the International Convention and Exhibition Center and 30 minutes from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport.
Conrad Chongqing includes a spa, fitness center and heated indoor infinity pool. The hotel also features three dining experiences, including the YU Chinese Restaurant that offers 10 private dining rooms and spotlights local traditional Sichuan cuisine. Other restaurants include The PEAK and MIST Lobby Bar along with a hidden speakeasy named 3652.
In addition to the private dining spaces, the hotel has over 32,291 square feet of pillarless meeting and event space spread across nine venues. These venues include the 12,838-square-foot Hua Yuan event room able to accommodate up to 1,000 attendees and the 8,400-square-foot Roof Garden able to accommodate groups of up to 300. The Conrad Chongqing also has private meeting rooms for up to 32 attendees and a board room that can seat up to 12.
[Related: 8 New Hotels Transforming Meetings and Events in 2024]
England
Virgin Hotels opened its first London location in August, Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch. The 120-room property is located in the Shoreditch area in the East End of London and is located minutes from the Barbican Conservatory and Spitalfields City Farm. The hotel also includes a rooftop bar, pool, onsite restaurant, gym and wellness offerings.
The hotel features over 8,000 square feet of meeting and event space spread across seven venues. The largest of these venues is The Manor, with 3,229 square feet of space and able to accommodate up to 300 attendees. Other notable venues include the onsite restaurant BiBo Shoredtich, able to accommodate up to 190 attendees, and the 750-square-foot Founders Room, able to accommodate 60.
[Related: A British Icon Restored and More Global Hotel Upgrades and Openings]
Sweden
Overlooking Tegnérlunden Park in Stockholm, Villa Dahlia is an exclusive boutique hotel that at publication time was set to open in September 2024. The 103-room property is located minutes from Stockholm’s historic center and some of the city’s most popular sights, including Odenplan Square, the Vasa Museum and ABBA The Museum.
The hotel also features amenities such as an onsite restaurant, gym and full-service spa with a sauna, infrared therapy and holistic treatments. The property’s meeting and event space includes a private boardroom for up to 10 attendees and a rooftop bar with views overlooking the city.
An Australian Transformation
Australia’s first 5-star luxury hotel, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, is set to unveil its $60 million transformation in October, its first renovation since opening in 1966.
The hotel offers 436 newly refurbished guest rooms spanning 15 floors and is located in the heart of Sydney’s city center, minutes from landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. The hotel will also feature a health and wellness studio, two restaurants, two bars and one of Sydney’s largest rooftop terraces.
The Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has hosted a number of international dignitaries and celebrities over the years, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, Bill Gates, the U.S. Apollo astronauts and numerous film and sports stars.
The property also includes the pillarless Wentworth Ballroom, one of the most well-recognized and popular aspects of the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth. The ballroom is one of the largest in Sydney and features 6,770 square feet of space able to accommodate up to 750 attendees. Other notable venues include the Brisbane Room, able to accommodate 200 attendees; the Adelaide Room, able to accommodate 140; the Wentworth Meeting Room, able to accommodate 35; and the Velvet Room, able to accommodate 24.
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