Arrival/Check-In: Depending on the destination, I either wing it from the aiport or arrange for a driver. China is one destination where I prefer a pick-up, and The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing met my wife and me in style in a beautiful Rolls Royce. Upon arrival, we were greeted by friendly hotel staff and whisked to our spectacular room. All check-in details were taken care of at the desk in the guestroom for my convenience.

Guest Quarters: We were in a club-level executive suite with a city view. The room featured a large living space separate from the bedroom, which sported a sofa, coffee table, chairs and a large, flat-screen TV. On the far side was a lovely mahogany desk with all the needs I required met since I was working remotely during this trip. Power plugs and converters were at the ready and I could view the TV while working. I was amused when the Chinese government would black out the protests taking place in Hong Kong or the reports about the dictator in North Korea.

The bathroom was equally large and long, with lots of marble, a 15-inch TV, an oversized tub, a separate shower with a rain feature and Asprey bath products.

A Nespresso coffee machine was set in traditional Ritz fashion — marble top, bottles of water ready with cups and accoutrements — which was useful, and a GT requirement on our checklist!

The bedroom’s king-sized bed was fit for a king or a queen, and its large hallway offered a built-in, substantial armoire.

Services/Amenities: Everyone was ready to help us and they were disappointed we arranged our own driver and guide to see all the required sites, including the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Hutongs, Temple of Heaven and Cudixia Village. You could see the disappointment on their faces that the Ritz team was not taking us on the tour.

There are many restaurants and lounge options including the Ritz Bar, the Lounge and Davidoff’s Cigar Bar. As if that is not enough, add Yu, Aroma and Barolo for any international cuisine you desire.

As a club level guest, you can hardly beat the experience of sitting back and enjoying a drink and a large selection of dishes and appetizers. Many of the offerings were hot and could easily make a meal for the evening. After sightseeing from 10 a.m.–6 p.m., the last thing you want is to go to a restaurant. I found the staff friendly and able and willing to chat about almost any subject, including politics. They were also helpful in arranging our boarding passes and printing some business materials I required.

The Experience: Built for the Beijing Olympics, I believe The Ritz-Carton team addresses the local flavor in their hotels while keeping some of their old-world charm. The staff and team at the property make it a must stop!

GT CHECKLIST

[checklist]
[item check=yes]Doorman/valet[/item]
[item check=yes]Less than 10 minutes for check-in[/item]
[item check=yes]Separate tub and shower[/item]
[item check=yes]Large vanity[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality towels[/item]
[item check=yes]Powerful, unattached hair dryer[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality bed linens[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, flat-screen television[/item]
[item check=yes]Large desk with convenient outlets[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, complimentary laptop safe[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary in-room WiFi[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary bottled water[/item]
[item check=yes]Stocked minibar[/item]
[item check=yes]Ample lighting[/item]
[item check=yes]In-room coffeemaker[/item]
[item check=yes]Iron and ironing board[/item]
[item check=yes]On-site restaurant[/item]
[item check=yes]24-hour room service[/item]
[item check=yes]24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center[/item]
[item check=yes]Turn-down service[/item]
[/checklist]

The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing

83A Jian Guo Road
China Central Place, Chaoyang District
Beijing, China 100025
tel 86 10 5908 8888
ritzcarlton.com