Hyatt Hotels Corporation has opened the Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort in Sanya on Hainan Islands, China’s southernmost province widely known as “the Hawaii of China.” The hotel marks the fifth Park Hyatt hotel in China, as well as the 35th Park Hyatt hotel in the world.
Situated on a stunning 350,000 sq m (almost four million sq ft) inlet and featuring a private lake and white-sand beach, Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort combines the luxury of privacy and exclusivity with accessibility, being a mere 5 km (3.1 miles) drive from Yalong Bay, the island’s most popular tourist destination.
“We are delighted to introduce the Park Hyatt brand to Sanya,” said David Udell, Group President, Asia Pacific, Hyatt Hotels Corporation. “This opening is a testament to our commitment to strategic, thoughtful and purposeful growth in China. The tourism and hospitality industry in Sanya has been booming in recent years, and we are proud that the Park Hyatt brand can be part of that growth. We look forward to welcoming travellers to our most premium brand, where we create sophisticated and enriching experiences.”
“It is extremely exciting for us to open our doors in this incredibly unique location, a place where our guests can enjoy utmost privacy due to exclusive access to our beautiful bay and beach overlooking some of the most breath-taking views in Sanya, all while remaining close to the vibrant Yalong Bay only minutes away,” said Nicholas Lacey, General Manager, Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort. “Topped off with the elegantly designed spaces and personalised service that Park Hyatt hotels are known for, Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort will be a sanctuary for our many guests from around the world.”
Design and guestrooms
Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort was created by Belgian architect, Jean-Michel Gathy of the design-consultancy firm, Denniston. The strikingly modernist development comprises six standalone, arch-shaped buildings designed to allow chi, the traditional Chinese notion of energy, to flow unhindered between ocean and mountains. Set amid the lush landscape next to the beautiful Nan Hu Lake, the placement of every building and internal space has been carefully considered to maximise guests’ enjoyment of the breath-taking view. The six buildings are linked by wide walkways and are decorated with paintings and sculptures to create a tranquil and rarefied art-walk experience.
Designed to replicate the feeling of living in a private mansion by the sea, the sophisticated, elegant interiors are residential in style with a subtle Chinese sensibility. As in private homes, the spaces are wholly flexible. Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort features 207 luxurious guestrooms, including 26 suites and 17 villas. At 62 sq m (667 sq ft), the standard rooms are among the largest on the island, and almost all of the guestrooms enjoy unadulterated views of the South China Sea.
Park Suite bedroom
Drinking and dining
The ethos of the international culinary team at Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort is to offer a range of authentic Chinese and Western dishes that incorporate ingredients of the highest quality, sourced locally wherever possible. In keeping with the residential concept and ambience of a resort setting, guests are welcome to order from the menu or request bespoke dishes as relaxed and freely as they might do at home. The culinary team is primed to create unique and memorable dining experiences for guests, whether it be a champagne breakfast on the beach, a family barbecue in the villa, or a sunset supper on a yacht.
There are eight main drinking and dining venues: Dining Room, Cellar, Pool House, Pool Bar, Bath House, Library, Terrace and Tea House, following the notion of rooms within a large residence. At each establishment, guests can order from the menus of any of the other dining venues.
Dining Room is the main residential-style dining space offering Chinese cuisines focusing on seafood and steaks. Cellar is a cosy extension of the Dining Room, offering private dining in an intimate setting.
Next to Cellar, in a traditional Chinese-style building topped with ceramic-roof tiles, is Tea House. The impressive, light-filled space, featuring a mezzanine floor and a 9 m (29.5ft) high ceiling strung with myriad birdcages, will serve a premium selection of Chinese teas, an afternoon tea menu, and regional Chinese cuisine.
Tea House
Guests can also enjoy Western and Chinese comfort food such as pizza, burgers or chilled noodles, either at Pool House, Pool Bar, or Bath House alongside the pools. Library and Terrace are also great choices for guests who want to relax and read a good book – or take in the ocean views – while sipping on a cold drink or a premium cocktail.
Meetings and events
Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort aims to be the most desirable, upscale event venue in Hainan. The hotel features eight unique, residential-style event venues ranging from 42 sq m to 335 sq m (452 – 3,606 sq ft), all featuring an abundance of natural light, outdoor terraces and state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and lighting.
Chamber is the largest indoor event space, measuring 335 sq m (3,606 sq ft) and comprising three separate spaces: a reception area, an open kitchen and a main dining area. Equally unique is Gallery, a long, 293 sq m (3,154 sq ft) space with paintings and sculptures decorating both sides to resemble an art gallery. The Salons are perfect for smaller, more intimate events. The 157 sq m (1,690 sq ft) Grand Salon with its 11 m (36 ft) ceiling height and walls lined with wooden lattice, is an ideal venue for a wedding or gala dinner. The 600 sq m (6,458 sq ft) lawn in front of Pool House is ideal for atmospheric outdoor events.
Recreation and activities
The recreation team has spent years researching and testing activities to offer guests the most unique and memorable activities during their time at Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort. Five separate pools – a 115 m (377 ft) pool, a children’s pool, a family pool, a spa pool and an indoor pool – are available to suit all types of swimmers. While at Camp Hyatt, kids and young adults will be both entertained and educated with activities like cooking classes and eco-activities by availing themselves of the latest toys or video games or simply by reading or resting in the “silent room.”
Bath House
With a focus on local culture, as well as marine and environmental education, the resort offers myriad outdoor activity options for all ages include hiking, golfing and stargazing, along with tours to nearby attractions such as Butterfly Valley, Nanshan Temple, Yazhou Ancient City and the Ganzaling Nature Reserve. Water sports enthusiasts will be thrilled with Baifu (Fortune) Bay – a private bay right next to Sunny Bay – renowned for offering some of the best diving conditions in China, as well as being an ideal spot for boating and kayaking.
The Spa at Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort is due to open late 2015. Located by the lake and accessed by buggy, the spacious, light-filled spa will be built in a traditional Chinese style and will feature a main, two-storey building and eight freestanding villas around an open-air courtyard. The semi open-air villas will each include a couple’s treatment room, a private foot treatment room, a freestanding tub, a shower, a walk-in wardrobe and an oversized daybed. Meanwhile, the main spa building will feature four additional treatment rooms; three foot-treatment rooms, a TCM consultancy chamber and a lounge on the first floor. The floor below features a gym, a yoga studio and an outdoor infinity pool. Benefit-driven treatments will be carefully conceived to incorporate proven, traditional Chinese practises, as well as the very latest in international spa techniques.
