Suzhou – the Venice of China – attracts Hyatt and Fairmont

Suzhou, a major city about 70 miles east of Shanghai, is a city on the rise. Hotel chains are beginning to discover its potential. Hyatt Hotels has just opened its first hotel in Suzhou, while Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced plans to enter the city in 2018.

Suzhou is the economical, trading and logistics center of Jiangsu, and the second largest city in the province after its capital Nanjing. With an urban population of over 10 million, Suzhou is the ninth most populous city in mainland China. Since the economic reforms started in 1978, Suzhou has become one of the fastest growing major cities in the world, with growth rates of about 14% in past 35 years.

Though Suzhou is a business city, many know Suzhou as ‘the Venice of China’ because of its canals and ancient architecture. The classical gardens in Suzhou were added to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997 and 2000.

The Hyatt Regency Suzhou, which is part of the Jinghope Plaza mixed-use project, has 355 rooms and more than 4,500 square metres of meetings space. The property, which includes a 29-story atrium, also has five restaurants and lounges. The hotel that Fairmont is planning to develop is even larger. A 390-room hotel, to be located in the city's Shishan district, will have 13,000 square metres of meeting space.