Buzzworthy: St. Regis Beijing Reopens After Big Makeover

The world's gaze shifted to Beijing on 8/8/08 for the spectacular opening ceremony of the Olympic Games; an estimated 4 billion people worldwide watched the spectacle showcasing 5,000 years of Chinese culture and history. The Chinese capital had a bunch of new hotel openings just in time for the Games; the most noteworthy was the July reopening of the legendary St. Regis Beijing after a 7.5 month, $27 million renovation. For over a decade, the St. Regis Beijing has been one of the top luxury addresses in the city, and now it promises to dazzle with a mélange of European and Chinese design influences. The comprehensive makeover brought new technology and new interiors to the 258 guest rooms, 102 luxuriously appointed suites, signature restaurants (including Danieli's, one of the city's finest Italian restaurants) and public spaces. The new lobby features hand-painted ceilings and pure silk embroidery, and the Garden Court restaurant boasts a natural stone patio extending over a pool of water. Check into the St. Regis Beijing and you'll experience all the famous touches of the St. Regis brand including the iconic Butler Service and luxurious St. Regis Spa and Club, the first natural spring water spa in Beijing, drawing natural hot spring water from 1,500 feet below the earth's surface.