Given the size of the high-tech new Daxing International Airport in Beijing, which opened in late September, it’s only fitting that the airport’s only in-terminal hotel is equally as grand.
Aerotel Beijing, part of the Plaza Premium Group’s Aerotel airport hotel chain, is China’s biggest airport hotel.
The 215-key establishment, which opened its doors to guests on September 25, spans two floors and is more than 9,000 square meters (96,875 square feet) in size – a relatively small chunk of the starfish-shaped airport terminal, which is a whopping 700,000 square meters.
Located in the Northwest Pier of Daxing, Aerotel Beijing is five minutes away from the nearest domestic check-in counters and a 10-minute walk from international ones.
The design is relatively modest – think minimalist furnishings and neutral colors. Instead, the hotel focuses on providing what’s needed the most among travelers – comfortable bedding and powerful showers.
Guests can rent rooms in blocks of three, six, nine or 12 hours – so there’s no need to pay a day rate.
“We created Aerotel to take care of travelers needing a space to rest right at the terminal with no constraint on check-in time,” said Song Hoi-see, founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Group, in a statement.
Library Lounge, the brand’s signature restaurant, serves an international buffet and offers a la carte menus.
There’s also a gym, inside a birdcage-like room, and a game room.
The group’s flagship property, Aerotel Beijing is also the first hotel in the group to have two meeting rooms and a multifunctional VIP room that can host up to 36 guests.
Airport hotels on the rise
After the opening of the first Aerotel in Singapore Changi Airport in 2016, the group – better known for building airport lounges – has expanded and now operates 10 properties around the world.
It’s all part of a greater trend in aviation. Airport hotels – either in-terminal or nearby properties – have become more popular and more awe-inspiring in recent years.
JFK Airport, for instance, recently opened the long-awaited TWA hotel, with 512 rooms and a retro-aviation theme.
Meanwhile, Paradise City outside Incheon International Airport in South Korea is a $2 billion resort featuring artworks from Damien Hirst and Yayoi Kusama, a nighttime theme park and a casino.
Aerotel Beijing, 2/F Northeast Pier, Beijing Daxing International Airport; +86 10 8921 0666
