Hilton Sanya is the first Hilton Worldwide Resort to set foot in China, will soft open on 25 December on the beautiful Hainan Island, off the coast of mainland China. The grand opening of the hotel has been slated for 31 March 2006.

The 100,000sqm sprawling resort has been conceptualised and built with features and services to provide a True Resort Experience with a DIFFERENCE for the "increasingly sophisticated holidaymakers, domestically and worldwide, who are expecting luxury travel and trendy ideas," said Mr Dirk De Cuyper, General Manager of the resort.

"This is especially so since Sanya is a great destination with more and more international hotel developments. Thus, for the savvy travellers, a resort with an edge will make a whole lot of difference."

Resort Landscape with a DIFFERENCE

Carefully blending the natural beauty, vegetation, materials and culture of Hainan Island with contemporary design and detailing, the landscape of the resort provides guests with a unique and relaxing beach resort experience. Local materials such as volcanic lava stone, thatched pavilions and timber decking are set within a contemporary styled, natural landscape of coconut palms, lagoons pools, sand beaches and landscape terraces. The signature rice terraces of central Hainan Island blends harmoniously with the greenery and cascading water features.

A Water World of DIFFERENCE

An extensive system of laguna-styled criss-cross swimming pools, natural water bodies, streams, cascades and water features interconnect the gardens of the resort, providing guests with a wide range of experiences, features and water fun. The resort swimming pool is an exciting amalgamation of natural lagoon pools and cascades, sand beach entry pools, a 40m lap pool, children's pools and slide, Jacuzzi pavilion pools and lounge pools, as well as direct guest room entry pools!

Rooms with a DIFFERENCE

The bath tub, right on the front and by the balcony, offers breathtaking views as you lather away. The elevated floor provides a different spatial perception – poles apart from the run-of-the-mill holiday resort room.

The majority of these 501 rooms, suites and villas offer magnificent ocean view. The spacious rooms (from 48.5sqm, in addition to balconies) are in contemporary southern Chinese design, with flat screen television, DVD players, broadband and a bevy of luxury amenities.

Five Traditional Elements…Six DIFFERENT Experiences

Six restaurants and bars are available in the resort, reflecting the five traditional Chinese elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth, all in a contemporary setting, with touches of authenticity. Look out for themed ‘table talker' that will indeed be the talk of the Bay. Outlets include:

• .IZE: This water-themed signature restaurant features premium seafood and wine, in a fine dining ambience. What's DIFFERENT: Ceiling-to-floor aquarium, glass floor over koi fish ponds as well as artistic visual fillers of specially choreographed entertainment.
• China Harvest: The down-to-earth China Harvest serves the TASTE of China, the best of what the land offers. The cosy ambience aims at making guests feel at home. What's DIFFERENT: Unlike most high-end Chinese restaurants, China Harvest serves high quality food that is tagged with moderate pricing. Plus a granny who treats you with sweets and titbits.
• The Big Kitchen: The resort's all-day dining café fires up cuisines from all over the world in an open-kitchen concept. Be spoilt for choice from the breakfast, lunch and dinner line-up of sumptuous international favourites. What's DIFFERENT: It's SHOWTIME for the chefs and they are ever-so-ready to rise to your challenge and whip up a ‘can-do' dish! Yes, whatever you request!
• Bar d'Or: The resort's destination bar provides an excellent venue for night entertainment while allowing golf fans chances to catch up on the latest news and events on the golf scene. What's DIFFERENT: Its vodka and cigar plus a good dose of chill-out vibes.
• Teak Lounge: During the day, guests can order a snack sampler featuring the Taste of Hainan served in a tiffin or enjoy homemade pastries, coffees, teas and drinks at the Caffé Cino. In the evening, the resort divas will woo guests with sultry vocals and soulful tunes. What's DIFFERENT: The smooth transition from day time laid back ambience to vibrant evening mood – a terrific hang-out.
• La-La Bar: have some snacks and a cool drink, and soak up all the sunshine while enjoying hilarious dips into the largest laguna-style resort pool in China. A swim-up bar is available while a spacious sundeck nearer to the beach is where couples and honeymooners find their quiet spots. What's DIFFERENT: Funky and brightly coloured floating pool armchairs and equally funky floating menus.

Spa Retreat Valets Make All the DIFFERENCE

Lose yourself…and find tropical bliss as our Spa Retreat Valet provide hands-on personalised services and full assistance, no matter if you are a first-time spa goer to seasoned spa aficionado.

These Valets are your spa personal assistants who will handle all aspects of your spa experience, from booking a treatment and tailoring a fitness regime to escorting you from point to point within the vast 6780sqm Retreat and serving you your favourite herbal tea at the relaxation area.

They can even help you select products from the international brand Pevonia (widely recognised in the States and Europe, and newly launched in China) to create your very own home spa.

A DIFFERENT Attitude towards Fun

The resort's very own one-stop recreation centre – Yalong Bay Adventure Club – has activities rangers to provide a recreational service with an edge – to cater not just to leisure guests who are expecting to be entertained and taken care of, but also to the varying needs of the MICE market, be it for the MICE attendees themselves or their accompanying spouses and families. You could be 35 or 65 years old, or bringing your two-year-old; rest assured that all your recreational needs are taken care of.

Choose from a host of water, land and air leisure pursuits, within and out of the resort, at a laid back pace or with high adrenalin rush – whether it's artistic, cultural or adventurous. There will never be a dull moment at Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa.

Convening with a DIFFERENT Mindset

It is the strategy of the resort to assist event planners and companies in successfully portraying the companies' branding and positioning through their respective events, be it an incentive trip to reward clients and employees, a meeting for participants from all walks of life or a spectacular event to make a strong publicity statement.

The all-inclusive MICE Pavilion, separate from but linked to the main pavilions of the resort, offers extensive meeting and banquet facilities, in more than 3000sqm of space over two storeys. The Pavilion, with wireless network throughout, has 11 function rooms, a 900sqm ballroom linked to an outdoor event lawn plus a beachfront function lawn. A dedicated team handles the A-Z of all events while a teambuilding crew creates tailored programmes according to organisers' needs.

We call it ‘the coolest meetings under the sun'.