ATA’a 2008 China Inspection Trip began on Thursday, March 27th when the group assembled in the Continental Airlines President’s Club at Newark’s Liberty International Airport. All of us made it into Newark from all over the USA without any delays, and it was wonderful to spend some time there getting to know one another before our long journey to China began.
This is the first trip to China for 11 of the 13 travelers, so there was considerable excitement for what we would encounter after the 13.5 hour direct flight from EWR to PEK. The flight was good. Well, as good as 13.5 hours on a plane can be.
It seemed like we were being fed all the time, and I thank God for the invention of the iPod. How in the world did we travel before we had iPods. The notion that I can listen to ANY song I want to hear (provided it’s on my iPod), as well as catch up on tons of podcasts and television is just incredible. It made the flight pass easily.
Arrival at Beijing airport was smooth and with incident, and we found ourselves exiting immigration control with our bags and a search for our colleagues Chris Roper of ATA and Patrick Liu of HOTC. A quick phone call helped us determined that they were stuck in Beijing’s horrendous traffic and should be at the airport shortly. The group waited in the arrivals hall and they arrived to transport us to the Grand Hyatt Beijing, which would be our home away from home for the next four nights.
Beijing surprised me. As someone who was born in New York City and grew up there and in the nearby suburbs before moving to Washington, DC to attend university, I’ve always had an affinity for cities. I enjoy the energy that comes from them and the excitement one can find in exploring all the different parts of a city.
The Grand Hyatt Bejing welcomed the group with open arms. The entire sales staff and general manager were on-hand to greet us in the lobby and whisk us off to the Grand Club on the 17th Floor where they did an express VIP Check In for everyone and allowed us some time to go to our rooms and get refreshed and acclimated to the hotel.
We met the sales staff at 6:00 pm for Welcome Cocktails in the hotel’s Red Moon Lounge followed by a wonderful site inspection of the hotel, including the stunning Oasis Pool. http://beijing.grand.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/activities/pool/index.jsp
After a wonderful introduction to the Grand Hyatt Beijing, the first of Hyatt’s Grand Hyatt brand, we enjoyed a sumptuous Welcome Dinner, which included Peking Duck and an endless variety of other Chinese food served in the hotel’s Noble Court Restaurant.
Intrepid travelers as we might be, fatigue had begun to take hold of us, and so we adjourned for the evening very excited about our early AM visit to the Forbidden City.
Click here for a Slideshow: Day 1
Larry Guillemtte
Director of Business Development
