China: Development and management company Keyestone Group in partnership with Hyatt Hotels Corporation have announced plans for the first Hello Kitty Hotel in Sanya, Hainan.
Set to be built within the 52-acre Sanya Hello Kitty Resort, the hotel will offer 221 rooms and villas, three restaurants and a bar, a themed ballroom, and a swimming pool, spa and fitness centre.
The hotel will also offer seasonal events, activities and menus to celebrate key festivals and appeal to family-oriented tourism.
An intellectual property licensing agreement was signed between Keyestone Group and Sanrio (Shanghai) International Trade Co., Ltd in July 2019 which granted Keyestone access to more than 400 trademark Sanrio characters – many of whom will be featured in the resort and hotel.
The hotel will form part of the JdV by Hyatt collection of independent properties and is expected to open by 2025. Sanya Hello Kitty Hotel is the second Hyatt-branded property in Hainan that Keyestone has developed, alongside the Grand Hyatt Sanya Haitang Bay Resort & Spa which opened in 2016.
Jeffery Pun, chief executive officer at Keyestone Group, said: “As Keyestone Group continues to grow our hospitality portfolio across Greater China, we are excited to extend our collaboration with Hyatt. Sanya Hello Kitty Hotel will leverage our respective strengths in developing and managing world-class hospitality projects to offer guests a truly unique experience as they unwind and rejuvenate with their favourite Sanrio characters. We believe that the hotel and Sanya Hello Kitty Resort will become icons in Hainan’s tourism landscape and enable us to tap the growing demand for high-quality travel experiences in this region.”
Stephen Ho, president of growth and operations across Asia Pacific at Hyatt, said: “We are delighted to be working with Keyestone Group and are grateful to them for entrusting Hyatt with the first Hello Kitty-themed hotel in this fast-growing market and expand our brand portfolio in China. We look forward to bringing to life well-loved Sanrio characters in this exciting new project, which will retain a unique identity while providing the JdV by Hyatt brand’s signature guest experience that is inclusive, free-spirited and distinguished by heartfelt and joy-driven service.”
