It's said that this is the worst Andaz in China?

Objectively speaking, the hardware configuration of this much-ridiculed Andaz isn't terribly poor. At the very least, its design language and spatial aesthetics still have commendable aspects. However, compared to the Shenzhen Bay Andaz and the Xiamen Andaz, there's a visibly obvious gap in terms of room size, scenic resources, service details, and overall execution. Even the Shanghai Xintiandi Andaz, often called the "worst in China" among the first generation, can maintain a stable flow of guests thanks to its exceptionally advantageous location. In contrast, the Nanjing Hexi Andaz truly has "nothing to offer." It lacks a prime location and appealing views, making it genuinely difficult to attract its target clientele.

Looking back, developer Sun Hung Kai was ambitious, even positioning the Andaz to compete with The Ritz-Carlton, Nanjing. The high-profile publicity and overly optimistic pricing during its initial opening phase ironically ended up boosting the reputation of The Ritz-Carlton, making it a typical case study of what not to do in the hotel industry. It must be said that Sun Hung Kai's hotel operation strategy in mainland China still follows Hong Kong's "high efficiency per square meter model," failing to "respect" the basic demands of the mainland market. Since it's not in a core location, why insist on compressing room sizes in an emerging area like Hexi? Even a property as strong as The Ritz-Carlton, Nanjing would likely have faced skepticism if its opening rates had exceeded CNY 2,000. The Ritz-Carlton started steadily, gradually built its reputation, and saw room rates rise steadily. The Andaz, however, started high and went low, with both reputation and price declining, and its business has yet to pick up.

Given the current situation, if it weren't for the shortcomings of Jumeirah's brand power and membership system, the Andaz might even struggle to surpass the Jumeirah; its situation could be more difficult. Its so-called "river view" can't match Jumeirah's, and the size of its basic suite is even smaller than Jumeirah's standard room, yet it commands a significantly higher price. Now, even its downgrade from Category 4 to Category 3 can't hide its awkward positioning. This is not just a failure of a single property; it also drags down the overall brand upgrade of Andaz. The brand's market expectations had been raised due to the success of properties in Tokyo, Shenzhen Bay, and Xiamen, finally established new image of urban refined lifestyle has once again "broken the lower limit" in Nanjing. When ambition outpaces reality, even the best concepts can hardly escape backlash.
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Post by ANGZA | Aug 28, 2025