InterContinental Shenzhen WECC by IHG

A good place to hold a meeting.

Everyone was friendly, and the experience was absolutely lovely.

The hardware is superb, and the staff are helpful. Kim Zhang at the entrance reception gave me a warm welcome and attentive service today. A true gentleman. Honestly, this should be a 5* hotel.

Shenzhen feels like a city that never stops buzzing, which makes a calm hotel especially welcome. At the InterContinental Shenzhen WECC, I found the sort of place that settles you down after the noise, heat, and crowds outside. Even the driveway feels like a decompression chamber. I came in from the horns and bustle, and by the time I reached reception my pulse seemed to have dropped ten beats. There are huge ceilings that make you lower your voice, and tasteful art that says luxury without shouting about it. The whole arrival is very well judged. The rooms are spacious, stylish without being silly, and equipped with the modern things you’d expect. There’s a proper coffee machine, not apologetic sachets, and a Japanese toilet. I won’t go into detail, but it has an intimacy and enthusiasm for technology that might need unpacking with a professional someday. Breakfast is a triumph of international diplomacy, with East and West, familiar things and things you only pretend to recognise. You can be virtuous, indulgent, or both one after the other. It almost makes you consider having a second breakfast, like a particularly greedy hobbit. There’s also a colossal conference facility attached, seemingly acres of it. You can imagine battalions of delegates trudging off to discussions on “Urban Growth Strategies in Asia” or, with a shudder, “Regional Water Infrastructure: Vision 2027.” Still, the hotel doesn’t feel taken over by the lanyard brigade. Luxury quietly but firmly wins, like a butler who knows he’s in charge. Big international chains, when they get it right, don’t have to feel soulless. This one feels like a warm bath at exactly the right temperature: a sanctuary after an immigration queue designed by a sadist, with comfort, calm, and possibly a decent pillow. It’s a terrific hotel, and if you’re here for a conference, you’ve done rather well out of the tedious business. You may have to sit through a PowerPoint on municipal drainage, but at least you’ll come back to a place that knows how much a toilet can matter.