This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on September 30, 2015.

TAIPEI: Marriot International Inc has made its debut in Taiwan with the opening of the Taipei Marriott Hotel in Taipei’s Dazhi area.

“We are delighted to open our doors and welcome guests to Taiwan’s first Marriott branded hotel. Our close proximity to important landmarks, gorgeous settings and modern facilities makes the Taipei Marriott Hotel the ideal choice for business travellers and vacationers who want a high-end experience and easy access to commerce, culture and recreation,” said Greater China Marriott International chief operations officer Henry Lee in a press release on Monday. 

“Local elements of Taiwan’s charm have been incorporated as a part of the first Marriott hotel in Taiwan while highlighting the quintessential brand characteristics that have made Marriott a worldwide success,” he added.

Taipei Marriott Hotel is an integrated development which encompasses 350 luxury hotel rooms, a 32,300 sq ft (2.97 sq m) pillarless convention centre which can be turned into a 13,600 sq ft grand ballroom that the hotel operator claims to be the largest in Taiwan, a high-end shopping mall and luxury apartments.

The hotel rooms are between 430 sq ft and 860 sq ft, while its Presidential Suite boasts 2,370 sq ft of bulit-up area.

Each guestroom also features high-speed Internet access and a spacious work area.

The Taipei Marriott Hotel offers five international restaurants — Lobby Lounge, Garden Kitchen that offers all-day Asian-inspired Western dining served in semi-buffet style, Mark’s Teppanyaki, which serves guests with Japanese teppanyaki and Chinese and Western cuisine; the Dining Place is Marriott’s signature Chinese restaurant offering Cantonese and Sichuan dishes while INGE’s bar and grill offers gourmet cuisine on open-air terrace lounge.

The hotel also offers fully-equipped health club on the 19th floor, which provides services such as 24-hour fitness centre, a rooftop swimming pool and a luxury spa.

Taipei Marriott Hotel is located 10 minutes from Songshan International Airport and five minutes from Neihu Technology Park by car.

The hotel is also within walking distance to the the mass rapid transit Jiannan Road station, beautiful Mt Jiannan Trail and Miramar Shopping Center. The Taipei Marriott Hotel is the closest five-star hotel to the National Palace Museum, which is a favourite cultural attraction for both locals and visitors. — theedgeproperty.com