China’s first Hello Kitty hotel is set to open in 2025 at the Sanya Hello Kitty Resort.
The Hello Kitty hotel will have 221 rooms and villas and feature Hello Kitty designs and various Sanrio characters. The facilities will include a spa, swimming pool, fitness centre, a ballroom, three restaurants and a bar. Hong Kong-based real estate company Keyestone Group will work alongside Hyatt Hotels Corporation on this project to bring the Hello Kitty hotel to life.
Both parties spoke of this development and the expectation of the landmark Hello Kitty Hotel. Firstly, Jeffery Pun, chief executive officer of 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.”
Meanwhile, Stephen Ho, president of Growth and Operations, Asia Pacific of 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.” (Quotes via www.ftnnews.com)
An intellectual property licensing agreement was signed between Keyestone Group and Sanrio (Shanghai) International Trade in July 2019, granting Keyestone Group access to more than 400 trademark Sanrio characters, many of whom will feature in the Sanya Hello Kitty Resort and Hotel.
The theme park itself at Sanya will be ready a year earlier in 2024. It will be a 52-acre site built in the coastal region of Haitang Bay at a cost of $620m (£457m). The visitor attraction will boast a mixture of rides and attractions for all the family. According to artists impressions, the buildings will be adorned with colourful designs, which feature a volcano, a pyramid and a themed castle. The Hello Kitty image will be present in all areas of the park, including a giant Hello Kitty sphinx.
This will be the second Hello Kitty theme park resort to be built in the country after the launch of its Zhejiang Province resort, which opened its doors in 2015 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Hello Kitty character.
Hello Kitty Theme Park Resort state that: “Across its design, build and operation, the Hello Kitty Theme Park will follow only the highest international standards set by the hospitality industry. Licensed by Sanrio, which owns the intellectual property rights to Hello Kitty, this vibrant theme park and resort project will also incorporate the leading international trends in hospitality and local cultural elements of Hainan.” The new resort promises to ‘provide visitors with an exciting range of entertainment, performances, cuisine and shopping.
The popular Hello Kitty character originates from Japan and is recognised worldwide for its clothing, toys and media productions amongst other ventures. The character is based on a young girl called Kitty White and follows the main protagonist and her unmistakable red bow on a family-based adventure around London.
