On March 11, Sheraton Hanoi Hotel celebrated its 20th anniversary with the participation of 230 guests. ”
” In the past two decades and the years to come, we have, and will dedicate all our passion to make sure that Sheraton Hanoi is not just a friendly hotel for accommodation, a comfortable venue for events, or a premium restaurant for culinary experiences, but above all, it is a friendly and attractive destination for guests to gather and connect,” said Tiffany Hwang, General Manager of Sheraton Hanoi Hotel, in her speech at the event.
Located just 10 minutes from the city center, with 299 rooms overlooking West Lake and the Red River, Sheraton Hanoi Hotel is one of the most outstanding hotels in the capital. This location not only bears the imprint of French architecture but also carries many distinctive features of Hanoi’s culture, something that few 5-star hotels in the capital have.
In 2006, the United States hired the entire 18th floor – the highest floor of the hotel – for George W. Bush – who was the President of the United States at that time – during his official visit to Vietnam in 2006 and attendance at the APEC summit.
Most recently, in September 2023, Sheraton Hanoi Hotel welcomed another U.S. President when it hosted the prestigious reception for the visit of President Joe Biden by Chairman of the State Capital Committee Vo Van Thuong.
From 2004 to now, about 100 heads of state delegations have stayed at the hotel – according to the information provided by Sheraton Hanoi Hotel. In addition, the hotel welcomes about 100,000 guests each year and organizes more than 100 events and weddings.
However, before reaching the 20th anniversary milestone, Sheraton Hanoi Hotel faced many obstacles right from the beginning.
Started construction in 1993 and completed in 1997, but Sheraton Hanoi Hotel did not open immediately. Due to the impact of the Asian financial crisis in 1997 originating from Thailand and the SARS epidemic, the opening date was postponed until March 2004. But the trouble didn’t stop there.
“In 2004, a few months after the opening, Sheraton Hanoi Hotel had a power failure throughout the building. Overnight, the hotel management had to make a decision to evacuate all guests to another hotel. Because the power outage took place at night, all staff on duty at the hotel at that time had to go to each guest room to pack their things and accompany them down to the lobby using the stairs,” Mrs. Nguyen Thi Cam Ly – Marketing and Communications Manager of Sheraton Hanoi Hotel shared with us.
After a difficult start, Sheraton Hanoi Hotel’s business situation was quite bright. A report showed that at the end of December 2006, after the visit of former U.S. President George W. Bush, the occupancy rate at Sheraton reached 75.4%.
This is also a rare name in the hotel industry early making a profit when operating. Moreover, Sheraton Hanoi Hotel also experienced strong growth in the period 2005-2007, with a profitable rate fluctuating from 50-60%. In 2007, the hotel recorded revenue of USD 44 million, with a profit of USD 23 million.
Unfortunately, 2008-2009 was another period of a global financial crisis. The occupancy rate at Sheraton Hanoi Hotel dropped from 75.4% to just over 50% in 2009. However, over time, the hotel has regained its momentum with an occupancy rate of 82.9% in 2016.
In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic deeply affected the world, with tourism – hotels being one of the hardest-hit industries. However, Mrs. Cam Ly said Sheraton Hanoi Hotel survived the pandemic without closing for a day.
“During this time, we strictly followed social distancing regulations and implemented disinfection according to the instructions of the State and Marriott International to ensure a clean and safe environment for guests staying at the hotel and using the services,” Marketing and Communications Manager of Sheraton Hanoi Hotel recounted.
Sharing about the upcoming plans after commemorating the 20th anniversary milestone, Mrs. Cam Ly said Sheraton Hanoi Hotel hopes to welcome even more tourists in 2024. Currently, the hotel mainly hosts corporate guests and business travelers. In addition, with a commitment to sustainable development, Sheraton Hanoi Hotel will install charging stations for electric vehicles in the parking lot and maximize energy savings in hotel operations.
