Transforming a remote village into a global ski resort

2023 is set to see the Chinese travel market boom. But it’s not just 3 years of pent-up demand that the travel market looks forward to, rather, it’s a brave new world of changes that have been shaped by new attitudes toward nature, family, and health.

If the world has discovered a new-found love for nature, then the Chinese traveller has doubly so. New attitudes towards the urban rat race and what ‘life is all about’ have formed and there has never been such demand for travel into natural spaces, perhaps most especially in mountains.

Mountains have long played an integral part of Chinese culture, from the residence of gods and sages, to a ubiquitous setting for family outings. Indeed, it’s not unusual to see three generations of a family climb through China’s mountains great and small.

The China Tourism Research Institute projects a speedy recovery in 2023, with 4.55 billion domestic tourists this year, reaching 76% of 2019 numbers. But with such great expectations, domestic mountain destinations need to be on par with established alpine hotspots in Europe and Japan to attract ever more discerning Chinese travellers.

And that’s exactly why NDA Group designs Hemu Ski Resort to be a world-class destination. Out here in the remotest part of Northwest China, we bind unique activities, strong local culture, and outstanding tourism services, with two IHG hotels, to realise exactly this vision.

Working with IHG

IHG Hotels’ success is in part due to its portfolio brands’ values being loved and trusted by guests the world over, so adhering to these distinctive values is crucial, but how do we do it in a remote mountain wilderness with little in the way of obvious reference?

Hotel Indigo prides itself on being a vibrant neighbourhood hotel, but what happens if there simply is no urban neighbourhood to relate to?

（Indigo hotel hot springs pavilion in summer ©NDA Group)

Holiday Inn facilitates entertainment and fun, but after a hard day of skiing and with freezing temperatures and no daylight, where are guests supposed to go for fun?

We reinterpret the values of both brands and give them a new meaning in this unique locale.

Hotel Indigo

The starting point for Hotel Indigo is the ‘Neighbourhood Story’, where a property should be the vibrant centre locals and travellers to gather and engage. So, how do we create this feeling out in this sparsely populated wilderness?

We started by looking at the layout of the traditional village of Hemu and its farmhouses, and immersing ourselves in the stories, legends, and lifestyles of the nomad peoples that roamed this land and continue to do so today.

We wondered whether re-imagining the simplicity of the local wooden huts with their characteristic roofs and material usage in a contemporary way would appeal to modern explorers’ taste for understated luxury.

(Activities galore at Indigo ©NDA Group)

Finally, we design the layout of the hotel to be a village itself, with a collection of separate buildings that are connected in narrative offering myriad opportunities for chance encounters or quality time spent with family and friends.

After a long hard day of alpine sports, guests are welcomed to the spa and hot spring, which are designed to be discovered, almost like a mysterious cabin hidden in the woods.

Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn is one of the world’s most recognizable brands and is characterized by its trademark of ‘inviting warmth’ - a space that is approaching and inviting to guests of all ages and backgrounds.

In this austere wilderness, our usage of warm materials like wood and spatial design that maximises natural light is crucial in making the hotel warm, inviting, and full of human energy.

(Facilities for all seasons at Holiday Inn ©NDA Group)

200 rooms are spread across two distinct wings that are interconnected by a diamond-shaped lobby that invites light and makes people naturally gravitate toward it. An integrated convention centre with facilities for 400 people ensures a constant buzz of activity and human warmth.

As for the family entertainment that Holiday Inn is so well known for, we design a kids club with outdoor playground that is perfect for summer, and a ski rink and family activity centre at the adjacent ski centre.

Vision Realised

(Holiday Inn under starlight ©NDA Group)

Our work on Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn are the main hospitality components for Hemu Ski Resort, a far-ranging body of work that sees us transform a far-flung mountain wilderness ready for China’s impending travel boom.

Across Hemu Ski Resort we plan dozens of activities, including sports, wellness experiences, and performances. All of these are facilitated through specifically built space like ski bases, art centres, and panoramic viewing stations.

Our approach to tourism development, especially in places of rare natural beauty, is multifaceted. To us it is just as important to give explorers authentic experiences as it is to preserve the biosphere and drive revenues for local stakeholders.

Hemu's remoteness has hindered its development, making transport and accommodation very expensive. Through our creation of Hemu Ski Resort we set the stage for sensitive and sustainable development that allows locals to share in the tourism boom whilst preserving a lasting wilderness.

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Weaving Hemu Identity into Global Ski Circuit

Transforming a remote village into a global ski resort