LEVELS Launches its first Kimpton Property

From Blueprint to Reality: LEVELS Launches Its First Hotel with Kimpton

Just a few days ago, I stood on the shores of Clearwater Bay, Hainan, watching guests stream into the newly opened Kimpton Aqeos—a surreal moment that marked a major milestone for LEVELS. This isn’t just any launch. It’s our first completed hotel project, our first Kimpton, and a vivid example of what happens when vision meets patience.

If you caught our original sneak peek, you know we were buzzing with anticipation. That excitement has now turned into pride. This project has been years in the making like most of our work at LEVELS. Hotel projects aren’t fast. From initial strategy and brand positioning to interior design, construction, pre-opening, and final launch, most of our developments take at least 2–3 years. Some even longer.

And now that it’s finally open, I wanted to share what it felt like to see it come to life.

A Launch to Remember

The hotel officially opened its doors on May 25, 2025, and the launch was a reminder of why I love China so much. The theme was blue and white, and everyone showed up in their best interpretation—some dressed up, some dressed down, some didn’t follow the memo at all. One of the first things I saw after signing the massive event signboard was a pair of robotic dogs dressed for a lion dance. If you’ve ever seen Black Mirror, you’ll understand why I felt a bit uneasy but this is China—they embrace the weird and wonderful like no one else.

After opening speeches by Chairman Liu and Jerome Qiu of IHG, the hotel was officially launched with fireworks, a drone banner reveal, and a lion dance performed by both humans and robots. It was a feast for the senses, even if we were all sweating buckets under the Hainan sun.

From there, we moved into the ballroom for a 400-person banquet, complete with famous Chinese pop stars (none of whom I recognized), amazing banquet food, and plenty of Moutai-fueled toasts. It was a celebration in every sense of the word.

Later in the evening, a few of us capped it all off with a small pool party which was a perfect way to end an unforgettable weekend.

Beyond the Launch: What Really Matters

After years of work, it’s hard to describe what it means to see a project like this come to life. The satisfying part isn’t the fees. It’s the moment when the owner’s chairman comes up to you and says, “Bar Ronero is perfect, it’s the best hotel bar on the island” It’s hearing the IHG team rave about the F&B concepts we developed. In fact, there are whispers that this may be one of the best IHG F&B properties in China which a huge compliment to everyone involved.

But credit doesn’t just go to strategy and design. It goes to the operations team on the ground—the bartenders, the F&B directors, the chefs—who’ve taken our concepts, menus, and brand direction and brought them to life with heart and hustle.

Just before heading out, I stopped into Bar Ronero, the hotel’s Rum & Cocktail Bar, and ordered a local take on a Paloma made with Sichuan pepper-infused tequila. I ended up chatting with the bartender, who told me he’d worked at Mandarin Oriental, Rosewood, and other top-tier properties. He said, “This is the first place I’ve seen with a cocktail menu that not only looks great, but actually makes sense and feels fresh.” That moment hit home. 

Whether the praise comes from a chairman or a bartender, it all matters. And it makes every long night and design debate worth it.

This project was especially meaningful to me as I began my hospitality journey nearly 20 years ago as a bellman at the Kimpton Pacific Palisades in Vancouver. To return to Kimpton, now helping open a hotel on the other side of the world was a full circle moment.

Thank you for reading and thank you to everyone who helped bring Kimpton Aqeos to life. I can’t wait to share more of what’s coming soon.