The Ruby brand is the one that was just acquired by Intercontinental yesterday. Having recently stayed at one of its properties, I am eager to share an introduction to this brand. It remains unclear whether the Ruby hotels in China will later be integrated into IHG, but the Ningbo property serves as a good case study to understand the brand.
Brand Introduction
Ruby Treasure Hotels originated in Europe and were introduced into China by Banyan in 2021. Positioned as Lean Luxury – offering selected luxury without excess – the brand’s hotels generally feature compact spaces, where spatial reduction is balanced by an emphasis on enhancing the guest experience. Each hotel is given its own unique, personified name, and the design incorporates a bar-style lobby to encourage guest interaction. The guest rooms are styled according to the local city’s characteristics, with redundant amenities minimized in favor of increased social space. For example, the Ningbo property exemplifies a Boutique Lean Luxury Hotel in Ningbo Near Old Bund.
Booking and Arrival
Reservations can be made through the Banyan website. When booking one day in advance and applying a 10% discount with the Shangqi card, the price comes to only 266 (currency unspecified), with a host of privileges automatically applied. The hotel’s location is excellent, situated at Sanjiangkou near the Old Bund – although it does not offer a river view. The hotel entrance is located on Renmin Road; entering from the north via the service road leads directly to the front door. The approach is narrow, and parking can be limited, as noted by a reminder from the front desk. It is worth mentioning that the property was formerly a Kaiyuan Manju hotel before being rebranded as Ruby Treasure Hotel in 2024. My first stay with the brand was quite impressive, and the property can also be described as an Affordable Boutique Hotel in Ningbo with Bar-Style Lobby.
The hotel’s entrance is on the left side. Beyond the entrance is the underground parking area, which has only a single lane for both entry and exit – vehicles must wait their turn. Given the limited space, parking expectations are modest.
Check-in Process
Upon entering, guests pass through a spacious lobby lounge and proceed straight to the reception counter.
The design of the Ruby hotel features a bar-style lobby where the reception and bar areas are integrated.
Directly across from the hotel is a vibrant street lined with bars in the Old Bund area, perfectly aligning with the brand’s positioning and echoing the style of the nearby Moxy hotel.
Although the hotel’s description mentioned a complimentary welcome drink, it was neither proactively offered nor requested; however, the applicable privileges were automatically redeemed. A budget king room was upgraded to a double room as per the guest’s requirements.
Additionally, a welcome gift was provided—a co-branded fragrance piece accompanied by a box of snacks.
Toiletries were also given during check-in.
A small ramp to the left of the reception leads to the elevator hall, where the elevator interior displays vintage clippings from old Ningbo Daily newspapers, evoking the charm of 1980s Ningbo.
Note that guest rooms occupy floors 5 through 11; however, due to building constraints, accessing floors below the 5th requires using the stairs from the 6th floor.
Guest Rooms
Ruby Treasure Hotel provides its own key cards (with the second card issued for accompanying guests, as was the case with the former Manju brand).
The floor plan indicates that the room area is ample.
Upon entry, guests are greeted by a small foyer, with the shower room and toilet located to the right.
Both the shower and toilet areas are partitioned, offering a commendable degree of privacy.
The shower curtain can be drawn aside to reveal a bright interior.
In the shower room, high-quality toiletries from the French brand Ansaimeng are provided, and a basic smart toilet is available. The wardrobe contains bathrobes and an interior mirror on the door. The washbasin area is compact, yet well-lit with two rows of installed lights. Beneath the basin, additional bathrobes and slippers are provided alongside hand soap and body lotion, while a nearby tea station further adds to the room’s functionality. A weighing scale is tucked away beneath the counter, and the minibar offers a couple of bottles of chilled water. The television displays a personalized welcome message and supports screen mirroring. Additionally, the room features a Marshall speaker system—though its placement is somewhat understated. A small round table at the foot of the bed, accompanied by bedside stools, reflects the brand’s meticulous attention to detail. The twin beds, measuring 1.2 meters each, are well-suited for the price point, albeit with a slightly narrow gap between them. The mattress is supplied by the Sealy Silian brand, and the headboard is equipped with both USB and Type-C charging ports, along with electric curtains. Although the room is described as being 25–30 square meters, it feels adequately spacious for two guests. A serving of welcome fruit later in the evening and a comparison of the shower curtains further accentuate the room’s thoughtful design, despite the view from the lower floors being rather ordinary compared to the river vistas from higher suites.
Facilities
In keeping with standard practice, the hotel provides a floor guide upon arrival. All facilities are located on the first floor, and a schematic diagram is displayed near the elevator. The layout follows a narrow strip design: turning left leads to the laundry room, which is equipped with two washers, two dryers, and an ironing station. A dining area with private rooms is also available, and the overall internal environment is satisfactory. A meeting room is provided, which is modest in size and sufficient for small events. At the far end, a fitness room—accessible with a key card—is available, though guests should be mindful of the numerous steps throughout the property. Towels and bottled water are conveniently displayed on a rack. Despite the limited overall space, the hotel remains uncluttered, largely due to its focus on leisure travelers. Equipment is arranged compactly but adequately, and a bar counter adjacent to the reception adds to the convenience. The variety of options is impressive, and the overall pricing is competitive – in fact, it is even more economical than the bar street directly across the road. Promotional offerings include options such as 98 cocktails all-you-can-drink and single cocktails for 9.9. The hotel’s design philosophy of Lean Luxury is underscored by a prominent sign in the lobby, and a dedicated performance area suggests that live band sessions may take place in the evenings, even though the specific details remain unclear.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served on the first floor, set slightly back from the bar area. Guests need only provide their room number at the reception—no on-site validation is required as breakfast is pre-added during check-in. A variety of beverages are displayed on the bar counter, and the breakfast area (photographed in the afternoon of the previous day) includes both a serving counter and a dining area, although the latter appears somewhat untidy during non-operational hours. Amenities include a coffee machine, an assortment of bread and small cakes, cold dishes, salads, and fresh fruits. Additionally, an open display of steamed items and dim sum is available. Selections such as fries, youtiao (fried dough sticks), egg tarts, and scrambled eggs ensure a rich variety, while local specialties like noodles and rice cakes add a regional touch. Congee options—including preserved egg and lean pork congee as well as plain rice congee—are offered alongside eggs, sausages, and luncheon meat. Main courses feature fried rice and fried noodles, with several stir-fried dishes rounding out the menu.
Summary
The cost-performance ratio at this location is extremely high – it can be said that there is no competitor in Ningbo at this price point. The inclusion of a parking facility further enhances its appeal for guests who drive. The hotel’s brand style perfectly complements the vibrant bar street of the Old Bund area, mirroring the vibe of the nearby Marriott Moxy. While the common areas are relatively understated, the guest room amenities are notably superior to those offered by Moxy. It is evident that the Ruby brand is striving to associate itself with the luxury segment, even if it only represents “Little Luxury,” which is consistent with its positioning. Although some non-essential facilities have been reduced, core amenities such as the laundry room and fitness center remain intact and are well-equipped, and both the meeting room and private dining area have been streamlined rather than eliminated. The 25–30 square meter room, with its well-organized layout and efficient design, does not feel cramped; the overall guest experience can only be described as stunning. However, while the experiential design lives up to the brand’s promise, the service provided by the staff—particularly in terms of safeguarding membership and brand-specific privileges—has room for improvement.
Outlook
With the brand’s incorporation into the Intercontinental Group, IHG’s presence in the lower-tier market is set to be significantly enriched, especially within the young and trendy segment. Based on my experience at this property, it is entirely plausible to compare it with the Marriott Moxy, and by leveraging its Selected Luxury philosophy, it may even surpass competitors in terms of quality. This hotel could serve as a lower-end counterpart to Indigo, much like the tiered offerings of Marriott W and Moxy/Aloft. It is hoped that the domestic Ruby properties will eventually be integrated into IHG’s management system, enabling reciprocal membership benefits and further enhancement through standardized procedures.