Equal Suffering for Everyone: voco Hotel at Zhengzhou Garden Expo Park

Empiricism should be avoided. Based on wonderful memories from previous visits to Garden Expo Parks and their hotels in Nanjing and Chengdu, I discovered that Zhengzhou also has a Garden Expo Park with a newly branded voco hotel. Without hesitation, I arranged my trip. Transportation is convenient. From Xinzheng Airport, a ride-hailing car heading south costs around 30 yuan. The route is lush with greenery, the Garden Expo Park is massive, and the voco hotel sits right next to the park wall, seemingly replicating my past pleasant experiences. Unfortunately, things went downhill after arrival. I've had the fortune of staying at seven voco hotels before, and without exception, they all won me over with their stylish public areas—as if being extraordinary was a voco requirement. However, this hotel's public spaces are surprisingly plain. The unexpectedly ordinary decor resembles a temporary stage for a school arts festival, with dim lighting and too many partitions. Even the signature playful voco birds couldn't save the atmosphere. Upgraded to a king bed room on the second floor, the room remained dark even with lights on during the bright afternoon. I then noticed the building's exterior walls form an inverted trapezoid that expands outward, so even standing on the extended balcony gives you the feeling of a heavy weight pressing down on your head. Of course, dimness has its advantages—it can hide minor wear and tear. Upon inquiry, I learned the hotel opened with the Garden Expo Park eight years ago and only joined voco this year. Looking for positives to balance my impression, the double bathtub deserves praise, as do the generous welcome fruit basket and complimentary minibar. There's no executive lounge, just two welcome drink vouchers that got me two bottles of Sprite. I took them to the Garden Expo Park, which I won't describe in detail except to say it was one disappointment after another, like witnessing the chaotic aftermath of a grand estate's downfall. With almost no amenities nearby and the closest restaurant five kilometers away, I had to dine at the Chinese restaurant on the sixth floor. There, I accidentally discovered the hotel's core selling point. The rooftop outdoor area features a green oasis of flowers, like a Babylonian hanging garden with Eastern flair, filled with exotic plants. With roses and weigela in full bloom across the landscape, there's also a high terrace overlooking the entire Garden Expo Park. Honestly, this spot effortlessly outshines the drab park across the way. Disappointingly, the staff didn't mention this hidden gem during check-in. Had I not discovered it myself, I would have missed what was possibly the only highlight of my stay. They did mention the gym was next to my room, but it was pitch black inside with no visible light switch. The breakfast area was also dim, though its aesthetic appeal was somewhat redeemed by the classical painting atmosphere. The food was average, service was lacking, but at least there was a good collection of Henan regional specialties. Overall, if you're simply planning to visit Zhengzhou Garden Expo Park, I advise against it. If you want to experience the hotel, I suggest having more patience. The Courtyard by Marriott in an identical building next door is already displaying its sign—wait for it to open and visit both to save time and transportation costs. In the end, I decided to check out early and head to Xuchang to visit the famous Pang Donglai department store. Room details: Room number: 229 Official name: Deluxe King Room Size: 38 square meters Mattress: King Koil Linens and towels: Parkside TV: Philips Shower fixtures: Hansgrohe Toilet: Manual flush, Kohler Hair dryer: Creade Scale: Lifesense Amenities: Large bottles of Elemis Electric kettle: Cetis Drip coffee: Diyi Tea bags: Chali Bottled water: Chunyue Minibar: Complimentary