Here’s a date to think about: July 8. That’s when the Olympic Green goes into lockdown—after that it’s access only for ticketed guests, VIPs AND people with reservations at the brand new InterContinental Beijing Beichen. I learned this during a wide ranging one on one with Andreas Pfister, the incoming ICBB GM. But what I really wanted to know was how the InterContinental group managed to get INSIDE the Olympic Green! “This is a unique property in unique location with unique business potential,” Pfister told me (understatement of the year!), “and we have a great relationship with the developer.” What he’s leaving out is that IC is the largest hotel group in the world (they also own Holiday Inn) and they have 125 hotels in China PLUS the 10 which will come online in Chengdu as part of the so-called Panda Project. In any event, you’ll have about a month between the hotel’s opening and July 8 to check out the new lobby which features a massive bronze wall with a dragon motif lighted from behind. “It’s just sexy,” Pfister told me, “Really one of the most impressive lobbies you can find in Beijing…slick and sexy.” Can’t wait.