TIANJIN, China, Aug. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirty minutes from Beijing by high-speed train, Tianjin runs on a very different clock.
While other cities compete over speed and skylines, Tianjin has made an art of taking life as it comes. The Haihe River runs through its center, the Bohai Sea lies beyond, and grand houses from the city's eventful past share the streets with breakfast stalls and neighborhood chatter. The mood is worldly, warm and wonderfully unhurried. Locals have a line for it: 'If life gives you a minute, be happy for all 60 seconds.' The humor is unmistakably Tianjin, and so is the philosophy behind it. Four Seasons Hotel Tianjin carries that same easy confidence into a calm retreat above the heart of the city. From here, a stay unfolds through what you see, hear, touch and taste — and through the sense of time gradually loosening its hold.
See: Let Tianjin set the pace
Tianjin begins just outside the hotel door. Along Chifeng Road, the Baroque-style former residence of Zhang Xueliang holds echoes of a dramatic chapter in modern Chinese history. A few steps away, the Porcelain House covers French-style columns and walls with the colors and fragments of Chinese ceramics. Side by side, the two landmarks reveal a city whose past has never belonged to a single aesthetic.
By afternoon, a bicycle feels like the right speed for the Five Great Avenues, Tianjin's open-air showcase of international architecture. Prince Qing's Mansion stands with an understated dignity, Munan Mansion has the elegance of a line of verse, and Minyuan Plaza opens out beneath a wide northern sky. Each turn brings another façade, another story and another version of the city.
At dusk, trade the bicycle for a boat along the Haihe. Bridges pass overhead as lights gather along the banks, and a breeze carrying the coolness of the river brushes across your face. Seen from the water, Tianjin appears entirely at ease with itself.
Touch: Let the day settle into the body
The river breeze may still be on your skin when you return to the hotel. Inside the L'Océan spa, 11 treatment rooms offer a more restorative kind of pause. During the signature Balinese massage, warm oil, long flowing strokes and gentle kneading gradually release tired muscles. A body does not relax on command, so the therapist responds to its cues, moving between stretches and soothing touch until both body and mind begin to let go.
That sense of comfort continues in the hotel's 259 rooms and suites. Wood furnishings and pale linen bring warmth to the interiors, while custom mattresses with a Gel Touch foam core draw away excess heat and help maintain a comfortable sleeping temperature. Soft, finely woven bed linen takes care of the rest.
Listen: Find space between the sounds
Morning begins with the splash and ripple of the pool. In the afternoon, music drifts through the lobby without taking over the conversation. By evening, the light clink of glasses at the terrace bar mingles with traffic in the distance, while an occasional live set adds warmth to the night.
None of these sounds asks for attention. The city remains beyond the windows, footsteps disappear into the carpet, and the background softens enough for you to notice your own breathing rhythm again.
Taste: Meet Tianjin at the breakfast table
The quickest route into the life of Tianjin may well be breakfast.
At Cielo, jianbing guozi is made fresh to order, folding a fragrant mung-bean crêpe around a crisp cracker. Guoba Cai arrives under a rich, savory gravy, with sesame paste and fermented tofu giving the local favorite its unmistakable depth. In just a few bites, the city's generosity and homestyle character come through.
Later in the day, the award-winning Jin House offers another reading of the region. Guided by the seasons, the kitchen brings local ingredients and flavors into conversation with the finesse of Cantonese cuisine. A basket of dim sum at lunch or a warming bowl of soup at dinner becomes a small expression of place and time.
Feel: Rediscover the luxury of an unhurried day
After a day like this, Tianjin's famous ease is no longer an abstract quality. A concierge points you toward streets worth wandering. The afternoon unfolds without a checklist, leaving room for the simple pleasure of having nowhere else to be. Four Seasons Hotel Tianjin turns that unhurried rhythm into the rarest luxury of all: time that is entirely your own.
By the time you leave, the photographs and souvenirs may be joined by something more useful: the ability to slow down.
For enquiries and reservations at Four Seasons Hotel Tianjin, please call +86 22 2716 6688 or email reservations.tnj@fourseasons.com.
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Awaken the Five Senses in Tianjin -- A slower way to discover the city from Four Seasons Hotel Tianjin
New Prospa and YouGov research finds SMEs would put an average of nearly $9,400 a month through a rewards-enabled payment platform, while only 8% currently route B2B payments through platforms offering rewards
SYDNEY, Nov. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Australian small and medium businesses could be missing out on rewards from thousands of dollars in necessary business spending each month, as rising operating costs continue to put pressure on margins.
New research from Australian fintech Prospa and YouGov found 84% of Australian SMEs have experienced rising operational costs, while 80% say unavoidable expenses have squeezed their margins over the past 12 months.
With businesses already paying suppliers, bills and other operating costs, the findings suggest SMEs are increasingly looking for ways to get more value from spending they cannot avoid.
Two in three Australian SMEs would use a rewards-enabled payment platform if given the option, yet only 8% currently use one for B2B payments. SMEs said they would put an average of $9,398 a month through a platform that offered rewards.
Beau Bertoli, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Prospa, said: "Every business has regular expenses that need to be paid, regardless of the economic environment. This research shows there is an opportunity for business owners to get more value from those everyday payments, rather than viewing them as simply a cost of doing business.
"Australian SMEs are looking for more value from the unavoidable costs of running a business. Two in three would put overheads through a rewards-enabled payment platform if given the option, yet only 8% currently route B2B payments through one. That gap shows rewards-enabled business payments remain a largely untapped opportunity."
Most SMEs are not earning rewards on B2B payments
The research found Australian SMEs currently use several methods to earn value from business spending:
- 23% use a business card that earns points, cashback or rewards.
- 14% negotiate rebates or loyalty benefits directly with suppliers.
- 8% use a B2B payment platform that offers rewards.
- A further 20% are actively looking for ways to get value or rewards from money they already spend.
"The results show that rewards are already part of how some SMEs approach business spending, although the methods used differ," Bertoli said.
"For some businesses, this means using rewards cards to get more value from everyday spending. Others are negotiating rebates with suppliers or routing B2B payments through platforms offering rewards. The opportunity is to give more SMEs practical ways to get greater value from spending that is already part of running their business."
SMEs would put thousands through rewards-enabled business payments
The amount Australian SMEs would put through a rewards-enabled payment platform varied by business size and structure:
- Across all SMEs surveyed, the average was $9,398 a month.
- Non-sole traders would put through an average of $14,682 a month.
- Sole traders would put through an average of $6,214 a month.
- One in five SMEs would put at least $10,000 of monthly business spending through one.
Non-sole traders were also more likely to actively look for value or rewards from money they already spend, at 27%, compared with 16% of sole traders.
"The level of interest naturally depends on the size and structure of each business, as every business faces its own unique expenses and payment volumes. That's why it's important to recognise that solutions need to be flexible to meet these diverse needs," Bertoli said.
"We launched Prospa Rewards because small businesses told us they want their everyday spending to work harder. Business owners already have suppliers, bills and other operating costs to pay. This is about helping them get something back from the spending that is part of their business."
About Prospa Rewards
The findings come following the launch of Prospa Rewards, a business rewards platform designed to help eligible Australian small businesses earn value from eligible business payments and transactions they already make.
Eligible customers can earn one Prospa Point for every $1 paid on eligible transactions. Prospa Points can be redeemed for selected business essentials and gift cards, or converted to Qantas Frequent Flyer Points.
Eligibility criteria, transaction requirements and redemption terms apply.
About Prospa
Prospa is a leading fintech committed to unleashing the potential of every small business in Australia and New Zealand. We do this by developing fast, flexible, stress-free lending solutions and financial management tools that help businesses thrive.
At Prospa, we're deeply committed to making a meaningful impact on the small business community and on our people. Since 2012, Prospa has helped over 45,000 small businesses access over $5 billion in business funding, working with over 20,000 partners, including brokers, accountants, and aggregator partners, to help unlock business funding for their small business clients.
In addition to our commitment to supporting SMEs, Prospa has also been recognised for its workplace practices, culture, and values, culminating in our certification as a Great Place to Work in Australia, a Great Place to Work in Technology, and, in 2025, a Great Place to Work for Women.
For more information about Prospa, visit prospa.com
Methodology
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov. Total sample size was 500 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 30th July – 13th August 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Australian business owners and primary decision makers of businesses with fewer than 50 employees (aged 18+).
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Prospa research: Two in three Aussie SMEs want rewards on their bills, yet only 8% are cashing in on supplier payments
