InterContinental Hotels Group, marked a new milestone in China with the opening of four hotels and 1,100 rooms…
InterContinental Hotels Group, marked a new milestone in China with the opening of four hotels and 1,100 rooms during the one-month period from June to July 2006.
The recent openings of Crowne Plaza Changshu, Crowne Plaza Fudan Shanghai, Holiday Inn Jasmine Suzhou and Holiday Inn Seaview Qinhuangdao bring the Group’s portfolio of hotels in China to 57, the largest of any international hotel company. It also brings the company a step closer to its goal of having 125 hotels open in China by 2008.
The Group’s pioneering effort in China is also evident as two of the hotels – Crowne Plaza Changshu and Holiday Inn Seaview Qinhuangdao – opened as the first internationally managed hotels in their respective cities.
The four hotels which opened during the period include:
Crowne Plaza Changshu – Opened on 12 July, the strategically located 275-room hotel is adjacent to both the new International Exhibition Center and the newly built Sports Stadium. Part of the Jiangsu province, Changshu is one of China’s most developed counties and known for its historical, cultural and scenic attractions.
Holiday Inn Sea View Qinhuangdao – Opened on 1 July, the 290-room beachfront hotel will play a key role in the growth of Qinhuangdao, one of China’s upcoming tourist destinations. In addition to being a seaside resort, Qinhuangdao is a major port city and home to the eastern end of the Great Wall.
Holiday Inn Jasmine Suzhou – Opened on 28 June as the first Holiday Inn hotel in Jiangsu province, the 287-room hotel is located in a main shopping district in downtown Suzhou. The hotel provides easy access to the growing commercial zones in the east and west of the city.
Crowne Plaza Fudan Shanghai – Opened on 12 June with a strategic location in Shanghai’s ‘University Town’, opposite the prestigious Fudan University. This 309-room hotel is targeted at academic and institutional conferences as well as travellers who prefer upscale accommodation away from the buzz of downtown Shanghai, yet near enough for convenient access.
Edmond Ip, chief operating officer, North Asia, InterContinental Hotels Group, said: “China is a key market for InterContinental Hotels Group and where a significant portion of our global expansion strategy will be carried out. We continue to open new hotels in key cities and secondary locations. The country is undergoing rapid development and we look forward to contributing to the continued growth of the country’s tourism and hotel industries.”
