The opening of a Sheraton Hotel in Fuzhou confirms the interest of Starwood Hotels & Resorts to move into secondary cities in China.
FUZHOU- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced the opening of the Sheraton Fuzhou Hotel in Fuzhou’s newly built, modern business district in China’s Fujian province. The hotel is owned by the Zhonggeng Group, and the introduction of the Sheraton brand to this vibrant, bustling port city represents Starwood’s vigorous expansion plan in China, extending its footprint to gateway cities as well as emerging markets across the nation. The Sheraton brand’s impressive global pipeline is being fuelled by phenomenal demand in China with 12 new Sheraton hotels slated to open across this fast-growing market by year’s end driven by strong demand in second and third tier cities.
“We’re excited to bring the Sheraton brand to the Fujian province and its capital city. Not only is Fuzhou one of the key trading ports in China, it is the provincial political, economic and cultural centre as well as an industrial powerhouse,” said Hoyt Harper, Global Brand Leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. “With strong demand and an increasing affinity for international brand hotels in Fuzhou, and as the first international five-star hotel on Exhibition Island, we are very confident that the Sheraton Fuzhou’s premier facilities and warm services will offer guests an unparalleled hospitality experience in this dynamic new business centre.”
Situated in the heart of Fuzhou’s newly developed commercial district, the hotel is conveniently located beside China’s largest exhibition centre, the Cross-Straits International Conference and Exhibition Centre, on the banks of the Minjiang River. Sheraton Fuzhou Hotel also offers easy access to the city’s transportation network. It is about 8 kilometres from the Fuzhou South Railway Station, 14 kilometres from the Fuzhou Railway Station, and 45 kilometres from Fuzhou Changle International Airport.
Sheraton Fuzhou Hotel boasts 396 rooms and suites comprised of Deluxe, Premier, River-view and upgraded Club Room categories and offering a full range of amenities, including high speed internet access. The heart of the lobby features the Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft- a social hub in the lobby providing complimentary WiFi and PC workstations so guests can surf the internet, review local attractions and print boarding passes while on the road. Guests can also indulge in signature spa treatments at Shine Spa for Sheraton and keep fit through the brand’s revolutionary new health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness programmed by Core Performance, designed exclusively for Sheraton guests.
Three restaurants provide a range of world class cuisine. Feast, the Sheraton brand’s signature all day international dining restaurant; Yue, a Chinese restaurant specializing in Cantonese fare, focusing on locally sourced and sustainably produced ingredients and Japanese restaurant Miyabi showcasing the freshest foods. The comfortable Lobby Lounge serves refreshing cocktails, premium spirits, and freshly brewed coffee – an ideal venue for relaxing and socializing with colleagues or family members.
The hotel’s 4,200 square meters of function space includes a 1,800 square meter pillar-free Grand Ballroom that can be separated into three individual rooms and 17 other meeting and conference rooms, ranging from 48 to 400 square meters in size.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.