Le Méridien Qingdao and Le Meridien Chongqing join the brand's growing portfolio in China
Growth Accelerates On the Heels of Four New Le Meridien Hotels in China and Thailand to open by year end
SINGAPORE, Oct. 22 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Le Meridien, continuing its expansion in Asia Pacific, recently announced an agreement with Wanda Group to open two new properties in China, one in Qingdao and one in Chongqing. Scheduled to open in 2011, the two new Le Meridien hotels further strengthen the Le Meridien brand's growing portfolio in China, and will offer travellers a unique European flair and sophisticated environment designed to appeal to the creative guest. In addition, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the parent company of Le Meridien, also announced an agreement with Wanda Group to add a Sheraton in Wuxi and a Westin in Taiyuan to the Starwood portfolio in China.
"We are thrilled to announce what will be two stunning Le Meridien hotels in Qingdao and Chongqing, two of China's most exciting destinations!" said Miguel Ko, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific. "Chongqing is the biggest inland river port in western China and one of the most established industrial bases in China, while Qingdao attracts travellers with its rich cultural heritage and sound economic strength. Both cities are a great fit with Le Meridien brand, which is committed to providing guests with an interactive and culturally enriching experience."
Le Meridien is also set to open Le Meridien Shimei Bay Beach Resort & Spa in China this year, as well as three Le Meridien hotels in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai by the end of the year.
Le Meridien Chongqing
Le Meridien Chongqing, Nan'an will be located between Nanping Avenue and Shanhu Road in Nan'an Nanping Business District of Chongqing. Le Meridien will feature 345 rooms, approximately 23,000 square feet of meeting space, five restaurants and bars, a health club, an indoor heated swimming pool, spa, penguin club and a retail shop.
Le Meridien Chongqing will be part of a mixed-use development complex called "Chongqing Wanda Plaza", which consists of the hotel (in one tower), 1.1 million square feet of offices in four towers, 1.1 million square feet of retail mall at the office podium, and 5.0 million square feet of un-branded private residential apartments in 17 towers.
Situated in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in Southwest China, Chongqing is the biggest inland river port in Western China, with a population of around 30 million, making it one of the largest cities globally. Well connected to various cities of China as well as Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and other countries globally, arrivals into Chongqing has been growing at an impressive rate of 15% annually.
Le Méridien Qingdao
Le Meridien Qingdao will be strategically located at the intersection of Xu Zhou Road and Yan Ji Road in Shi Bei District of Qingdao, Shandong Province, the new Central Business District of Qingdao. The hotel's facilities will consist of 330 rooms, approximately 29,000 square feet of meeting space, four restaurants and bars, business center, a health club, an indoor heated swimming pool, spa, penguin club and a retail shop. The hotel is planned to be part of a mixed-use development complex called "Qingdao Wanda Plaza", which consists of the hotel (in one tower), 1.2 million square feet of offices in two towers, 1.2 million square feet of retail mall at podium, and 660,000 square feet of unbranded private residential apartments in three towers.
Qingdao is the capital city of Shandong Province and a key economic center and coastal port city famous for its cultural heritage, beaches and beautiful scenery. It is voted as one of China's top ten economically dynamic cities and business cities. Due to its unique coastal location, manufacturing hub, heritage buildings and long beaches, Qingdao is a favorite destination for domestic, regional and international business and leisure travellers. One of the most popular attractions in Qingdao is the "Badaguan Scenic Area" located in the eastern part of the city. Badaguan is popular for its garden-like villas and European inspired buildings constructed by Europeans (mainly Germans) during the German's occupation period in 1897. Due to the iconic heritage buildings in Badaguan, Qingdao is popularly known as "little Germany" by local and foreign visitors.
Le Meridien in Asia Pacific
This latest Le Meridien announcement highlights the significant development of the brand in Asia Pacific. Last year, Le Meridien announced plans to further expand its presence in the region with the signing of five new properties in Thailand: Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort, Le Meridien Chiang Mai Resort, Le Meridien Bangkok (all three to open in 2008); Le Meridien Pattaya Resort and Le Meridien Suvarnabhumi Golf Resort & Spa (to open in 2009). Additionally, the brand signed Le Meridien Shimei Bay, China.
"It's no surprise that tourists and business travellers are flocking to Thailand and China in droves, drawn by these two countries' rich landscapes, exciting metropolises and luxurious resort enclaves," said Eva Ziegler, Brand Leader of Le Meridien.
Le Meridien currently operates 23 hotels in Asia Pacific, including Le Meridien She Shan, Le Royal Meridien Shanghai and Le Meridien Cyberport, Hong Kong.
About Le Meridien
Le Meridien brand, currently represented by 110 properties in 50 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. With close to 80 of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Meridien provides a strong international complement to Starwood's primarily North American holdings. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Meridien hotels and resorts within the next five years, concentrating in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, including destinations such as India, Thailand and China. Le Meridien plans to open new hotels in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Shimei Bay (China), Dallas, and Philadelphia in the coming months, and has recently signed new hotel deals in Taipei and Xiamen, China. For more information, please visit http://www.lemeridien.com .
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched AloftSM, and ElementSM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit http://www.starwoodhotels.com .
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. These risks and uncertainties are presented in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained or that results and events will not materially differ. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.)
