SHANGHAI, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Interstate China Hotels & Resorts Company Limited ("Interstate China") today announced that Timur Senturk has been appointed Managing Director of China's tallest ultra luxury hotel, the flagship J Hotel located at Shanghai Tower. Currently under construction in Shanghai's central business district of Lujiazui, Pudong, The J Hotel Shanghai Tower is anticipated to open in the fourth quarter of 2015 and will be operated by Interstate China Hotels & Resorts, a joint venture between Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Company Limited ("Jin Jiang Hotels"), China's leading hotel operator and developer, and U.S.-based Interstate Hotels & Resorts.
A seasoned general manager with global experience, Senturk comes to his new assignment from 12 years with The Ritz-Carlton Company where he most recently was general manager of the Ritz-Carlton Guangzhou, China. Prior to his assignment in China, he was general manager for the Ritz-Carlton hotels in South Beach Miami, FL, and Pentagon City, Washington, D.C. Throughout his 23-year career, Senturk also has operated hotels in India, Thailand and the U.K.
"Timur is exactly the kind of international hotelier essential to leading the flagship hotel for a new, world-class luxury brand and introducing The J Hotel Shanghai Tower to an international audience," said Jim Abrahamson, Interstate's chief executive officer. "His experience in every area of luxury hotels, coupled with twelve years with Ritz-Carlton, makes him an outstanding choice to establish a new benchmark in luxury hotels in China."
The J Hotel Shanghai Tower, anticipated to open with over 200 luxurious guestrooms in the fourth quarter of 2015, is the new and innovative ultra-luxury brand from Jin Jiang Hotels, the leading hotel group in China. The lobby will be located on the 101st floor of Shanghai Tower, with the hotel situated within floors 84-111. The hotel will feature three dynamic restaurants and a world-class spa. The J Brand itself, created by a steering committee of international and domestic Chinese hospitality experts, will offer its guests unparalleled experiences in hospitality and service.
Upon completion, Shanghai Tower will be China's tallest building and the second tallest in the world, rising 121 stories (2,073 feet; 631 m) with a gross floor area (GFA) of more than six million square feet. The Shanghai Tower symbolizes modern China and will be the world's tallest LEED-certified structure, a "vertical city" providing every facility and amenity, it will set new standards in design.
About Interstate China Hotels & Resorts
Shanghai-based Interstate China Hotels & Resorts, a joint venture between Interstate Hotels & Resorts and Jin Jiang Hotels, was established in 2010 as the first international third-party hotel management company to enter China. The Company's management platform provides hotel owners and developers with the resources and economies of scale necessary for world-class operations of franchised hotels under leading international brands and landmark independent hotels. Over 50 years of world class management experience and proven success for owners enable Interstate China to instill international hotel management policies, procedures and systems into China's market. Since tapping into China's market in 2010, Interstate China has signed management agreements with 10 hotels, of which, four have already opened for operation, the remaining six are expected to commence operation in 3 years' time. Interstate China's goal is aligned with owners' goals to enhance bottom line profitability and return on investment. Currently, Interstate China has more than 3,700 rooms throughout the country. For more information about Interstate China Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.interstatechina.com.
About Jin Jiang Hotels
Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels (Group) Company Limited is one of the leading hotel operators and managers in China and its stock was listed on the Main Board of Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Currently, over 900 hotels of the Group including star-rated hotels and Jin Jiang Inn Budget Hotels are under operation and development, providing nearly 136,000 rooms across more than 200 cities and towns in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities throughout China. The Group's overseas business mainly comprises of its 50% interest in IHR Group, which manages around 400 hotel properties across 9 countries all over the world. The Group also has equity interests in three Chinese listed companies, namely Jing Jiang Hotels, Jinjiang Investment and Jinjiang Travel. For more information about the Company, please visit its website: www.jinjianghotels.com.cn
About Interstate Hotels & Resorts
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of a 50/50 joint venture between subsidiaries of Thayer Lodging and Jin Jiang Hotels, is the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company, operating branded full- and select-service hotels and resorts, convention centers and independent hotels worldwide. Interstate and its affiliates manage 367 hotels with 69,000 rooms in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, including seven wholly owned hotels. In addition, Interstate has executed agreements to manage 36 hotels with more than 7,600 rooms under construction or development throughout the world. For more information, visit www.interstatehotels.com.
About The Thayer Group
The Thayer Group ("Thayer") is a US-based private equity firm with a lengthy and successful track record. Founded in 1991, it has consistently provided returns for its hospitality funds. Across its portfolio, Thayer has funds covering key asset classes ("Thayer Lodging RE Funds," "Thayer China Opportunity PE Fund," and "Thayer Ventures VC Fund"). Thayer first entered China in 2005 with its investment in Shanghai-based HUBS1. This has proved to be rewarding. The HUBS1 CRS system is now the leading web-based, real-time, Central Reservation System in today's market, which provides client hotels a one-stop seamless connection to all major Global Distribution System (GDS) companies, hundreds of third-party websites, travel agencies and corporations. In 2010, Thayer created a 50/50 joint venture with Shanghai Jin Jiang International (Group), Company Limited to privatize Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Since the acquisition, the company's management contracts have increased 34%. For more information on Thayer in China, please contact jhellman@thayerlodging.com.
