Sheraton Sanya Resort to Host Miss World

The luxurious Sheraton Sanya Resort, on Hainan Island, will play host to some of the world's most beautiful women competing in this year's Miss World Contest.

The new five-star resort located in the spectacular Yalong Bay was confirmed last night as the "Exclusive Official Resort of the Miss World Contest 2003", the world-famous international beauty pageant.

The arrangement was sealed at a special signing ceremony attended by: Mr. Zhang Qi, Vice Mayor of Sanya; Ms. Julia Morley, Chairman of the Miss World Organization; Miss Azra Akin, Miss World 2002; Miss Guan Qi, Miss China 2003; Miss Liu Li Na, Miss Sanya; Mr. Qian Jin, Vice President/Area Managing Director of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, China and Mr. Claudio Nardini, General Manager of Sanya Sheraton Resort. 

Mr Zhang Qi, the Vice Mayor of Sanya, said that this was the first time Miss World would be held in China and that the selection of Sanya showed that this was indeed a very beautiful spot.

Julia Morley, Chairman of the Miss World Organisation said that Sanya is a beautiful place, but few people know about it, and she hoped that the pageant would bring the beauty of Sanya to the World.

 The Miss World final is to be held on December 6 in Sanya, and the 117 contestants will stay at the Sheraton Sanya Resort between November 7 and December 8 throughout the duration of the pageant. Between rounds of the contest, the contestants will also travel to other locations throughout China for sightseeing and cultural exchange visits.

Managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the resort is a natural choice for the Miss World contest, with its own private white sand beach on the gleaming, sun-kissed eight-kilometre Yalong Bay.

Known as "the Hawaii of China", Hainan is an exciting destination for the world's celebrated beauty contest -- with year-round tropical sunshine, spectacular palm-fringed beaches, natural hot springs, lush mountain forests and colourful ethnic tribal villages.

Hainan is also one of China's most popular tropical tourist destinations with the southern resort centre of Sanya enjoying its own international airport with "open sky" status since July 2003 and scheduled flights to mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau,Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and South Korea.

One reason for the selection of Sheraton Sanya Resort was its spectacular location and proximity to scenic local attractions ranging from minority tribal villages and a nearby Butterfly Valley to the rugged Gan Shi Ling Tropical Rainforest, Luhuitou Park with panoramic vistas, local pearl farms, Buddhist statues and temples and even 'The End of the Earth' beach!

The beautiful visitors will also enjoy Hainan's famously fresh and sumptuous seafood, and shopping for unique souvenirs including pearls, coral and carved coconut handicrafts.

Sheraton Sanya Resort offers 511 rooms and 49 suites providing the ultimate in comfort and luxury, with spectacular views and state-of-the-art spa offering a wide range of beauty treatments. Guests can play beach volleyball, football, basketball, table tennis and tennis on floodlit courts.

On hand is also the neighbouring 18-hole Yalong Bay Golf Club designed by Robert Trent Jones II, while The Sheraton Sanya Resort operates water-sports including jet-skis, water-skis, parasailing, Hobie Cats, kayaking, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling and banana boats.