Accor to manage new hotel in Shanghai

Accor has won the management contract for Sofitel Anting, bringing its luxury five-star hotel brand next to Shanghai’s newly completed Formula 1 circuit.

Located just outside Shanghai’s bustling metropolis in the Jiading district, the 450-room (including 97 service apartments) Sofitel Anting will open late 2005 as the closest five-star hotel to the Shanghai race way. China will host its first Formula 1 Grand Prix there this September and the circuit will feature an additional 16 motor racing events each year.

Anting is becoming established as China’s ‘Motor City’, with the special automobile economic zone including automobile manufacturing and assembly plants, an automobile trading centre and technical research centre. Major companies such as Volkswagen and General Motors have set up their manufacturing plants there, and there is a growing stream of domestic and international travellers visiting the area for business, conventions and exhibitions.

Accor Senior Vice President – Asia, Mr Reggie Shiu, said Shanghai’s future economic development plays a crucial role in Accor’s strategic planning for new hotels around the city.

“Shanghai is one of the world’s fastest growing business cities and the Formula One Grand Prix race has put the spotlight on the Anting region as the world-class centre for the automobile industry.

“With Anting attracting an increasing international market, the Sofitel will be an important addition to the region’s tourism and hospitality infrastructure. The hotel will complement our two other high-profile Shanghai Sofitels in Pudong and Nanjing Road, and enable Accor to offer an extensive range of accommodation options for travellers visiting Shanghai.”

Shanghai International Automobile City Real Estate Co. Ltd Chairman Mr Fei Chun lu, said: “We made a very thorough study of hotel management companies doing business in China and we liked Accor’s international reputation. Having a strong network, especially in sales and marketing, was crucial.

“We also were extremely impressed with Sofitel Boao on Hainan Island where the Boao Forum on Asia was held in 2003 will be held every year.”

The hotel will have one International restaurant and one Chinese food and beverage outlet. There is also a 1,800sqm multifunctional conference hall and Accor will also manage an adjacent 400,000sqm Convention and Exhibition Centre offering the latest audiovisual equipment and simultaneous translation capabilities.

Sofitel Anting is only a 45 minutes drive from Shanghai’s city centre, 54 kilometres from Pudong International Airport and only 22 kilometres from Hongqiao International Airport.