Shangri-La To Become The First Hotel Group To Partner China Eastern Airlines

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will join China Eastern Airlines' frequent flyer programme, the Golden Swallow Club, on 1 September, 2001, strengthening further its partnerships with Chinese airlines. It becomes the first international hotel group to sign an agreement with China Eastern Airlines and follows alliances with Air China and China Southern Airlines.

Members of the Golden Swallow Club will be given 800 kilometres each time they stay at any of Shangri-La's 38 hotels and resorts on a corporate rate or above from 1 September.

To mark Shangri-La's 29th frequent flyer programme, the hotel group is offering members paying a special rate double mileage per stay at any of its 16 Shangri-La or Traders' hotels in mainland China, including its newest hotel, the Shangri-La Dingshan, Nanjing, from 1 September until 30 November, 2001.

China Eastern Airlines is one of China's largest air carriers with an extensive route network including many destinations where Shangri-La has hotels: namely, Beijing, Dalian, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok.

Commenting on the new partnership, Kent Zhu, Shangri-Las Vice President Marketing for China, said: 'With over 8,000 rooms in mainland China, Shangri-La is very committed to China and to developing key strategic alliances. China Eastern Airlines is an important addition to our expanding network of airline partners and complements our agreements with leading carriers in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.'

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has over 19,500 rooms in 10 countries: China, Hong Kong SAR, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. It is the largest luxury hotel company based in the region.