ACCOR ADDS NEW SOFITEL IN SHENYANG

Sofitel Jinsui Shenyang expands five-star network in China

Leading hotel company Accor has strengthened the position of its premier Sofitel brand in China with an agreement to manage the Sofitel Jinsui Shenyang.

Scheduled to open the second quarter 2002, the 370-room Sofitel Jinsui Shenyang complements Accor’s existing Sofitel network in China, which includes the Sofitel Hyland Shanghai, Sofitel Zhengzhou and Sofitel Silver Plaza Jinan.

The Liaoning Jinsui Group, a major local Shenyang conglomerate, owns the project and has extensive business interests in real estate, importing and trading.

In announcing the agreement, Accor Vice President – China, Richard Kaldor, said it marked an important milestone in developing the Sofitel brand in China.

“Accor is very pleased to have a quality partner in the Liaoning Jinsui Group, and both companies think the hotel will be one of Shenyang’s best.

“This will be our fourth Sofitel in China, significantly strengthening our position as the leading international five-star brand in the country,” Mr Kaldor, said. “Accor is committed to developing Sofitels in China’s major gateway cities, so this agreement is another major step towards achieving this important goal.”

Situated at the beginning of a beautifully landscaped boulevard that runs through the heart of Shenyang’s downtown financial district, the Sofitel Jinsui Shenyang is also near the city’s main Rail Station. Shenyang is the provincial capital of Liaoning Province (formerly known as part of Manchuria), which borders North Korea and is situated in China’s strategic northeast.

The area is known for its hi-tech and heavy industries including automobiles and aviation. International direct flights link Shenyang’s seven million inhabitants with Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Europe.

Shenyang has a colourful history dating back over 3,000 years. During the 17th century Shenyang was the capital of the Manchu Empire and an imperial palace was built to rival that of the Ming emperors in Beijing. Today Shenyang’s imperial palace is meticulously preserved, with over 300 building covering an area of 60,000 square metres, and considered second in grandeur only to the ‘‘Forbidden City” in Beijing.

In addition to its Sofitel brand, Accor’s lodging portfolio in China also comprises five Novotel properties in Beijing, Shanghai, Hefei and Hangzhou. In February, Accor signed an agreement with the Beijing Tourism Group (BTG) to manage the 740-room Xinqiao Hotel in Beijing, which will be rebranded a Novotel on August.

It is Accor’s second hotel in the Chinese capital after the addition of the famous Novotel Peace Hotel in April 2000. Early next year, Accor will open another Sofitel in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan Province and China’s most populous province (100 million people).

This expansion is complemented by Accor’s strategic alliance with Zenith International Hotels; one of China’s most experienced hotel developers. Zenith currently operates eight hotels in key cities, including Beijing, Hanzhou and Shenzhen, and three new hotels in Chongqing, Guangzhou and Hefei under development.