Gloria International expands portfolio in China

Gloria International Hotels recently signed on two more Gloria Plaza Hotels
to its management portfolio.

The 2 new properties are located in Shenzhen and Inner Mongolia's Hohhot 
respectively, and brings the total collection of Gloria Plaza Hotels to 7 properties 
within the brand, and 14 properties within the group's total portfolio of hotels.

GLORIA PLAZA HOTEL HOHHOT

Gloria Plaza Hotel Hohhot will be positioned as the first hotel in Hohhot city to be managed by an international chain. With 200 modern guest rooms and suites in its inventory, the hotel is being developed as a 4-star hotel that will feature the latest in standard in-room facilities such as TV with satellite channels, IDD telephones, safe and mini-bar. All rooms will also be outfitted with in-room internet access facility. An executive floor (Plaza Floor) with an executive lounge (Plaza Lounge) will also be available to cater to those who require the benefits and offerings of true business accommodation and hospitality.

The hotel's function facilities will be capable of accommodating up to 500 persons for an event whilst food & beverage outlets will also include a coffee shop (Atrium Café), a Chinese restaurant, lobby lounge and a bar. Other hotel facilities will include a concierge, health club, a kiosk, business centre, foreign exchange, safe-deposit services, laundry & valet, room service, tour desk and car park facilities. 

"We are delighted to have been selected by Inner Mongolia Yellow River Wanjiazhai Ltd Indusrial Company in managing this important project. With Gloria International Hotels' brand and expertise in hotel management, our entry into Hohhot and Inner Mongolia will only serve to raise tourism and hospitality standards in the city significantly," says Mr Wang Jinjun, President of Gloria International Hotels.

Gloria Plaza Hotel Hohhot's location is ideally situated in the shopping district, and is only a 30-minute drive away from the airport. Adjacent to the city's business and commercial area, Hohhot's international airport serves more than 47 air routes to major cities in Mongolia, Russia and boasts efficient connections to China's main cities that include Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Wuhan and more. Chartered flights to Hong Kong are also available.

Hohhot (meaning " blue city" in Mongolian), is one of China's sunniest cities and is famous for a well known D.I.Y. gourmet affair of the Mongolian Hot Pot. As a region, Inner Mongolia is rich in non-ferrous mineral reserves including oil, coal and rare earth. This region is a valuable economic resource and is an important producer of livestock, wool and dairy products.

Hohhot's famous tourist offerings include the Xilin Gol League Prairie, Genghis Khan's Mausoleum, the tomb of Wang Zhaojun, the Temple of Five Pagodas, the murals in the Han Tombs at Horinger County, Haozhao Monastery, Dazhao Lamasery and more.

The opening of the Gloria Plaza Hotel Hohhot is scheduled for 3rd quarter of 2003 and will serve needs of the leisure and business travellers, as well as the MICE market.

GLORIA PLAZA HOTEL SHENZHEN

After operating for 12 years under the name of Fengyuan Hotel, this establishment is now undergoing renovations costing approximately RMB50million and the refurbished property will soon re-open in 2003 as the Gloria Plaza Hotel Shenzhen.

Managed by Gloria International Hotels, this property will feature 220 guest rooms and suites, an executive floor and function facilities for 300 persons. Food & beverage facilities will include a coffee shop (Atrium Café), a Chinese restaurant, a karaoke and disco (Hurricane) and a lobby lounge.

Guest rooms and suites promise comfort and features 4-star offerings that include TV with satellite channels, IDD telephones, safe, mini-bar and in-room internet access facility. Other hotel facilities and services include a business centre, a kiosk, foreign exchange, safe deposit facility, room service, gym, sauna, tour desk, transportation and car park facilities.

Partnering Shenzhen Hua Lian Grains and Oils Trading Company, Gloria International Hotels' expansion plan in general and along the Pearl River remains on track with the signing of this hotel management contract.

" A presence in the south is crucial to our development plan. With Shenzhen's unique economic role and strength, the opening of the 220-room Gloria Plaza Hotel Shenzhen in 3rd quarter of 2003 will leverage well, our group's position and profile," says Mr Wang Jinjun, President of Gloria International Hotels.

Gloria Plaza Hotel Shenzhen's location is centrally situated close to the bustling shopping haven of the city and only an hour's drive from Shenzhen's airport or a 20-minute walk away from Luohu train station. Shenzhen as a city also boasts convenient links with neighbouring cities of Hong Kong and Macau, via ferry and rail.

Designated as China's special economic zone in 1980 and governed under the jurisdiction of Guangdong Province of China, Shenzhen neighbors Daya Bay in the east, the mouth of the Zhujiang (Pearl) River in the west, and Hong Kong in the south, covering an area of 2,020 sq km. Just its coastline alone, stretches 229.96 km long and its total population stands at 3.8 million people. Today, Shenzhen is also home to one tenth of the world's top 500 multinational corporations.

The six districts of Shenzhen City include Luohu (where the Gloria Plaza Hotel Shenzhen is situated), Futian, Nanshan, Baoan, Longgang and Yantian. Ranking 5th amongst all Chinese cities in terms of economic strength, Shenzhen boasts good city planning, convenient transportation and communication, adequate power and water supply, sound financial system, mature educational and medical services sector and a strong tourism network.

The city is probably most famous among avid shoppers with its popular shopping haunts that include Lo Wu Commercial Center, Shenzhen Seibu Department Store, MOI Department Store, Friendship Store and Book City.

Nightlife is also another of Shenzhen's specialities and its cityscape is dotted with numerous entertainment venues throughout. In recent years, Shenzhen Bay has also added three new tourist attractions (Splendid China, the China Folk Culture Village, and Windows of the World) that have become extremely popular with both domestic and international tourists. 

ABOUT GLORIA PLAZA HOTELS - THE BRAND

Located in China's gateway cities, Gloria Plaza Hotels are four-star properties that offer international service standards and facilities without charging the premium rates that most international four-star hospitality brands do in China.

All Gloria Plaza Hotels are committed to presenting and preserving a common identity and product. Each hotel has an Atrium Cafe that serves international fare and daily buffets, a Sampan Seafood Restaurant serving the freshest seafood, dim sum and the finest in Cantonese cuisine; and a Lobby Lounge for relaxing cocktails.

Gloria Plaza Hotels are designed for a cost-conscious clientele who at the same time, require the facilities and services of an international standard four-star hotel. As the hotel market in China matures and as travellers grow to become more discerning, the need for such hotels will increase.

With this focus, Gloria Plaza Hotels has developed and continues to maintain its strong position as a leader in the mid-market category in China, effectively posing as a strong home-grown hotel brand set to rival and compete with other regional hotel chains.

Presently and aside new management contracts acquired (above), Gloria Plaza Hotels are presently located in Beijing (423 rooms), Dalian (240 rooms), Shenyang (283 rooms), Suzhou (269 rooms); and Nanchang (328 rooms).

Gloria International Hotels is a rapidly expanding regional hotel group with representative offices in Hong Kong and Beijing. The group currently manages 11 hotels throughout the People's Republic of China, with Gloria Plaza Hotels in Beijing, Suzhou, Nanchang, Shenyang and Dalian; Gloria Inns in Harbin, Qingdao and Shenyang; Gloria Resort and Cactus Resort in Sanya, Hainan and Gloria Holiday Villas in Qinhuangdao.

The opening of the two 4-star Gloria Plaza Hotels in Hohhot and Shenzhen will bring its total portfolio of hotels to 13 properties, by 3rd quarter of 2003. Its total room count will then reach an inventory in excess of 3,800 guestrooms all over China, hence even more firmly establishing the group as a leading hotel operator in China and one of the top ranking hotel management companies in all Asia.