Carlson Hotels signs First Park Plaza Hotel in Shanghai

Carlson Hotels has signed its first Park Plaza hotel in Shanghai, to be constructed at the city's Hong Qiao Airport and opening in June 2009.

The hotel is one of six hotels currently under development by Carlson as part of its continuing expansion across China, where it plans to more than double its presence in the coming years. Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific currently manages nine hotels in China under its Regent, Radisson and Park Plaza brands.

"The Park Plaza Shanghai Hong Qiao Airport will raise the profile of the Park Plaza brand in Shanghai, complementing The Regent Shanghai and four Radisson hotels to add to the portfolio of Carlson's full-service brands," said Martin Rinck, president and managing director of Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific.

The hotel will be developed by the Shanghai Zhong Tong Hongqiao Business Hotel Co. Ltd. and designed by the Shanghai Urban and Rural Area Architecture firm with interior design by Woodhead. Located on Hong Qiao Road at the entrance to the airport, the hotel is in close proximity to the greater Hong Qiao area - a well-developed commercial and office hub - as well as the Shanghai Zoo and the planned station for the Maglev train to Hangzhou.

"The Park Plaza Shanghai Hong Qiao Airport will be perfectly located to serve both transit passengers plus corporate and meeting customers," said Chen Shu Da, general manager of Shanghai Zhong Tong Hongqiao Business Hotel Co. Ltd.

The 313-room hotel will feature an executive lounge on the 12th floor along with a business centre, 450 square metre ballroom, meeting facilities and 96 parking bays. There will be a fitness centre, spa, lobby bar and lounge as well.

On 16 January 2008, Carlson signed a partnership with Sunshine100, a top Chinese developer, to build at least 10 hotels in second tier cities such as Tianjin, Chongqing, Shenyang, Yantai, Changsha, Nanning, Liuzhou and Guilin.

Carlson Hotels has already doubled its presence in China in the last three years. At the same time, it has been expanding its network in other key markets in the Asia Pacific region - particularly India, where it manages the largest portfolio of any international hotel group.

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