Carlson Hotels to Double Portfolio in China through Sunshine100 partnership

Carlson Hotels has signed a strategic partnership with the Sunshine100 Group, one of China's top 10 property development firms, which will see the company more than double the size of its current hotel portfolio in China.

The partnership will focus on expanding the presence of Carlson's Radisson, Park Plaza and Park Inn brands across China. The Sunshine100 Group plans to build at least 10 hotels which will be managed by Carlson Hotels Worldwide, with target cities including Tianjin, Chongqing, Shenyang, Yantai, Changsha, Nanning, Liuzhou and Guilin.

Mr. Martin Rinck, president and managing director, Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific, said, "The partnership with Sunshine100 Group is a very significant development for Carlson and indicates our determination to grow the presence of our world-class hotel brands across the region. Strategic partnerships with companies like Sunshine100, which share our vision and passion for the Chinese hotel market, enable us to deliver multiple hotel development deals, and we are delighted to have found a great partner in Mr Yi and his group."

In October 2007, Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific announced its first major partnership in the region with Lotus Hotel Investment Fund, a US$1 billion private equity fund established to target hotel development opportunities in high-growth markets including China, India, Thailand and Vietnam. Carlson and Lotus are currently in the final stages of identifying the first hotel projects to be developed by Lotus and managed by Carlson.

Mr. Yi Xiaodi, chairman and president of the Sunshine100 Real Estate Group, said, "We see enormous opportunities, particularly in secondary and tertiary cities which are currently under-serviced by international-standard business and leisure hotels. We believe the combination of our development expertise and the power of Carlson's world-renowned hotel brands, blended with the great management experience of the Carlson Hotels team, will prove to be an extremely successful formula in China."

Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific has already more than doubled its presence in China over the last three years and now manages nine hotels, including The Regent Beijing and The Regent Shanghai. A further five Carlson-managed hotels are currently under development in China, not including the properties which will be built by Sunshine100.

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