Shangri-La to manage new hotel in Suzhou, China

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has signed a management agreement with the New World (Qingdao) Estate Development Group to operate the Traders Hotel, Suzhou in the Yangtze Delta in the south of the Jiangsu Province in mid-2005.

The 420-room hotel will complement Shangri-La's existing 17 hotels in mainland China and its central location in the city's hi-tech development zone, which is only a 10-minute car ride to the Shanghai-Nanjing highway and eight minutes from Suzhou Railway Station, will make it ideal for the corporate traveller.

Featuring spacious guest rooms measuring an average of 39 square metres, the Traders Hotel, Suzhou will offer same day laundry and valet service, satellite TV, data ports and broadband Internet service. In addition, the Traders Club floors will provide an exclusive retreat with special amenities and privileges such as daily complimentary breakfast and cocktails in the Club lounge, express check-in and check-out service, personal butler service and more.

The hotel, which is designed by Jiangsu Construction Design Institute, will offer a variety of dining and entertainment choices, including a coffee shop, lobby lounge and Chinese restaurant. Recreational facilities will include an indoor swimming pool and a fitness centre. There will also be state-of-the-art meeting and banqueting facilities including an 800-square-metre conference hall.

Commenting on the new management agreement, Giovanni Angelini,  Shangri-La's chief executive and managing director, said: 'In line with our strategy of further expansion in China through management agreements, we are delighted to be opening a hotel in Suzhou, which is also known as 'heaven on earth' due to its spectacular scenery and gardens. We are committed to expanding the Traders brand and developing its positioning  as the sensible business solution.'