Beijing, China (November 09, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — The ChopSchticks Comedy Schow is elevating comedy (and comity) to a new level in Beijing this week with the arrival of the fabulous Chicago Improv All-Stars from the United States.

ChopSchticks Founder Richard Robinson says, "It's awesome to have the Chicago Improv All-Stars back again for their in-demand show. They received such a fantastic response the last time they visited China, and we know these new shows will bring expats the type of satisfied smiles you only witness after eating stinky tofu."

The Chicago Improv All-Stars are among the best improvisational actors and musicians working in the world today. Their troupe has done 1,400 shows around the world to rave reviews, and Beijing is excited to have four of their main players in the lovely Northern Capital that is Beijing. If you have seen "Whose Line Is It Anyway", then you’ll be familiar with the type of on-the-spot, audience suggestion based sketch comedy and musical bits that these guys do. And do so well.

Tickets are now on sale in advance for RMB250 until Wednesday, November 9 (300RMB at the door). The ChopSchticks Comedy Schow will be presenting the Chicago Improv All-Stars for three totally different shows: Friday, November 11, at 8:00PM (Pay online: https://yoopay.cn/pay/09554325); Saturday, November 12, at 7:00PM (Pay online: https://yoopay.cn/pay/33181601); and another show that night on Saturday at 10:00PM (Pay online: https://yoopay.cn/pay/63498119). The world famous Hard Rock Cafe at LiangMaQiao in Beijing hosts the show.

Travelers and comedy-starved expats in Beijing this weekend can not afford to miss this show. South China Morning Post calls the Chicago Improv All-Stars "Hilarious", and The Scotsman wrote, "You cannot fail to have your world rocked by these people. I have one word for it. Go!"

All purchased tickets come with a free drink, too! Call +8610-6590-0500 to reserve a table for a great Hard Rock burger or other Western comfort food ahead of the show!

About The ChopSchticks Comedy Schow
ChopSchticks has been bringing the funny to Asia since the 1900's. All the shows are produced by expatriates living in China and Asia who love the vibe of live comedy. Past comics performing at ChopSchticks include Tom Shillue, Russell Peters, and Pablo Francisco. More info at http://www.chopschticks.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• +8610-6590-0500
  http://www.chopschticks.com
  

Shanghai, China (August 22, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Accor has revealed the findings of its Accor Asia Pacific Business Traveller Research 2011, which seeks to better understand the travel and behavioural preferences of business travellers based in Asia Pacific. The survey interviewed over 10,000 respondents who made business trips in the first half of this year. Of these, close to 2,000 of the business travellers surveyed were executives based in Mainland China, with 3 in 4 business travellers being male.

Based on data collected, Hong Kong SAR (73%) is the leading destination for Mainland Chinese business travellers, with Singapore and Thailand coming in second and third with 25% and 22% respectively. In terms of outbound travel, executives from Mainland China (8.7 trips), were the most frequent travellers in the first half of 2011,followed by India (7.3 trips) and Singapore (7.1 trips). Moving into the second half of the year, Mainland Chinese business travellers are expected to remain top of the list increasing to 9.2 trips, with Singapore (6.9 trips) and India (6.7 trips) swapping positions as second and third.

Said Mr. Evan Lewis, Vice President Communications – Asia Pacific, "The sheer number of business trips made by Mainland Chinese business travellers can be possibly attributed to the importance of "Guan Xi" or positive interpersonal relationships as a crucial element for business dealings. An observation which supports this hypothesis is that 51% of Mainland Chinese respondents travel for external company business such as sales and client visits. This exceeds that of Singapore business travellers who are second, with less than half (46%) making trips for such a purpose."

Chinese executives from the Mainland are the second most budget conscious (US$99), behind Indonesian business travellers (US$92). Perhaps unsurprisingly, Mainland China has one of the highest incidences of domestic only business travel (25%), behind only Australia (34%) and New Zealand (26%) business travellers. Like other Asia Pacific business travellers, executives from the Mainland choose hotels mainly due to location (43%). Other key factors which influence their choice of accommodation include loyalty points accrual (29%) and having a positive experience on their previous stay (26%).

Mainland Chinese business travellers top the chart in terms of their environmental consciousness with 91% of the business travellers surveyed willing to choose a hotel which is more environmentally conscious ahead of a similar standard hotel in the same location. The same percentage of executives were also willing to pay a premium for a hotel with a superior environmental commitment.

From the perspective of inbound travel, Mainland China is most popular amongst business travellers from the Hong Kong SAR (79%), followed by Singapore (44%) and Malaysia (35%) business travellers in the first half of 2011. Overall, respondents from the research cited China's Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong and Singapore were the most popular business destinations (38% each), with Thailand (29%) third. Mainland China was a close fourth with 28%.

In terms of the most hardworking business travellers, the research suggests that Mainland Chinese (82%) and Singaporean (82%) business travellers are the most diligent, working most often in the hotels whilst travelling for business. The most popular time slot for work is from 21:00 to Midnight (52%). Based on their relatively longer working hours, only 49% of Mainland Chinese business travellers use the fitness centre and 29% of them use the spa. This contrasts with the overall findings from the research, which has found that 53% of Asia Pacific's business travellers use the hotel's fitness centre and 36% them go to the spa facilities at the hotel.

From these observations, it can be deduced that the typical Mainland Chinese business traveller is on the road most often than his Asia Pacific peers. This executive is most typically male who travels an average of between 8.7 to 9.2 trips every half year (which adds up to an average of a whopping more than 17 trips in a year. He also works most dutifully (82%) at the hotel during business travel as compared to other Asia Pacific business travellers, especially from 21:00 to Midnight (63%). So much so, that the typical Mainland Chinese business traveller hardly has time to enjoy any of the recreational facilities at hotels (as compared to his Asia Pacific peers). This extraordinary work ethic of Mainland Chinese business travellers could potentially be attributed to the ingrained culture which places a great emphasis on hard work.

About Accor
Accor, the world's leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, is present in 90 countries with 4,200 hotels and more than 500,000 rooms.

Accor's broad portfolio of hotel brands – Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, all seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1, hotelF1 and Motel 6, and its related activities, Thalassa sea & spa and Lenôtre – provide an extensive offer from luxury to budget. With 145,000 employees worldwide, the Group offers to its clients and partners nearly 45 years of know-how and expertise.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Accor Greater China
  Mabel Liu
  Communications Director
  86(0) 21 6119 9833
  Mabel.Liu@accor.com

  Accor Greater China
  Angel Liu
  Communications Manager
  86(0) 21 6119 7676
  Angel.liu@accor.com
  

Spain's extensive history with many cultural influences has led to an array of unique cuisines with literally thousands of recipes and flavors. Spanish food is also renowned for its health benefits and fresh ingredients. In September, Spanish chef Joaquín Campos Román will present the most authentic Spanish food at InterContinental Beijing Financial Street. Pamper your palate and enjoy a deliciously Spanish September.

Monsoon Restaurant
5th floor of InterContinental Beijing Financial Street
Phone: 5852 5916 or 5852 5917
Price: Buffet Lunch RMB 298 + 15% per person ( From Monday to Saturday).
Buffet Dinner RMB 328 +15% per person (From Monday to Sunday), including free flow of soft drinks, Juice and local Beer
Sunday Brunch RMB 338 +15% per person
Champagne Brunch RMB 458 +15% per person, the guest will entitled to enjoy endless rounds of Champagne

About InterContinental Beijing Financial Street
Officially opened it’s doors in October 2005, the InterContinental Beijing Financial Street is the first international 5-star hotel located in the Financial Street owned by Beijing Capital Land Group and managed by InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG).

For more information on services, facilities or reservation, please visit www.intercontinental.com

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) of the United Kingdom [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 3,800 hotels and more than 563,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. IHG owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and Hotel Indigo, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club Rewards with over 43 million members worldwide.

For more images, visit http://www.ihgphotolibrary.com/

CONTACT INFORMATION

• InterContinental Beijing Financial Street
  Kristin Liu
  Marketing Communication Executive
  Email: kristin_liu@intercontifsbj.com

Participating hotel name list:
Intercontinental Beijing Beichen
Intercontinental Beijing Financial Street
Crowne Plaza Beijing Wangfujing
Crowne Plaza Park View Wuzhou Beijing
Crowne Plaza Beijing International Airport
Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing
Crowne Plaza Beijing Zhongguancun
Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town
Holiday Inn Beijing Focus Square
Holiday Inn Beijing Temple of Heaven
Holiday Inn Central Plaza Beijing
Holiday Inn Chang An West Beijing
Holiday Inn Beijing Downtown
Holiday Inn Beijing Deshengmen
Holiday Inn Beijing Haidian

About IHG
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global company operating seven well-known hotel brands including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites . IHG also manages Priority Club Rewards, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with 58 million members worldwide.

IHG is the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms and IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns, through various subsidiaries, a portfolio of over 4,400 hotels and more than 652,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories around the world.

IHG has more than 1,200 hotels in its development pipeline and expects to recruit around 160,000 people worldwide over the next few years.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at http://www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at www.priorityclub.com.

About IHG Project Hope Fund
In November 2007, IHG set up the IHG Project Hope Fund and became an official partner of the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF). The transparently managed fund is dedicated to supporting young dropouts in poverty-stricken areas through Hope Schools, vocational education and scholarship for college/university students. As the first charity fund in China connecting hotels, guests and donors, it not only prolongs the mission of IHG to fulfill its corporate social responsibility, but also promotes the concept of social responsibility among a wider group of people. The creative approach of "donating RMB 5 upon check-in" provides hotel guests with easy opportunities to contribute to worthy causes. The programme has won great support from the nearly 150 IHG hotels in Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau.

As of 31st May, 2011, RMB 10,380,698.47 has been collected for IHG Project Hope Fund, with which, 13 IHG Hope Schools in 10 provinces have been built or are currently under construction. Other charity activities by the fund include donating Earthquake Relief Schools with 'Happy Music Classrooms' in Sichuan, establishing IHG Service Classes in BN Vocational Schools in Beijing, Chengdu and Sanya, and launching scholarship programmes in 17 IHG Academies.

The China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF) is a national non-profit and non-governmental organization founded in March 1989 in Beijing. The CYDF works to develop Chinese youth through education, science and technology, culture, physical education, health and environmental protection. The CYDF is best known for launching and managing its largest programme to date, "Project Hope" . Project Hope has sought to help school dropouts in poor remote regions return to school and complete at least an elementary education.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Crowne Plaza Park View Wuzhou Beijing
  Marketing Communication Manager Katherine Fang
  Tel: 86 10 6481 7039
  Email: Katherine.Fang@ihg.com
  

Endless gastronomic delights and cultural highlights.As the nation celebrates her 54th 'Merdeka' Independence Day, we bring her kitchen into the heart of China to you.

A duet of homegrown Chefs from Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur will join hands with The Westin Beijing Financial Street's very own Malaysian Chef Raymond Siek in presenting a Malaysian culinary festival with an incredible mix of ingredients and tastes that will enliven your palate. One lucky diner’s senses will also be heightened by a personal Malaysian exploration – a grand raffle draw of three-night stay in Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur with round-trip journey from Malaysia Airlines awaits the lucky winner!

When: 26 August to 4 September, 2011
Where: Senses
Price: Buffet Lunch: RMB 288+15% per person
Buffet Dinner: RMB 338+15% per person with free flow of selected beverages
Who: Two celebrated Malaysian Chefs

Jamsari Bin Mohamad
With determination, creativity and eye to detail, Chef Jamsari makes no compromise when it comes to creating authentic and traditional Malay cuisines. He likes challenges, he always believes that it takes great skills and patience to cook most of the dishes to perfection and that’s where his passion lays.

Mohd Kamaruddin Bin Adnin
A naturally gifted chef, KAMARUDDIN has enjoyed a rewarding culinary career working at several of Kuala Lumpur’s top restaurants. He is part of a dedicated and professional team renowned for creating exquisite cuisine and ensuring a truly memorable dining experience for guests.

Treatment – Signature Menu:
Authentic Bee Hoon
Chicken Curry
Ikan Bakar
ketupat rending
Lamb bryani

To marvel in a thousand tastes, please call 6629 7810 or visit
www.eatdrinkandmore.com/westinbeijingfinancial.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1051 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Jane Ji
  Director of Marketing Communications
  Tel: (86) 10 6606 8866
  Fax: (86) 10 6606 8899
  Email: jane.ji@westin.com
  

Chongqing, China (June 30, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — On 21st June, the Fête de la Musique, which was sponsored by Sofitel Forebase Chongqing and Chongqing Alliance FranÇaise was held in the Sofitel Forebase Chongqing lobby Point Bar. The French Jazz band "Fred" offered us a fantastic and vivid Jazz music concert. With Sofitel delicious French canapé and cocktail, everyone enjoyed the music night.

On June 21, 2011, every Sofitel location temporarily became an ambassador of the Fête de la Musique.

First held in France on June 21, 1982, the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere, the Fête de la Musique (Music Festival) was soon exported; today, it is an annual, international, unifying event. It is only natural for Sofitel Forebase Chongqing, the international French hotel brand, to help celebrate this major cultural event around the world. On that day, all the Sofitel hotels of the French Accor Hotels Group will hold variety of concerts in different forms with different theme of music.

Sofitel Forebase Chongqing
Tel: +86 (0)23 68639999
Fax: +86(0)23 68637555
137, Ke Yuan Er road, Jiu Long Po District, Chongqing, China 400039
For hotel reservations and information visit www.sofitel.com

About Sofitel
Sofitel is the only french luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents with 120 addresses, in almost 40 countries (more than 30 000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today's more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New York, Shanghai or Beijing, or nestled away in a country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, French Polynesia or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French "art de vivre" .

Discover Sofitel on www.sofitel.com

Discover A|Club at Sofitel, the new worldwide Accor loyalty program on www.a-club.com

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Sofitel Forebase Chongqing
  Contact: Mary Zeng Assis Marketing Communications Manager
  Email: mary.zeng@Sofitel-Forebase-Chongqing.com
  Tel: +86 23 6863 9999 Ext :6720
  

Evoking nostalgia of days gone by, guests at the resort have the opportunity to take this unique sidecar motoring journey through the palm tree lined boulevards of Sanya and breathtaking scenery of jungle matted hills and pristine beaches ubiquitous in the region. The year round balmy weather and fresh sea breezes that Sanya enjoys make the sidecar an ideal mode of transport for exploring the city in a very different and exciting way.

The resort is working together with'Sanya Sidecars'to offer a wide selection of tailor made sidecar trips designed for guests to experience both the natural beauty of the local environment, as well as witnessing some of the city's hidden gems that visitors may not normally encounter. The Beaches and Mountains Tour is a real motoring adventure around the picturesque mountains, lakes and coastline surrounding Sanya. The Secret Beach Tour takes guests to a completely secluded beach where they can enjoy snorkeling, swimming and a luxury Mandarin Oriental picnic basket in complete privacy. The Sanya City Lights Tour is available for those wishing to experience a bird's eye view of Sanya lit up at night, and for the more active, the Hidden Gold Tour challenges guests to beat the clock in a race around some of Sanya's landmarks. Whichever tour guests choose, the thrill of riding on one of these unique vintage vehicles guarantees a truly memorable experience.

About Mandarin Oriental, Sanya
Mandarin Oriental, Sanya is unrivalled in its sheer luxury and refined elegance. Enjoying the privacy of a secluded 1.2 km nationally protected coral bay and nestled amongst lush tropical bloom, the resort is a hidden gem where nature is celebrated and tranquility is assured. Located just 7 minutes from Sanya city centre and 18 minutes from Sanya International Airport, the luxury resort provides convenient access to all of the area's major tourist attractions.

The resort features a series of private low rise and villa accommodation with ocean views and landscaped tropical gardens, some featuring private pools, patios and gazebos. There are 10 innovative restaurants and bars, a 3,200 sq.m. Spa Village with 16 private treatment suites and 2 VIP spa villas, a large recreation centre, CoCo Kids Centre, and over 6,000 sq m of indoor and outdoor conference and banqueting space, providing guests with the perfect destination getaway whether for business or pleasure.

About Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world's most prestigious hotels and resorts. Mandarin Oriental now operates, or has under development, 41 hotels representing over 10,000 rooms in 26 countries, with 18 hotels in Asia, 12 in The Americas and 11 in Europe and Middle East. In addition, the Group operates, or has under development, 12 Residences at Mandarin Oriental connected to its properties.

Photography of Mandarin Oriental is available to download, in high and low resolution, in the Photo Library of our Media section, at www.mandarinoriental.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Corporate Office
  Jill Kluge (jillk@mohg.com)
  Group Communications – Global
  Tel: +44 (20) 7908 7810 

  Live Haugen (lhaugen@mohg.com)
  Group Communications – Europe, Middle East and Africa
  Tel: +44 (20) 7908 7813

  Sally de Souza (sallydes@mohg.com)
  Group Communications – Asia
  Tel: +852 2895 9160

  Danielle DeVoe (ddevoe@mohg.com)
  Group Communications – The Americas
  Tel: +1 (212) 830 9380
  www.mandarinoriental.com

  Mandarin Oriental, Sanya
  Tungsten Zhang
  Director of Communications
  Mandarin Oriental, Sanya
  12 Yuhai Road, Sanya 572000,
  Hainan, China
  Tel: +86 (898) 8820 9999 ext. 6820
  Fax: +86 (898) 8820 9393
  Email: tungstenz@mohg.com
  www.mandarinoriental.com/sanya

Shanghai, China (June 14, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Accor, Europe’s largest hotel group announces that it has launched a new dedicated online column, which will bridge Accor and consumers through surveys, video presentations, online forums, and so on. The column themed "Sustainable Travel Accommodation" was jointly launched with the travel channel of China’s major portal website Sina, and had just completed its kick-off program with a survey responded to by more than 2,400 frequent travelers in two weeks. It turns out more than half of them are from China’s biggest cities Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. 80% of the respondents have travel experience in the past six months, and 90% of respondents have stayed in hotels.

"Of course, knowledge about customers is crucial for any hotel operator. Accor however, with its global industry leadership, has a greater responsibility. We need to provide industry insights and this initiative will help us to group frequent travelers thoughts and opinions " said Robert Murray, Senior Vice President of Accor Greater China. "The launch of the Accor-Sina online column will surely lead to a better understanding of our customers' needs and habits here in China. We hope the public will find the results informative and stimulate thinking on how travel and tourism can become more sustainable as well as focusing on health, and charitable activities."

The first survey seeks to learn about how Chinese travelers value their health. Overall, nearly 80 percent of the respondents have concerns about different health issues experienced while traveling. Initial findings show balanced health priorities are given to aspects like sleeping quality, mental status, and dietary fitness.

Whatever the purpose of the journey, travel is expected to offer relaxing experiences for most. But that’s not necessarily true with the findings this time, as more than half of the respondents, 56.3% to be exact, report different levels of fatigue during their travels. Contributors to fatigue include tight schedules, bad weather, aircraft delays, unfamiliar surroundings, concern of accidents and jetlag. More surprisingly, 94.2% of the online voters admit they sleep less than eight hours per day when traveling. While some factors of travel fatigue may also affect their sleeping quality, nearly half of them conclude that they may not sleep well if the hotel mattress or pillows are of inferior quality.

In terms of dietary health, 97.5% of the survey participants, an overwhelming proportion, say they’re quite concerned about having a healthy, balanced diet when traveling, as well as 89.4% of the respondents consider orders of organic food a great option when staying in hotels. The survey has also found nearly 80% of the respondents will choose to have breakfast at hotels.

Other travel health aspects surveyed include fitness centers, smoking and drinking habits. While it is a good sign that 92% of the respondents are interested in the hotel fitness centers, the findings are a little discouraging that more than a third (37.7%) will request a smoking room, and nearly half will choose to drink when traveling.

On the findings, Mr. Murray commented: "This survey is just the first step for our new online column, and more will follow to inspire both Accor and our Chinese customers. By focusing on concrete aspects of travel accommodation and hotel services, we will better understand guest’s expectations in regards to health, the environment and charity. We will value the survey findings and respect opinions and suggestions from our guests."

For nearly 45 years, Accor has constantly reinvented its businesses to keep pace with the world around it, with the goal of providing innovative, high-quality products. It is pleased and proud to provide travelers with the solution best adapted to their needs and a guarantee of the highest quality of service. For example, just recently in Australia, Accor hotels have already enhanced service standards for Chinese travelers, following consultation with leading tour and travel operators from China. The enhanced services include particular foods as part of the breakfast buffet, Chinese speaking reception staff, Chinese TV channels and media, concierge assistance and other services.

For more information of the "Sustainable Accommodation" Column, please log on:http://travel.sina.com.cn/z/Accor/

About Accor
Accor, the world's leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, is present in 90 countries with 4,200 hotels and more than 500,000 rooms.

Accor's broad portfolio of hotel brands – Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, all seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1, hotelF1 and Motel 6, and its related activities, Thalassa sea & spa and Lenôtre – provide an extensive offer from luxury to budget. With 145,000 employees worldwide, the Group offers to its clients and partners nearly 45 years of know-how and expertise.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Accor Greater China
  Mabel Liu
  Communications Director
  86(0) 21 6119 9833
  Mabel.Liu@accor.com

  Accor Greater China
  April Ling
  Communications Executive
  86(0) 21 6119 9839
  April.Ling@accor.com
  

The island’s new duty free policy was launched on 20 April 2011 and applies to both international tourists as well as those from mainland China. Customers shopping at the Sanya Duty Free Store can enjoy savings of up to 30% on luxury goods priced below CNY 5,000. China is expected to become the world’s largest luxury goods market by 2014, and because of these new regulations, Hainan, which already boasts sun, sea and sand, will be a new hub for luxury shopping. The China Duty Free Store is only a ten minute drive from Mandarin Oriental, Sanya, and guests staying at the resort during this promotion period can enjoy a complimentary shuttle service to and from the store at designated times during the day.

This new promotion from Mandarin Oriental, Sanya, available for a limited time only, is an ideal opportunity for visitors to save even more with a complimentary credit offer. Guests will be able to use the credit to enjoy everything from exquisite seafood, superb Cantonese cuisine and cocktails overlooking the South China Sea at the resort’s restaurants and bars, along with exclusive pampering by the professional therapists at the award winning Spa Village, an enchanting holistic sanctuary and destination in itself. Guests can also make the most of the unique recreation activities on offer which include Tai Chi and Qi Gong classes and Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremonies delivered by a Shaolin Kung Fu Master, yoga classes from an Indian Yoga Master, tennis, and customized activities including snorkeling at Coral Bay and cooking classes from the resorts’ professional chefs.

About Mandarin Oriental, Sanya
Mandarin Oriental, Sanya is unrivalled in its sheer luxury and refined elegance. Enjoying the privacy of a secluded 1.2 km nationally protected coral bay and nestled amongst lush tropical bloom, the resort is a hidden gem where nature is celebrated and tranquility is assured. Located just 7 minutes from Sanya city centre and 18 minutes from Sanya International Airport, the luxury resort provides convenient access to all of the area’s major tourist attractions.

The resort features a series of private low rise and villa accommodation with ocean views and landscaped tropical gardens, some featuring private pools, patios and gazebos. There are 10 innovative restaurants and bars, a 3,200 sq.m. Spa Village with 16 private treatment suites and 2 VIP spa villas, a large recreation centre, CoCo Kids Centre, and over 6,000 sq m of indoor and outdoor conference and banqueting space, providing guests with the perfect destination getaway whether for business or pleasure.

About Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world's most prestigious hotels and resorts. Mandarin Oriental now operates, or has under development, 42 hotels representing over 10,000 rooms in 27 countries, with 18 hotels in Asia, 12 in The Americas and 12 in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. In addition, the Group operates, or has under development, 13 Residences at Mandarin Oriental, connected to the Group’s properties.

Photography of Mandarin Oriental is available to download, in high and low resolution, in the Photo Library of our Media section, at www.mandarinoriental.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Tungsten Zhang
  Director of Communications
  Mandarin Oriental, Sanya
  12 Yuhai Road, Sanya 572000, Hainan, China
  Tel: +86 (898) 8820 9999 ext. 6820
  Fax: +86 (898) 8820 9393
  Email: tungstenz@mohg.com
  www.mandarinoriental.com/sanya
  

The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. Andre Michelin published the first edition of the guide in 1900 to help drivers maintain their cars, find decent lodging, and eat well while touring France. It included addresses of gasoline distributors, mechanics, and tire dealers, along with local prices for fuel, tires, and auto repairs. Michelin Star Guide began recognizing outstanding restaurants in 1926 by marking their listings with a star; two and three stars were added in the early 1930s.

The guide awards one to three stars to a small number of restaurants of outstanding quality. One star indicates a "very good cuisine in its category", a two-star ranking represents "excellent cuisine, worth a detour," and three stars are awarded to restaurants offering "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey".

Chef Eros Picco began his apprenticeship in 1994 at Jean Bardet Relais & Chateaux a Michelin Two Star restaurant and then moved to a Michelin Three Star restaurant called A la Cote St. Jacques Relais & Chateaux. After working and learning at the other Michelin Three Stars restaurant the Jardin des Sense Relais & Chateaux in France, he decided to come back to Italy and operate his own restaurant. In 1998, Eros returned to Italy and started his own restaurant Inoocenti Evasioni in Milan City. In 2009, Chef Eros received the Michelin Star and holding it up to now.

Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel, Fratellifresh 1st Floor
Dongsanhuan Middle Road 61
For details please dial: 010 5863 8203 or rhi.bjsbc.rsvp@renaissancehotels.com

About Marriott International, Inc
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 3,500 lodging properties in 70 countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, EDITION, Autograph Collection, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; licenses and manages whole-ownership residential brands, including The Ritz-Carlton Residences, JW Marriott Residences and Marriott Residences; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and had approximately 129,000 employees at 2010 year-end. It is ranked by FORTUNE as the lodging industry’s most admired company and one of the best companies to work for. In fiscal year 2010, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of nearly $12 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Jiang Nan
  Marketing Communications Manager
  TEL： (010) 5863 8661
  FAX： (010) 5863 8660
  EMAIL：Chanel.Jiang@renaissancethotels.com
  

To commemorate its anniversary and five-star status, Wyndham Xiamen hosted a special birthday party with over 500 guests in attendance, including government officials, key trade partners, media and other special guests.

"It is our great pleasure to celebrate two successful years at Wyndham Xiamen,” said Dominique Galperti, general manager of Wyndham Xiamen. “This accreditation from China Tourist Hotel Star-Rating Committee is the best anniversary gift for us all and serves as encouragement to strive even further for excellence in the service that we provide for our guests."

When Wyndham Xiamen opened in 2009, it became the first hotel in China to fly the Wyndham® flag; currently, the property is one of 13 Wyndham branded properties currently open or under development in China. Wyndham Hotel Group is the largest U.S.-based hotel company in the country with 301 hotels representing over 46,000 rooms under the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Ramada®, Howard Johnson®, Days Inn® and Super 8® brands.

The hotel features a 20-meter-high waterfall and seven-meter-tall chandelier in its lobby, as well as 588 guest rooms including 161 guest suites and 130 serviced apartments, all with a refreshing ocean or city skyline view. Wyndham Xiamen’s top five floors are home to the Wyndham Club with over 90 executive rooms. Guests checking into the Wyndham Club rooms receive delicately packaged chocolates and cookies in their room, plus free access to the Wyndham Club Lounge at any time to enjoy the hotel’s signature cocktails.

The 26-floor hotel offers five food-and-beverage outlets, including a Chinese restaurant, specializing in Cantonese cuisine and Xinnan Xuan regional specialties; the Le Rivage Café, offering a fantastic and memorable view of Gulangyu Island; and JuJu An, featuring a wide variety of fresh sushi and sumptuous teppanyaki.

The contemporary building boasts 3,450 square meters of meeting space including a 1,260-square-meter grand ballroom that can accommodate up to 1,000 people. Eleven meeting rooms with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment are ideal for meetings and conferences. The hotel staff can accommodate various events, from glamorous dinners and cocktail receptions to corporate events which require bespoke solutions.

Wyndham Xiamen serves as an ideal location for business events as well as leisure activities. Guests can enjoy a relaxing cup of afternoon tea, a couple’s retreat or a special family occasion.

Located in the very heart of Xiamen’s business and shopping district, Wyndham Xiamen is located just 20 minutes from the Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, LLC, a subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), offers upscale hotel and resort accommodations throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, China and the Caribbean. All Wyndham® hotels are either franchised by the company or managed by Wyndham Hotel Management, Inc., one of its affiliates or through a joint-venture partner. Additional information and reservations for all Wyndham hotels are available by calling (800) WYNDHAM – (800) 996-3426 – or visiting www.wyndham.com.

Wyndham Hotel Group encompasses approximately 7,210 hotels and 612,700 rooms in 67 countries under the hotel brands: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Wingate by Wyndham®, Baymont Inn & Suites®, Microtel Inns & Suites®, Hawthorn Suites® by Wyndham, TRYP by Wyndham®, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® and Knights Inn®. In addition, the company has a license agreement to franchise the Planet Hollywood Hotels, Dream® and Night® brands and provide management services internationally.

All hotels are independently owned and operated excluding certain Wyndham and international Ramada hotels which are managed by our affiliate or through a joint venture partner. Wyndham Hotel Group is based in Parsippany, N.J. Additional information is available at www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Yvonne Zheng
  Director of Communications
  Wyndham Xiamen
  12 Lu Jiang Dao,
  Xiamen,
  Fujian, China 361001
  Tel: (592) 6366666 Ext.6855
  Fax: (592) 6366665
  yvonnezheng@wyndham.com

With the debut of seven new hotels by 2013 in the region including Nanhai, Haiyang, Shangjie and Zhengdong New District in Zhengzhou, Dalian, Guangzhou and Yamcheng

Shanghai, China (April 15, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Starwood Hotels & Resorts recently announced the opening of Aloft Nanhai, Foshan on February 1, 2011, the second Aloft hotel to open in China after the debut of Aloft Beijing Haidian in 2008. To continue the brand expansion in the region, six more Aloft hotels will debut by 2013 including Haiyang, Shangjie and Zhengdong New District in Zhengzhou in 2011, Guangzhou in 2012, Dalian and Yancheng in 2013.

"Starwood's new Aloft brand offers style, design and high tech touches at an affordable price. We are thrilled to introduce Aloft to China's fast-growing markets like Nanhai, Haiyang, Zhengzhou as a new choice and a unique experience for international and domestic travelers," said Stephen Ho, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific.

Aloft, the sizzling "style-at-a-steal" brand has rocked the global hospitality industry since launching in 2008. Aimed at Generation Y, Aloft is Starwood’s design-led, social-experience brand that has enjoyed the fastest ramp-up of any brand in hotel history. As a young, tech-driven society, China will become a key market for Aloft’s development outside of the United States.

Aloft Nanhai, Foshan
Opened on February 1, 2011, Aloft Nanhai, Foshan is conveniently located near the Nanhai Science and Technology Park in Foshan, Guangdong Province. Surrounded by numerous high-tech businesses, research centers and leading universities, this new hotel is part of an exciting, new mixed-use complex including the Foshan International Convention and Exhibition Center, offices and residential buildings. 252 guest rooms feature the brand’s signature nine-foot ceilings, oversized windows and the ultra-comfortable bed, as well as oversized walk-in showers and amenities created by Bliss® Spa. Each aloft room is also a combination high-tech office and entertainment center equipped with wireless internet access and plug & play, a one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetry all linked to a 42” flat-panel, HDTV-ready television.

Aloft Zhengzhou Shangjie
Scheduled to open on April 30, 2011, Aloft Zhengzhou Shangjie is a fresh, fun and forward-thinking alternative for travelers in Zhengzhou city. Located in the hub of the industrial zone-Shangjie district in Zhengzhou, the hotel will offer 172 urban-inspired, loft-like rooms and suites with nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows to allow for more natural light, leading edge plug & play connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetries such as PDAs, cell phones, mp3 players and laptops – all linked to a large flat panel HDTV ready television for optimal sound and viewing. Aloft Zhengzhou Shangjie will have the brand’s signature products including re:mix, w xyz bar, re:charge, re:fuel, splash and so on.

Aloft Haiyang
The 165-room Aloft Haiyang will set to debut in June 2011 and be part of a mixed-use complex including hotel, residential apartments, villas, retail pedestrian street, pier and so on. The new hotel will be strategically located in Haiyang, a coastal city in the peninsula province of Shandong in east China. Under the administration of Yantai City, Haiyang is known for its national forest parks, wetland reserves as well as beach and yacht activities. Haiyang will also be the host city for 2012 Asian Beach Games.

Aloft Zhengzhou Zhengdong New District
Aloft Zhengzhou Zhengdong New District will consist of 293 rooms, approximately 4,176 square feet of meeting space, three food and beverage outlets, including splash and re:charge. Ideally located in Zhengdong New District, the hotel will be scheduled to open its doors in December 2011.

Aloft Guangzhou, University Park
Set to be open in May 2012, Aloft Guangzhou, University Park will be ideally located in the Guangzhou University Park on Xiaoguwei Island, north of Xinzao Town of Panyu District in the south eastern part of Guangzhou. The hotel is approximately 35 minutes drive from the Tianhe Central Business District and 20 minutes drive from the Guangzhou International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Pazhou Island. Being part of the mixed-use complex, this new hotel will introduce style at a steal to the gateway city with 300 spacious, loft-like rooms, accessible technology and a vibrant, social atmosphere.

Aloft Yancheng
Located in northeastern Jiangsu province, this 250-room Aloft Yancheng will open in January 2013. Within 15 minutes drive from Jiangsu Yancheng Economic Development Zone and Tinghu Economic Development Zone, the new hotel will be situated in the city’s new Central Business District and next to Yandu Park, the biggest park in Yancheng. Yancheng, literally “Salt City”, is named after the many sea salt harvest fields around the city.

Aloft Dalian
Aloft Dalian will include 350 rooms, two food and beverage outlets as well as more than 16,000 square feet of meeting space. Opening in January 2013, the hotel will be located in the city center of Dalian, Liaoning Province’s economic, financial, commercial and tourism center and one of China’s major trading ports.

For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com.

About Aloft Hotels
Created to shake up the staid, traditional select service segment of the hotel industry, the Aloft brand delivers style at a steal with urban-influenced, modern, open and vibrant design – and a social guest experience – at an affordable price point. In the same way that W Hotels broke through the clutter of conformity in the upscale hotel arena more than a decade ago, Aloft is shaking up the industry for the next generation of traveler. Aloft hotels are geared toward savvy, design-conscious consumers who grew up with the democratization of design. Building on its tech-savvy DNA, the brand recently pioneered the industry’s first "keyless entry" automatic check-in program at Aloft Lexington in Massachusetts. With nearly 50 hotels open in the two years since Aloft first arrived on the scene and nine more opening in 2011, Aloft can be found everywhere from Abu Dhabi and Baltimore to Dallas and Beijing and everywhere in between. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com.

Aloft Hotels, like all brands within Starwood’s portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, which offers a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1025 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Angela Feng
  Regional Public Relations Manager, China
  Telephone:+86 21 6141 7716
  Fax: +86 21 6391 8220

Sheraton Represents 30% of all Starwood Hotels Development Pipeline – more than any other Starwood Brand

White Plains, U.S. (April 11, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced that its Sheraton brand continues to lead the company’s global growth and strengthen Starwood’s position as one of the largest international hotel operators in China. Twenty-five new Sheraton hotels will open this year, including 16 in cities across China. Sheraton will also lead Starwood’s future global expansion and represents 30% of the company’s total development pipeline.

"Sheraton is the number one contributor to Starwood’s global growth and has given us a significant lead in many fast-developing markets," said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood. "In China, which is now Starwood’s second largest market after North America, Sheraton is expanding its presence in the country’s biggest cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, as well as in rapidly developing urban centers including Guangzhou, Wanning and Hangzhou. The strength of Sheraton is also driving meaningful growth for sister brand Four Points by Sheraton, which is set to double its footprint in China over the next three years."

Sheraton Continues Aggressive Growth in China
This year, Sheraton will open its fourth hotel in Shanghai, its second in Beijing and its first two hotels in Guangzhou. With the addition of 16 new hotels in 2011, Sheraton will increase its portfolio in China to 53 by year’s end. The iconic hotel brand also accounts for 50% of the Starwood hotels under development in China, moving Starwood closer to its goal of operating 100 hotels in China by the end of 2012.

"Sheraton has leveraged its first-mover advantage in China, where we are now one of the country’s strongest global brands and the engine of Starwood’s growth," said Hoyt Harper, global brand leader for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. "Our recent brand-wide revitalization and significant investment in new hotel development has also fueled our expansion in many other key markets, including India, Japan and South Korea."

Sheraton will open its first Sheraton in Bangalore in 2011, helping to widen Starwood’s lead as the largest operator of five-star hotels in India. Also this year, Sheraton will open its first hotel in Hiroshima, Japan, its second in Seoul, South Korea and its second in Montreal, Canada. Within more mature markets like North America, the brand expects to continue to fuel its growth through high quality conversion opportunities.

Starwood’s largest brand, Sheraton boasts a current portfolio of more than 400 hotels in 72 countries and 92% awareness among business travelers, higher than all other global hotel brands. Following the completion of its $6 billion brand-wide revitalization, Sheraton is investing another $5 billion to add more than 50 new hotels to its portfolio by the end of 2013.

$6 Billion Revitalization Effort Reaps Rewards
Starwood has spent the last few years renovating and rebuilding one of the hotel industry’s most iconic brands and the multi-billion dollar investment is already paying off with measurable success. Guest satisfaction scores are the highest in the brand’s history and likelihood to return, likelihood to recommend and meeting planner and associate engagement scores are also at all-time highs – signaling that guests are taking notice and rediscovering the new Sheraton.

About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 hotels in 70 countries around the world and recently completed a $6 billion global revitalization and is now in the midst of a $5 billion global expansion over the next three years. Sheraton is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1025 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Nadeen Ayala
  Starwood Hotels & Resorts
  914-640-8259

What we thought would be risky — melding intimacy and the live band Solidaz (with more speakers and LED lighting than Jay Chow's concert last fall) — actually put smiles on our faces, and pulled us from our comfy bar stools onto the dance floor at the re-opened Pavillion.

Aiming to fill a niche in the live music scene, 7-piece New Zealand band Solidaz may have hit on something just right. This seasoned touring group, having honed their skills over the past decade in 5-star hotels, have recently teamed up with Pavillion (opposite Gongti West Gate), offering a crowd-pleasing mix of pop, rock, and R&B classics, with a few Chinese songs thrown in too.

Though the Solidaz crew is new to Beijing, it turns out they are some of the best hosts in town, enjoying beers before and between sets with new friends at the bar and obliging with every song request they know. The 6 guy, 1 (Canadian) girl lineup takes turns at lead and backing vocals creating an energy-packed, party-style experience that Pavillion's long-time regulars are falling for, while at the same time, winning over a range of younger expats and locals alike. An added bonus is spicy Indonesian D.J. Nyna spinning thumping tracks between and after band sets.

Stay tuned for upcoming promotions including: Ladies Night Wednesdays; 80's Night Thursdays; 'House' D.J. Sundays; and generous Happy Hours every day.

In the depths of Beijing's frosty winter, it should go without saying we're looking forward to brunch and refreshing cocktails when Pavillion's gazebo and garden redesign is completed later this spring!

CONTACT INFORMATION

• For more information, contact:
  www.PavillionBeijing.com
  info@pavillionbeijing.com
  +86 10 65072617
  Private events welcome

Awarded by the National Green Hotel Committee and China Hotel Association, which are the highest official entities for recognizing a hotel's contribution toward environmental conservation, greening programs, food safety and hygiene, and energy efficiency, the award reflects Sanya Marriott Resort & Spa's long standing commitment to the environment. In order to reduce, reuse and recycle, in the last five years the popular beach resort has:

Installed more than 10,000 low energy light bulbs to save electrical energy.

Introduced an environmentally friendly irrigation system that has provided 300,008m3 of recycled water annually which is used for watering its spacious landscaped tropical gardens.

Taken advantage of Sanya's sunny climate to generate 30,227m3 of hot water from Solar Water Heaters, equal to an18 ton reduction in carbon emissions.

Purchased as much local produce as possible from companies that champion sustainable business practices and are environmentally friendly organizations.
Firmly committed to Marriott's 'Nobility of Nature' initiative which was launched globally on 24th May 2010.

About Marriott International 'Nobility of Nature' Program: Marriott International will invest $500,000 (approximately 3.4 million RMB) in seed money over the next two years to support a vital water conservation program that helps protect the largest source of fresh water on the planet, located in the mountains of Southwest China. The program will focus its work in Sichuan Province, the area hit hard by the 2008 earthquake. Concurrently, Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels throughout China have committed to reducing their water and energy use by 25 percent by 2017.

Marriott International will release further updates as the Nobility of Nature program develops.

SANYA YALONG BAY MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA: Nestled on the pristine white-sand beaches of China's only tropical island, Sanya Yalong Bay Marriott Resort & Spa is the perfect choice for a relaxing escape. The exclusive beach resort is conveniently located just a 35-minute drive from Sanya Phoenix International Airport.

Designed with vibrant colors, natural stone and warm woods to reflect its spectacular surroundings, Sanya Yalong Bay Resort & Spa offers 452 well-appointed rooms and suites. Multiple swimming pools, a Clubhouse, Fitness Centre and signature Quan Spa combined with a comprehensive range of meeting facilities, including an Ocean Front Chapel, make it the perfect choice for holidays, meetings and celebrations of all kinds. The tranquil ocean and tropical mountain views beckon guests to sit back and relax in peace. It is the place that you have always wanted to go and never wanted to leave!

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Joanna Lin – Director of Marketing Communications
  Sally Yuan – Marketing Communications Assistant Manager
  Tel: (86 898)8856 8888
  Fax: (86 898)8856 1049
  Email: joanna.lin@marriotthotels.com
  sally.yuan@marriotthotels.com