Beijing, China (July 13, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Howard Marks, co-founder and chairman of Los Angeles-based Oaktree Capital Management, says the firm's China fund's performance is mediocre. The 66-year-old King of Distressed Debt gives a barely passing grade to Oaktree's China fund.

"I would say [the fund's performance] has been about a C+ in absolute terms," Marks says. "We haven't lost money, but I don't know how others have done. So maybe the answer is: as good as anyone.

Marks made the comment while talking to Nina Xiang, host of China Money Podcast (www.ChinaMoneyPodcast.com), a highly ranked new media show focused exclusively on investing in China, in the podcast’s one-year anniversary special episode.

During its first year of operations, China Money Podcast has quickly expanded its viewership with its free weekly audio and video podcasts, available at www.chinamoneypodcast.com, on iTunes, and other online destinations. The podcast has featured guests including legendary investor Jim Rogers and Mr. China, Jack Perkowski, among other prominent China-focused investors. The anniversary special program featuring Howard Marks provides a rare opportunity to look into Mr. Marks’ views on China and investing.

Howard Marks co-founded Oaktree Capital Management in 1995, and have built the firm into a distressed debt powerhouse with $78 billion under management. Oaktree's 17 distressed debt funds have averaged annual gains of 19 percent after fees for the past 22 years, beating its peers by about 7 percentage points, according to consulting firm Cambridge associates.

But Oaktree's performance in China – its Beijing office was established in 2007 and focuses on private equity – is less than stellar. Marks says that the firm is cautiously moving ahead in the Chinese market.

"We invested slowly. It's not fully invested yet, and probably won't get fully invested," he says. "It did not invest in distress-for –control or loan-to-own situations."

Known as an "eternal worrier," Marks sees a number of concerns in China's future. He says in the interview: "China's customers – the U.S. and Europe – have been growing very slowly themselves. So that will have a retardant effect on China's economy as well. The combination of the two suggests that China will go into a slow period."

Marks also points outs that the shaky foundation of China's legal system could pose unexpected risks to investors in China. "The world has yet to see how it is to do business in China dealing with issues such as property rights: whether foreign private investors can do well as owner of businesses. It's important that people do not assume that business-as-usual in China is the same with business-as-usual elsewhere."

He explains that it is part of the reason that Oaktree's China operations have stayed away from its traditional distress-for –control strategy in China.

"In our distressed debt investing, we often invest in the debt of the companies that fail to pay for their debts because we have creditor rights that can give us access to the value of the company. We don't know how creditor rights will be treated in China, so we probably won't invest in (it).

But Marks also noted that the correction in valuations in China is a positive in its investment outlook: "Valuations in China have corrected quite a bit from two or three years ago when everybody assumed China's outlook was flawless for eternity. Prices have come down considerably both relative to other countries and in absolute terms. That's very healthy for the investment outlook."

Marks made the comments to China Money Podcast after promoting in China the Chinese version of his book, The Most Important Thing.

About China Money Podcast
China Money Podcast is a highly ranked new media show focused exclusively on investing in China. With prominent guests ranging from China-focused fund managers, economists to analysts, the podcast is widely followed by the investment community in and outside of China.

Hosted by Nina Xiang, a veteran financial journalist, the podcast is the source of local knowledge and insights – on-the-go – for investors interested in China. The podcast is available on its website, in iTunes, and other podcast syndication platforms.

www.ChinaMoneyPodcast.com

Shanghai, China (February 17, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Pullman, an upscale five-star hotel brand under Accor SA specifically designed for today's sophisticated business and leisure travelers, is pleased to announce the opening of Pullman Xiamen Powerlong. The 295-room, stylish-looking building, one of the newest landmark developments on the fast-evolving skyline of the southeastern coastal city, is the latest addition to Pullman's Greater China portfolio which now stands at 13 operating hotels. A further 6 Pullman hotels are scheduled to open in China this year.
Xiamen, a long-time popular leisure getaway on the southern coast of Fujian Province, is only a ferry-ride away from Taiwan-administered Jinmen Island and which is best known for its beautiful scenery and tree-lined beaches, is becoming a rapidly-burgeoning events destination in the country. Ideally situated in the heart of the CBD area with convenient access to business, commercial and entertainment hubs around the city, Pullman Xiamen Powerlong is set to bring discerning business and leisure travelers a new level of hospitality characterized by upscale amenities and bespoke services.

"The opening of Pullman Xiamen Powerlong represents a significant moment for Pullman as the first for the brand in Fujian Province and establishes Accor's second hotel in the city," said Sam Shih, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Accor Greater China. "The Pullman hotel brand is being very well received by hotel owners and developers which is leading to the rather extraordinary expansion that is being achieved in the country."

Ideal city centre location
Perfectly located at the fringe of Bailuzhou Park and Yundang Lake, the hotel enjoys easy access to Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport – which is about 20 minutes by car – and the city's major railway station is only 3 kilometres away from the hotel. Popular tourist spots such as the Buddhist Nanputuo Temple and Xiamen University – which is widely recognized as one of the most picturesque and romantic college campuses in China – are within a short drive of the hotel. Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center, a major business venue in the city, is only about 10 minutes' drive from the hotel.

New standard set for lodging business
The Pullman Xiamen Powerlong offers 280 well-appointed guestrooms as well as 15 suites, including one Presidential unit. Ranging in size from 27 to 145 square meters, all rooms and suites have been exquisitely designed to offer guests a true escape from the urban buzz. The hotel features Pullman signature bedding and linen, Roger & Gallet deluxe amenities, as well as modern conveniences such as flat screen LCD TV sets with multi-channel cable and multi-media connectivity in all rooms and suites. Nespresso coffee machines are provided in deluxe and executive rooms and suites and guests in executive rooms and suites will enjoy iPhone/iPad docking stations.

Culinary pleasure offered in a refined way
The Pullman Xiamen Powerlong provides selected options for exquisite dining for visiting travelers and locals alike. Chi, the hotel's all day dining restaurant, serves international cuisine for all meal services. Dragon Tales, a modern Chinese restaurant, offers the finest cuisine that is pre-dominantly from the southern region with seafood specialities from local waters. Eleven elegantly decorated private rooms with unparalleled lake view are perfect choices for those who seek to impress honored guests. Cha – which has an extensive tea and coffee menu in addition to cool martinis, cocktails and fine wines – is located off the hotel lobby.

Perfect venue for conferences and events
With a premium address in the CBD area, the Pullman Xiamen Powerlong is poised to become a hot venue in the city for both corporate meetings and social events. Nearly 2,500 square metres of meeting and event space including a 950-square-meter ballroom – one of the city's best equipped in technology – are offered by the hotel, making it an ideal option for both high-profile conferences and events as well as small social activities and parties.

Refreshment of body and soul
A gym with state-of-the-art equipment, an 18-meter-long indoor swimming pool and a lifestyle spa with six private therapy rooms, together with other refreshing amenities such as sauna and Turkish bath, will allow guests to renew their body, mind and spirit and achieve ultimate wellbeing and comfort.

Opening packages
The Pullman Xiamen Powerlong is offering special promotional rates of RMB550 / room night on Superior Rooms to celebrate its opening from now until April 30 2012. (Price is subject to 15% surcharge and 4% city tax.)
Opening packages include free upgrade to Deluxe Room, 50% discount on breakfast, RMB150 Credit for food and beverage, complimentary broadband and Wi-Fi internet access, and complimentary access to gym, sauna and swimming pool. Indulge in Executive Club rooms for only RMB 130 extra and then you can enjoy special privileges.

About Pullman
Pullman is Accor's upscale hotel brand designed with the requirements of business women and men in mind.
Located in the main regional and international cities, Pullman hotels provide an extensive range of tailored services, access to groundbreaking technologies, and "Co-Meeting" – a new approach to organizing meetings, seminars and high-end incentives. At Pullman hotels, business travelers can choose between being independent or choosing help from our staff around the clock.
By the end of 2011, the Pullman network will include 70 hotels across Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. In time, we anticipate a network of over 150 establishments around the world. Further information concerning Pullman hotels is available on website http://www.pullmanhotels.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Ada Xu
  Pullman Xiamen Powerlong
  +86 (0)592 518 8888

  Mabel Liu
  Accor Greater China
  +86(0) 21 6119 9833

Find the original news article here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/pullman-xiamen/powerlong-opening/prweb9202737.htm

To view this infographic on App Annie’s website, simply visit:
http://www.appannie.com/infographic-rise

7 Key Growth Trends in the iOS App Store
1. Of all markets, Norway earns more per download than any other: 9x more revenue per download compared to an app in China.
2. Growth in China however grew 300% and revenue 180% over the last year, outstripping the growth of all other major markets.
3. The US’s top grossing app in 2011 generated almost 10x the revenue of the top grossing app in China.
4. Apps with in-app purchases are now monetizing at double the $ per download compared to apps without. That disparity has come about in the last 12 months.
5. iPad downloads grew 200% in 2011, outstripping iPhone’s 70% growth.
6. iPad revenues account for 30% of the entire iOS pie. Developers can no longer put off developing for iPad.
7. iPad apps generate 2.4x more revenue per download compared to iPhone apps.

Planet of big money downloads: Norway
In a global comparison of average revenue per app downloaded, Norway is #1 at $0.37 per download, nine times more than China.* App Annie's research finds there is only a loose correlation between GDP per capita and $ per download by country: factors such as smartphone penetration and local currency billing are more important.

East Asia – Land of the Rising Downloads
East Asia was fertile territory for Apple in 2011. China saw a 300% increase in downloads and a 180% increase in revenue. Japan saw a 100% increase in downloads, and a 87% increase in revenue. These markets are now significant not just because of their sheer size, but also their growth rate. East Asia is increasingly important for international app publishers: apps such as Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja already have huge audiences in these regions. In 2012, look for international app publishers to do more localization for Asian tastes in UI and strengthen their local marketing channels.

Biggest prize money in the US (and Japan)
The #1 grossing app in the US generates nearly 10x the revenue of the #1 app in China.* Interestingly the top app in Japan earns 90% of the top app in the US even though it has has only 1/6 the smartphone population (according to wired.com analysts). So your app needs a fraction of the users in Japan to earn the same revenue as in the US.

In-App Purchase (IAP) revenues rocket.
The absolute growth of freemium and in-app purchase revenues has been well-documented. App Annie goes one level deeper to see if apps with in-app purchases actually earn more revenue on a per app basis. Their findings? In Jan 2011, the top 100 apps with IAP and without IAP were monetizing the same amount per app. But by Dec 2011, apps with IAP were monetizing 2.2X more than apps without IAP. If you have a great product, you’ll raise your revenue ceilings with a freemium rather than premium model. Leading publishers like EA, Gameloft and Glu are seeing their bets on freemium pay off big time.

Taking flight – Growth rate of iPad downloads
"Consumers already have a Macbook Air, and an iPhone, so do they need an iPad?" For app developers, this is a moot point: downloads on iPad grew 200% in 2011, compared to 70% for downloads on iPhone. Data suggests that the tablet will continue to convert notebook and smartphone owners at an increasing rate, and eventually represent 60% of the PC market by 2015 (SOURCE: IDC and Gartner).

iPad – A significant slice of the iOS pie
Revenues from iPad apps now account for 30% of overall iOS revenue, with iPhone and iTouch app revenues contributing 70%. This validates Apple's continued efforts in iPad innovation and marketing, which the reported imminent release of iPad 3 will reward even more. This matters for Google, which has yet to establish their own consumer market for tablets.

iPad – double the dollar sunshine
The iPad, at 2.1x more pixels, is generating 2.4x more revenue per download compared to the iPhone. Other factors include the difference in app prices, and differences in consumer use. These characteristics require a different thought process in iPad design and development, going beyond simply increasing image resolutions for the bigger device.

China is the reference point in this comparison, but China is not the lowest revenue per #1 grossing app or in terms of revenue per download.

Methodology
East Asia – Land of the Rising Downloads: A measure of the growth of downloads and revenues from all iOS apps in China and Japan from Jan 2011 to Dec 2011.
Biggest prize money in the US: An indexed measure of the local revenue earned in 2011 by the top grossing iOS app in each country.
In-App Purchase (IAP) revenues rocket: A measure of the total revenue earned by the top 100 grossing iOS apps with in-app purchase, and the top 100 grossing iOS apps without in-app purchase in 2011.
Taking flight – Growth rate of iPad downloads: A measure of the growth rate of iOS downloads on iPad against that on iPhone in 2011.
iPad – A significant slice of the iOS pie: A percentage breakdown of total iOS revenue (iPhone+iTouch, iPad) in 2011.
iPad – double the dollar sunshine: A measure of the revenue generated by iOS app download on iPad against that on iPhone in 2011.

About App Annie
App Annie is the industry leader in app store analytics and market intelligence, used by more than 60% of the Top 100 iOS publishers including Disney, EA, Google, Rovio, Shazam, Skype, Zynga, and many others. The company excels in ‘The Math Behind The App Stores’, with unique free and premium products in the market intelligence space that allow app store analysts and marketers to identify macro trends, business opportunities and marketing strategies within the international app store economy.

To find out more
To learn more about where all this data came from, just visit http://www.appannie.com/infographic-rise

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Oliver Lo, VP Marketing
  App Annie
  +86 18611700431

Find the original news article here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/app-annie-whitepaper/rise-planet-infographic/prweb9201952.htm

Jack Perkowski tells China Money Podcast that he is bullish on environmental and energy efficiency technology, health care and the financial services sectors in China.

Beijing, China (February 02, 2012) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — In a bold refutation of prominent China doomsayers including New York University professor Nouriel Roubini and hedge fund manager Jim Chanos, Jack Perkowski, a.k.a. Mr. China, tells China Money Podcast now is a great time to invest in China because the Chinese government will ensure its economy staves off a crash scenario.

"There are a lot of opportunities in China. It's still very early in the game," says Perkowski. “Those predicting a hard landing didn't take into account of the fact that the Chinese government has all of the monetary and fiscal tools at its disposal."

Perkowski, founder and managing partner at China-focused merchant bank JFP Holdings Ltd., has twenty years of experience investing on the ground in China. He came to China in the early 1990s and founded ASIMCO Technologies Ltd., now one of the largest independent auto component manufactures in China. That pioneer journey made him one of the most successful Western businessmen in China and gained him the moniker, Mr. China. He made the above comments while being interviewed on the latest online episode of China Money Podcast.

Among all the investment potentials, Perkowski favors environmental and energy efficiency technologies, health care and the financial services sector.

"Anything relating to the environment (that) helps improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions (and so on) will be big opportunities, (and) health care, one of the last big industries that's being opened up for outside investors," says Perkowski.

"The whole financial services sector will be huge," Perkowski goes on saying. "China still has a 50 percent savings rate and the insurance sector is growing at 25 percent a year, not because the Chinese are in love insurance but because they look at insurance as another place to put their savings."

Those who predict that China will inevitably suffer a hard landing, defined as an annual growth rate below 7.5 percent, underestimate the resources available to the Chinese government to manage the economy.

"China needs to grow at somewhere between 7 to 9 percent (annually) to have an economy to absorb all of the new workers every year," says Perkowski. Therefore, with social stability top on their mind, China's leaders will do everything to ensure growth does not fall beneath that key level.

After selling ASIMCO Technologies Ltd., then with sales of over US$500 million, to Bain Capital in 2009, Perkowski founded Beijing-based JFP Holdings in the same year. JFP Holdings helps global companies on their China strategies and assists Chinese companies to develop their global footprint.

About China Money Podcast
China Money Podcast is a top rated audio talk show series focused on investing in China. With prominent guests ranging from China-focused fund managers, economists to analysts, the podcast is widely followed by the investment community in and outside of China. Hosted by Nina Xiang, a Beijing-based veteran financial journalist, the podcast is the source of insights on-the-go for any investors interested in investing in China. The show is available as a free audio download from http://www.ChinaMoneyPodcast.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Belinda Wang
  China Money Podcast
  +85281917129
  

Find the original news article here:http://www.prweb.com/releases/china-money-podcast/jack-perkowski-finance/prweb9158219.htm

Renaissance Resort Sanya announces the regular appearance of JLB, a live three piece band from Venezuela.

Sanya, China (December 28, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Recent arrivals at the Renaissance Resort Sanya are JLB, a live three piece band from Venezuela with a line-up that includes guitarist, Reym, electronic keyboard player, Luciano, and singer, Laura. Before they came to Sanya "The Oriental Hawaii," this band, that has great musical talent, worked for many years in international hotels in Venezuela and China. In addition to singing songs in English and Chinese, Laura also specializes in songs in Korean, Latin American and other languages. Reym and Luciano also versatile in that they can not only play bass and various percussion instruments, but also play in different style such as salsa, merengue, bachata and reggaeton.

Come down and be entertained by our resident band which performs every week from Tuesdays to Sundays from 8pm to 11.45pm. What better way to see the sunset every evening?

Renaissance Sanya Resort and Spa opened on 18th March 2011 and is located in Haitang Bay on China's National Coast. Renaissance is Marriott International's lifestyle brand and guests will be able to discover wonderfully new experiences both within the resort and through neighboring attractions such as the Nantian Hot Springs and the diving paradise of Wu Zhi Zhou Island.

The resort is designed as a grand tropical palace with breathtaking oriental design features and 507 well-equipped rooms starting at a generous 58sq meters. Options include over 90 suites, 10 two-bedroom villas with private swimming pools, 2 Renaissance Suites positioned at the beach front and what must be the largest Presidential Suite in China with an area of over 1,000 square meters including 2 swimming pools, 4 bedrooms and a private elevator.

As a lifestyle resort there are many intriguing experiences to discover with innovative food and beverage concepts, a Quan Spa, Kid's Club, and the amazing R-cade entertainment center with tenpin bowling, a cinema, snooker, table tennis and individual Wii and Xbox zones. The convention center is designed to host international conferences and events with over 2,500 square meters of total meeting and banquet space including a 1,430 square meter-grand ballroom and several meeting rooms.

About Rnaissance Hotels
Rnaissance Hotels is an upscale brand with more than 145 properties in 32 countries that speaks to passionate travelers in search of authentic local discoveries when traveling for business or leisure. Renaissance Hotels has recently welcomed several new "gems" to its global collection – the boutique Renaissance Malmo hotel in Sweden, the historic Stanford Court hotel in San Francisco, the exotic Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino in the Dutch Caribbean, the opulent Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel and the modern Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel. These hotels join a rich portfolio defined by distinctive and well-known icons such as the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, La Concha Renaissance San Juan, Renaissance New York Hotel 57 and Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe. All Renaissance hotels participate in the award winning Marriott Rewards frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay. To make reservations and for more information visit http://www.renaissancehotels.com.

Visit http://www.marriott.com/corporateinfo/boilerplate.mi for company information.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Maggie Li
  Renaissance Sanya Resort & Spa
  (86 898) 3885 8888
  

Find the original news article here:http://www.prweb.com/releases/live-band-show/renaissance-sanya/prweb9064799.htm

InterContinental Tangshan, the first international 5-star hotel in Tangshan, celebrated its Grand Opening on December 23, 2011. As the very first guest, Mr. Yoshinobu Nakamura, President & CEO of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Itd., Tokyo, Japan was welcomed by the hotel General Manager and his hotel management team.

Tangshan, China (December 28, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — InterContinental Tangshan, the first international 5-star hotel in Tangshan, celebrated its Grand Opening on December 23, 2011. As the very first guest, Mr. Yoshinobu Nakamura, President & CEO of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Itd., Tokyo, Japan was welcomed by the hotel General Manager and his hotel management team.

Mr. Yoshinobu Nakamura was given a grand welcome by hotel General Manager Otto Kurzendorfer and his management team. As the first guest of InterContinental Tangshan he was the first to benefit from a host of corporate facilities that will meet all business and leisure requirements.

Mr. Otto Kurzendorfer, the General Manager of InterContinental Tangshan commented, "We are honored to host our first guest the day before Christmas. The combined efforts of our talented and experienced team and state-of-art amenities will ensure a long and comfortable stay for our valued guest. InterContinental Tangshan is the only international hotel in the exceptional city of Tangshan, and our location is both convenient for business as well as right in the middle of the new build downtown."

About InterContinental Tangshan
InterContinental Tangshan is the first international 5-star hotel in Tangshan and is located in the heart of the city directly facing the Tangshan Seismic Memorial and Dazhao Park. It has 285 luxurious guest rooms including Club Floor, Suites and Accessible Rooms. Minimum room sizes start from 42 sqm and rooms feature a 42 inch LCD television, audio video equipment, iPod & iPhone base station, wired/wirless internet access and comfortable working area. The spacious bathroom will have separate shower and bathtub.

The exquisite pillarless Grand Ballroom covers an immense 1,200 sqm and can be partitioned into three rooms. A total of 8 multi-function rooms are filled with natural daylight and equipped with state-of-art meeting facilities. Going further than simply providing a comfortable place to do business, our mission is to inspire delegates, giving them the chance to get the most out of their meeting while feeling connected to their destination. Our team is here to provide a seamless service that extends from start to finish and will do whatever it takes to make life easier for you as the event planner.

Experience the best dining facilities ranging from Imperial Court featuring exquisite Chinese delicacies of seafood, abalone, shark's fin and bird nest to Tang Yuan Chinese Restaurant which specializes in dishes from Guandong province. Phoenix All Day Dining offers international cuisine with an open kitchen buffet concept that will tantalize the taste buds of all palates.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Emily Cheng
  Marketing and Communications Manager
  Tel:+86 315 578 3333
  Email:yawen.chen@ihg.com
  

Find the original news article here:http://www.prweb.com/releases/interContinental-tangshan/grand-opening/prweb9064875.htm

Beijing, China (December 09, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Former NBA All-­Star forward Jamal Mashburn will host the basketball tournament. Known in his NBA playing days as "Monster Mash", Mr. Mashburn will be active throughout the day participating in basketball clinics, mentoring the student/athletes throughout the event and games as well as greeting those in attendance. "I am impressed with the concept of the event, the student/athletes and overall project. This event shows just what can happen when young people from China and the United States work together, and shows the value of the work being done through the Booey Lehoo festival to support the 100,000 Strong Initiative," remarked Mashburn.

Assisting "Mash" in the basketball activities will be Ma Jian, former Chinese basketball star and NBA analyst for sina.com, along with Tom McCarthy, Boston Celtics (NBA) Asian scout & chairman of Beijing International Group (BIG), and Jim Nelson, former NCAA (USA) star at Boston College & present athletic director of Suffolk University (Boston) along with local high school coaches.

The 8 Boston (USA), 8 WAB high school student/athletes and 16 Chinese high school student/athletes from Beijing will join together to form 8 "Friendship Teams" to compete for the "Jackie Chan Cup", a trophy donated by the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation Beijing (JCCF), which is a partner in the Booey Lehoo Arts Week and Concert with Americans Promoting Study Abroad (APSA).

The week culminates in a star-­studded concert on December 17th headlined by 7-time Grammy-­Winner will.i.am. The concert, held at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing on December 17, will also include performances by Shunza, John Legend, CoCo Lee (invited), apl.de.ap, and Sa Dingding. The show will celebrate and support U.S.-­China educational and cultural exchange and promote the 100,000 Strong Initiative. Tickets are available through www.booeylehoo.com.

Motorola is a key sponsor for the Booey Lehoo Arts Weeks and Concert. Peak is sponsoring the official event gear. Beijing International Group (BIG) is coordinating the City of Boston Mayor's Office & Boston Public School participation as well as teaming with APSA on event management for the tournament and clinic.

Working Together for a Brighter Future
The Booey Lehoo Arts Week and Concert, organized by APSA and its Chinese partners with support from JCCF, aims to raise awareness of the 100,000 Strong Initiative, an initiative announced by President Obama in 2009 and launched by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2010 to dramatically increase the numbers of US students coming to China to study. APSA works to provide study opportunities for high school students from underserved communities. APSA co-­founder Mike Dardzinski, providing his perspective commented: "It's just great to see young people from our two great countries pooling their talent for a good cause, and the event shows that if we work together, the future of the world in the 21st century is in safe hands. We are very excited about all of the Booey Lehoo events, and are committed to giving study exchange opportunities to the largest possible number of high school students."

A Week of Excitement and Building Friendships
Bringing the exciting week of activities to a smashing conclusion will be the December 17 concert featuring American music superstars will.i.am, apl.de.ap and John Legend performing with Chinese superstars Shunza and Sa Dingding in individual, duet and collaboration arrangements. The concert will take place at the National Indoor Stadium.

There is something for everyone throughout the Booey Lehoo Arts Week as fans can enjoy dance, classical music, literary activities as well as a special evening of blues and jazz straight from the Windy City, Chicago, IL.

To add to the seasonal spirit of giving, the Boston students will participate in a Community Service Day with other APSA student ambassadors at a local Beijing school.

Further details on the Booey Lehoo Arts Week & Concert, as well as ticket information are provided at www.booeylehoo.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• APSA
  David Mitchell
  david.mitchell@hillandknowlton.com.cn
  tel: (86 10) 5861 7585

  Sindy Zhang
  sindy.zhang@hillandknowlton.com.cn
  tel: (86 10) 5861 7540
  

Chinese resort boasts manager with a special smile and a special type of service.

Sanya, China (December 02, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Ms. Sherry Lv, the manager of the Pullman Hotel Chinese Restaurant The One, received the award of "Sunshine Angel", for Hainan Island's Top 10 Tourism Service Star by Lotto Travel website and the Hainan Tourism Bureau. The award was based on Internet users' votes on Lotto Travel's website.

Sherry Lv has 8 years experience in the hotel industry and reportedly "always has a beautiful smile, just like the sunshine of Sanya" in China. During her work in the hotel, she has provided service for attendees from the 57th Miss World Final Competition and also many Chinese and international pop stars.

Now Sherry is working as a manager at the Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay hotel and she insists her service attitude is from the heart and that she offers something special according to each individual guests needs. Sherry hopes the tourism industry service level will be higher and better in Hainan in the future, and she is helping to set the standard.

Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort and Spa
Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort & Spa is located in the Sanya Bay area and is only 10 minutes from both the heart of the city and the Sanya Phoenix International Airport.

The hotel boasts breathtaking views of the South China Sea and the surrounding hills. The resort's design is a mix of classical Chinese and South East Asian interiors and has 300 meters beach directly opposite the hotel with private access for in-house guests. The hotel offers 405 rooms and suites, as well as 8 villas, 2 restaurants with private rooms and 4 feature bars with different highlights. It also has a Fit Lounge and Spa to meet the business and leisure traveler’s needs.

Well appointed banqueting facilities include a 1,008sqm pillar-less Grand Ballroom with natural daylight, along with 8 multi-functional meeting rooms, each with the latest audio and video system technology. There are plenty of choices for every type of event, whether it is a company conference, a product launch or a cocktail party, and our professional event management team will help make all events a success.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Miaona Qin
  Marketing Communications Manager
  Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort and Spa
  86(0) 898 8828 8888 7212
  

Find the original news article here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/sanya-pullman-hotels/resort-spa-servicestar/prweb9002270.htm

Beijing, China (November 25, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Jim Rogers, Chairman of Rogers Holdings and a famed investor, says he sees more trouble ahead for the world economy in the next few years, and is shorting shares in various markets.

"I mainly short shares around the world," says Rogers. "I have shorted American technology companies, I have shorted European stocks and shorted emerging market stocks."

Rogers made the comment while talking to China Money Podcast (http://www.ChinaMoneyPodcast.com), a top-rated audio program focusing on investing in China.

Long known as a China Bull, Rogers turned pessimistic about China's economic future in light of the on-going economic malaise in the U.S. and Europe. "I don't see a resumption of the bull market in many places in the world until we have the next economic problems in the US, which will be fairly soon," says Rogers.

Having moved to Singapore in 2007 to be closer to the investment opportunities in China, Rogers warns investors to be cautious on China's property bubble. But he also points out that investors should differentiate China's property bubble with that of the U.S. "China's property market has a price bubble, but not a credit bubble the US had," says Rogers.

The outspoken author of a number of best selling books, including A Gift To My Children, is a firm believer of the Chinese currency's long-term potential. "The Renminbi will go massively higher over the next few decades," says Rogers, who goes on to warn U.S. politicians, who have repeated blasted China for manipulating the RMB, to be careful of what they wish for.

"Manipulation is the wrong world. (China) has a managed float. Once the Chinese currency is freely convertible and freely traded, you are going to have a lot of people leaving the U.S. dollar and going into the RMB. Then the U.S. is going to lose its status as the world's reserve currency."

Though the intellectually intense investor believes that China should allow the RMB to rise faster against the dollar, he says it is China's currency, and China should be the one making the decisions.

"If someone called up the American government, and went into the press everyday and said to America this is what you have to do with your currency, America would be furious. America would be shrieking, yelling and probably dropping bombs on that country," says Rogers.

– About China Money Podcast –

http://www.ChinaMoneyPodcast.com

China Money Podcast is a top rated audio talk show series focused on investing in China. With prominent guests ranging from China-focused fund managers, economists to analysts, the podcast is widely followed by the investment community in and outside of China. Hosted by Nina Xiang, a Beijing-based veteran financial journalist, the podcast is the source of insights – on-the-go – for any investor interested in investing in China.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Belinda Wang
  China Money Podcast
  +85281917129
  

Sanya, China (November 24, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — At the award ceremony of running through November 15 at New York City, The International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) announced winners of the 31st annual Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design, Honorees were selected by a panel of industry experts from a field of more than 150 projects representing 24 countries. The InterContinental Sanya Resort was awarded Best Bathroom, Best Spa, and Best Hotel Design- Resort. The Awards are sponsored by Interior Design and HOTELS magazines with the 96th annual IHMRS.

"It is our great honor that InterContinental Sanya Resort had been awarded as the ‘Best Bathroom, Best Spa, and Best Hotel Design- Resort" said Mr. Geoffrey Ryan, the General Manager of InterContinental Sanya Resort. "We are very happy that the industry experts, audiences, and the guests like our distinctive eco-friendly property design, superior facilities, friendly services and the incredible beautiful environment. The entire team of InterContinental Sanya Resort is committed to exceed our guests' expectations.

Opened in July 2010, InterContinental Sanya Resort occupies one of the most beautiful locations – Xiao Dong Hai in Sanya, surrounded by sandy beaches and green mountains, offers guests picturesque views from every room. Beautiful water features and water gardens throughout the Resort create a serene yet stylish ambience. The Resort offers 343 sea view rooms including 24 beachside villas & 12 executive suites, and guests can lounge in 5 swimming pools, dine in 8 restaurants and bars, unwind in our soothing SPA InterContinental or choose from 1 ballroom and 7 inspiring meeting rooms.

For this awards more information please visit: http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4053787.html.

About InterContinental Sanya Resort
InterContinental Sanya Resort is owned by Luhuitou Tourist Area Development Co., Ltd. Sanya and managed by InterContinental Hotels Group, the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms. For more information on InterContinental Sanya Resort and its facilities, please visit www.intercontinental.com/sanya or call 400 886 2255 for reservations.

About IHG
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [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 4,400 hotels and more than 645,000 guest rooms in over 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club Rewards with 48 million members worldwide.

IHG has nearly 1,400 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 160,000 jobs 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.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Emma Gao
  Director of Marketing Communications
  Phone:+86 898 8861 8888 Ext.8240
  Mobile:+86 137 0753 9200
  Fax:+86 898 8861 7666
  E-mail:yangemma.gao@ihg.com
  

Shanghai, China (November 22, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Over the next ten years, the Chinese government will invest more than Yuan 100bn (US$15bn) in subsidising the country's industry and infrastructure for environmentally friendly and alternative fuel vehicles. Around Yuan 60bn will be invested in developing energy-saving technologies, with the remaining funds to be used for the creation of an infrastructure capable of supporting energy saving vehicles in certain cities.The Chinese car industry is maturing and follows other big manufacturers in their investment on electric mobility. The state supports this move by having set an official goal of 500,000 Chinese plug-in hybrids and electric cars produced by the end of 2011. To facilitate this goal, China launches a nationwide programme to install large electric vehicle charging stations. China is on track to lead deployment of this infrastructure in the coming years.

According to MIIT Telematics has been listed as one of the major project in China during the 12th Five-Year Plan period. The future investing will foucs on automotive electronics, information and communication and software solutions. It is expected that total market value of China Telematics industry will be more than 10billion USD and China will be the largest market for telematics services. However the telematics segment in China is still far from fully developmed owing to the lack of industry involvement and integration. Especially, the progress of consumer telematics development is laggard in China.

China 2012 Electric Vehicle Forum garthering 200+ OEMs, Enterprise decision makers and China government officers, focusing building Chinese style sustainable EV infrastructure , Telematics technology, and strategic plan.

We building a precious communication platform of technology exchange, business partnership and market development.

Conference Website: www.chinaevforum.com/2012/index.asp.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Ale Xu
  Tel: +86 21 5180 7955
  Fax: +86 21 5180 7791
  Email: ale@being-consulting.com
  

Los Angeles, California (December 22, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Grammy award-winning artist will.i.am and Americans Promoting Study Abroad (APSA) joined students at Mendez Learning Center on Monday to announce a star-studded concert in Beijing on Dec. 17 to build support for the State Department's 100,000 Strong Initiative to promote study abroad in China.

Los Angeles is the latest city to throw its support behind 100,000 Strong, a program launched in 2010 to dramatically increase the number of American students studying in China over the next four years. The Beijing concert, through the support of generous corporate sponsors, will help 100,000 Strong raise the money necessary to send U.S. students to China.

"Los Angeles couldn't be more pleased to partner with 100,000 Strong," Mayor Villaraigosa said. "This program will create life-changing opportunities for our Los Angeles' young people to travel to a new country, learn about a new culture and meet new friends."

Will.i.am, the front man for The Black Eyed Peas, will headline the Dec. 17 concert along with several other prominent Chinese and U.S. artists including apl.de.ap, also of The Black Eyed Peas, the Bucky Johnson Band and singer-songwriter John Legend. Legend is a nine-time Grammy award winner.

Will.i.am met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in July to announce his support for 100,000 Strong. At the meeting, Clinton formally announced that will.i.am would serve as a goodwill ambassador for the program.

"Having come from the Los Angeles area, I know first-hand how important programs like 100,000 Strong can be," will.i.am said. "The opportunity to study abroad in China would be a dream realized for so many young people who may not otherwise have had the chance to see what else the world has to offer."

Also joining Mayor Villaraigosa at Monday's event: Carola McGiffert, Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Director of 100,000 Strong, Mendez Engineering and Technology Principal Alex Avila, teachers and students from Mendez high school, Ted Dean, Co-Chairman of APSA and representatives of Cinequest.

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell said of L.A.'s partnership: "We are thrilled that Mayor Villaraigosa has embraced this very important initiative. The more support we get from our nation's mayors, the closer we are to sending 100,000 American students to China over the next four years."

In addition to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Seattle have agreed to serve as partner cities for 100,000 Strong.

Americans Promoting Study Abroad (APSA) runs full-scholarship programs for U.S. high school students from underserved communities to study in Beijing, focusing on language acquisition, cultural understanding, leadership development and exposure to international careers. It is organizing the December concert with the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation Beijing and with the support of the State Department on 100,000 Strong.

"We are excited to partner with the City of Los Angeles on this important initiative" said APSA's Ted Dean. "We also are excited to be announcing a new partnership with Cinequest to develop a U.S.-China youth film collaborative program that will deliver even more opportunities for LA public high school students to travel to China and work with their counterparts on creative projects."

Cinequest, which helps educate young people about technology and movie-making, will partner with APSA to organize collaborative film projects involving L.A. public high school students and Chinese students.

The 100,000 Strong Initiative is a public-private partnership; to date, private corporate and foundation donors have pledged more than $11 million towards the Initiative. The Chinese government has offered 20,000 scholarships for U.S. students. To learn more about the 100,000 Strong Initiative, visit www.state.gov/100Kstrong.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• APSA: Erin Billings
  ebillings@bgrpr.com
  202-285-4528

  State Department: Carola McGiffert
  McGiffertC@state.gov
  202-647-1029

  Mayor Villaraigosa: Rachel Kruer
  rachel.kruer@lacity.org
  213-978-0741
  

Beijing, China (November 21, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — In 2011, the internet business in China has pursued the upsurge of going public which took place in 2010. With companies including renren, qihoo360, netqin, jianyuan, 21vianet, tudou are all going public abroad, the Chinese internet business has become the high light of the Chinese economy. Beside that, other companies, which have been developing along with the growth of Chinese internet, such as tencent, alibaba, baidu, also did great jobs in 2011.

This year, 2011, is the Chinese Year on internet, is the year of Chinese Hero on internet. With the world-wide economic crisis and the American Credit Rating going down, China stood out and got to the top of the international market.

To witness the existence of the Local Hero of Chinese internet, the 9th Chinese Internet Economic Forum 2011 is to begin on December 8th. This forum is an annual grand gathering which hosted by and Information Research Center of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Under the main topic "China – Hero", the forum will emphasize the Chinese opportunities, new ideas of CEO, and have a further discussion on topics such as life on line service, mobile internet and cloud computing, E-Business and e-payment, internet advertisement and marketing. Government official, seniors and experts on internet, advertisers are all invited to this gathering. That will conclude and look forward to the direction on this business as well as provide a stage for resource integration.

This forum will launch a voting of "China – Hero", and announce the Top 100 E-business Website in China, and also "mobile internet award 2011", "e-payment award 2011", "Chinese web advertisement award 2011", "Chinese internet celebrity 2011", "the most popular IT products 2011". That brought the forum the widest involvement and the highest attention.

It's the time to witness the heroes of internet! Here, JW Marriott, Beijing China, on December 8th ,2011, let’s celebrate it together.

Organization: , Information Research Center of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences;Time: December, 08, 2011 (Thursday);Location: JW Marriott, Beijing China; Web: www.ciweekforum.com

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Business Cooperation, Mr. Glare XU
  Tel: +86-010-65240311
  Cell Phone: 86+13683277123
  Email: hqxu@ciweek.com

  Media Cooperation: Miss Gao Ran
  Tel: +86-010-65249988-5103
  Email: rgao@ciweek.com
  

Beijing, China (November 14, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Regent Beijing, a luxurious 500 room property located minutes away from Tiananmen Square, was recently awarded "Top Presidential Suite Award as well as Best Chinese/Western Fusion Style" by Hurun Presidential Awards 2011.

"Hurun Presidential Awards" are held by the prestigious Hurun Report annually, and winners are chosen from the top 5 star hotels in Beijing. The Hurun assessment team spend a month reviewing the hotels through site visits and personal experiences of all five-star hotels in Beijing, covering several aspects in terms of location, design, landscape, facilities and functions.

"With its unique style, the Presidential Suite of Regent Beijing elegantly interweaves contemporary luxury with the exquisite charm of historic China, and embodies the perfect combination of Eastern and Western styles".

"This is great recognition of the Regent Beijing, and we are proud that one of the hotels unique features has been recognised". said Mr George Benney, Managing Director of Regent Beijing and Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing.

About Regent Beijing
In the heart of China's dynamic metropolis, The Regent Beijing is an exclusive sanctuary that elegantly interweaves contemporary luxury with the exquisite charm of historic China. Luxurious accommodation, the ultimate in modern comforts, state of the art facilities, gracious hospitality and intuitive service seamlessly come together to create an inspired experience that is distinctly The Regent Beijing. Set comfortably between the sleek modernity of the business district and the ancient hutongs of traditional China, The Regent Beijing is 45 minutes drive to the Beijing Capital Airport.

Designed in a classic yet contemporary style, the 500 luxurious guestrooms and suites are spacious and boast modern features and stylish amenities. Anti-rupture Glass installation for suites room make your stay more comfortable and safety. Some rooms enjoy panoramic views of the spectacular Forbidden City. The Regent Club Lounge encompasses three top floors with large floor to ceiling glass windows offering natural day lighting and a panoramic view of the Forbidden City. The main floor measures a total area of 630 square meters. The Regent Club Lounge provides exclusive benefits, for the discerning traveler, 24 hour a day, Guests staying in the suites enjoy complimentary access while a premium fee is required for guests staying in other room categories.

Five restaurants with different styles are presented, namely, The Bar& Grill, Daccapo, Cafe 99, Lijingxuan Chinese Restaurant and Crescent Lounge, which provides guests with worldwide delicate food.

A lavish function room with high ceiling and no pillars, The Ballroom is an excellent venue for meetings or banquets. Adjoined to the Ballroom is a balcony style pre-function area that overlooks The Crescent Lounge. Eight additional function rooms are available for small to medium sized events. A unique feature of the Ballroom is the state-of-the-art lighting equipment with motorized moving heads and remote-controlled spotlights that allow versatile focus while color changing cove lighting set a variety of moods. Adjoined to it is a balcony style pre-function area that overlooks the garden and water features of The Crescent Lounge.

For more information, please visit www.regenthotels.com/beijingcn.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Kelly Xu, Marketing and Communications Manager
  Regent Beijing
  Tel: +86 10 8522 1888-5650
  kelly.xu@regenthotels.com
  

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