Int'l hotels rush to expand in Beijing

Motivated by busy businesses in Beijing and soaring demand there for star hotels, international brand hotels rush to Beijing as Olympic Games approaches.

Olympic Games sets higher requirement for the hardware as well as services of hotels. Moreover, large numbers of famous hotels pouring in forces Beijing to improve itself. Accor's plan also stimulated rapid expansions of international hotels in Beijing.

Michael Issenbeg, Asia Pacific managing director of France's Accor, announced in Beijing on April 12 the group's unprecedented expansion plan: hotels to be doubled in China, from the current 24 to 50 at the end of 2007. The focus will be five-star Sofitel and economical Ibis. By then, 11 Sofitel hotels will be added, including the first one in Beijing. 10 Ibis hotels will be added annually after 2007.

Moreover, Global Hyatt Corporation, InterContinental Hotels Group and Shangri-La in Beijing also launched their expansion.

By People's Daily Online