SHANGHAI -- Starwood Hotels and Resorts will manage its second St.
Regis hotel in China under an agreement with Shanghai HongTa Hotel
Co., which is building a 345-room hotel in Shanghai's Pudong
district. The hotel is scheduled to open in July 2001.
The St. Regis flag went up over the Beijing International Club
Hotel -- now called the St. Regis Beijing -- on March 1.
The St. Regis Shanghai will open in the bustling central
business district of Pudong, which is adjacent to the downtown area
of Shanghai, east of the Huangpu River.
The Chinese government is investing heavily in Pudong's
infrastructure and is encouraging foreign investment with special
incentives.
Liu Hui Jiang, director and general manager of Shanghai HongTa
Hotel Co., said his company is investing $97 million to develop the
St. Regis Shanghai.
"China's burgeoning economy has led to strong growth in the
number of business travelers who demand high-quality, luxury
accommodations, especially in new commercial areas like Pudong,"
said Liu.
Designed by Sydness Architect in New York, the 38-story hotel
will have 50 suites and feature the largest hotel rooms in
Shanghai, at more than 516 square feet.
The hotel will have four restaurants, more than 70,000 square
feet of meeting space, a business center, a health club and indoor
pool, a spa and a tennis court.
The hotel also will offer the St. Regis brand's signature
24-hour butler service.