Despite being born in Hong Kong in 1963, it took Mandarin Oriental almost 50 years to open in mainland China.
But it's quickly making up for lost time.
The luxury hotel company has plans to open four hotels in mainland China by 2015, adding to the first property it opened, in the resort area of Sanya, in 2009.
The 286-room Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou is scheduled to open at the end of 2012; Mandarin Oriental, Pudong in Shanghai in 2013; Mandarin Oriental, Beijing in 2014; and a Mandarin property in Chengdu in 2015.
The projects in China represent the highest number of Mandarin Oriental developments in any one country, said Andrew Hirst, Asia operations director for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
Global expansion
Around the world, the company has 17 projects currently under development: seven scheduled to open in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, followed by Asia's current roster of six, and the Americas at four.
Mandarin is also adding to its presence in greater China with a new property in Taipei slated for 2013. The Mandarin Oriental, Macau opened in 2010, its second hotel there, and the company has three hotels in Hong Kong.
By 2015, Mandarin's total greater China portfolio will encompass 11 hotels.
Hirst said that China is now Mandarin Oriental's second-largest source market after the U.S. and that Mandarin's hotels on the mainland would likely attract both Chinese and foreign guests.
Mandarin is one of many major hotel companies making major investments in China in order to take advantage of the world's largest domestic tourism market.
Hilton Worldwide operates 29 hotels in China with 100 more in the pipeline across its portfolio of brands; Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, which said China is its second-largest market outside of the U.S., has already opened 11 hotels in China in 2012 and expects to open another 13 hotels by year's end; and Marriott said it expects to have more than 100 hotels across nine brands and nearly 40 markets in China by 2014.
Hirst said the Mandarin name is relatively well-known in mainland China thanks to its three hotels in Hong Kong and two in Macau that cater to Chinese guests.
"We expect our brand recognition to grow further once we have established ourselves in the key cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou over the next few years," he said.
The new hotels in mainland China will cater to both luxury business and leisure travelers.
• The Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou will have 233 rooms and 30 suites, which the company said will be among the most spacious accommodations in the city.
The hotel will have a spa, fitness center and outdoor pool, along with five restaurants and bars. The Mandarin Grill will be inspired by the company's Hong Kong restaurant, and a Cantonese restaurant will reflect regional cuisine.
• The 362-guestroom Mandarin Oriental, Pudong in Shanghai, located in the Lujiazui Central Financial District, will also feature 210 serviced apartments. All accommodations will have views of the city skyline and the Huangpu River.
The property will have three restaurants, a lobby lounge and bar and a Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop bakery. Its spa will boast a 25-meter indoor swimming pool and a fitness center.
• Mandarin Oriental, Chengdu, Sichuan province, is scheduled to open in 2015 as part of a mixed-use development located on a riverfront site opposite the ancient Wang-jiang Park, which dates to the Ming dynasty.
Mandarin said the hotel would be positioned as "the most sophisticated luxury hotel in western China." Located on the top 33 floors of a tower, the hotel will have 320 rooms and 41 suites with views of the Jin-jiang River and city skyline. The hotel will feature a rooftop bar and tea lounge, a Chinese restaurant serving Sichuan cuisine and three speciality dining venues.
Mandarin Oriental, Chengdu will also have a variety of conference and function spaces geared toward the meetings and group market.
Follow Johanna Jainchill on Twitter @jjainchilltw.