Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Xian Yungao International Hotel Company have signed an agreement for Starwood to manage a 296-room Westin in Xian.The hotel is expected to open in 2010.

The Westin Xian will be part of a planned Great Tang All Day Mall, which is expected to become one of the world’s longest cultural and commercial pedestrian malls in the world, including a scenic pedestrian street, tourism amenities, sightseeing features and trade and cultural facilities. The Westin Xian will be adjacent and within walking distance from the mall. The site is also within 40 minutes drive from Xian Xianyang International Airport, 60 minutes from the Terracotta Warrior site, and maintains easy access to downtown area and Xian’s industrial development zone. In addition to its 296 guest rooms, The Westin Xian will feature approximately 11,000 square feet of meeting space, 5 restaurants, a health club and Westin’s Heavenly Spa.

Miguel Ko, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia-Pacific, said, “With economic progress and industrial development in the last few years as well as a focus on developing Xian as a destination city, corporate and meetings demand in Xian has grown at a steady pace, in addition to the existing leisure demand. We are confident that the entry of Westin is timely and will serve to meet the growing room and meeting demands in this market.”

The Westin Xian will be the seventh Westin hotel in mainland China, joining The Westin Shanghai, The Westin Beijing - Financial Street, The Westin Beijing at Chaoyang, The Westin Guangzhou, The Westin Nanjing and The Westin Zhejiang Resort, Nine Dragon Hill. The Westins in Guangzhou, Zhejiang, Beijing Chaoyang and Nanjing are slated to open in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively. The Westin Xian will also be the second Starwood hotel in Xian, in addition to Sheraton Xian Hotel.
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