International luxury hotel group, Le MÌ©ridien has announced the management of a new hotel in Hong Kong. Le MÌ©ridien @ Cyberport, the flagship hotel in Hong Kong for Le MÌ©ridien, will spearhead the company`s expansion into the fast-growing North Asian market.

Scheduled for completion towards the end of 2003, the ocean facing hotel is located at Telegraph Bay in Phase III of Hong Kong Island`s Cyberport development, which is a strategic information technology infrastructure project initiated by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

When completed the five-star Le Méridien @ Cyberport will feature 176 standard and Royal Club guestrooms and suites with a comprehensive range of amenities and facilities including two restaurants, a lobby lounge/bar, 300 sq. m. of function space and meeting room facilities, a fitness centre and an outdoor swimming pool.

The design of the hotel guestrooms will be compatible with Le Méridien`s Art + Tech concept, providing today`s travellers with a contemporary environment in which to work and play. The hotel`s overall design theme will be closely integrated with the surrounding architectural elements and design styles found throughout Cyberport.

Le Méridien @ Cyberport will serve as a showcase of state-of-the-art technology and innovative hospitality systems, including the capability for remote check-in and check-out, powerful broadband communication services and wireless Internet access.

Hotel guests will have access to many of the sophisticated telecommunication services available to members of the Cyberport community. These include an optical network that provides ultra high-speed Internet connections for all tenants and residents, a Satellite Master Antenna Television System that boasts as many as 120 channels of satellite television broadcasting and a Cyberportal on which up-to-date Cyberport and local news will be posted.

Michael Sagid, Le Méridien`s regional managing director, Asia Pacific, said: “This new hotel is a significant step for Le Méridien as it will spearhead the company`s expansion into the important North Asian markets of China, Korea and Taiwan. We anticipate considerable growth in the number of business and leisure visitors in North Asia over the next 10 years, particularly with China`s accession into the World Trade Organisation.”

Le Méridien is a global hotel group with a portfolio of 144 luxury and upscale hotels (38,631 rooms) in 57 countries worldwide. The majority of its properties and resorts are located throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. The company also enjoys a strategic alliance with JAL-owned Nikko Hotels, giving guests access to an additional 40 properties around the world. Headquartered in London, Le Méridien was purchased by Nomura International plc`s Principal Finance Goup in July 2001 and merged with Principal Hotels, acquired by Nomura in February 2001.

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