Hilton Worldwide announced that it has signed a management agreement with Dandong Huilong Industrial Development Co., Ltd (DHID) for the first mid-market Hilton Garden Inn branded hotel in Dandong, Liaoning Province, North China.

The agreement also marks the second Hilton Garden Inn in China, following the first property located in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province scheduled to open in December of 2012. Construction on the 190-room Hilton Garden Inn Dandong is scheduled to begin in March 2012 for a March 2014 opening.

“Located in the strategic center of Northeast China, Dandong has seen tremendous growth in recent years due to its cross-border location,” said Wee-Hau Lee, senior vice president of development, Greater China, Hilton Worldwide. “Establishing a presence in this important city gives impetus to Hilton Worldwide’s development plan in China, and supports our ambitious goal of expanding from the 20-plus hotels we currently operate to the more than 100 hotels we plan to operate in the next five years.”

Adrian Kurre, global head, Hilton Garden Inn, said, “The introduction of the award-winning Hilton Garden Inn brand to Dandong is another milestone to expand and deepen our presence in China. We are looking forward to having visitors experience the hospitality and amenities of Hilton Garden Inn, while visiting this fascinating historical city, reputed as ‘the most beautiful border city in China.”

Upon completion, the project will be a mixed-use building, with retail at the base and a hotel tower on top. With convenient access to Dandong Railway Station, Dandong Customs and the Yalu River, the centrally located downtown hotel has a distinct advantage in accommodating both leisure and business travellers.

Zhao Wei, Chairman and Legal Representative of Dandong Huilong Industrial Development Co. Ltd described the agreement as a win-win partnership. “We are delighted to cooperate with Hilton Worldwide, a leader in global hospitality and one of the most influential and well-known hotel chains in China,” he said. “As a key project for both DHID and the city, we are confident that Hilton Garden Inn Hotel Dandong will add great value to the property market and the city’s image.”

In China, Hilton Worldwide currently operates 29 trading hotels and has over 100 properties in the pipeline across its portfolio of brands and expects more to develop and open in the near future.