Accor is to manage two Sofitel hotels in different areas of China’s rising commercial capital of Nanjing, Sofitel Galaxy Nanjing in the city centre and the Sofitel Zhongshan Golf & Resort. Both hotels are scheduled to open by the end of 2005.
Sofitel Galaxy Nanjing is expected to become a landmark property in Nanjing’s fast growing central business district, with convenient access to major commercial buildings, shoppings centres and offices. The 42-storey Sofitel will be one of Nanjings’s most prestigious internationally-branded deluxe hotels, offering 278 guest rooms, an 875sqm multi purpose ballroom, plus seven meeting rooms ranging from 60sqm to 160sqm respectively.

Once opened, it will feature three restaurants, a lobby bar, health club with large indoor swimming pool, plus a luxurious spa featuring seven private treatment rooms.

Located in the city’s Zhongshan district, the 190-room Sofitel Zhongshan Golf & Resort Nanjing will offer guests an urban retreat just 20 minutes from the bright lights of the city.

The resort’s low-rise colonial style design creates a comfortable setting for guests to unwind and relax, making it ideal for families on a weekend getaway or meeting planners and conference organisers looking for new MICE venues.

The resorts main venue is a 1,350sqm multipurpose hall supported by a 300sqm conference room and five smaller meeting spaces. There are also two bars and three restaurants, including a flagship Chinese Restaurant with 12 private rooms. After opening, Sofitel Zhongshan will offer a spa with 10 treatment rooms, fitness centre with indoor swimming pool and an adjacent 27-hole golf course with its own clubhouse facilities.

Accor Managing Director Asia Pacific Michael Issenberg, said adding two Sofitels in one of China’s commercial centres was an exciting start to 2005.

“Following Accor’s exceptional development around China in 2004, including the announcement of a Sofitel for Beijing, we are delighted to start 2005 with such an auspicious announcement as for these two Sofitels in Nanjing. This augurs well for a prosperous year in 2005.”

“Nanjing has developed significantly over the past decade and is now one of China’s most desirable provincial capitals for corporate and leisure travel and MICE events and we believe there is even greater potential to develop business further.”

Nanjing has quickly emerged as a cosmopolitan city to rival its neighbour Shanghai, attracting over 400,000 international visitors in 2000. Overseas Chinese are particularly attached to Nanjing, especially Dr Sun Yat-Sen’s Mausoleum and the Qinhuai River Scenic Belt. It has an established trade and manufacturing base from foreign multi-national companies including Motorola, Philips, Fiat, Ericsson and an Iveco joint venture.
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