Hilton Hotels & Resorts today opened its 10th hotel in China - Hilton Xi’an. Conveniently located in the heart of midtown Xi’an and just minutes away from the Ming City Wall and city landmark Bell Tower, it is Hilton Worldwide’s first Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in Northwest China and the company’s 20th hotel in the country.

Martin Rinck, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide, said, “Xi’an has always been an important cultural and industrial hub, and now it is continuing its growth as a center of tourism. Hilton Worldwide’s portfolio of hotels in China is growing rapidly with more than 80 properties in the pipeline, and we are extremely excited to now have a presence from our flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand in such a key location.”

The 311-room Hilton Xi’an has one of the largest guestrooms in the city, starting at 43 square meters. There are 19 suites, ranging from an 80-square meter Executive Suite to the 248-square meter Presidential Suite. The rooms showcase elegant and traditional Chinese Tang dynasty touches that invariably distinguish the hotel from other Xi’an luxury hotels. The hotel also incorporates Hilton Executive guestrooms and lounge, a haven where today’s traveler can experience an even higher standard of accommodation and personalized service complemented by a host of exclusive privileges and amenities.

Dave Horton, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, said, “The opening of our first hotel in Northwest China marks our commitment to growing our brand in new and emerging markets within mainland China and across Asia. Our brand portfolio continues to grow at a record pace in China and we look forward to welcoming the world’s travelers to this outstanding leisure and business destination.”

A key highlight of Hilton Xi’an is the open-air courtyard, located on the third floor.  Spanning over 2,000 square meters, it features a large, lush landscaped garden with vibrant native plants and a tumbling water feature - the ideal spot to soak up the sun.

For meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions, the 1,200-square meter Grand Ballroom (the largest pillar-less ballroom within the ancient city wall) that can be divided into three, is the perfect venue for hosting high-profile events of up to 1,100 people. With four additional private function rooms and a dedicated VIP room, Hilton Xi’an is able to cater to a diverse range of event needs, from small private gatherings to conferences, or large social events. In addition, the city’s biggest courtyard is expected to make the hotel a much sought after location for weddings.

Hilton Xi’an also features a comprehensive range of recreational facilities including a heated indoor swimming pool and a state-of-the-art gymnasium equipped with spacious exercise studios and the latest cardio-fitness machines. Leisure travelers will enjoy the all-encompassing spa, which will provide holistic rejuvenation and relaxation in a serene, meditative setting. Managed by I SPA, the 1,000-square meter spa will offer nine private treatment rooms as well as a foot massage parlour.

The culinary journey at Hilton Xi’an is an odyssey of dining experiences that will suit every discerning palate. The hotel’s dining includes China Club Chinese restaurant, which offers Cantonese, Hunanese and Shaanxi cuisines; and Red provides a superb Chinese culinary experience served in all private dining rooms. Café Xian features live food action stations showcasing both Western and Asian cuisines. For business or pleasure, the T-Lounge is a warm and intimate location that offers desserts and pastries, an extensive tea selection, gourmet coffees and light snacks.

City.Mobi

Also in China today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Beijing.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

Beijing.city.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.