St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, has announced the signing of an agreement with Qingdao Conson Haitian Centre Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Qingdao Conson Development (Group) Co., Ltd., to debut the St. Regis brand in Qingdao, one of China’s fastest-growing coastal cities. Scheduled for completion early in 2020, The St. Regis Qingdao will be located in the city’s exclusive business district.
“We are very excited about the signing of The St. Regis Qingdao and look forward to a successful partnership with Qingdao Conson Development Group,” said Jim Petrus, Global Brand Leader, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. “The rapid expansion of St. Regis, Starwood’s ultra-luxury brand, serves as a testament to the growing demand from discerning Chinese travelers who desire bespoke services in a refined setting. In addition to the six landmark St. Regis properties across China, we are thrilled to further expand our footprint in fast-growing cities including Qingdao.”
A national tourism destination known for its rich cultural heritage and beautiful scenery and beaches, Qingdao enjoys the designation as one of China’s Top Ten Most Livable Cities according to the China Institute of City Competitiveness. As a regional economic hub, industrial base and major port city, Qingdao also houses some of China’s most well-known brand headquarters. Every year, the city welcomes millions of travelers from around the world to high-profile events, including the Qingdao International Beer Festival, Qingdao International Motor Show, and Qingdao International Fashion Week. Moreover, the Qingdao Bureau of Commerce plans to transform Qingdao into a luxury shopping destination by 2020.
“Qingdao’s luxury landscape has grown rapidly in the past couple of years thanks to the support of the local government and the increase in affluent Chinese travelers,” said Xia Nong, Senior Vice President, Head of Acquisition & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Greater China. “The St. Regis Qingdao will set a new standard in luxury hospitality in the Shandong province with personalized and refined services tailored to our Chinese and global guests.”
“We are thrilled to work with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, a premier force in the luxury hospitality industry, to introduce the St. Regis brand to Qingdao,” said Mr Yin Jian, General Manager, Qingdao Conson Development (Group) Co., Ltd. “Qingdao is emerging as a major tourism and shopping hub, and The St. Regis Qingdao will be at the forefront of the city’s luxury hospitality scene, offering well-heeled travelers even more reasons to visit this dynamic city.”
Ideally situated on West Hong Kong Road, The St. Regis Qingdao will offer convenient access to popular attractions such as the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre, Wusi Square Coastal Plaza and Badaguan (Eight Great Passes) old town. It will also be steps away from the picturesque coastal seashore boardwalks. In addition, the hotel will be just over three miles away from the Qingdao Railway Station and 16 miles from Qingdao Liuting International Airport. The city’s second airport is due to be completed in 2018.
Spanning across the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 52nd to 70th floors of a mixed-use development, The St. Regis Qingdao will be part of the city’s tallest building, offering unparalleled views of the Yellow Sea. It will feature approximately 242 luxuriously appointed guestrooms with a minimum room size of 600 sq. feet, including 43 suites. There will be an array of world-class culinary experiences with five restaurants and bars and over 18,000 sq. feet of meeting space. In addition, guests can look forward to wellness facilities such as a heated indoor swimming pool, fitness center and luxury spa. Guests will also experience the famed hallmarks of St. Regis hotels, including the legendary St. Regis Butler Service offered in all rooms.
St. Regis currently manages six properties in Greater China including hotels in Beijing, Chengdu, Lhasa, Sanya Yalong Bay, Shenzhen, and Tianjin. Nine additional St. Regis hotels are set to debut across the region in exciting new locations including Macau, Changsha, Lijiang, Nanjing, Zhuhai, Haikou, Haitang Bay and Qingshui Bay in Hainan, as well as Guiyang. Today, Starwood operates ten hotels in the Shandong area under its Sheraton, Westin, Le Méridien, Aloft and Four Points by Sheraton brands, and has seven hotels in the pipeline.
