Two Swiss hotel chains have made headway in their expansion into the mainland.
Swiss International Hotels will help manage existing premises in Xiamen and three new properties now being built through a partnership with a mainland developer, while Movenpick Hotels & Resorts has set up an executive team in Shanghai to oversee its three properties under construction.
Swiss International has signed an agreement with Huayuan Construction Group of Xiamen to develop a chain of properties throughout the mainland. Huayuan owns the 588-room Wyndham Hotel in Xiamen, which will be rebranded, together with three other luxury hotels currently under development.
Huayuan will own and manage hotels under the Swiss International brand, offering service consistent with Swiss hospitality standards.
'For some time, we have wanted to branch out with our own brand,' says Benjamin Yan, chairman of Huayuan. 'Swiss International Hotels is especially appealing to us because of its reputable characteristics of quality, reliability and service associated with Swiss hospitality standards. These are exactly the same elements we identify with and want our guests to experience in our hotels. In this way, our vision and desire to expand in China matched completely with Swiss International's vision to expand in Asia.'
Hans Kennedie, CEO of Swiss International, says the partnership is in line with the company's strategic expansion plan.