Zürich, May 2, 2013 – In addition to Swissôtel’s recently announced hotel projects in a growing number of dynamic markets such as China, India and Russia, Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts is expanding the portfolio with its first hotel in Bangladesh. The Swissôtel Dhaka is located in the new Business District of Gulshan and is scheduled to open in 2018.

The Swissôtel Dhaka will feature 375 guest rooms and suites with a minimum room size of 38m, six restaurants and bars, 950m of event space including a 500m ballroom, as well as a Pürovel spa with a swimming pool and other recreational amenities. The future hotel is easily accessible for business travelers, 12km from the airport and across from the new financial leisure district of Motijheel which is a fresh water lake recently converted into a leisure and recreation area. Numerous multinational companies, office complexes, embassies and high-end residences are located near the Swissôtel Dhaka in the adjacent Gulshan business district. The proposed underground train connection, as well as an 8km stretch of elevated highway, which is presently undergoing construction will provide easy access to the various manufacturing and economic centers of Dhaka.

With its population of 20 million, Dhaka is one of the largest cities in South Asia and is both the capital city and major industrial center of Bangladesh strategically located between India and Myanmar. The close proximity to China and Thailand enhances the strategic importance of Bangladesh as a country with a rapidly growing economy supported primarily by manufacturing and textile production.

According to Meinhard Huck, President Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts, “Dhaka is experiencing sustainable growth, particularly in the financial and textile manufacturing sectors, but also in telecommunications  and service industries which has resulted in strong demand for high quality hotel accommodation.”

The Swissôtel Dhaka is developed by the Bengal Group, founded in 1969 by the Chairman Morshed Alam. The Bengal Group has diversified  interests in many business sectors including plastic products, textiles, renewable energy, food, media, financial sector and real estate. Bengal Plastic is the world’s largest manufacturer of coat hangers, producing more than two million hangers daily, whilst its clothing division supplies mainly denim to major clients such as Walmart, Sainsbury, The Children Place, VP Corp and others.

About Swissôtel Hotels and Resorts
Swissôtel Hotels and Resorts (www.swissotel.com) is an award winning and distinctive group of deluxe hotels, combining renowned Swiss hospitality with contemporary design, personalised service, charm and efficiency. Located in popular gateway destinations and city centres, the hotels provide convenient access to business and shopping districts. The group's Swiss heritage ensures organisational competence, attention to detail, safety and a superlative guest experience.

The international hotel chain is owned by FRHI Holdings Limited, a leading global hotel company with 102 hotels and resorts worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. The company also manages Fairmont and Raffled branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties.

Hotels under development: Sochi/Russia (2013), Bodrum/Turkey (2013 and 2014), Chengdu/China (2014), Bangalore/India (2014), Mumbai/India (2014),  and Kazan/Russia (2016).