ZURICH, October 11, 2012 – The international hotel group Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts continues to expand its portfolio in China. The future deluxe hotel will be located in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province and the transportation hub in south-central China. Swissôtel Changsha will be part of a mixed-use development featuring a Grade A office tower, and it is scheduled to open in 2014.

Swissôtel Changsha will offer 400 rooms and suites with a minimum room size of 40m2, five restaurants and bars, over 2000m2 of meeting and banqueting space and recreational facilities including a Pürovel Spa. The Hotel is located in the Yuelu District of Changsha, approximately 30km from the international airport and 15km from the city centre.  The district is well-known for its natural environment, and has become an important cultural spot and affluent residential area in Changsha. Situated on the west side of Xiang River, a branch of the Yangtze River, the Hotel is within walking distance to the Yuelu District Government and Changsha City Government. The future Swissôtel Changsha will be just steps away from a metro station, which will be operational in 2014, connecting the eastern and western parts of the city with its Line 2. In addition, a major high-speed railway going from Shanghai to Kunming is expected to complete in 2013, with a stop in Changsha.

“Changsha is one of the most important economic centres in the country, and as the ‘entertainment capital of China’ it is a year-round attraction for visitors,” says Meinhard Huck, President of Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts. “Swissôtel Changsha is another important step in our expansion in China, where we already manage several five-star hotels, and it is significant for the growth of our brand recognition in Asia.”

Mr. Lv Dong Sheng, the Chairman of Enough Group says: “Swissôtel Changsha is our first international Five-Star hotel project in Hunan. Our goal is not only to build a global flagship property, but also to incorporate the hotel with culture industry and green industry, and to establish a new standard for hotel industry in Hunan Province and in China.”

Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts’ partner for this project is Enough Sunshine Real Estate Investment, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Enough Group, which is a private high-tech enterprise focusing on commercial real estate, new and renewable energy, information technology and waste management. Enough Group is founded in 1991 and headquarters in Beijing.

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).