The Novotel is being developed by Wuhan Yuen Xing Hotel Co., LTD. with Accor Asia Pacific appointed as hotel manager and operator.
 
Wuhan is a rapidly growing commercial and tourist centre, with its location on the Yangtze River attracting a large flow of visitors from within China and externally. 

Wuhan is also the base for construction of the Yangtze Three Gorge Dam project, the largest infrastructure project in the world. The 10 year project will see a large influx of engineering companies involved in the project, many from Europe, where Accor is the major hotel group. 

The city already has a large level of European investment, and is the third largest centre for French investment in China.  Citroen and Peugeot have their China production branches in Wuhan. 

The Novotel is located on Reconstruction Avenue, in the heart of Wuhan City's financial district and next to the newly opened French Consulate. The hotel has been designed to cater for both business and leisure travellers.  Part of a shopping and entertainment complex, the hotel tower will consist of 314 rooms, two restaurants, bars, nightclub, brewery, health club, pool, sauna, massage rooms and tennis courts.

Business facilities include executive floors, a business centre, meeting and function facilities.

Announcing the signing of the agreement, Mr Reggie Shiu, Regional Vice President - Asia, said that Novotel Wuhan would be a significant addition to Accor's network in China.

"China is a priority in Accor's development strategy, and over the past three months we have signed a Sofitel in Jinan and Novotels in Pudong and Wuhan," said Mr Shiu. "In addition we will open a Sofitel in Zhengzhou in July. By this time next year, we will have a network of some 10 hotels, in key city centres around the country.

"We see further opportunities for expansion in China, and with our company being able to offer the most comprehensive global hotel network, supported by the most sophisticated global sales, marketing and reservations network, we believe we are in a strong position to maximise the performance of these hotels, despite the highly competitive nature of the accommodation market."

Currently, Accor's China network comprises a Sofitel and Novotel in Shanghai, and Novotels in Hefei, Hangzhou and Zhengzhou. Accor Asia Pacific is the largest hotel group in Asia Pacific, with 136 hotels under the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure and Ibis brands. Accor Asia Pacific is part of the global Accor group, the world's largest hotel and tourism operator, with 2,800 hotels, car rental, travel agency and other tourism services.