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PRESS RELEASE
CDL grows Singapore’s presence in Sichuan with the opening of the Millennium Hotel Chengdu
M&C’s sixth Chinese hotel to offer iconic energy-saving London Taxis Singapore, 17 December 2009 – Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc (M&C) opens the 5-star 343room Millennium Hotel Chengdu, its sixth and latest hotel in China, today. The latest opening marks M&C’s robust expansion into the Chinese market, despite challenging economic conditions. M&C, the London-listed subsidiary of City Developments Limited (CDL), is proud to do its part to grow Singapore’s presence in Sichuan, which is well on its way to reestablishing itself after the May 2008 earthquake. “With the outlook for the global tourism industry improving, we are proceeding with our plans to further establish our presence and grow our brands, especially in Asia and the Middle East. China is the growth engine of the world, and it is only natural that we grow our presence there,” said Mr Richard Hartman, M&C’s Chief Executive. “The city is ready for M&C to bring its unique 5-star experience to China’s Sichuan province. It is entering a new era and investment in this part of China is sustaining positive growth. The growth of the Chengdu business sector is now moving in the right direction to surpass its already strong tourism sector. The future is bright for both industries,” said Mr Shaun Hammond, General Manager of the Millennium Hotel Chengdu. Mr Hammond added, “We are now the only 5-star hotel in Chengdu’s prestigious South. Business travellers can choose an internationally branded hotel to complement their visit to the city.” CDL and M&C are members of the Hong Leong Group Singapore. A first for the city, guests of Millennium Hotel Chengdu can travel in style in an iconic London Taxi. The two energy-saving TX4 London Taxis are exclusive to the Millennium Hotel Chengdu and ensure a unique connection to three of its sister hotels in London – the Millennium Hotel London Mayfair, Millennium Hotel London Knightsbridge and Millennium Gloucester Hotel London. Another impetus behind the gift of the London Taxis to the Millennium Hotel Chengdu was the Olympic connection shared by the people of China and Londoners. With the memory of the 2008 Beijing Olympics still fresh in the minds of the Chinese people, M&C felt that locals and tourists alike would find the iconic London Taxis a novelty, especially as the excitement builds in the runup to the 2012 London Olympics. The excitement of the Olympics will also be ramped up next year, when Singapore hosts the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. The acquisition of the London Taxis, which use advanced energy-saving emission reduction technology and are 100% carbon neutral, supports the hotel’s environmental education programme, Millennium Green. In addition to private airport transfers, the London Taxis can also be booked for weddings and day trips to Chengdu’s tourist destinations.
MILLENNIUM & COPTHORNE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED 390 Havelock Road, #02-01 King’s Centre, Singapore 169662 ▪ T +65 6737 1928 ▪ F +65 735 8924 www.millenniumhotels.com
A member of the Hong Leong Group Company Reg. No: 199600354R
The connection between Millennium Hotel Chengdu and its sister London hotels deepens, as they share a common positioning of having all been built in comparable prestigious areas of their cities. As the newest international 5-star hotel in Chengdu, the hotel offers an extensive array of restaurants, clothing boutiques and recreational and entertainment facilities. The hotel affords stunning views of the adjacent Shenxianshu Park and nearby TongZiLin Road which is also known as ‘The European Street’. The hotel’s prime location offers business and leisure travellers easy access to the new International Exhibition Centre, Chengdu Hi-Tech South Park, and the city’s premier shopping area. The hotel has been designed to provide all that is expected by today’s business executives. Stunning panoramic views of the adjacent Shenxianshu Park can be enjoyed from the hotel’s twostorey Millennium Executive Lounge. All guests will also appreciate the high degree of connectivity in the hotel, with complimentary wired broadband access in all rooms and WiFi-equipped suites, as well as the convenience of WiFi-equipped public areas. A selection of restaurants and the option to entertain in private dining rooms will also please gourmands. The Chengdu opening follows a string of developments for M&C including the opening of the Millennium Wuxi, China, in June; the signing of five new contracts to operate hotels in the Middle East, taking M&C’s pipeline to 27 hotels in the region; and the launch of the Studio M brand in Singapore in November. Reinforcing its growing presence in China, the Group recently bagged the 2009 International Hotel Group Distinguished Career Award for consistently achieving excellence in hospitality and operational standards throughout its hotels in China. To celebrate its opening, the Millennium Hotel Chengdu is offering special opening rates starting from RMB770 online at C-trip or elong. For reservations please call +86 028 85127777.
For more information, please contact: Adeline Chong Manager, Group Corporate Affairs Hong Leong Group Singapore Tel: 6428 9305 E-mail: adelinechong@cdl.com.sg Gerry de Silva Head, Group Corporate Affairs Hong Leong Group Singapore Tel: 6428 9308/9 E-mail: gerry@cdl.com.sg
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BACKGROUNDER Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc London-listed Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc (M&C), a subsidiary of leading property developer City Developments Limited, is part of the Hong Leong Group Singapore. It is a dynamic, global hotel company which owns, asset manages and/or operates over 120 hotels in 18 countries around the world. Key operations are in the United States, Europe and Asia, with a rapidly expanding footprint. In China, the Millennium Chengdu is the sixth hotel under the Millennium Hotels & Resorts chain. The Millennium Chengdu marks M&C’s latest venture in the Sichuan province, following its donation towards the rebuilding of the Wolong-Hong Leong Primary School in Ziyang Prefecture, which opened in January 2009, just eight months after the Sichuan earthquake of May 2008 damaged the original school. M&C owns or operates six hotels in China, namely the Grand Millennium Beijing, Millennium Hongqiao Shanghai, Millennium Wuxi, Millennium Harbourview Hotel Xiamen, Millennium Hotel Chengdu and Copthorne Hotel Qingdao. M&C will also be opening its first Studio M Hotel in Singapore in April 2010. 2009 International Hotel Group Distinguished Career Award The award is conferred by the Hotel Professional Executive at the International Hotel Investment Forum – a high-level gathering of industry experts held in Jinan, China.
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