SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE–(Marketwired – May 5, 2016) – Luxury hotel operator Raffles Hotels & Resorts today announced the signing of an agreement with prominent real estate developer Jiangsu Golden Land to extend the luxury hotel brand's portfolio in China to the ancient city of Suzhou.
Raffles Suzhou is scheduled to open in the 'Venice of the Orient' in 2020. Enjoying one of the best addresses in town, the 150-room luxury hotel will be located in the new super high-rise Keyne International Suzhou mixed-use development in the Suzhou New District (SND) Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone. SND is a specially designated industrial zone with a focus on science and technology research and the development of high-tech industries. A growing number of Fortune 500 companies call the SND home, including Logitech, Canon and Motorola and it is a major hub for software, IT and electronic equipment manufacturing.
"Suzhou represents a very exciting opportunity for the Raffles brand," said Peter French, president, Raffles Hotels & Resorts. "As one of China's leading economic centres, with a growing arts and cultural scene, the city is quickly establishing itself as a very popular regional travel destination. Likewise, with a new international airport in the pipeline and the city attracting a greater amount of foreign investment, there is a growing need for luxury hotel options in the market. With its prime location in one of the city's most prestigious new development areas, Raffles Suzhou is poised to be an exceptional gateway for those looking to experience this vibrant city."
Signature highlights of the new hotel include over 1,400 square meters of meeting and conference facilities, five food & beverage venues including the brand's signature Writer's Bar and Long Bar, and a state-of-the-art Raffles Spa. The development will also include a limited selection of Raffles Residences, with details of this exclusive offering to be announced closer to their official unveiling.
Nicknamed the "Venice of the Orient" for its scenic canal network, Suzhou is one of China's most ancient cities, with a history dating back 2,500 years. It's also home to coveted sites including Zhouzhuang Water Town, Hanshan Temple and the ornate Zhuozheng Garden.
Linked by expressway, Suzhou is 100km from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and 120km from Shanghai Pudong Airport. High-speed railways also connect the city to Nanjing and Beijing. The city's metro system currently has two lines with plans to have another three operational by 2021.
Raffles Suzhou will join a brand portfolio in China that includes Raffles Beijing, an iconic heritage landmark near the Forbidden City, and Raffles Hainan, the jewel in the crown among top international resorts on China's southernmost tropical island of Hainan, dubbed the "Hawaii of the East". Ahead of Raffles Suzhou's opening, Raffles is also scheduled to open a new luxury hotel in Shenzhen, across the border from Hong Kong, in 2019.
Elsewhere in Asia, Raffles most recently expanded to Jakarta. The brand's flagship in Asia is the legendary Raffles Singapore. The Asian portfolio also includes Raffles Makati in Manila and two historic properties in Cambodia, Raffles Hotel Le Royal in the capital, Phnom Penh, and Raffles Siem Reap, neighbouring the World Heritage temple complex Angkor Wat.
