STAMFORD, Conn.– Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT), today announced it has signed an agreement with Ningxia Minsheng Real Estate Co., Ltd. to debut its eco-wise Element brand hotel in Yinchuan—the capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (NHAR) in northwest China. Slated to open in early 2021, the opening of Element Yinchuan Binhe marks Starwood’s entry into Yinchuan.
“We are thrilled to expand the Element portfolio in China with the signing of Element Yinchuan Binhe, following the successful debut of our Asia Pacific flagship Element Suzhou Science and Technology Town in Suzhou, China last year,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “With the growing importance of sustainable development in China, and the increasing trend of guests seeking eco-conscious alternatives, Element is well-positioned to meet the demand with its sustainable programming and nature-inspired room offerings designed to fuel a life of balance while on the road.”
Element Yinchuan Hotel will feature 200 light-filled guestrooms and suites, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a saline pool and complimentary bikes to borrow and explore the nearby sights while staying healthy and active. Guests can fuel their day with the healthy Rise breakfast and wind down with the Relax evening wine reception – both complimentary. The hotel will also offer 80 square meters of flexible meeting space that can be customized to meet any business or social need. Fast and free WiFi is available throughout the hotel.
As Starwood’s eco-innovation lab, all Element hotels are built green from the ground up using sustainable products and practices wherever possible. The brand’s core sustainable design components across all properties include low flow rainfall and showerheads, no-PVC flooring, energy efficient LED lighting, electric-vehicle charging stations, filtered water, green materials such as low-VOC paints, and recycled-content carpeting and guestroom designs incorporating sustainable features.
Starwood plans to open three additional Element hotels within the next four years across Greater China, including Element Sanya Haitang Bay in Sanya; Element Tianjin Beichen in Tianjin; and Element Chongli in Zhangjiakou, which is located in the city that will co-host the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
“We are excited to partner with Ningxia Minsheng Properties Co., Ltd to develop the first Starwood flag in Yinchuan and expect it will become one of the most exciting Element Hotels,” said Nong Xia, Senior Vice President, Head of Acquisitions and Development for Greater China, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “Designed as an international hub for cultural and art collaboration in Lake Mingcui, Yinchuan, Element Yinchuan Binhe will be a beautiful addition to the time-honored cultural city.”
Element Yinchuan Hotel will be centrally located at the crossing of Yongtong Road and Weishijiu Road in the Binhe New District—an economic pilot zone which consists of urban living areas, ecological and recreational areas, and an industrial park. The property will be situated in a mixed-use development project initiated by the NHAR Administration which will also consist of four parks, an art gallery and an artists’ village. The Museum of Contemporary Art Yinchuan, the first contemporary art museum in northwest China, is located near the hotel, while Mingcui Lake Wetland Park and the future high-speed railway station will be within walking distance. Yinchuan Airport is right across the Yellow River, approximately a 10-minute drive away from the hotel.
Formerly an agricultural area, Yinchuan has gradually developed into an industrial base in recent decades, particularly in coal mining, petrochemical and pharmaceutical products. It is home to the largest manufacturing base of the erythromycin antibiotic in China and produces 80 percent of cashmere products for Ningxia. It is the host city of the bi-annual China-Arab States Expo, which brings leaders from some 60 Islamic countries to take part in a wide range of trade and cultural exchange activities with their Chinese counterparts every other September.
