Millennium and Copthorne has signed a management agreement with Wu Xi Xin Chang Property for the Millennium Wuxi Hotel in China. The hotel is planned to open mid-2008. (The illustration is of a Millenium property in Xiamen.)

Wuxi is at the heart of Yangtze River Delta Region on the southeast coast of China, close to Shanghai. It is sometimes referred to as ‘little Shanghai’ due to its developed industry and flourishing economy.

Catering to a predominantly Japanese market, the new purpose-built Millennium Wuxi Hotel is situated in the Court of Eastern Peace, which is in the heart of Wuxi New Development District.

Millennium Wuxi Hotel is furnished with classical Japanese inspired interiors. It is an ecological and energy-conservation designed business hotel, in the center of 12,000 square-meters Japanese Garden, with extensive room and room-leasing services to all the guests.

In the hotel, besides the multi-function rooms, VIP rooms, all-day dining restaurants and Japanese restaurant, is the Japanese spa, indoor swimming pool, indoor golf driving range, hot yoga studio, Chinese restaurant, two wine bars and one Executive Lounge.
Source: Asia Travel Tips

Millennium & Copthorne is expanding its presence in China with the management of a third hotel. It has signed a contract to manage the five-star Millennium Chengdu Hotel which will open in the middle of next year.

The 363-room hotel is located in Chengdu in the province of Sichuan. The hotel will target the corporate market and weekend tourist business.

Millennium’s first property in China — the Millennium Hongqiao Shanghai Hotel — opened last year and is shown in part, in our illustration.

The second — the Millennium Beijing Hotel — is scheduled to open next year in time for the Beijing Olympics.

Who is Millennium & Copthorne? Part of City Developments which was established in 1963 in Singapore. It is an international property and hotel conglomerate involved in real estate development and investment, hotel ownership and operations.The company develops condominiums, office buildings and hotel chains which is Millennium & Copthorne sometimes using the whole name, sometimes just part and sometimes combining it with others.
Source: Channel News Asia

China is to develop its MICE market where MICE stands for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions. (Do not confuse these MICE with the mice shown in our illustration which are to be used to test the food at the 2008 Olympics.) As China is the third largest business travel market in the world there is a very considerable potential for more MICE.

Two events will help push this ahead.

IT&CM China 2007 will bring 1,500 delegates to INTEX Shanghai. The odd initials stand for Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia and this will be held in Shanghai from 23 to 25 April 2007. It will be selling China to the world and the world to China. The 6,000 square meter venue has enough space for 300 standard booths. At the moment it looks as though this monster cheese trap will bring MICE buyers from 22 countries making it over a thousand delegates.

At the same time there will be CT&TW China 2007. Those initials stand for Corporate Travel and Technology World which you already knew but it had slipped your mind for the moment. That is running at the same time in the Millennium Hongqiao Hotel.

TTG Asia Media managing director Darren Ng said, ‘You can look at both trade events as coming together into China at the most opportune time. Many see IT&CM China 2007 as a golden gateway to cultivate China’s buoyant MICE industry. Similarly, they are a great opportunity for China suppliers to reach local and international MICE buyers.

‘IT&CM China 2007 is indeed the fitting platform to promote China to the world and the world to China.”
Source: eTravelBlackboard and IT&CM China