US-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide is looking to open its Regent International brandname hotels in Beijing and Shanghai and planning for its Park Plaza Hotels in other Chinese cities as it expands in China.

Regent International Hotel is in advanced contract negotiations for new luxury hotels in the two cities. The luxury hotel brand will add more than 20 properties over the next five years, including eight to 10 hotels in the Asia Pacific region.

Meanwhile, five to 10 Park Plaza hotels are expected to emerge in China, located in key and second-tie cities. Some of them will be built at airports.

The moves are in line with the group's global strategy to increase its portfolio in China. Its future development plans also include the addition of 10 to 20 Radisson Plaza and Radisson Hotels in Asia Pacific in the next five years, including five to 10 in China.

"China has enormous development potential, in particular in the luxury four- and five-star markets," said Lyle Lewis, managing director of Radisson Plaza Xing Guo Hotel Shanghai.

Currently, the Radisson brand has five hotels located in Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

Carlson Hotels Worldwide has five hotel brands - Regent International Hotels, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, and Park Inn.

"As the market matures, there will be development opportunities in the limited service and mid-end market under the Country Inns & Suites by Carlson and Park Inn brands," Lewis said.

To date, 17 international hotel groups have introduced 30 brands to Shanghai.

Marriott International Inc will open three new hotels in China this year, while Shangri-La Asia Ltd, the largest luxury hotel operator in Asia, would add 11 hotels in China before 2006.

(Shanghai Daily January 15, 2003)