This is certainly a moment to cherish for China's hotel industry. The hundred-year old Beijing Hotel has become the first state-owned hotel in China to win the industry's most sought-after honor- the international star diamond award.

The award committee, the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, run the only international award program governed by world£­recognized trustees. The award nominees are invariably chosen from five star hotels throughout the world. Their assessment is based on traveller's experience and taps into all ends of the services. So far the honor has only been bestowed on 148 hotels, 650 signature restaurants, four airlines and two luxury crew ships all over the globe.

Joseph Cinque, president of American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, said, "It's an international award and it is a great marketing tool. It makes a statement. Every tourist loves to stay at a five star diamond property."

At present China has about 11,000 hotels offering services to overseas guests, 8,000 of which are of star grade. Tuesday night's event testifies to the rapid development China's hotel industry has seen over the past two decades, and will in turn provide an impetus for more to gear up to top international standards.

He Guangwei, director of China Tourism Administration, said, "Tonight's event shows that after 20 years of reform and opening up, the Chinese hotel industry is able to live up to the highest international standards. This further demonstrates that China will be an ideal venue, both for investment and a holiday."

"While many of the domestic industries are still struggling to cope with the nation's WTO membership, the hotel industry is well poised to meet the challenge. The winning of the first "five star diamond award" is a proof and is expected to further galvanize the sector.

(People's Daily February 20, 2003)