Hilton Hotels Corporation announced that it has signed an agreement with Great China International Group (Shenzhen) Co Ltd, to manage the Hilton Futian Shenzhen, a 300-room property in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, which is scheduled to open at the end of 2009.

This latest signing reinforces Hilton’s commitment to becoming a household name in China and will be the first full service upscale hotel the hotel group has announced in the well developed financial and commercial hub of Shenzhen.

A new-build upscale full service hotel, the Hilton Futian Shenzhen will be located in the Futian district of Shenzhen city. Futian is the CBD and heart of Shenzhen. The district which has a concentration of prime Grade A office space, is home to the administrative offices of the municipal government, and one of China’s largest convention centers. Shenzhen enjoys eminence as a tourist centre for culture, exhibitions and trade fairs.

Koos Klein, President, Hilton Hotels - Asia Pacific commented, “Shenzhen is a booming commercial centre and is expected to become an increasingly prominent MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibition) destination. Following our well established success with the Conrad Hong Kong, located across the Shenzhen River, this new Hilton hotel in Futian will mark the next step in our efforts to cement our reputation as a first choice among business travelers within key locations in the country, especially Southern China”.

The Hilton Futian Shenzhen will be a contemporary full service hotel, geared to providing business and leisure travelers with state-of-the-art facilities, including an indoor swimming pool and fitness centre with Fitness by Precor equipment. A business centre with the latest technology and wi-fi facilities as well as meeting rooms and private boardrooms, will allow the hotel to cater to the individual needs of event organizers, as well as government officials based in close proximity to the hotel. A 700 square meter ballroom will be designed to host extensive corporate events and will appeal to the needs of local residents looking for a premium venue for wedding banquets. An all-day dining restaurant will serve extensive Chinese and Western buffets, complemented by two specialty restaurants with private dining rooms, and a Lobby Lounge bar.

Shenzhen is one of the most important tourism cities in Mainland China. The city offers attractions such as the infamous “Window on the World” (a model of global cities and landmarks which visitors can walk through) and the popular theme park named “Chinese Folk Culture Village”. It is also well regarded for its renowned trade fairs including its watch and clock exposition, the third largest in the industry, as well as furniture and jewelry expos. In 2007, tourism accommodation facilities in Shenzhen received 25.6 million visitors, an increase of 10.5% year-on-year. (1)

Shenzhen is accessible by air, sea and land. Downtown Shenzhen is a 45-minute drive from Hong Kong and serves as a bridge between the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong and Mainland China. Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport is 35 kilometers from the city centre and is the fourth largest and busiest airport in China.