The Steigenberger Hotel Group has announced the establishment of THE GERMAN HOTELGROUP (Beijing) Co. Ltd., a joint venture based in Beijing, China. The group’s partner in the joint venture is the Chinese company Beijing Yun Bang Investment Trade Co. Ltd. This entry into the Chinese market represents a continuation of the strategy of international expansion pursued by the Steigenberger Hotel Group.

The aim of the joint venture is to establish the Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts and InterCityHotel brands on the prospering Chinese hotel market.

The first establishment in Beijing in the form of the five-star Hotel Maximilian managed by Steigenberger is set to open as early as the summer of 2013. The hotel is to be located on the AUDI World site in the North of the city and will offer 300 rooms, a Chinese restaurant, a “Berlin Café” and a German-style pub. Events facilities will be provided by a 1,300 m2 conference area featuring twelve separate meeting rooms. There will be plenty of opportunity to relax in a generously proportioned health and beauty spa area, which will offer a range of saunas, steam baths and treatment rooms. The hotel will also have its own gym.

The group’s second establishment will be the Steigenberger Hotel Shaohai in Qingdao on the Chinese coast, which is set to open in the winter of 2015. Ten further hotel projects are already in the planning phase.

“We are convinced that the Steigenberger ‘quality made in Germany’ model will bring success on the Chinese market”, says Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of Steigenberger Hotels AG. “China is an important focus within our strategy of expansion, and we are delighted to be able to build on our presence in this key global market”.