On December 18, Sofitel Wanda Ningbo, the first super five-star hotel in the city of Ningbo, was formally inaugurated, changing the history that Ningbo had no super five-star hotel.

Wanda Group Chairman Wang Jianlin addressing the inaugural ceremony

Mr. Markland Blaiklock, Accor Sofitel Asia-Pacific, addressing the inaugural ceremony

Shanghai Ballet performing at the inaugural ceremony, and MC Xu Gehui introducing the guests

Su Limian, Vice Mayor of Ningbo, Li Yongjin, former Chairman of the Dalian Municipal People’s Congress and Municipal People’s Government, and Wang Hongping, Vice Head of Ningbo’s Yinzhou District, respectively addressing the inaugural ceremony

Sofitel Wanda Ningbo was invested and constructed by Danlian Wanda Group and would be operated and managed by the French Accor Hotels. Located in the Wanda Plaza in Ningbo’s central district of Yinzhou, the hotel is a landmark structure in Ningbo. With the Lishe International Airport being only 15 minutes away, the hotel is easily accessible. It has 290 deluxe rooms, of which 17 are suites. The hotel also has four multifunction halls, equipped with the state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and mobile networking system. In particular, the banquet hall is 660 square meters and can accommodate 600-man meeting.

Wanda Group making a 100,000-yuan donation to the Ningbo Charity Association

Famous singer Tan Jing singing The Sky and On That East Hill

Ribbon-cutting and toast-drinking at the inaugural ceremony of Sofitel Wanda Ningbo

The hotel is luxuriously decorated, with all its facilities representing the highest standards for a high-end business hotel in Ningbo. Each room is equipped with an intelligent air-conditioning system to ensure it is comfortable and energy-saving. Besides, each room is furnished with high-resolution LED television, high-speed Internet connection, pull-up personal safe and unique Sofitel MyBed bedding system. The hotel has four dining halls and two bars. In particular, it has the first red wine cigar bar and the best 24-hour buffet hall in Ningbo, which can offer Mediterranean food and Japanese food. The hotel also has a deluxe indoor constant-temperature swimming pool and professional Spa service.

Chairman Wang Jianlin accompanying Bayin Chaolu, Ningbo Municipal Party Secretary in inspecting the hotel

Chairman Wang Jianlin receiving Ningbo employees

Accor Hotels is the largest hotel and tourism group in the world, boasting of a global network of over 4,000 hotels.

Dalian Wanda Group is a leading enterprise in China’s commercial real estate sector, and high-end hotels constitute one of its fast-growing pillar industries. Currently, the group has inaugurated six five-star hotels. Wanda Group has developed a unique model for five-star hotel investment and construction and can independently undertake five-star hotel investment, design and construction. In addition, the group has signed hotel management agreements with Starwood Hotels, Accor Hotels and other world-class hotel management groups. By 2010, Wanda will have over 18 five-star hotels and become a leading hotel construction group in China.

In 2008, China encountered the challenges of snow and ice disaster in the south, the strong earthquake in Wenchuan in Sichuan and the world economic crisis. As a result, its economic growth posted a significant slowdown and in particular its real estate industry saw transactions drastically shrinking and its sales revenue falling dramatically. Most enterprises had operational difficulties. In early 2008, however, Wanda Group made strategic adjustments in light of possible economic changes to ensure the enterprise could operate in a healthy and sustainable way. As planned, it opened two city complexes, namely the Xi’an Wanda Plaza and the Beijing Shijingshan Wanda Plaza, and two five-star hotels, namely the Sofitel Wanda Ningbo and the Pullman Beijing West Wanda. This was a full testimony to Wanda Group’s strong core competitiveness and risk-resisting capacity in the commercial real estate sector.

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