Shangri-La  will open a hotel in Hohhot in China's Inner Mongolia late 2007, announced at a ground-breaking ceremony today.

The Shangri-La Hotel, Hohhot will be the second hotel in the Inner Mongolia region, following the Shangri-La Hotel, Baotou opening mid 2007. The Shangri-La group currently has 19 hotels under its Shangri-La and Traders brands in mainland China.

Designed by Hong Kong-based Dennis Lau & Ng Chun Man Architects and Engineers Ltd., the Shangri-La Hotel, Hohhot will be centrally located in the city's prime commercial area, a 20-minute drive from the airport and five-minute drive from the train station. The 19-story hotel will feature 373 guestrooms and 11 serviced apartments. Each guestroom will measure a minimum of 38 square metres and will provide the full array of Shangri-La services and facilities, including 24-hour room service, same day laundry and valet service, satellite TV, data ports and broadband internet access. The three-floor, 69-room Horizon Club accommodations will offer exclusive amenities and privileges, such as private meeting rooms, express check-in and check-out services, a Horizon Club lounge for daily breakfast and cocktails, and more.

The hotel will also provide a 24-hour dining cafe, lobby lounge, Chinese restaurant and Mongolian restaurant. Meeting and banqueting facilities will be highlighted by the largest ballroom in the city -- a 1,800-square-metre ballroom with additional 570 square-metre pre-function area. This will be complemented by a 470 square-metre junior ballroom, and other eight function rooms with a total space of 1,250 square metres. Other major hotel facilities such as business centre and health club with indoor swimming pool will also be available.

"Hohhot offers tremendous economic potential and Shangri-La is committed to remaining at the forefront of expansion into thriving China business centres," said Giovanni Angelini, Shangri-La's chief executive officer and managing director. "This landmark new hotel will attract both business and leisure domestic travellers and further strengthen our presence in mainland China."

Hohhot is the capital of China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with a population of over two million. Built in the Ming Dynasty, Hohhot, meaning "a city in green" in Mongolian, is well known for its culture and history. It is also a centre for wool and leather products, building materials, iron and steel production. Of special interest to tourists is the famous Mongol Summer Festival in mid-August every year with traditional Mongolian sports.