Shangri-La Group announced that it is breaking ground on a new development project at Xiaoyao Bay International Business District in Dalian, Liaoning Province, this is the group’s second investment project in the city.

The ground-breaking ceremony at the end of December 2019 was conducted by Sunny Paw, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, North China of Shangri-La Group and Jin Guowei, Vice Mayor of Dalian Municipal People’s Government.

Shangri-La Group’s plan for the new project is on the heels of the city’s development plan. Xiaoyao Bay International Business District, which is located on the shore of the Yellow Sea, with the Dayao Bay Bonded Port to its west and Jinshitan National Tourism District to its east, was officially named as a key economic zone in 2011. It is earmarked to become a modern central business district that brings together corporate headquarters, logistics hubs, financial institutions, port and shipping services and a new urban ecology.

Located at the heart of Xiaoyao Bay and next to the municipal park, Shangri-La’s development project spans a total area of 47,000 square metres and has a construction area of around 170,000 square metres. Designed to provide high-quality products and services for Xiaoyao Bay, phase one of the project will include a luxury hotel and residential development.

For many years, Shangri-La Group has been an active participant and supporter of the development and construction in Dalian. In 1997, Shangri-La Hotel, Dalian and Shangri-La Residences opened its doors, becoming one of the first five-star international hotel brands to set up base in Dalian.

In 2012, Shangri-La Residences underwent renovation. In 2017, Shangri-La continued to benefit from the strong business environment and stable performance in the city and completed the development of Shangri-La Residences North Tower and the Yavis Residence.

Over the years, Shangri-La has grown in popularity to become the destination for travel, business, events and luxury living in the city center. To strengthen the group’s initiatives in training and innovation, Shangri-La Dalian Culinary R&D Center was opened in 2019. This center aims to train local talents as part of the Group’s workforce and to tap the rich local marine resources to drive more seafood and Japanese cuisine development.

“For the past 20 years, the Group has invested more than RMB 2.3 billion in the city. As a brand, Shangri-La has established a strong foothold in Dalian and brought our distinct Asian hospitality to the city’s tourist industry and urban lifestyle. We are confident that the latest Shangri-La development project will not only enhance the service standards in Xiaoyao Bay, but it will help promote greater industrialisation, boost employment and support long term economic development in the area,” said Sunny Paw.