The former the Crowne Plaza North Beijing has become the sixth member, of WORLDHOTELS in the Chinese capital. The exclusive resort-style Loong Palace joins WORLDHOTELS as a Deluxe Collection member.

Managed until recently by Intercontinental, Loong Palace "further strengthens WORLDHOTELS' presence in Beijing as it enters one of its most exciting eras in history in preparation for the 2008 Olympics", said Roland Jegge, Vice President Asia Pacific for WORLDHOTELS, one of the world's leading hotel sales, marketing and distribution organisations that represents nearly 500 member properties in 70 countries.

"We did some very extensive research into the representation companies available on the market and we are in no doubt that WORLDHOTELS offers the best services and the best distribution capabilities for an indepent hotel such as ours," said Craig Evans, General Manager of the Loong Palace Hotel & Resort.

Situated in Changping District in the rapidly developing northern area of Beijing just off the Badaling Highway at Exit No 9, the resort hotel is just 30 minutes from both Beijing's Capital International Airport and the Great Wall of China. Also close by are Beijing Olympic Park, the Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, China's hi-tech ‘Silicon Valley' at Zhongguancun, Shengdi IT Software Park and a new Life Science Technology Park.

With 572 rooms and suites, including 63 on an Executive Floor and ten luxurious villas, the Loong Palace sprawls over a spacious low-rise complex in an oasis of water fountains and gardens.

Extensive recreational facilities include a fitness centre with sauna, steam bath, Jacuzzi and massage rooms, two indoor swimming pools, a nearby golf driving range and putting green, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, squash court, basketball court, table tennis, billiard and snooker table, shuffleboards, bowling alley, card room, cinema, beauty salon and shops.

Seven F&B outlets include Cantonese, Sichuan and Italian restaurants, plus a disco with KTV. The hotel is ideal for meetings and conferences, with facilities that include a grand ballroom, 1,000-seat theatre and nine function rooms catering for receptions of up to 800 guests and banquets for 700.

Major corporate offices in the vicinity include Oracle, Lenovo, IBM, Johnson Controls, Digital China and Siemens.

In Beijing, the Loong Palace joins fellow WORLDHOTELS members Hotel Kunlun and Presidential Plaza Hotel in the Deluxe Collection and Beijing Landmark Hotel, Prime Hotel and Jianguo Hotel in the First Class Collection. There are now 21 hotels across China in the WORLDHOTELS portfolio.

Newly re-branded WORLDHOTELS offers travellers an extensive choice of accommodation catering for individual tastes, needs and budgets with three distinct collections – Deluxe, First Class and Comfort Collection – plus an extensive, growing range of booking services with excellent rates and programmes.

WORLDHOTELS' members are supported by a global sales team with offices strategically situated in more than 30 locations worldwide.