To complement the opening of Le Méridien's first hotel on mainland China, Le Méridien She Shan Shanghai in November, and a second 770-bedroom hotel, Le Royal Méridien Shanghai, that is due to open in the first half of 2006, the global hotel group has launched a Chinese language website.

The Chinese site features fully translated micro-sites for 42 specially selected domestic and international destinations.  The site, www.lemeridien.com.cn , provides extensive hotel information and booking details with links to toll free reservations centres with dedicated Chinese speaking staff.

According to Andrew Pozniak, Le Méridien's director of e-commerce worldwide:  "With the opening of our first properties on mainland China, it is important for Le Méridien to offer customers, travel agents and meeting planners in this fast emerging market the facility to source hotel information and special offers in their own language. 

"The Internet is an important part of our sales and marketing strategy to increase the awareness of our brand and to drive both inbound and outbound business. China is already number two behind the USA in Internet user numbers and figures are expected to grow substantially in the short term."

Le Méridien's award winning website ( www.lemeridien.com ) already has French, German and Japanese language versions.  Overall online reservations through Le Méridien branded websites have increased 49 per cent over last year, with Asia Pacific transactions showing a 168 per cent increase.

"The number of reservations for Le Méridien hotels worldwide from the Chinese market has already increased by 75 per cent compared to last year.  The launch of the new Chinese website is expected to accelerate this figure rapidly," added Pozniak.