Shangri-La will make a contribution to a successful 2008 Beijing Olympics by servicing four apartment buildings with 1,633 rooms at the Green Homeland Media Village, part of the Beijing Olympic Village, during the 2008 Olympic Games.

In addition to provision of daily housekeeping services, Shangri-La will provide a special central service centre to handle enquiries and provide city information to more than 1,500 international journalists who will be staying at the Green Homeland Media Village.

Shangri-La has appointed a dedicated committee, led by the group's executive vice president and comprised of the top management from the group and its hotels, to focus on streamlining the Shangri-La hospitality experience for Media Village residents through administration, staff training and coordination. 

A service team comprising more than 100 hotel staff from various Shangri-La hotels in mainland China will be formed and trained in Media Village product knowledge and service operation procedures, prior to relocating to the Media Village in July 2008.

"We are honoured to be granted this opportunity by the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee to showcase Shangri-La's well-known Asian style of warm hospitality to the world's media.  Given our group's strength in China, it is fitting that we should play a significant role to making a contribution to the Games," said James Jin, the group's executive vice president and committee chairman.  

In preparation for the Olympics, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has fast-tracked employee training and language classes at its four Beijing properties, which are also Olympic Partner Hotels: China World Hotel; Shangri-La's Kerry Centre Hotel; Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing; and Traders Hotel, Beijing. 

The group's Beijing hotels represent a total of 2,430 rooms; 12,368 square metres of conference space; and approximately 3,000 staff to meet the needs of Olympics visitors.