Hotel group goes upscale in China

The Beijing Tourism Group (BTG) and international hotel management group GHM have formalized a joint venture partnership and announced plans to launch an upscale resort concept branded Ahn Luh. The partners, together with a third investor, the Great Ocean Group (GOG), said the group’s first properties will debut in the next two-to-three years. The group’s first project will be the Ahn Luh Dujiangyan in Chengdu. Created by BTG Chairman Duan Qiang, GOG founder Whitney Duan and resort visionary Adrian Zecha, who founded Amanresorts and co-founded GHM with Hans R. Jenni, the Ahn Luh brand will encapsulate the best while distilling the essence from the various brands that Adrian Zecha has successfully introduced over the years. Ahn Luh will cater to the world’s most discerning travellers, as well as the growing Chinese tourism market. According to the Secretary of the World Tourism Organization, China is set to become the world’s most visited country and the planetÆs top source of foreign tourists by the year 2020. Moving forward, Ahn Luh is planning for hotels in Beijing, the Pearl River Delta and Southwest China. Ahn Luh’s hotels will come to market as 50- to 100-room and villa properties, featuring 60-square metre rooms and 120-square metre suites. As a complement to each hotelÆs spa, a resident Tai Chi master will manage an on-site Tai Chi Centre.