Raffles International to Manage Hotel in Beijing

Raffles International Ltd. signed an agreement with Beijing Hotel, a hotel under the Beijing Tourism Group, to rebrand and manage the property under Raffles International´s luxury Raffles brand.

Plans call for relaunching the hotel 2006 as the Raffles Beijing. Raffles International said the contract marks the first entry of the luxury Raffles brand into China.

Raffles considers China a "strategic market" for the company, especially in light of the fact that Beijing will host the 2008 Olympics.

The Beijing Hotel is a historical building of French architectural design located near the Forbidden City and a five-minute walk from Tiananmen Square.