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(HAINAN, CHINA) - Continuing its year-long push to open hotels at an accelerating pace in Asia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. today announced the opening of Le Méridien Shimei Bay Beach Resort & Spa in Wanning City on China's Hainan Island.

Owned by China Resources (Holdings) Co., Ltd., the property boasts an idyllic setting on more than three miles of pristine, white sandy beach with majestic views of the South China Sea.

The resort is surrounded by a lush forest and features 275 guest rooms, including 25 villas, all with private balconies overlooking either the sea or the mountains.

"We are very excited to open in Shimei Bay, which is a new destination for the traveler to discover on Hainan Island, and will become a stunning option for our sophisticated, forward-thinking guests," says Terry Ko, the resort's Canadian-born general manager.

Terry Ko

"We are committed to providing them with an interactive and a culturally enriching experience."


Le Méridien brand, currently represented by about 110 properties in 50 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in November 2005.


With close to 80 percent of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Ko says Le Méridien provides a strong international complement to Starwood's primarily North American holdings.

Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien-branded hotels and resorts within the next five years, concentrating in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, including destinations such as India, Thailand and China.