M&C WELCOMES ITS LATEST FIVE-STAR ADDITION TO THE GROUP

MILLLENNIUM WUXI HOTEL, CHINA

Singapore: 13 February 2008 – Millennium and Copthorne Hotels plc (M&C) has added a feather to its cap and is proud to welcome its latest addition into the Group – Millennium Wuxi Hotel, targeted to open in mid-2008. The Management Agreement was signed between Millennium & Copthorne International Limited (Hong Kong) and the owner of the property, Wu Xi Xin Chang Property Co..

Situated at the heart of Yangtze River Delta Region on the southeast coast of China, close to the international metropolis of Shanghai, Wuxi is also known as “little Shanghai” due to its developed industry and flourishing economy. Catering to a predominantly Japanese market, the new purpose-built Millennium Wuxi Hotel is situated in the Court of Eastern Peace, which is in the heart of Wuxi New Development District.

Millennium Wuxi Hotel is furnished with classical Japanese inspired interiors and provides its residents with quality facilities and nuanced services, high-tech security system, water-purifying system and 24-hour hot water are specially designed in this residence, as well as supermarket and child-care service. It is an ecological and energy-conservation designed business hotel, in the centre of 12,000 square-meters Japanese Garden, with extensive room and room-leasing services to all the guests. In the hotel, besides the multi-function rooms, VIP rooms, all-day dining restaurants and Japanese restaurant, there are Japanese Spa, Indoor swimming pool, indoor golf driving range, hot yoga studio, Chinese restaurant, two wine bars and one Executive Lounge.

“Wuxi is an important regional economic center with prosperous industry and commerce, a city well poised for continued economic expansion and robust business growth over the coming years. Millennium Wuxi Hotel is well placed to benefit from the corporate market and weekend business arising from higher tourists’ arrival,” said Mr Michael Sengol, Chief Operating Officer of M&C.

Mr Tan Kim Seng, Senior Vice President, Millennium & Copthorne International (MCIL) commented, "Wuxi is designated an investment grade city, with two large industrial parks devoted to new industry. Wuxi is also a renowned tourist city, luring over ten million domestic and international travellers annually, making it one of the 10 leading tourist cities in China.” Wuxi is in the central area of Jiangsu province, with a good economic foundation and great development potential. “This offers the hotel a rich base of tourists and corporate guests to tap into. Supported by our trademark personalised service and luxurious amenities, synonymous with the Millennium brand, we look forward to welcoming valued impeccable service and understated elegance," he added.

Mr Xu Lin Bao, President of Wuxi Xin Chang Property Co., Ltd, the owners of the hotel, added, "We are very privileged to be working with M&C. As part of a global brand, we hope to ride on that platform to elevate the hotel to a higher level of robust growth."

About Millennium & Copthorne

Millennium & Copthorne International Limited (a subsidiary of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc and member of the Singapore-based Hong Leong Group) owns and operates hotel properties in seven countries in Asia. Globally, the UK-headquartered Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc owns and operates more than 110 hotels, making it one of the largest owned and managed hotel groups in the world.

The Millennium and Copthorne brands are the principal brands for this worldwide portfolio. Each hotel within the portfolio exhibits its own unique personality but they are all collectively distinguished and recognised for their capacities to provide the best possible business, leisure, incentives, meetings and events experience to all customers worldwide.

The Millennium Hotels portfolio showcases 4-star deluxe and 5-star properties located in international gateway cities throughout the United Kingdom, continental Europe, North America, Asia, New Zealand, North Africa, and the Middle East.  The Copthorne Hotels stable - many of which have won a succession of major industry awards, comprises 4-star properties located in major regional business centres around the world.   

There are four brands in M&C’s portfolio – Grand Millennium, Millennium, Copthorne and Kingsgate. The Grand Millennium is the most prestigious, designed for the well-heeled international traveller accustomed to the highest level of service and facilities.  Located in major gateway and key cities, the Millennium brand comprises upscale and deluxe properties, offering premium accommodation for the savvy business and leisure traveller. Catering to the mid-management corporate market is the Copthorne brand, while the budget-conscious traveller favours the Kingsgate brand.

In Asia, hotels operating under Millennium & Copthorne brands are  Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore, Orchard Hotel Singapore, M Hotel Singapore, Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore, Copthorne Orchid Hotel Singapore, The Heritage Hotel Manila in the Philippines, Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta in Indonesia, Copthorne Orchid Hotel Penang and Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Millennium Seoul Hilton in Korea, Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Bangkok and Millennium Resort Patong Phuket in Thailand, Millennium Hongqiao Hotel Shanghai, Millennium Harbourview Hotel Xiamen, Grand Millennium Beijing (opening 2^nd quarter 2008), Millennium Chengdu (opening 2008), and Copthorne Hotel Qingdao (rebranding 3rd quarter 2008) in China.

Additionally, Millennium & Copthorne International Ltd owns several other chain-managed hotels including the Grand Hyatt Taipei in Taiwan, the Nikko Hotel and JW Marriott Hotel in Hong Kong.

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For more information, please contact:

Yin Yin Wong
Director of Marketing

D (65) 6839 2826 | F (65) 6884 4758 | M (65) 8183 3474

Millennium & Copthorne International
390 Havelock Road, #06-02 King’s Centre, Singapore 169662

Global Website: www.millenniumhotels.com