Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has today signed an agreement to manage a luxury hotel in Shenzhen, Southern China. Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen, which is slated to open in 2017, will form part of the premier Shum Yip's UpperHills mixed use project. This development will comprise office towers, a residential complex, significant retail and extensive outdoor space and parkland, and will become the premier lifestyle destination for the local community and the Southern China district. Shum Yip's UpperHills is located minutes away from Futian Central Business District the financial centre of the city, and is close to the main custom and immigration checkpoint to Hong Kong.

The hotel will be positioned as the most sophisticated luxury hotel in the city. Located on the top of an impressive 400 metre tower, the property will feature 190 spacious rooms including 17 expansive suites, with outstanding views of the city skyline and the surrounding city parks.

Hotel accommodation will be designed in an elegant, contemporary style, taking full advantage of the property's outstanding vistas. Design elements will be influenced by the Group's oriental heritage with Mandarin Oriental's exacting attention to detail and sophisticated technology. Guests will also have access to an exclusive executive club lounge.

Offering the finest dining in the city, Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen will have an innovative selection of restaurants and bars to choose from, including a sky-high rooftop speciality restaurant and bar, a Chinese restaurant with extensive private dining rooms, an all-day dining venue, lobby lounge and a signature Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop. The hotel will also offer a spectacular 1,000 sq. m grand ballroom and an 830 sq.m junior ballroom plus a variety of multi-purpose function spaces, making this the ideal destination for conferences and social gatherings of all sizes. vAn all-encompassing 1,200 sq.m Spa at Mandarin Oriental will feature six expansive treatment suites, offering the most comprehensive range of wellness, beauty and massage treatments available in the region. Spa goers will enjoy Mandarin Oriental's award winning signature programmes as well as specifically developed treatments inspired by Chinese traditions and customs. The hotel will also offer extensive fitness facilities including a heated indoor swimming pool.

The developer of the UpperHills project is Shum Yip Land Co Ltd , a subsidiary of Shenzhen Investment Limited, which is a Hong Kong publicly listed company. The US based international architectural firm, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill has been appointed as master planner and architect.

Edouard Ettedgui, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental said, "We are delighted to further extend Mandarin Oriental's renowned levels of hospitality into Southern China. This project presents an ideal opportunity to further grow our brand in the mainland, and we are looking forward to creating the best luxury hotel in this dynamic, modern metropolis."

"We look forward to working with Mandarin Oriental on creating the most sophisticated luxury hotel in Shenzhen, and are confident that this opening will further enhance the area's appeal," said Mr Zhang Jian, Director and General Manager of Shum Yip Land Co Ltd. "Mandarin Oriental is an award-winning international brand, renowned for its exemplary service and attention to detail, making them the ideal partner for this exciting project."

Shenzhen is located immediately north of Hong Kong on the eastern bank of the Pearl River. It was the country's first special economic zone established in 1980, and has grown into the high-tech and manufacturing hub of Southern China. Shenzhen is also an important financial centre and home to one of the mainland's busiest container ports and airports. It is also one of the country's most popular tourist destinations and a leading centre of luxury retail.

About Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world's most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences. Having grown from its Asian roots into a global brand, the Group now operates 36 hotels and seven residences in 24 countries and territories, with each property reflecting the Group's oriental heritage and unique sense of place. Mandarin Oriental has a strong pipeline of hotels and residences under development and is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.