Niccolo by Marco Polo Charts Expansion Course Throughout China & Beyond

Niccolo, the new luxury hotel brand by Marco Polo Hotels, is making its debut at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM Asia), held in Shanghai, China from 30 May to 2 June, while announcing plans for further expansion throughout China and beyond.

This follows closely from the first anniversary in April of the highly successful Niccolo Chengdu, the first Niccolo hotel to open and the current flagship for the brand.

Niccolo is named after the 13th Century explorer and trader Niccolo Polo – the father of Marco Polo - whose epic 20-year adventures opened China to the world. His life odyssey not only connected East to West, but also brought ancient and modern worlds together, opening trade between continents and dialogue between many different cultures. A discoverer, business leader, entrepreneur and global ambassador, Niccolo Polo and his remarkable exploits epitomise the spirit of the new hospitality brand.

The stylish Niccolo Chengdu opened in April 2015 and has quickly been recognised as the city's leading centre for luxury accommodation, fine dining and events. It is superbly located as part of the International Finance Square (IFS) a mixed-use retail and commercial centre which has quickly become the epicentre of Chengdu's events.

The new brand was conceived and designed to cater to the growing maturity and sophistication of the luxury hotel sector in China and Chengdu was chosen since it has become the most successful economy of any city in mainland China. In the 2015 study by US-based independent think tank Milken Institute, the inaugural Best-Performing Cities China Report divided 266 Chinese cities into two categories: 34 first and second-tier cities, and 232 third-tier cities. Chengdu surpassed Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen, securing a Top 10 spot in seven of the nine components measured to evaluate and rank the cities.

Dr. Jennifer Cronin, President of Marco Polo Hotels, stated: "This is a tell-tale example of how our hotel group's expansion plans are visionary and farsighted. We began planning our Chengdu property back in 2008 before many of the city's businesses existed. Now, the city has transformed into what we projected, with more than 60% of the Fortune 500 companies having a presence there. As our parent company Wharf's mantra dictates: we are 'building for tomorrow'."

"Our Niccolo guests are well-travelled leaders in business and style, fashion, design and society, and they appreciate and expect the sophisticated, international standard of hospitality that the Niccolo brand delivers," said Cronin.

"Although China is currently the focus for expanding the Niccolo brand, we do also have ambitions beyond mainland China," she added. "Watch out for more exciting announcements from us soon."

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Chongqing obtained the #9 spot on the list, making it and Chengdu the only inland cities to make the top 10 - a Niccolo hotel will open in Chongqing Q1 of 2017, followed by Niccolo Changsha in Q4 of the same year. Meanwhile, Suzhou took the top spot for third-tier cities – the historical water town will also be the location for a Niccolo hotel, scheduled to open in 2018. Changzhou, located one hour from Shanghai by high-speed train, took the #7 spot on the third-tier city list – a Marco Polo hotel opened there last year. This report reinforces the long-term strategic plans of Marco Polo Hotels and reflects the continuing positive outlook for the hospitality sector in China and the exciting new brand that is Niccolo Hotels.