Swiss Village Ready in Shenzhen

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. October 14, 2008

JULY 17, 2007. A new resort modelled on the Swiss alpine village of Interlaken complete with 5-star hotel, golf courses, eco-park and spa is set to open in Shenzhen this month.

The picturesque tribute to the enchanting tourist destination is anchored by the deluxe Interlaken OCT Hotel, on the shore of 'Lake Interlaken' in 'Interlaken Village'. Named "OCT East", the novel theme resort covers 9 square kms of lush green hills and freshwater lakes, 30 kms from Shenzhen city, which neighbours Hong Kong across the mainland China border.

The unique eco-tourism attraction centres around the 299-room Interlaken OCT Hotel, with four world-class restaurants, the 1,000-seat 'Interlaken Theatre' staging spectacular evening cultural shows.

With three streets of 'gingerbread' houses, restaurants, shops and street entertainment, 'Interlaken Village' also features a giant 10,000 sq. m. indoor and outdoor spa with pools and springs. But instead of lush alpine pastures and the towering snow-capped Jungfrau, China's 'Interlaken Village' is surrounded by a tea plantation with its own replica tea-growing village and protected wetland park teeming with wildlife and plants.

The giant resort set in the mountainous terrain of southern China combines a theme park opening next year highlighted by the world's largest man-made waterfall and world's longest Flume Water Ride, mini 'Forest Train' and cable car to a mountain-top sightseeing tower and restaurant. It also incorporates Yunhaigu Country Sports Park, with two championship golf courses, driving range and various sports facilities.

Joseph Zitnik, the hotel's General Manager, said, "The resort is quite unique, genuinely eco-friendly and a multi-dimensional leisure and recreational experience which should appeal to a wide range of visitors from home and abroad."

A spokesman for developers, Shenzhen OCT Sanzhou Investment, said, "Our aim is to bring visitors and residents closer to nature with an appealing, beautiful and fun eco-tourism destination."

He said themed housing estates and communities were planned for future development within the resort, which is the flagship for a group of 5-star themed hotels planned by OCT.

The Interlaken OCT Hotel greets guests with a themed lobby lounge resembling a medieval European cathedral with high-vaulted ceilings, gothic chandelier and stained glass windows - with the "church" theme reinforced by an altar-style wine display behind the bar, staff uniforms and menus.

The Swiss theme continues at the all-day 'Interlaken Caf'e', styled after a Swiss village marketplace with a bakery, grill and Asian kitchen.

Dining outlets also include an all-day 'Charming Lake Chinese' restaurant serving dim-sum snacks and Cantonese cuisine, Japanese restaurant and sake bar, and Tuscan-style 'Vista Lago' Italian garden restaurant.

A Viennese-style ballroom and meeting facilities accommodate up to 460 guests. The circular Globe-style 'Interlaken Theatre' seats up to a thousand and stages colourful nightly dinner shows. The nightly dinner show will seat about 500.

The hotel features a Premier Club floor with its own private lounge and a range of special privileges and benefits including 24-hour butler service. It also offers a full service business centre with internet access, while retail outlets include a hotel souvenir shop, wedding specialist, boutique and speciality shops.

To appeal as a getaway retreat for cosmopolitan women, the hotel also offers Ladies Luxury Rooms with special bath salts, mud wraps and spa treatments available by female therapists. A Kid's Club helps to keep children occupied allowing parents to relax.