Le Meridien Launches Chinese Website
Site compliments opening of two new Shanghai-based properties
LONDON, UK, October 12, 2005. Global hotel group Le M'eridien Hotels & Resorts has launched a Chinese language website to complement the November opening of its first hotel on mainland China, Le M'eridien She Shan Shanghai, and a second 770-bedroom hotel, Le Royal M'eridien Shanghai, that is due to open in the first half of 2006.
Le M'eridien's Chinese site features fully translated micro-sites for 42 specially selected domestic and international destinations. The site, www.lemeridien.com.cn, provides extensive hotel information and booking details with links to toll-free reservations centres with dedicated Chinese speaking staff.
According to Andrew Pozniak, Le M'eridien's director of e-commerce worldwide: "With the opening of our first properties on mainland China, it is important for Le M'eridien to offer customers, travel agents and meeting planners in this fast-emerging market the facility to source hotel information and special offers in their own language.
"The Internet is an important part of our sales and marketing strategy to increase the awareness of our brand and to drive both inbound and outbound business. China is already number two behind the USA in Internet user numbers, and figures are expected to grow substantially in the short term."
Le M'eridien's award-winning website ( www.lemeridien.com) already has French, German and Japanese language versions. Overall online reservations through Le M'eridien branded websites have increased 49 per cent over last year, with Asia Pacific transactions showing a 168 per cent increase.
"The number of reservations for Le M'eridien hotels worldwide from the Chinese market has already increased by 75 per cent compared to last year. The launch of the new Chinese website is expected to accelerate this figure rapidly," added Pozniak.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
