Roundup

FAIR SHOWCASE

Hospitality group Marriott International shared its latest achievements in three key areas: new brands and experiences, loyalty programs and sustainability initiatives at a session of the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing. "In recent years, Marriott International has continued to create personalized experiences that center around the evolving needs of travelers, who are now more focused on experiences and connections than ever before," Betty Tian, vice-president of marketing, communications, premium and select brands for China at Marriott International, said at the event. "With a presence of over 560 hotels across 24 brands in China, the Marriott Bonvoy travel program collaborates with strategic partners such as Cathay Pacific, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, and the Rolex Shanghai Masters to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences in food, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, enriching life by connecting people to the people, places and passions they love."

NEW APPOINTMENT

Dale Parkington has been appointed general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong. With an illustrious career spanning over three decades, Parkington has demonstrated his expertise across various regions including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and China.

GRAND OPENINGS

Hilton Shanghai City Center opened on Friday, marking the return of its award-winning flagship brand to the heart of Shanghai. Situated between Jing'an and Changning — the city's premier entertainment and shopping districts — the new hotel seamlessly blends rich cultural heritage with modernity, transporting guests to the intersection of new and old Shanghai.

Wuhan Sports Center Group unveiled its first boutique cultural hotel, Hehe Hotel, on Monday. Situated in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, it is the only boutique hotel affiliated with a sports stadium's main structure in the province, according to the group. Hehe Hotel, standing alongside the Wuhan Sports Center's perimeter, is built on the original venue for the international meetings for the seventh CISM Military World Games to meet the needs of large cultural and sports events and tap into the diverse value of the venue.

FLIGHT TRAINING

The first China-made C919 large aircraft, operated by Air China, landed at Datong Yungang International Airport on Sept 5 morning. After completing 30 takeoff and landing cycles of flight training within nearly three hours in Datong, the aircraft was greeted with the highest courtesy in the civil aviation industry: a "water gate" ceremony at the airport. The training allowed the first batch of C919 pilots at Air China to accumulate experience, making preparations for the commercial operation of the aircraft.