Hilton Worldwide is expanding in Northwest China, according to the company, which announced last week that it has signed a management agreement with Lanzhou Friendship Hotel.

　　Hilton Worldwide is expanding in Northwest China, according to the company, which announced last week that it has signed a management agreement with Lanzhou Friendship Hotel to build a new hotel in Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province.

　　“The introduction of our flagship Hilton property to Gansu province marks a chapter in our commitment to providing guests with greater access to China’s northern and western markets,” Francis Lee Wee-Hau, senior vice president of development, Greater China & Mongolia, Hilton Worldwide, said in a statement. “Lanzhou is an established regional transportation hub, a growing industrial and commercial center, and has become a vibrant tourism destination, making the city an ideal setting for our entry into the region. As the first Hilton Worldwide hotel in Lanzhou and Gansu, we are confident Hilton Lanzhou will bring considerable awareness to Hilton Worldwide’s many offerings and showcase our strengths in helping the region’s future development.”

　　Scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2017, Hilton Lanzhou will have 389 guest rooms, three restaurants, a lobby lounge and bar, three function rooms, 16 meeting rooms, a ballroom and a health club with a spa and indoor swimming pool.

　　“Hilton Worldwide is a leader in China's growing hospitality industry, so it’s an honor to begin our partnership in building a new landmark to Lanzhou’s skyline,” said Chai Xue Yong, general manager, Lanzhou Friendship Hotel. “Northwest China is an emerging power in a range of industries, and Lanzhou is at the heart of this growth. With Hilton Worldwide, we are confident our partnership will help to enhance the city’s reputation as a leading destination for business and tourism.”