With Chengdu"s star rising, opportunities abound for the hospitality industry, and Ritz-Carlton has taken notice. It currently has eight hotels in China and plans to open an additional eight over the next three years.

　　With Chengdu"s star rising, opportunities abound for the hospitality industry, and Ritz-Carlton has taken notice. It currently has eight hotels in China and plans to open an additional eight over the next three years.

　　Late this summer, the US hotel company will launch the first internationally branded ultra high-end property in Southwest China. The hotel will be located in Chengdu"s Tianfu Square, at the heart of the city"s largest commercial district.

　　Chengdu is western China"s foremost economic and transport hub and one of the world"s fastest-growing cities, says Herve Humler, president and chief operations officer of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Ritz-Carlton"s Chengdu hotel will be "a new beacon of luxury hospitality in Southwest China", he adds.

　　The 353-room Ritz-Carlton in Chengdu will reflect the city"s 2,000-year-old heritage in a contemporary manner. Inspired by the traditional style of local courtyard homes, the interior is decorated with a palette of light wooden tones mixed with soft blues and golden accents, according to a statement from the company.

　　General manager Chris Clark says the style will be "sexy, innovative and new".

　　Like the Ritz-Carlton Pudong in Shanghai, the new Chengdu property will feature a sky lobby that offers guests a spectacular view while checking in and out.