Jumeirah, manager of the world famous Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, has been appointed by Shanghai Lixing Hotel Limited, a joint venture between Shanghai Hotel Investments Limited and Shui On Private Group, to manage a new Shanghai hotel development.

The project brings to reality the vision of Leo Koguan, Chairman of Shanghai Lixing and through the appointment of Jumeirah creates a partnership of excellence. This partnership is expected to redefine the luxury hotel standard in China.

HanTang Jumeirah Shanghai will be part of Xintiandi, the exciting food and beverage, retail and entertainment component of a master-planned 52 hectare development in the heart of downtown Puxi, Shanghai, which will encompass prestigious office space, high-end residential complexes and quality retail facilities.

The luxury hotel, designed by New York based Kohn Pedersen Fox Architects and Japanese interior design firm Super Potato, will feature 338 spacious guestrooms, suites and villas, extensive, state-of-the-art conference and banqueting facilities as well as a luxury spa.

The hotel will also feature unique food and beverage concepts that will reflect the commitment to quality and innovation that will be evident throughout the development. The hotel is scheduled to open in mid 2008.

This management agreement with Shanghai Lixing follows Jumeirah's recent announcement of its intention to accelerate its portfolio growth, and closely follows the group's entry into the North American market with the launch of Jumeirah Essex House in New York on January 15th this year.