China World Hotel, Beijing welcomes the New Year, 2005, with a triumphant milestone: for the tenth year running, the hotel has been awarded the Five-Star Academy Award by the prestigious American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.

Mr. Stefan Bollhalder, General Manager of China World Hotel, accepted the award during a Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony held recently at Pudong Shangri-La Hotel in Shanghai.

Mr. Bollhalder said: “ To be bestowed with the Five Star Diamond Award by the Academy is a significant achievement as many hotels in the world strive for this recognition but only few attain it. To do this for ten consecutive years, and to be the first hotel within Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts to do so, is a triumph for China World Hotel's management and staff: a solid testament to our staff's remarkable dedication to legendary Shangri-La hospitality. It is with tremendous pleasure that I accept this award on their behalf. ”

The Five-Star Diamond Award is the most prestigious emblem of quality in the global travel and luxury services sector. The coveted award is bestowed exclusively on five-star establishments in the world deemed to be the pinnacle of quality by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.

The Academy, formed in 1989 and based in New York City, is headed by its President, Mr. Joseph Cinque, and governed by an international Board of Trustees, composed of respected leaders in the travel industry and all world travelers. Honorary Trustees include businessman and hotel proprietor Mr. Donald Trump, veteran travel specialist Ms. Mary Gostelow, Mr. Alberto de Hoyo of The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows and Mr. Bernd Lembcke of The Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach.