Accor has opened its latest property in china the Sofitel Plaza Xiamen in china's 'Garden City'. Sofitel Plaza Xiamen is part of the 29-storey United Overseas Bank Building located in the city's main financial district 20 minutes from Xiamen International Airport. It is near many of the Xiamen's best know tourist spots including Nan Pu Tuo Temple and the Chinese Overseas Museum. The hotel looks out on the Straits of Taiwan offering panoramic views of the ocean and scenic Gu Lang Yu Island.

General Manager, Roger Mair, said the new Sofitel would fill an important niche for top quality accommodation in Xiamen. "Sofitel Plaza Xiamen will be the city's first five-star hotel managed by an international group. Xiamen is considered the main gateway for trade and investment from Taiwan and handles most of the cargo traffic between mainland china and Taiwan. We expect the hotel will be very well received by business travellers, while Xiamen is already a popular domestic and international leisure destination.”

The hotel’s 393 spacious guest rooms and suites offer a blend of Chinese traditional design with a modern European flair. Corporate travellers should appreciate the 10 Sofitel Club floors, serviced by private butlers and featuring an exclusive Sofitel Club Lounge. Guest rooms at the Sofitel Plaza Xiamen offer broadband Internet access, satellite TV and Sofitel's ‘MyBed’, a comfortable cocoon-like bed composed of down feather mattress, down duvet and four oversized pillows.

The Sofitel Plaza Xiamen has over 900sqm of meeting space plus six multi-purpose rooms, each with high-speed WiFi connections, for business functions and corporate entertaining. Other facilities include Le Spa wellness centre with private treatment rooms, modern fitness centre with outdoor pool and three mah-jong game rooms.

Restaurants at Sofitel Plaza Xiamen offer a choice of contemporary international cuisine and chic Asian dining experiences: Caesar’s on 3 - All-day dining outlet featuring international buffets and innovative western dishes. Le Chinois - serving a mix of Cantonese delicacies and Fujian seafood specialties with ten private rooms. Tête-à-tête - trendy café and tea bar with an open-air terrace.The Oasis Lobby Lounge - offering a selects of Tapas, fine wines and refreshing cocktails.

To celebrate its opening the Sofitel Plaza Xiamen is offering a special rate of RMB698 (US$84), single occupancy with breakfast inclusive of service charge but subject to 4% local tax valid until 30 September 2005.