Rocco Forte makes debut in China
Rocco Forte Hotels is poised to break into the Asia Pacific region with the announcement that it will open a property in Shanghai in 2018.
Chairman Sir Rocco Forte has signed a deal with Longhua International to take the top 15 floors of the tallest building in the Longhua International Aviation Service Centre, a new urban complex in the city's Xuhui Riverside area known as West Bund.
The property will have 300 rooms and suites, three restaurants, a spa, swimming pool and grand ballroom, and will be the sole luxury international hotel provider in the project.
The restaurant concepts will be overseen by Sir Rocco's daughter, F&B director Lydia Forte, while his sister, Olga Polizzi, will orchestrate design.
The news comes as Sir Rocco revealed plans to double the number of hotels in the group in the next five years. Since its launch in 1996, the family-run company has expanded to 10 hotels, mostly in Europe. It will now look to push into other regions, such as the Middle East.
In line with this, the Assila Hotel and Residence will open in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, later this year. It will have 146 rooms, 62 suites and 94 serviced apartments, plus four restaurants.
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