Modus PR Weekly: Accor Marks 800th Hotel Milestone in Greater China

01 Marriott International Partners with Lefay to Expand Global Luxury Wellness Business

Marriott International and the Leali family, founders of the Lefay brand, announced on April 1 that they plan to form a joint venture to incorporate the luxury wellness hotel brand Lefay into Marriott International’s brand portfolio. Lefay will become Marriott International’s first brand dedicated to the luxury wellness sector. Lefay currently operates two award-winning luxury resort hotels, both situated in leisure destinations rich in natural resources in Italy: Lake Garda (Lago di Garda) and the Dolomites (Dolomiti). Leveraging Marriott International’s strong development capabilities, the two parties will jointly drive the global expansion of the Lefay brand.

02 Marriott’s New Brand “Series by Marriott” Makes Its Debut in Japan

Series by Marriott, one of the over 30 extraordinary hotel brands under Marriott Bonvoy, recently announced the official opening of the 256-room Sugata Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi. Located in Shinsaibashi, one of Osaka’s most vibrant commercial and lifestyle districts, the hotel marks the debut of Series by Marriott in the Japanese market. The Sugata Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi features a design that reflects the warmth and culture of Osaka while providing contemporary travelers with a modern, comfortable experience.

03 Central China’s First High-End Animal-Themed Resort Hotel Opens in Ezhou

On March 30, the Hubei Culture and Tourism Lingling Grand Hotel, jointly developed by Hubei Culture and Tourism Group, Lingling Group, and Ezhou City Control Group, officially opened. As the first high-end animal-themed resort hotel in Central China, the project features French castle-style architecture, seamlessly blending Jingchu cultural heritage with natural wilderness. It is located in Echeng District, Ezhou City, adjacent to the Ezhou Garden Expo Park and Ezhou Lingling Animal Kingdom. Positioned as an urban family resort hotel, it integrates accommodations, dining, conferences, fitness, and leisure entertainment. The property boasts 216 rooms and suites, 4 specialty restaurants, and multi-functional meeting spaces capable of accommodating 1,000 people for dining and 1,600 people for conferences.

04 Sofitel Changzhou High-Tech Zone Officially Unveiled

Recently, Accor announced the official unveiling of its 800th hotel in Greater China—the Sofitel Changzhou High-Tech Zone. This marks not only the Sofitel brand’s dazzling debut in the “Dragon City” but also its latest luxury masterpiece. The 293 elegant rooms and suites are all equipped with Sofitel’s signature MyBed™ bedding, creating a cloud-like sleep experience for guests. The hotel features over 4,000 square meters of meeting and banquet space, including two 8-meter high pillar-less grand ballrooms measuring 1,500 square meters and 900 square meters, respectively.

05 Tapestry Collection by Hilton Enters Henan for the First Time with the Grand Opening of The Luoyang Rongque

On April 2, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, a lifestyle brand under Hilton, made its first appearance in Henan Province in the ancient capital of Luoyang with the official opening of The Luoyang Rongque, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. The hotel is located in the emerging cultural landmark “Shendu Thirteen Neighborhoods” (Shendu Shisanfang) in Luoyang. It features 148 rooms and suites, with aesthetic details subtly incorporating elements of the Yellow River and peonies, alongside premium facilities. The hotel has partnered with the Tang Sancai Art Museum to offer immersive intangible cultural heritage experiences. Additionally, it is equipped with comprehensive meeting venues, a heated swimming pool, and a modern fitness center.

06 Airbnb Partners with Welcome Pickups to Launch Private Transfer Service

The global accommodation platform Airbnb announced a partnership with local ground transportation provider Welcome Pickups to launch a new “Private Transfer” service. The initial rollout covers over 125 popular tourist cities across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. This service bridges the “last mile” gap for users traveling from the airport to their listings, directly benchmarking against the core services traditionally offered by the hotel industry.