Thomas Cook China is to build two new own-brand hotels in Asia.
In a ceremony in Shanghai, Thomas Cook Group chief executive Peter Fankhauser and tourism executive director and chief executive, Jim Qian, signed memorandums of understanding for the development of a Casa Cook and a Thomas Cook Sunwing Family Resort in Lijiang in southwestern China, and Taicang near Shanghai, respectively.
The Lijiang resort will be the first Casa Cook in Asia.
The hotels will be built by Fosun and managed by Thomas Cook China.
The two properties follow previously-announced projects with DreamEast Group for two Thomas Cook Sunwing Family Resorts, one, in Jiashan near Shanghai and the other Hengyang, in southern China.
Thomas Cook China is a joint venture between Thomas Cook Group and Fosun, founded in 2016.
The Lijiang resort will be a 350,000 square metre development in Yunnan province in southwest China targeting mid-to high-end customers, and includes a Club Med resort.
The Taicang project includes 145,000 square metres of development land in Taicang city, 30 minutes from Shanghai.
Both destinations are expected to open in late 2020.
Fankhauser said: “By partnering with Fosun to develop two flagship new hotels that will be managed through our joint venture, we’re making the most of our relationship to give Chinese customers a holiday experience that’s very different to what’s on offer from the competition.”
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