SOFITEL SPONSORS OMEGA CHINA TOUR 2007

　　新浪体育讯　Sofitel Golf Championship kicks off 2007 tour 10 May in Nanjing

　　SHANGHAI, 9 May 2007 – Sofitel continues its strong commitment to professional golf tours worldwide with major sponsorship and accommodation support for the Omega China Tour 2007, one of the leading domestic golf tours in Asia.

　　China’s leading golf professionals will compete for top prizes at the inaugural Sofitel Golf Championship at Sofitel Zhongshan Golf and Resort Nanjing from 10 to 13 May on the world class 27-hole Gary Player designed course that surrounds the luxurious hotel.

　　After the Sofitel Golf Championship the Omega China Tour moves on to seven other Chinese cities and will conclude with the Omega Championship in Beijing late October. Sofitel will also offer the tour significant support in Xiamen, Shanghai and Beijing.

　　Sofitel is also heavily involved with golf in Europe, where the brand is a major partner of the prestigious Evian Masters in France. In addition, Sofitel Thalassa Miramar in Biarritz is a long-term sponsor of France’s oldest and most important amateur competition, the Biarritz Cup, first played in 1898. In 2006 it was renamed the Sofitel Biarritz Cup.

　　According to Accor Asia Pacific Senior Vice President Ray Stone, Sofitel and golf are a natural combination in China.

　　“Golf is rapidly gaining popularity in China and the tournament will play a significant role in developing Chinese golfers so that they can compete strongly on the world stage,” he said.

　　“The sponsorship is a perfect fit for Sofitel, as it is the fastest growing luxury hotel brand in the country and we now have a network of outstanding golf resorts across the country and in the rest of Asia.

　　“We are delighted to sponsor the Sofitel Golf Championship and Omega China Tour as it will continue to grow in popularity and become one of Asia’s most significant golf tournaments.”

　　Sofitel Zhongshan Golf and Resort Nanjing is part of a growing network of Sofitel hotel and golf resorts being developed around China. It joined the BFA International Golf Club at Sofitel Boao on Hainan Island and Hill View Golf Club next to Sofitel Royal Lagoon Executive Resort in Dongguan in the Pearl River Delta region.

　　BFA International Golf Club opened in 2004 on Hainan Island and was designed by leading Australian professional Graham Marsh. The 18-hole layout provides dramatic sea views and a links like test of nerves for serious golfers.

　　The 36-hole championship Hill View Golf Club consists of two courses designed by Jim Engh of Global Golf Design Inc. It is set in a valley of rugged terrain and is known for its abundant water features. The Open course is also lit for night play, while The Master Course is considered a tough challenge for lower handicap players.

　　Accor operates 17 Sofitels in China, with a further 13 Sofitels – including the signature Sofitel Wanda Beijing – set to open in the next two years.

　　There are currently 54 Sofitels in Asia Pacific in key cities including Bangkok, Hanoi, Seoul, Sydney and Melbourne, with a further 12 hotels scheduled to open during the next two years.