SHANGHAI—Carlson Hotels Worldwide – Asia Pacific has announced plans for its first Park Plaza hotel in Shanghai, to be constructed at the city’s Hong Qiao Airport, opening in June 2009. The hotel is one of six currently under development by Carlson as part of its continuing expansion across China, where it plans to more than double its presence in the coming years.

The hotel will be developed by the Shanghai Zhong Tong Hongqiao Business Hotel Co. Ltd. and designed by the Shanghai Urban and Rural Area Architecture firm, with interior design by Woodhead.

The hotel is in close proximity to the greater Hong Qiao area as well as the Shanghai Zoo and the planned station for the Maglev train to Hangzhou. The 313-room hotel will feature an executive lounge on the 12th floor along with a business center, 450-sq. m (4,844-sq. ft.) ballroom, meeting facilities and 96 parking bays. There will be a fitness center, spa, lobby bar and lounge as well.

Carlson signed a partnership with China developer Sunshine100 to build at least 10 hotels in second-tier cities such as Tianjin, Chongqing, Shenyang, Yantai, Changsha, Nanning, Liuzhou and Guilin.