DEAL

Barco increases digital projectors

Belgian global technology company Barco, signed a contract with GDC Technology to supply 700 Barco 2K DLP Cinema projectors in China beginning in April. GDC has chosen Barco 2K digital cinema projectors as part of its fully integrated solution for what will be the largest single deployment of digital cinema outside the United States. The deal includes cooperation with the China Film Group (CFG), the Chinese state-owned company that is the leading player in the Chinese film industry. Dr Man-Nang Chong, CEO of GDC Technology, said, "We are very impressed by Barco's long-term commitment to the global digital cinema market and its proven product quality as well as its excellent customer support." Barco designs and develops visualisation products for a variety of selected professional markets, and has its own facilities in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. GDC Technology servers have digitally released more than 250 full-length feature films throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the US.

Accor further accommodates

French hotel group Accor expects to exceed its plan to open more than 61 hotels in China by 2010, favouring an increase in their business-oriented Ibis hotel chain, which will amount to 100 in the country by then. Internationally, China attracted 124 million visitors and earned US$33.5 billion (?25.1 billion) from 2006 tourism, according to official data. Demand in hotels should increase with the Beijing Olympics approaching in 2008, followed by the Shanghai World Expo in 2010 and an increase in tourism with the rising wave of domestic wealth throughout that time. "In those particular cities, in those particular years, these events will certainly drive a lot of demand," Accor Asia Pacific managing director Michael Issenberg said. But, he added, Accor's hotels aren't being built just for one or two passing events. Accor has 4,000 hotels in the world, and now operates 300 hotels in Asia Pacific, having just added 53 in 2006. Two-thirds of Accor's targeted expansion for 2010 is in emerging markets such as China, India, Turkey and Algeria.

Savills has the Lakefront

Savills Shanghai was appointed the sole leasing agent and asset manager for The Lakefront Villas, targeting expats in the south-western district of Minhang. The Western-style complex of 110 homes is landscaped with streams, lakes, private gardens, and a full-facility clubhouse. It is close to industrial parks housing foreign firms and is a reasonable commute away from numerous international children's' schools. The project is ideal for families, said director of residential leasing Dawn Brandenburg. The real-estate consultancy is offering a package of combined leasing and asset-management services, thanks to its recent acquisition by American private equity firm Carlyle Group. Savills, which employs 2,500 staff in offices around China, offers consulting and professional property services to developers, owners, tenants and investors.

EXPANSION

New plant for BMW Brilliance

BMW AG and JV partner Brilliance China Automotive Holding Ltd will add a second manufacturing plant to the northern city of Shenyang, increasing BMW's annual production capacity by 50,000 units. The upcoming two-plant partnership is planned for a construction kick-off in April, and will allow both companies to assemble their own brand name cars - as they have done since their 2003 JV. BMW also plans to produce its Series 3 and Series 5 passenger cars in the new facility. The BMW group recorded its largest growth rates in Asia in 2006. In China alone, annual shares went up by 51.3 percent, with 36,357 BMWs sold last year. Now, the company's current facility, shared with Brilliance, is operating at near full capacity. With China's 10.5 percent economic growth in 2006, overall passenger-car sales rose by 3.8 million, likely paving the way for an increasingly popular trend. For BMW, 2007 "should be the best year in the company's history," as BMW AG board chairman Norbert Reithofer, projected at a press conference in March, adding that he expects that this year will bring an overall sales-volume growth in the higher single-digit percentage range.

BASF ups chemical capacity

BASF AG, the German chemicals maker, has begun construction of a polyacrylate polymer manufacturing plant at its Shanghai facility, increasing annual capacity by a minimum of 30,000 tonnes. A second plant that is underway will add a minimum capacity of 12,000 tonnes to the existing capacity, to manufacture specialty chemicals for leather tanning. Both projects have a first-quarter 2008 deadline. Additionally, BASF is building a third plant at Caojing, also near Shanghai, to manufacture polyisocyanate for use in automotive, industrial and wood paints. The company said it is building these new plants to better serve its customers in the Asia Pacific region, which is the world's largest, and expected to grow 4-4.5 percent annually to 2015, said Wolfgang Hapke, president of market and business development for BASF Asia Pacific. He added, "We are now moving even closer to our goal of achieving 20 percent of group sales in the chemicals businesses in Asia Pacific by 2010, with 70 percent coming from local production." BASF markets synthetic water-soluble polyacrylate polymers under the Sokalan brand for use in textile, laundry, paper and water-treatment applications.

CBRE sets up in Hangzhou

CB Richard Ellis announced that it is opening a new office in Hangzhou, for further expansion of company operations in eastern China, and to enhance service to customers there and in nearby Ningbo. This addition will position them in an area of increasing business opportunity, which they hope will be a useful addition to their current Shanghai operations. "Hangzhou, as one of the rapidly growing cities along the eastern coast of China, plays a very strategic role in the overall economic development of the Yangtze River Delta," said Chris Brooke, CEO of CB Richard Ellis Greater China. The Hangzhou office will offer a wide range of real estate services covering office, retail, residential, industrial and logistics sectors, which include research, consulting, leasing, sales and management.

Shanghai hotels team up for expo

Competition became cooperation as International Branded Hotels of Shanghai, a union of 52 four- and five-star international hotels, partnered with EmporioAsia, one an interactive marketing agency, to launch career website www.9djob.com in efforts to boost recruitment in Shanghai's growing hospitality sector. The site contains information on hotel jobs, recruiting news, industry trends and even interview tips. As Shanghai's World Expo 2010 approaches, another 20,000 international hotel rooms are planed to open, and with competition from other sectors, international hotels are challenged to provide the necessary employment to maintain this expansion. Participating European Chamber members include: Hilton Shanghai, Howard Johnson Plaza Shanghai and Shanghai JC Mandarin.

ENHANCEMENT

Air France adds class

Air France revamped its l'Espace Premi¨¨re first-class service in April, giving members a complete customised air and land travel experience. The airline now provides ground service at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, with 100 specially trained Air France ground staff to provide "a moment of sheer well-being and comfort, through personalized, exclusive service." Upon arrival at Paris-CDG, a privileged welcome is followed by attentive service in a private check-in lounge, personal assistance throughout airport transit, an exclusive car transfer directly to the aircraft, and then a personal introduction to crew members. Since its launch in 2003, Premi¨¨re customers have enjoyed thorough attention and discreet service on the aircraft, while relaxing in a private lounge environment and on a seat that fully reclines, stretching two metres. Air France currently has twice-daily flights to Paris from Beijing and daily flights from Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.