The agreement was signed with DeSheng Real Estate Group. Situated in Binjiang district, the new full-service, 162-room property will open in January of 2016 across the Qiantang River, the “mother” river in Zhejiang province and a major transportation gateway between the east and west. The new Swiss International Hotel property will be built near two of China’s historic and cultural relics – the famed West Lake and the Liuhe Pagoda. Accessible by 30-minute drive from Hangzhou Airport, the area is also part of Hangzhou’s burgeoning business and technology hub, the National New & Hi-tech Development Zone. Swiss International Hotels was established in Switzerland in 1982. Today, Swiss International Hotels & Resorts is associated with hotels across Europe in Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, as well as in China, the Middle East, and Africa. The company is registered in Baar, Switzerland and is operating from the UAE. Swiss International operates and franchises its hotels under three brands – the luxury brand “Royal Swiss”, the upscale Swiss International, and midscale brand Swiss Spirit Inns, Hotels & Resorts. The company is targeted to grow to 150 properties worldwide by 2020.