Wanda Hotels & Resorts will become the first Chinese hotel management company to export one of its brands overseas, following an agreement to open a Wanda Vista property in Istanbul, Turkey.

The company will act as the hotel operator, while Turkish development firm Mar Yapi will fund the project. It will be located close to the city’s busiest shopping district and a five-minute drive from Ataturk International Airport.

Wanda Vista Istanbul will feature 150 luxury guest rooms and suites, “with modern and local elements and high-quality services to offer unique experiences to local and international travellers.” It is expected to open by the end of 2018.

"Wanda Vista Istanbul is more than just the first Wanda hotel to be opened overseas; it is also the first brand we have marketed overseas,” said Qian Jin, president of Wanda Hotels & Resorts. “It marks another significant step toward our goal of becoming a respected international luxury hotel company from China.”

Munir Ozkok, Mar Yapi chair, added: “Wanda Hotels & Resorts has a clear competitive edge among hotel brands. Among 50 major cities in China where Wanda hotels operate, more than 50 per cent of them have achieved outstanding performance, being the leader in their market.

“As China and Turkey move toward closer economic cooperation, I am confident Wanda Vista Istanbul will successfully offer services that delight guests not only from China but from many other countries globally."

Wanda Hotels & Resorts currently owns or operates 104 luxury properties in China. Its brands include the “ultra-luxury” Wanda Reign, the “deluxe brand” Wanda Realm, and lifestyle brand Wanda Jin.

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