With the launch of Avani Huajian Xinyi Guangdong Resort, Minor Hotels' luxury resort arm Avani is set to mark its entry into China, blending leisure, culture and ecotourism.

Bangkok-based Minor Hotels, in association with China’s Funyard Minor, has announced the upcoming debut of Avani Hotels and Resorts in China with Avani Huajian Xinyi Guangdong Resort. 

In a press statement, Minor Hotels says that the new property blends leisure, culture and ecotourism elements to anchor Avani’s development plans with ancient Chinese traditions for an area that will comprise several hotels, commercial blocks and residential holiday villas.

The statement adds that the new property is located in a protected national forest area of Guangdong Province. Avani Huajian Xinyi Guangdong Resort and Avani+ Xinyi Guangdong Resort will be one of the first international upscale hotel brands in Xinyi when they open in the first half of the year. 

Surrounded by bamboo forest, the resort will take its perch in the mountains above Ma’an Village featuring 96 modern rooms and suites, some with private balconies and pools. The statement adds resort will feature a contemporary all-day dining restaurant, a bar, an infinity pool, an AvaniFit gym, an AvaniKids club, and other facilities to promote relaxation in nature.

“Avani Huajian Xinyi Guangdong Resort and Avani+ Xinyi Guangdong Resort will not only mark a significant milestone for Minor Hotels but also for the hospitality landscape in Xinyi. The openings stand testament to the brand’s vision to create exceptional and culturally immersive experiences for guests,” says Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International and CEO of Minor Hotels.

The statement adds that Xinyi is an ecotourism destination rich in ecological resources like a sprawling alpine meadow, the largest bamboo forest in western Guangdong, a mountain lake, hot springs, and award-winning ecotourism areas. 

It says that holidaymakers can tour the 300-year-old Shiyin Ancestral Temple with a grove counting over 30,000 century-old olive trees or attend the popular Fruit Festival that celebrates locally grown Sanhua plum and attracts over 1 million visitors annually.

The hotel says that its already strong presence in Asia, the Middle East, and Southern Africa will be solidified with expansion into new destinations in 2024 with further openings in Asia, Europe and the Seychelles, as well as South and Central America.

“We are thrilled to introduce our first two Avani properties in Greater China. Embedded in nature, both properties offer a peaceful setting and a sense of escape. They align with the preferences of our target audience, who seek a hotel that is a destination in itself. We believe that when the Avani properties open, they will create a new and exciting holiday option,” says Eddy Tiftik, Vice President of Development and Operations, Minor Hotels, Greater China.