The 700-room Langham Place Hotel will open on 1 July 2004 in the centre of Kowloon.

The 42-storey hotel, which will be framed by 13,000sq ft of park, lakes and waterfalls, is the centrepiece of a 1.8m sq ft development that encompasses four city blocks and includes a shopping mall with over 300 outlets and a 60-storey office tower.

Langham Hotels International (LHI) undertook extensive research into the hotel's location prior to development and is convinced of the great potential for both the business and leisure markets.

Langham Place Hotel general manager, Brett Butcher, said: We have one of the most exciting locations in Hong Kong. The famous Golden Mile of Nathan Road leads to Tsim Sha Tsui and the waterfront from the hotel and, being located above the Mongkok metro station, access to anywhere in Hong Kong will be available.

The hotel, whose accommodation includes 354 executive rooms and 52 suites, will have a Lifestyle Spa and Health Club on its top three floors.

The spa, being designed by Spa Chakra and having seven treatment rooms offering a range of therapies, will be linked to a health club, Spa Café and a rooftop, 20m swimming pool with hot tub.

On the 5th level, Portal - Work and Play will offer an entertainment and business environment, including a bar with live entertainment and a business area offering the latest facilities.

Dining options will include the Place restaurant, in a garden area with waterfalls and tropical plants, and the adjacent 'Starbucks-style' coffee house, Aroma. Elsewhere, the Yat Tung Heen Cantonese restaurant will include flexible dining rooms catering for 12 to 200 diners.

The Langham Place Ballroom will provide banqueting facilities and there will be a further six function rooms of various sizes. The Star Room, on the 42nd floor, will also offer views across Kowloon and Hong Kong island.

Langham Hotels International is the newly renamed hotel subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings. Details: www.langhamhotels.com