China-based luxury hotel group Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has opened a US$1.2m (£615,000, 895,000 euros) staff training facility near Beijing.

The Shangri-La Academy has been created to intensify the company’s employee development as it plans to expand from 17 hotels in China to 32 by 2007 – requiring its workforce to grow from 10,000 to around 19,000 people.

The two-storey, 1,788sq m (19,000sq ft) centre consists of six training rooms, a library, a computer lab, a demonstration kitchen and lecture hall, a training kitchen and restaurant, a lounge, mock-up room and on-campus accommodation.

“The establishment of Shangri-La Academy demonstrates our long-term dedication to the Chinese hospitality workforce,” said Giovanni Angelini, chief executive officer and managing director of Shangri-La. “With the ascendancy of China as a world economic power and the 2008 Olympics on the horizon, this commitment is vital.”

The academy offers five-week to three-month training programmes and covers four core areas: culinary arts, food and beverage service, front office operation and housekeeping operation and teaches them through an “interactive, hands-on, solution-oriented, outcome-driven and industry relevant” approach.

Senior Shangri-La staff members will also be appearing at the academy as guest speakers to teach selected modules and facilitate discussions.

“Customers today have expectations that are more diverse, less predictable and may even appear illogical,” said the academy’s principal, Zhou Fuyou. “With an increasingly internationalised clientele, the hospitality worker is faced with more complex and discerning customers to please.” Details: www.shangri-la.com