A Lamborghini hotel opens in China. It's not (quite) what you think
When you hear the name Lamborghini you immediately think of one thing: boutique hotels!
This, anyway, might be the hope of Tonino Lamborghini.
The son of Ferruccio Lamborghini, founder of Italy's Lamborghini automotive brand in 1963 (the brand now belongs to Volkswagen), Tonino Lamborghini founded his own eponymously named food and beverage, IT and hospitality business in 1981.
His first hotel, a four-star business boutique property located in Collecchio, Parma, Italy, opened in 2006.
Now Lamborghini is bringing his famous name -- and a luxury boutique hotel -- to China.
Earlier this month, the Tonino Lamborghini Boutique Hotel Suzhou opened near Jinji Lake in Suzhou Industrial Park.
The new hotel is a cooperative effort between the Tonino Lamborghini brand and Chinese real estate developer Join In Group (中茵集团), according to China Daily.
Chinese style with Italian accents
From this angle, the hotel is meant to resemble a meticulously groomed Suzhou garden.
The hotel is located on the banks of Jinji Lake and has 92 lake-view rooms in four buildings. The buildings are constructed in classical Suzhou garden style, surrounding a small pagoda, bridge and flowing water.
Interiors are a blend of Chinese style and Italian details.
Chinese Ming-style furniture adorns each room -- Lamborghini's signature bull logo is integrated into the design. Bookshelves in each room are stocked with Chinese and foreign language classics.
The hotel has a bookstore, French restaurant, spa, gym, indoor swimming pool, and multi-function rooms.
“I love to see the fusion of Italian luxury and Chinese culture," said Tonino Lamborghini. "This will be the perfect combination of a 'made in Italy' and Eastern philosophy.”
World vision
Decorations combine Chinese and Italian styles. The Suzhou hotel is just a start for the company in China.
Nine more Tonino Lamborghini boutique hotels are planned for seven Chinese locations, including Sanya, Zhuhai, Hangzhou, Xuzhou, Huangshi and Kunshan.
“We’ve been working with industrial experts like InterContinental Hotel Group in Suzhou," said David Yin, Join in Group's brand manager. "Crown Plaza Suzhou, our collaborator hotel, is now the best hotel in town.”
According to Yin, the hotel management company will also explore foreign markets.
Join in Group plans to manage more than 40 five-star hotels and resorts in China, Japan and North America in the coming years, according to a company press release.
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