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Magnificent Seven Get Olympic Approval

Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) has designated the first batch of seven Beijing five-star hotels ahead of the 2008 sporting spectacular to be hosted by the capital.

The seven signed contracts with BOCOG, thus winning the official seal of approval from the group which in the coming years will accredit another 70 hotels.

The first seven hotels are: Beijing Hotel, China World Hotel, Grand Hotel Beijing, Swissotel Hotel, Beijing International Hotel, Kunlun Hotel and Beijing International Wuzhou Crown Hotel. Between them they boast 3,500 rooms.

BOCOG Vice-Chairman and Secretary-General Wang Wei said that all seven had done an excellent job in hosting guests from home and abroad in recent times, particularly for events related to the staging of the forthcoming Games.  

Convenient locations are regarded as of vital importance by BOCOG when considering designation of hotels. In the following years up until 2008, BOCOG will sign contracts with over 70 more star-rated hotels in Beijing in a bid to guarantee a total of 23,000 rooms for 800,000 guests including athletes, journalists, spectators and tourists.

Beijing Hotel General Manager, Wang Quansheng said: "We will further improve our facilities and services in the next four years, and enhance training of every member in our hotel, especially language training."