Hilton Worldwide has announced the signing of a management agreement with Chengdu Yincheng Property for western China’s first Waldorf Astoria branded hotel in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. Scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2016, the 300-room Waldorf Astoria Chengdu will be the fifth Waldorf Astoria in China, following the opening of Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund in 2011 as well as further planned openings. The Waldorf Astoria Beijing is set to open in 2013, while Waldorf Astoria Baoting and Waldorf Astoria Sanya, both on Hainan Island, will follow in 2015 and 2016 respectively. John Vanderslice, global head of luxury & lifestyle brands, Hilton Worldwide, said: “The introduction of the Waldorf Astoria brand into Chengdu marks another major milestone in Hilton Worldwide’s expansion across central and western China. “We look forward to allowing more guests in China to experience the classic elegance and modern grandeur embodied in this iconic brand and also to helping embellish Chengdu’s status as a leading meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) and tourist destination.” The new hotel will be located right at the heart of the Chengdu Tianfu New Area, opposite Chengdu Tianfu International Financial Center. The area has been earmarked to become a second city centre and is also home to the South Chengdu Hi-Tech Development Zone. Towering at a height of 220 meters, the hotel will form part of a mixed-used development occupying the top 15 floors, with service apartments in the lower part of the building.