Luxury hotel management group GHM and Taiwanese business development company Elements Innovation Co., Ltd
have signed a management agreement to launch three upscale hotels in Zhudong, Taiwan.

The Chedi Club, The Chedi and The Serai in Zhudong will stand together as the hospitality anchor to Eutopia, a mountain getaway development one hour by car from Taipei. Located on the border of Shei-Pa National Park in Hsinchu County with a scenic view of the Wuzhi Mountain, the development ranks as one of the largest and most ambitious, licensed hospitality projects ever undertaken in Taiwan.

The Chedi Club will feature 25 villas spread throughout a maple forest, each with dedicated staff and butler service. The Chedi will offer 92 guest rooms and suites with mountain-top views, along with restaurants, meeting rooms, a spa, and an infinity pool.

The 200 rooms and suites of The Serai will be located nearest to the commercial and cultural attractions of the 500,000-square metre Eutopia development. Eutopia will also include a wildlife eco-park, a traditional Taiwanese village with teahouse, a winery, art galleries, live theatre, specialty restaurants, a biomedical spa and a modern open-air shopping mall.

Home to the Industrial Technology Research Institute, Zhudong has established a reputation as the Silicon Valley of Taiwan. At the same time, its natural attributes and its Buddhist temples are a draw for more contemplative pursuits.

“This region is an incredibly rich reward for travellers who, today, may be heading to Japan and Korea for an experience of East Asia,” said GHM President Hans R. Jenni. “Taiwan is a relatively unexploited but compelling destination option and in Eutopia, we have the vehicle to create a unique travel experience and to draw greater interest to Taiwan.”

The introduction of these three, very distinct concepts within one master plan is a first for GHM, and a realization of the hospitality group’s vision for a comprehensive portfolio of properties.

Jean-Michel Gathy is the creative force behind the Eutopia project. The award-winning architect has designed several GHM properties including The Chedi Andermatt, a luxury mountain retreat in Switzerland, slated to open in the winter of 2013/2014.

This latest agreement is one of many GHM has inked in East Asia. In April, GHM’s Chinese joint venture, luxury hotel brand Ahn Luh, signed management contracts with the Qinshen Group for hotels in Shanghai and Shaoxing. Additional Ahn Luh hotels and resorts are also scheduled to open in Chengdu and Shenzhen in the near future.