First Maqo property set to premiere in Changsha

Wharf Hotels recently announced its new brand Maqo is scheduled to open on Nov 1 in Changsha, Hunan province.

The move to open this new property in Changsha came after Wharf Hotels opened its Niccolo hotel in the city in 2018.

Over the past seven months, China's domestic tourism and consumer market has gained strong momentum and Changsha has been a key tourist destination with huge market potential, said Thomas Salg, president of Wharf Hotels.

"Changsha is a '24-hour' city. We are in the heart of the city. So I think it's a really good starting point for us," Salg said.

The first Maqo hotel will be located in the new Tower 2 of the Changsha International Finance Square, featuring 286 meticulously designed guest rooms and suites, restaurants, bars, shared working spaces and fitness facilities.

Maqo is a premium lifestyle hotel brand for modern-day global citizens, dedicated to creating tailored experiences for people who understand that more is not better — only better is better, according to Wharf.

"The biggest change we've seen right now is that every business traveler looks for an enjoyable leisure time, and every leisure traveler also needs to connect and then maybe do a bit of work. So we wanted to create spaces which allow customers to work, but also kick back, brainstorm, get inspired, get drawn into activities around them," Salg said.

Maqo is a vibrant and fresh brand, and it will fit in many more dynamic cities, the executive said.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, Wharf Hotels now owns and operates 17 hotels in Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and the Philippines. It has three brands: Niccolo, Marco Polo and Maqo.

By 2025, the hotel is expected to increase its properties to 25 and will plan more programs in cities including Shanghai, Shenzhen, Bangkok and Tokyo.