Bernard Lo is one such fan. Previously when he was working in Shanghai, he would frequently drive to Suzhou on weekends.

"The city is a great choice for people looking to get away, those who are not keen to leave the country during the national holiday weeks," said Lo, now the general manager of the newly-opened Holiday Inn Youlian Suzhou.

The 220-room property is next to the famous Panmen Scenery Area and is a great choice for exploring the city sights without breaking the bank.

The four-story building opened to the public on Monday and offers modern amenities and comfortable rooms. The hotel also houses a Cantonese restaurant, an all-day diner and a lobby lounge for coffee or cocktails.

Lo, an industry veteran with more than 35 years in the hospitality business, provides the new operation with extensive experience and wisdom. In his travels, he has worked in such locales as Switzerland, Belgium and Canada, among others, and is considered something of a hotel guru.

Despite the seemingly staggering number of hotels opening domestically at present, Lo believed that there was still enough pie left for everyone. He stated that the Intercontinental Group, the largest hotel management corporation in the world with more than 3,600 properties, was preparing to open its 150th hotel on China's mainland in 2008.

Address: 99 Jiefang Road E., Suzhou
Tel: (512) 6811-8888