Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces has teamed up with Yunnan Tourism Company (YTC) to develop and operate two hotels at the Kunming Expo Garden, Yunnan province, China.

The joint venture will design, construct and manage the hotels which will be owned by YTC - a subsidiary of state-owned Yunnan Expo Tourism Holding Limited.

Opening in 2013, both the 200-bedroom The Taj Kunming and the 300-key Vivanta by Taj will offer Jiva-branded spas and a range of restaurants.

The deal is part of Taj's plans to rapidly expand in China. The group has already secured management contracts two other sites in the country - a landmark hotel, Taj Temple of Heaven, in Beijing and a 300-key luxury resort on Hainan Island.

According to Abhijit Mukerji, Taj's executive director, the deal signals the company's increased focus on the growing Chinese market.

He said: "Our presence in Kunming is critical for our selective global expansion plan because of its strategic location with access to key markets like Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Laos.

"It is a major communication and transport hub in China having good connectivity with the domestic Chinese tourism circuit."

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Image: Both Kunming hotels will have a Jiva-branded spa

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